Minneapolis, MN, Jan. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sezzle Inc. (NASDAQ:SEZL) (Sezzle or Company) // Sezzle, a purpose-driven digital payment platform, today announced the appointment of Lee Brading as Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), effective February 1, 2026. Brading will succeed Karen Hartje, who served as CFO and principal financial officer under a Consulting Agreement since November 1, 2025, following her announcement of retirement after nearly eight years as CFO of Sezzle. Hartje will remain engaged a ...

Core Insights - Sezzle (SEZL) is experiencing a divergence between its stock price and its underlying business performance, with revenue and income metrics increasing while the stock price declines [1]. Group 1: Company Performance - Sezzle's revenue and income metrics are on the rise, indicating positive business growth [1]. - Despite the growth in revenue and income, the stock price has been trending downward, suggesting a disconnect between market perception and actual business performance [1]. Group 2: Analyst Perspective - The analyst emphasizes the importance of understanding the underlying reasons behind a company's business model, looking beyond just numerical data [1]. - The investment strategy discussed combines elements of value and growth investing, focusing on companies that are undervalued due to negative sentiment and those with hidden potential [1].

Core Viewpoint - Sezzle Inc. is identified as a growth stock with potential, despite recent price target adjustments by TD Cowen due to macroeconomic pressures and changes in the specialty finance outlook [1][3]. Financial Performance - In Q3 2025, Sezzle reported a 67% year-over-year increase in quarterly revenue, reaching $116.8 million, with EPS of $0.71, exceeding Street estimates by $0.06 [2]. - The company's Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV) grew by 58.7%, surpassing $1 billion for the first time in a single quarter [2]. - Sezzle raised its full-year 2025 guidance, expecting GAAP EPS of $3.52 and adjusted EPS of $3.38, and provided preliminary 2026 guidance forecasting an adjusted EPS of $4.35, indicating a projected 29% growth over 2025 [3]. Strategic Focus - Management has shifted focus from its on-demand product to a subscription model, as the on-demand feature underperformed in converting users into long-term subscribers [2]. - The growth strategy is supported by the rising consumer preference for Buy-Now-Pay-Later (BNPL) services over traditional credit cards, alongside cost efficiencies [3]. Market Position - Sezzle operates as a technology-enabled payments company primarily in the US and Canada, positioning itself within the evolving landscape of credit and payment solutions [4].

Core Insights - Sezzle Inc. (SEZL) has benefited from strong trends in the Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) market over several years [1] - The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated spending trends, leading to the emergence of several BNPL players in the market [1] Company Overview - Sezzle Inc. operates within the BNPL sector, which has seen significant growth due to changing consumer spending behaviors [1] - The company has positioned itself to capitalize on the ongoing trends in the BNPL market [1]

Core Viewpoint - Sezzle Inc. has experienced a significant decline of approximately 60% in its stock price over the past six months, potentially entering value territory for the first time in a long while [1] Group 1: Company Overview - Sezzle operates in a competitive U.S. online credit market alongside companies like Affirm Holdings Inc. and Klarna Group Inc. It went public on the ASX in 2019 at A$1.22 (approximately $0.84 per share) and saw a remarkable rally of 22,131% through mid-2025 [2] Group 2: Valuation Metrics - The Value score in Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings for Sezzle has increased from 25.76 to 34.61 within a week, reflecting its core fundamentals against market valuation amid ongoing stock price pressure [3] - Following its recent pullback, Sezzle trades at 16 times forward earnings, which is significantly undervalued compared to peers like Affirm and Klarna, trading at 74.63 and 52.36 times forward earnings, respectively [4] Group 3: Analyst Outlook - Analysts maintain a bullish outlook on Sezzle, with an average consensus price target of $174.80, indicating a potential upside of 143% from current levels [4] - Despite the recent improvement in its scores, Sezzle still performs poorly in Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings regarding Momentum and Value, although it shows a favorable price trend in the short term [5]

Group 1: Analyst Insights - Northland Securities analyst Michael Grondahl maintains a bullish outlook on Sezzle Inc. (NASDAQ:SEZL), reducing the price target from $130 to $110 while still anticipating over 69% upside for the stock [1] - The broader analyst coverage shows an optimistic view, with a 1-year average price target of $101, indicating more than 55% upside potential, supported by three analyst ratings: 2 Buys and 1 Hold [4] Group 2: Strategic Shifts - Sezzle's management plans to pivot back towards subscription-based offerings like Anywhere and Premium, which are expected to provide a more stable revenue base compared to On-Demand offerings, leading to superior yields and enhanced customer lifetime value [2] - The company will continue to offer on-demand products to price-sensitive and lower-credit users, improving risk profiling and underwriting discipline [3] Group 3: Business Model - Sezzle Inc. operates a "buy now pay later" platform, allowing consumers to make purchases with one upfront payment followed by four interest-free installments over a six-week period, thereby enhancing consumer purchasing power [5]

