HOUSTON, March 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VAALCO Energy, Inc. (NYSE: EGY; LSE: EGY) (“Vaalco” or the “Company”) announced that it has farmed into the CI-705 block offshore Côte d’Ivoire. Vaalco will become operator of the block with a 70% working interest and a 100% paying interest though a commercial carry arrangement and is partnering with Ivory Coast Exploration Oil & Gas SAS and PETROCI. The CI-705 block is located in the prolific Tano basin and is approximately 70 kilometers (“km”) to the west of Vaa ...

Core Viewpoint - Rosen Law Firm is reminding purchasers of Block, Inc. Class A common stock of the upcoming lead plaintiff deadline for a class action lawsuit, emphasizing the potential for compensation without out-of-pocket costs [1][2]. Group 1: Class Action Details - The class action lawsuit pertains to Block, Inc. and covers purchases made between February 26, 2020, and April 30, 2024 [1]. - Investors who purchased Block Class A common stock during the specified period may be entitled to compensation through a contingency fee arrangement [2]. - Interested parties can join the class action by submitting a form or contacting the law firm for more information [3][6]. Group 2: Allegations Against Block, Inc. - The lawsuit alleges that Block engaged in significant compliance lapses at its Square and Cash App platforms, failing to conduct due diligence on customer identities and transactions [5]. - It is claimed that Block created an environment conducive to illegal activities, including money laundering and drug trafficking, by imposing minimal obligations on customers [5]. - The lawsuit also states that Block's leadership failed to address known compliance issues, leading to inflated user metrics and exposing the company to reputational and regulatory risks [5].

Core Viewpoint - Block's Q4 results were weaker than expected, leading to a significant drop in share price, down over 20% year-to-date, raising questions about potential buying opportunities [1] Business Overview - Block operates two main businesses: Square, which facilitates card payments and offers a comprehensive ecosystem for retailers, and Cash App, known for peer-to-peer payments and additional financial services [2][3] Financial Performance - Q4 revenue increased nearly 5% to $6.03 billion, below the expected $6.29 billion; Square revenue rose 9% to $1.97 billion, while Cash App revenue grew 3% to $4.02 billion [3] - Gross profits rose 14% to $2.31 billion, with Square gross profits increasing 12% to $924 million and Cash App gross profits jumping 16% to $1.38 billion; adjusted EPS surged 51% to $0.71 but fell short of the $0.87 consensus [4] Transaction Metrics - Square's gross payment volume (GPV) rose 10% in the quarter, with U.S. GPV increasing 7% and international GPV soaring 25%, attributed to strong retention and same-store sales growth [5] - Cash App's monthly transacting users grew 9% to 25 million, with gross profit per user climbing 13% to $76; active users depositing paychecks increased 25% to 2.5 million [6] Strategic Initiatives - In 2024, Block plans to overhaul Square's technology to transition it into a commerce platform, focusing on customer retention, product enhancements, and increased marketing investments [7] - Cash App will expand financial services capabilities and invest in compliance and customer experience, introducing features like high-yield savings and free tax filing [8] Future Outlook - Block anticipates significant growth in 2025, aiming for a "Rule of 40" run rate, with expectations for Afterpay's rollout on Cash App to drive growth and contributions from its Bitcoin mining chip system Proto [9][10] - Q1 is expected to be the low point for gross profit growth due to last year's leap year and currency headwinds [11] Valuation and Investment Consideration - Block is trading at a forward P/E ratio of 15 times analysts' earnings estimates for 2025, marking one of its lowest valuations in recent times [13] - Despite missing some headline numbers, the overall earnings report showed solid double-digit gross profit growth, with a bullish outlook for 2025, suggesting it may be a good time to buy the stock on the dip [14][15]

Core Insights - Stripe has demonstrated the advantages of remaining a private company, achieving a valuation of $91.5 billion through a recent tender offer for employee shares, significantly outpacing public market peers like Block, PayPal, and Coinbase [2][5][6] Company Performance - Stripe's valuation represents a 40% increase from the previous year and is nearing its peak valuation of $95 billion reached during the COVID pandemic [5] - In contrast, public fintech companies such as Block and PayPal have experienced significant stock declines, with Block dropping nearly 30% and PayPal's shares tumbling despite strong earnings [2][6][7] Market Context - The private market for companies like Stripe is characterized by high demand and premium valuations, with Stripe being compared to other exclusive private firms like SpaceX and Anthropic [3][4] - The volatility in public fintech stocks has raised concerns among investors, as seen with Block's disappointing earnings report leading to an 18% drop in stock price [6] Strategic Decisions - Stripe has opted to remain private, allowing early investors and employees to sell portions of their stakes to alleviate liquidity pressure, while other fintech companies have pursued traditional public funding routes [5] - John Collison, Stripe's president, indicated that the company does not have immediate plans for an IPO, reflecting a strategic choice to maintain its private status for the time being [6]

