Key Takeaways StoneCo deposits hit R$8.3B in Q1, up 38% year over year, fueled by rising Pix usage and strategic bundling. STNE's cash sweep strategy could add 75-125 bps annually per R$1B in deposits converted to time deposits. StoneCo's deposit growth enhances retention, credit funding, and cushions interest rate volatility impact.In the first quarter of 2025, StoneCo Ltd.’s (STNE) deposit growth was fueled by rising Pix (Brazilian instant payment ecosystem) usage, strategic bundling and its cash sweep ...

Despite significant volatility caused by the environment, StoneCo ( STNE ) nearly tripled its revenue from 2020 and also became profitable, in not the best scenario. Now, the company targets a significant ramp-up in profit which could potentially makeAs of 2025, I've got over 10 years of researching companies. In total, throughout my investing life, I estimate that I researched (in depth) well over 1000 companies, from commodities like oil, natural gas, gold and copper to tech like Google or Nokia and many ...

Key Takeaways StoneCo repriced nearly all clients in Q1 to align pricing with Brazil's 15% yield curve. STNE's gross profit rose 19% and EPS jumped 36%, both exceeding full-year guidance due to repricing. STNE's Financial Services revenues grew 20%, driven by repricing, with stable MSMB market share.In the first quarter of 2025, StoneCo Ltd. (STNE) strategically executed a broad repricing initiative aimed at preserving profitability in the face of higher interest rates and a widened yield curve from late ...

Key Takeaways STNE surged 54.9% in 3 months, outpacing PagSeguro, DLocal and the broader software industry. StoneCo's repricing strategy drove Q1 gross profit up 19% and EPS up 36%, beating annual growth targets. STNE saw PIX transactions jump 95%, now monetized to boost deposits and reduce card reliance.StoneCo Ltd. (STNE) , a leading provider of financial technology solutions in Brazil, stands to benefit significantly from the global fintech market’s accelerating growth. As the market, valued at $340.10 ...

Market Overview - The three major U.S. indexes ended the holiday-shortened trading week in the red, with the Nasdaq Composite declining by 0.44%, and both the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average losing 0.17% each, attributed to renewed trade tensions with the European Union and China [1] - The Federal Reserve's May meeting minutes indicate that new foreign trade tariff policies could lead to persistent inflation, hinder economic growth, and diminish global confidence in U.S. assets [2] Economic Indicators - The second estimate of Q1 2025 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) showed a contraction at an annual rate of 0.2%, an improvement from the initial estimate of a 0.3% decline, marking the first drop in three years [2] - The labor market remains resilient but shows slight signs of weakening, with jobless aid rising to 240,000 for the week ending May 24th, and Continuing Jobless Claims increasing to 1.92 million [2] Stock Performance - Banco Comercial Português (BPCGY) shares gained 13.9% since being upgraded to Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) on March 31, outperforming the S&P 500's 6.1% increase [3] - PDS Biotechnology Corporation (PDSB) also saw a return of 9.5% since its upgrade to Zacks Rank 2 on March 31 [4] - A hypothetical portfolio of Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) stocks returned -8.32% in 2025 (through May 5), compared to -5.35% for the S&P 500 index [4] Zacks Recommendations - StoneCo Ltd. (STNE) and BlackBerry Limited (BB) advanced 30.9% and 26.1% respectively since their Zacks Recommendation upgrades to Outperform on April 9 and March 4 [7] - The Zacks Focus List portfolio has returned -3.23% through April 30, 2025, compared to -4.92% for the S&P 500 index [11] - The Zacks Earnings Certain Admiral Portfolio (ECAP) returned +3.20% in Q1 2025, outperforming the S&P 500 index's -4.30% decline [15] Long-term Performance - The Zacks Focus List portfolio has produced an annualized return of +11.33% since 2004, compared to +9.95% for the S&P 500 index [13] - The Top 10 portfolio has delivered a cumulative return of +1832.3% since 2012, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 index's +434.2% return [23]

Core Viewpoint - Investors in the Internet - Software sector should consider StoneCo Ltd. (STNE) and Informatica Inc. (INFA) for potential value opportunities, with STNE currently showing stronger performance metrics [1]. Valuation Metrics - STNE has a forward P/E ratio of 9.37, significantly lower than INFA's forward P/E of 20.91 [5]. - The PEG ratio for STNE is 0.36, indicating a more favorable valuation compared to INFA's PEG ratio of 2.75 [5]. - STNE's P/B ratio stands at 1.96, while INFA has a P/B ratio of 3.20, further highlighting STNE's relative undervaluation [6]. Analyst Outlook - STNE holds a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), indicating a positive earnings estimate revision activity, while INFA has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [3]. - The stronger estimate revision activity for STNE suggests a more favorable analyst outlook compared to INFA [7]. Value Grades - STNE has a Value grade of B, whereas INFA has a Value grade of D, reflecting the overall assessment of their valuation metrics [6].