Core Insights - The "Buy Now, Pay Later" (BNPL) services are becoming increasingly popular during the holiday shopping season, with spending expected to reach $20.2 billion, an 11% increase from the previous year [2] - Annual BNPL spending is projected to hit $116.7 billion by 2025, doubling from 2022 and increasing more than sevenfold compared to 2020 [3] - A survey indicates that half of holiday shoppers are likely to use BNPL services if available, highlighting its growing acceptance [4] Industry Trends - BNPL services are embedded in consumer culture, leading to higher average order values—91% for enterprises and 62% for small businesses [5] - Despite the growth, there are rising concerns about the financial strain on consumers, with 41% of users admitting to missing payments, up from 34% last year [6] - Financial experts warn that BNPL can create a false sense of affordability, leading consumers to make purchases beyond their means [7] Regulatory Environment - There is increasing regulatory scrutiny on BNPL services, with proposed legislation aimed at extending consumer protections similar to those for credit cards [10] - A multistate inquiry into major BNPL providers is underway, focusing on fees, disclosures, and consumer risks [11] - The regulatory landscape is inconsistent, with BNPL products being treated differently across states, leading to confusion and potential regulatory arbitrage [12] Market Performance - The year 2025 has been mixed for BNPL companies, with varying stock performances: PayPal down 30.54%, Block down 24.90%, Affirm up 25.69%, Klarna down 31.67%, Sezzle up 65.27%, and Zip up 7.32% [15]

Core Insights - Financial institutions and fintech companies are capitalizing on simplifying money management and providing easier access to funds for customers [1] - While traditional banks show moderate growth, emerging fintech stocks like Sezzle present potential for higher returns [1] Company Overview: Sezzle - Sezzle is a leading player in the buy now, pay later (BNPL) market, offering customers the ability to split purchases into smaller monthly payments [3] - The company reported a 67% year-over-year revenue growth and a 73% increase in net income for Q3, indicating strong market share gains and margin expansion [4] - Sezzle's net profit margin stands at 22.8%, the highest in the BNPL industry [4] Market Potential - The extreme bullish scenario for Sezzle suggests that BNPL could replace credit cards or significantly capture market share in the coming years [5] - Sezzle has nearly 3 million active customers, positioning it well for future growth [5] Concerns and Resilience - Concerns exist regarding the sustainability of BNPL due to high living costs, contributing to a 60% decline in Sezzle's stock from its all-time high [6] - Despite these concerns, Sezzle's former chief revenue officer noted that 95% of customers paid on time, reflecting a positive trend in repayment behavior [7] - Sezzle has set aside $33.7 million for credit losses, which have more than doubled year-over-year, yet continues to attract new customers and maintain sufficient cash reserves [8] Industry Outlook - Financial stocks, including Sezzle, are expected to deliver returns as money management remains a necessity for consumers [9] - Sezzle's recent stock correction may present an attractive investment opportunity as it continues to gain market share in the BNPL sector [9]

Core Insights - Sezzle's in-app financial literacy program, MoneyIQ, has achieved over one million lessons completed by more than 200,000 users in under a year, highlighting its growing popularity as a comprehensive platform for shopping, rewards, and financial education [1][2][8] Group 1: Financial Literacy Program - MoneyIQ is designed to enhance users' long-term financial well-being by integrating financial education into the Sezzle app, allowing users to learn while managing payments and tracking spending [2][5] - The program features bite-sized lessons focused on practical financial skills, developed under the National Standards for Personal Finance Education, and is powered by Zogo [5][6] - Following the launch of MoneyIQ, user confidence in financial management increased significantly, with 51% of users feeling "very confident" about their finances, up from 37% prior to the program [6] Group 2: User Engagement and Incentives - Users earn experience points for completing lessons, which can be redeemed for Sezzle Spend, promoting positive financial habits and responsible behavior [7] - The most commonly completed lessons include essential skills such as opening a bank account, saving money, repaying debt, building a budget, and improving credit [9] Group 3: Market Context and Company Vision - As the Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) model becomes more mainstream, Sezzle aims to redefine its role by ensuring that it supports both purchasing power and users' long-term financial confidence [8] - The initiative addresses a significant gap in financial literacy, particularly among Gen Z, where 28% report lacking financial knowledge, which correlates with lower confidence levels in managing finances [4]

Core Viewpoint - Sezzle has announced a significant increase in its stock buyback program, which has positively impacted its stock price, reflecting investor confidence in the company's financial health and growth potential [1][2]. Group 1: Stock Buyback Initiatives - Sezzle's board of directors has authorized a stock repurchase of up to $100 million, doubling the previous $50 million program announced in March [2]. - The company has progressively increased its buyback initiatives, starting from $5 million, then $15 million, and now $100 million [4]. - Under the current buyback authorizations, Sezzle has repurchased 2.9 million shares at an average price of $24.03 each [4]. Group 2: Financial Position and Market Response - CEO Charlie Youakim stated that the buyback reflects Sezzle's strong financial position and long-term conviction in the business, emphasizing a disciplined approach to capital allocation [4]. - Following the announcement, Sezzle's stock price rose by over 10% in a single trading session, indicating strong market enthusiasm [1][5]. - The current market capitalization of Sezzle is approximately $2.3 billion, with a day's trading range between $67.74 and $74.99 [6]. Group 3: Investment Considerations - While the increasing buyback program is a positive indicator of financial strength, it is noted that fundamental financial metrics should be prioritized when considering investments in Sezzle [6][7].