Core Insights - StoneCo Ltd. is expected to report second-quarter 2025 results on August 7, with anticipated year-over-year growth in revenues and earnings per share (EPS) [1][9] Financial Performance - In the previous quarter, StoneCo reported an EPS of 34 cents, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 32 cents, with total revenues and income showing year-over-year increases [2] - The total Payments Active Client base reached 4.4 million, reflecting a 4.3% sequential growth [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly revenues is projected at $653.1 million, indicating a 6.2% increase from the same period last year [7] Growth Drivers - The second-quarter performance is likely to benefit from strong momentum in financial services and software sectors [3] - Key growth drivers include robust MSMB (Micro, Small and Medium-sized Businesses) offerings, which are expected to contribute positively to financial results [4] - Expansion in credit offerings and enhancements in banking solutions for small and medium-sized businesses are anticipated to boost banking revenues [5] Operational Efficiency - The company's focus on cost management is expected to enhance profitability and operational efficiency, driving significant operating leverage [6] - Despite these positive factors, increased competition from banks serving Small and Medium Enterprises may pose challenges [6] Earnings Predictions - The EPS estimate has been revised upward by 2 cents to 36 cents, suggesting a 20% increase from the prior-year quarter [7] - The company has an Earnings ESP of +12.68% and a Zacks Rank of 1, indicating a strong likelihood of an EPS beat [8]

Key Takeaways The U.S. market slid slightly yesterday as investors weighed fresh earnings reports, economic data and tariff news. President Trump will be announcing new tariffs on semiconductor and pharmaceutical imports soon, adding to existing trade tensions. In this uncertain environment—marked by geopolitical risks and policy shifts —value investing stands out as a smart strategy. Value investing means buying stocks that are priced below what they are really worth. It works on the idea that markets ofte ...

Group 1: Core Insights - Several tech stocks are gaining attention for their affordability and strong buy ratings, supported by positive earnings estimate revisions [1][2] - The Zacks Internet-Software Industry is in the top 32% of over 240 Zacks industries, highlighting the potential for growth among its companies [3] Group 2: Company Highlights - Udemy (UDMY) has shown increased profitability, with annual earnings expected to rise 194% in fiscal 2025 to $0.47 per share, and projected EPS growth of 24% in FY26 [5][6] - StoneCo (STNE) is trading under $15 per share with a forward earnings multiple of 8.5X, and is expected to see EPS growth of 10% this year and 16% in FY26 [7][8] - Hewlett Packard (HPE) is trading under $20 per share with a forward earnings multiple of 10X, and has surpassed $1 billion in AI systems revenue, with projected top-line growth of over 14% in FY25 and FY26 [9][10] Group 3: Financial Metrics - Udemy's EPS estimates for FY25 and FY26 are $0.47 and $0.58 respectively, with a year-over-year growth estimate of 193.75% for FY25 [6] - StoneCo's annual sales exceed $2 billion, with EPS expected to rise to $1.73 in FY26 [7] - Hewlett Packard's annualized revenue run rate for AI systems reached $2.2 billion, with EPS projected to rebound to $2.30 in FY26 [10][13]

Group 1: Mitsui & Co. - Mitsui & Co. operates more than 860 subsidiaries and associated companies across various sectors including chemicals, foodstuffs, and real estate [1] - The company has a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) and a 6% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current year earnings over the last 60 days [1] - Mitsui & Co. has a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 11.16, lower than the industry average of 12.00, and possesses a Value Score of A [2] Group 2: StoneCo - StoneCo provides a cloud-based technology platform for electronic commerce across in-store, online, and mobile channels [2] - The company holds a Zacks Rank of 1 and has seen a 5.7% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current year earnings over the last 60 days [2] - StoneCo has a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 8.44, significantly lower than the industry average of 29.80, and has a Value Score of B [3] Group 3: SB Financial Group - SB Financial Group is a financial services holding company offering a full range of services including wealth management and commercial lending [3] - The company has a Zacks Rank of 1 and a 9.9% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current year earnings over the last 60 days [3] - SB Financial Group has a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 8.51, compared to the industry average of 9.70, and possesses a Value Score of B [4]

Core Viewpoint - StoneCo Ltd. (STNE) has experienced significant selling pressure, resulting in a 22.3% decline over the past four weeks, but analysts anticipate better earnings than previously predicted, indicating potential for recovery [1]. Group 1: Technical Analysis - The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is a momentum oscillator that helps identify whether a stock is oversold, with readings below 30 indicating oversold conditions [2]. - STNE's current RSI reading of 27.46 suggests that the heavy selling may be exhausting, indicating a potential bounce back towards equilibrium in supply and demand [5]. Group 2: Fundamental Analysis - There is a strong consensus among sell-side analysts to raise earnings estimates for STNE, with a 3.5% increase in the consensus EPS estimate over the last 30 days, which typically correlates with price appreciation [7]. - STNE holds a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), placing it in the top 5% of over 4,000 ranked stocks based on earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises, further supporting the potential for a near-term turnaround [8].

Investors often turn to recommendations made by Wall Street analysts before making a Buy, Sell, or Hold decision about a stock. While media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm employed (or sell- side) analysts often affect a stock's price, do they really matter? Before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage, let's see what these Wall Street heavyweights think about StoneCo Ltd. (STNE) . StoneCo currently has an average brokerage recomme ...