Core Insights - Block's shares fell 18% following a disappointing fourth-quarter earnings report, with earnings per share (EPS) of $0.71, below the $0.89 Wall Street estimate [1][2] - The company's gross profit growth rate slowed to 14% during the holiday season, down from 22% in the same quarter last year, yet it remains optimistic about future growth and profit margins in 2025 [2] Financial Performance - For Q4, Block reported a gross profit of $8.89 billion, with an 18% year-over-year growth expected to decrease to 15% in 2025 [8] - The adjusted operating income margin is projected to rise from 18% in 2024 to 21% in 2025, while the "Rule of 40" metric is expected to decline from 36.5% in 2024 to 35.5% in 2025 [7][8] - Cash App's attach rate increased to 44% from 41% year-over-year, with gross profit per monthly transacting active accounts rising by 13% to $47 [5] User Growth and Market Position - Cash App's active user base grew by only 1.7% to 57 million, indicating potential challenges in user acquisition [6] - The Square segment's gross purchase value increased by 6.9%, but there are concerns about losing market share to competitors like Fiserv and Toast [6] Future Outlook - Block's 2025 outlook includes a forecast of a 15% increase in annual gross profit, with expectations for catalysts such as the integration of Afterpay with Cash App and expansion in Bitcoin mining infrastructure [10] - The company is viewed as having a favorable valuation with a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 14, suggesting potential for growth if upcoming quarters show positive results [11] Investment Perspective - The recent stock decline presents a buying opportunity for long-term investors interested in fintech innovation, BNPL, and cryptocurrency adoption [12]

Group 1 - Block, Inc. (NYSE: XYZ) stock has declined over 25% since the buy rating was issued in January, which was unexpected [1] - The analysis emphasizes the importance of maintaining faith in Block despite the stock's performance [1] - The author identifies as a full-time investor focused on the tech sector, holding a Bachelor of Commerce Degree with Distinction in Finance [1] Group 2 - The author expresses a commitment to high-quality technical analysis and values such as Excellence, Integrity, Transparency, and Respect [1] - There is an invitation for readers to provide constructive criticism and feedback to improve the quality of the work [1]

Group 1: Block Overview - Block, formerly known as Square, revolutionized mobile payments with its credit card reader in 2009, allowing businesses to accept digital payments easily [1] - The company's current valuation exceeds $40 billion, but there are concerns about its future growth trajectory [2] - Block's long-term vision appears unclear, with diversification into areas like music (Tidal) and Bitcoin-related services, raising questions about its core focus [3] Group 2: Financial Performance - In 2024, Block reported a gross profit of $8.9 billion, reflecting an 18% year-over-year increase, and an operating income of $892 million, indicating profitability [4] - The company is shifting its business model, focusing on software for small businesses and expanding lending and credit services for consumers [5] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Block faces significant competition in the software space, particularly if it targets larger business customers, while smaller businesses may offer less lucrative opportunities [6] - The company's pivot towards lending services amid high inflation raises concerns about its viability [6] Group 4: Toast Overview - Toast serves the restaurant market, which aligns with Block's new focus on neighborhood businesses, and has an efficient customer acquisition strategy [8] - In 2024, Toast added a record 28,000 new restaurant locations, bringing the total to 134,000, resulting in a 28% increase in full-year revenue [9] Group 5: Toast's Financial Efficiency - Toast's sales and marketing expenses were less than 10% of its revenue, with a 17% increase in these expenses in 2024, indicating effective spending [10] - The company benefits from a flywheel effect, where existing customers help attract new ones, reducing marketing costs over time [11] Group 6: Profitability and Growth Potential - Toast's net income improved to $19 million in 2024 from a net loss of $246 million in 2023, indicating increasing profitability as it scales [12] - Management anticipates double-digit growth in 2025, and if this trend continues, Toast could potentially double its value in five years, matching Block's current valuation [13]

BOSTON, Feb. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Block & Leviton is investigating Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) for potential securities law violations. Investors who have lost money in their Rocket Lab USA, Inc. investment should contact the firm to learn more about how they might recover those losses. For more details, visit https://blockleviton.com/cases/rklb. What is this all about? Shares of Rocket Lab fell over 10% in intraday trading on February 25, following the release of a Bleecker Street Research ...

NEW YORK, Feb. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Levi & Korsinsky, LLP notifies investors in Block, Inc. ("Block" or the "Company") (NYSE: XYZ) of a class action securities lawsuit.CLASS DEFINITION: The lawsuit seeks to recover losses on behalf of Block investors who were adversely affected by alleged securities fraud between February 26, 2020 and April 30, 2024. Follow the link below to get more information and be contacted by a member of our team:https://zlk.com/pslra-1/block-inc-lawsuit-submission-form-2?prid=131 ...

Core Viewpoint - CGX Energy Inc. and Frontera Energy Corporation, as joint venture partners, assert the validity of their Petroleum Prospecting License for the Corentyne block offshore Guyana despite the Government's contradictory positions and purported termination of the License [1][2][3]. Group 1: License and Agreement Status - The Joint Venture has communicated to the Government that the License and the Petroleum Agreement remain valid and in force [2]. - The Joint Venture contests the Government's claims regarding the termination of the License and the grounds for such termination [2][3]. - The Joint Venture maintains that its interests in the Corentyne block are intact and the Petroleum Agreement has not been terminated [3]. Group 2: Future Actions and Investments - The Joint Venture is exploring all legal options to assert its rights concerning the License and the Petroleum Agreement [3]. - The Joint Venture aims to resolve the matter expeditiously and continue its investments to create value for both the people of Guyana and its shareholders [4]. Group 3: Company Overview - CGX Energy is a Canadian-based oil and gas exploration company focused on oil exploration in the Guyana-Suriname Basin and the development of a deep-water port in Berbice, Guyana [5].