Core Insights - StoneCo (NASDAQ: STNE) has experienced a significant rebound in the first five months of the year, primarily driven by the strong performance of Brazilian equities and earnings that exceeded market expectations [1] Company Performance - The company's earnings have aligned well with market expectations, contributing to its positive performance [1] Market Context - The overall strong performance of Brazilian equities has supported StoneCo's rebound, indicating a favorable market environment for the company [1]

Core Insights - StoneCo and Block are highlighted as leading fintech companies in 2025, focusing on integrated payment and financial services for small- and medium-sized merchants [1] StoneCo Performance - StoneCo reported a strong first quarter in 2025, with adjusted earnings exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 6.3% and a year-over-year improvement of 17.2% [2] - The company achieved a 19% increase in gross profit, driven by effective repricing and lower average funding spreads, showcasing a disciplined approach to profitability [2] - Year-to-date, StoneCo shares surged 67.3%, significantly outperforming the Internet-Software industry's 14.7% gain and the S&P 500's 0.8% rise [5] - StoneCo's first-quarter revenue growth was 19% year-over-year, with Financial Services revenues up 20% and Software revenue rising 11% [8] - Adjusted EPS increased by 17.2%, with basic EPS surging 36% year-over-year, supported by disciplined cost control and margin expansion [9] - The company has returned approximately R$1 billion year-to-date through aggressive share repurchases, with a total of R$2.4 billion in buybacks over the past 12 months [10] Block Performance - Block reported a 28% increase in adjusted operating income and a 15% rise in adjusted EBITDA in the first quarter of 2025 [3] - The Square segment saw a 9% increase in gross profit, supported by gross payment volume growth of 8.2% on a constant currency basis [11] - Block generated $1.53 billion in adjusted free cash flow over the trailing 12 months, up from $1.07 billion a year ago, and repurchased $600 million in stock through April 2025 [15] - Cash App is focusing on user growth and expanding its network, with plans to scale Cash App Borrow after receiving FDIC approval [12] Valuation Comparison - StoneCo is trading at a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 8.75, while Block's forward earnings multiple is at 19.79, both appearing undervalued compared to the industry's forward P/E of 37.59 [17] - StoneCo is considered a more compelling investment opportunity compared to Block, which has mixed investor sentiment due to Cash App's near-term softness and premium valuation [19][20]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the reliability of brokerage recommendations, particularly focusing on StoneCo Ltd. (STNE), and emphasizes the importance of using these recommendations in conjunction with other analytical tools like the Zacks Rank for making informed investment decisions [1][5][10]. Group 1: Brokerage Recommendations - StoneCo currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.67, indicating a consensus between Strong Buy and Buy, based on recommendations from nine brokerage firms [2]. - Out of the nine recommendations, seven are classified as Strong Buy, which accounts for 77.8% of all recommendations [2]. - Despite the favorable ABR, the article cautions against making investment decisions solely based on this metric due to the historical ineffectiveness of brokerage recommendations in predicting stock price increases [5][10]. Group 2: Zacks Rank vs. ABR - The Zacks Rank is presented as a more reliable indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, driven by earnings estimate revisions, and is classified into five groups from Strong Buy to Strong Sell [8][11]. - Unlike the ABR, which is based solely on brokerage recommendations and may not be up-to-date, the Zacks Rank reflects timely changes in earnings estimates, making it a more effective tool for predicting future price movements [9][12]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for StoneCo has increased by 13.2% over the past month, indicating growing optimism among analysts regarding the company's earnings prospects [13]. Group 3: Investment Implications - The recent increase in the consensus estimate and other related factors have resulted in a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) for StoneCo, suggesting a strong potential for stock appreciation [14]. - The Buy-equivalent ABR for StoneCo may serve as a useful guide for investors when combined with the Zacks Rank [14].

Core Viewpoint - StoneCo Ltd. has experienced a significant share price increase of approximately 68.5% year to date, outperforming the broader Internet-Software industry and the S&P 500 benchmark, which saw gains of about 7.3% and 1.2%, respectively [1][4]. Financial Performance - The company has achieved three consecutive quarters of earnings beats, with the latest adjusted earnings per share reported at 34 cents, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 6.3% [1][3]. - Financial Services revenues grew by 20% year over year in the first quarter of 2025, up from 11% in the previous quarter, indicating a positive trend in profitability [7]. - The Software segment contributed to profitability with an 11% revenue growth, driven by higher recurring subscriptions and an expanding client base, leading to a 12% increase in adjusted EBITDA [8]. Strategic Initiatives - StoneCo's strategic repricing initiatives and capital return programs, including over R$2.4 billion in share buybacks over the past year, have enhanced investor confidence [2][10]. - The company repurchased R$843 million in shares in the first quarter of 2025, contributing to a return on equity (ROE) increase for the Financial Services segment to 27%, up from 23% a year ago [10]. Market Position - StoneCo has outperformed other fintech companies such as PagSeguro Digital and DLocal Limited, which gained 44.4% and 4.7% year to date, respectively [4]. - The stock closed at $13.42, which is 11.9% below its 52-week high of $15.23, indicating potential for future growth [6]. Valuation Metrics - StoneCo's stock is currently trading at a price/earnings ratio of 8.84X forward earnings, significantly lower than its five-year high of 87.87X and below the industry average of 37.72 [13]. - The stock's Value Score of B suggests a discounted valuation, making it an attractive investment opportunity [13]. Industry Outlook - The global fintech market is projected to grow at a robust CAGR of 16.2% from 2025 to 2032, positioning StoneCo to capitalize on broader industry tailwinds [17]. - The company's focus on margin-rich transactions and disciplined share buyback strategy signals strong momentum ahead, enhancing long-term shareholder value [17].