Key Takeaways STNE is refocusing on MSMB financial services and divesting key software assets like Linx for R$3.41 billion.UPST automated 92% of Q1 loans and saw 42% sequential growth in auto originations.STNE trades at 1.39X forward P/S vs. UPST's 6.64X, with STNE seen as more attractively valued.As the global fintech market accelerates toward a projected $1.12 trillion by 2032, per the Fortune Business Insights report, investors are eyeing disruptors that can scale profitably while navigating evolving reg ...

Core Insights - StoneCo Ltd. is strategically divesting a significant portion of its software segment, which accounts for 79% of its software segment revenues in 2024, to focus on core financial services and micro, small, and medium businesses (MSMB) [1][9] Group 1: Strategic Moves - The proposed sale of Linx and related software assets to TOTVS for R$3.41 billion has been agreed upon, alongside the sale of SimplesVet to PetLove for R$140 million [2] - This divestiture is expected to enhance operating efficiency and profit margins as StoneCo aims to become Brazil's leading platform for MSMBs [3] Group 2: Financial Performance - In Q1 2025, StoneCo's MSMB total payment volume (TPV) increased by 17% year over year to R$119.5 billion, driven by effective repricing efforts and expanding product adoption [3][9] - The client base for MSMBs grew by 17% to 4.3 million active clients [3] Group 3: Growth Strategies - The bundling strategy has proven successful, with clients using three or more products increasing to 38%, up from 26% a year ago, indicating effective cross-selling of integrated payments, credit, and banking services [4] - The banking segment is also expanding rapidly, with total retail deposits rising by 38% to R$8.3 billion [4] Group 4: Market Trends - The PIX instant payment system has become a significant monetization lever, with transaction volumes increasing by 95% year over year, enhancing client deposits and engagement [5] - StoneCo projects MSMB TPV to exceed R$670 billion by 2027, reflecting a 14% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2024 levels [5] Group 5: Competitive Landscape - PagSeguro Digital Ltd. reported that MSMB TPV grew by 11.2% year over year to R$95.2 billion, with a focus on higher-value MSMBs [6] - MercadoLibre's Mercado Pago saw TPV rise by 43% year over year to $58.3 billion, with a 30%+ increase in monthly fintech users [7] Group 6: Stock Performance and Valuation - StoneCo's shares have surged by 76.5% year to date, outperforming the broader industry and the S&P 500 Index [8] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 EPS suggests a year-over-year growth of 10.4%, while the estimate for 2026 indicates a 16.1% increase [10] - StoneCo's shares are currently trading at a forward 12-month P/E of 8.66X, significantly below the industry average of 40.07X, indicating a potentially undervalued position [12]

Core Viewpoint - StoneCo Ltd. has announced significant divestments in its software segment to unlock shareholder value and streamline operations, allowing management to focus on core growth strategies [1][2]. Group 1: Divestment Details - The divested assets accounted for approximately 79% of the software segment's revenue and 71% of its profitability in 2024, representing 9% of StoneCo's total revenues and 6% of its profitability [2]. - The sale of Linx and related software assets to TOTVS is valued at R$3.05 billion, plus an estimated R$360 million in net cash, totaling R$3.41 billion [2]. - The scope of the Linx sale includes software for various verticals such as education, retail, and healthcare [3]. - The sale of SimplesVet to PetLove is valued at R$140 million, representing approximately 4x revenue, and has already received regulatory approval [5]. Group 2: Remaining Software Businesses - The remaining software businesses not included in the divestments generated R$326 million in revenues and R$32 million in Adjusted EBITDA in 2024, and will be evaluated for strategic fit and long-term value [6]. Group 3: Use of Proceeds - StoneCo plans to disclose detailed plans for the use of proceeds from the divestments upon transaction closing, with an expectation to return excess capital to shareholders when immediate growth opportunities are not available [8].

Core Insights - StoneCo Ltd. is strategically focusing on the micro, small, and medium business (MSMB) segment in Brazil's digital payments landscape, reporting a 17% year-over-year growth in MSMB total payment volume (TPV) to R$119.5 billion in Q1 2025 [1][7] - The company’s bundling strategy has led to a significant increase in heavy users, rising to 38% from 26% year-over-year, indicating strong cross-sell momentum [2][7] - StoneCo projects a continued growth trajectory with MSMB TPV expected to exceed R$670 billion by 2027, reflecting a 14% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) [3][7] Company Performance - StoneCo's active MSMB client base increased by 17% year-over-year to 4.3 million, demonstrating robust traction despite macroeconomic challenges [1][7] - The company has seen a 95% year-over-year growth in PIX transactions, which are replacing traditional debit transactions and enhancing client deposits [2] - StoneCo's shares have surged 71.5% year-to-date, outperforming the broader industry and the S&P 500 Index [6] Peer Comparison - PagSeguro Digital Ltd. reported an 11.2% year-over-year increase in MSMB TPV to R$95.2 billion, with MSMB segment accounting for 74% of its total TPV in Q1 2025 [4] - MercadoLibre, Inc. achieved a total payment volume of $58.3 billion, up 43% year-over-year, with significant growth in active fintech users [5] Financial Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for StoneCo's 2025 EPS suggests a 10.37% growth year-over-year, while the 2026 estimate indicates a 16.11% increase [8] - StoneCo's current forward 12-month P/E ratio is 8.42X, significantly below the industry average of 40.18X, indicating a potentially undervalued stock [10]