Industry Overview - Financial technology (fintech) is a transformative investment space merging finance and technology, offering services like online banking, peer-to-peer payments, insurance, cryptocurrency, and cybersecurity [1] - The fintech space is expected to benefit from expanding transaction volumes due to the widespread adoption of digital means, accelerated by the pandemic [2] - The innovative nature of fintech positions it for significant growth, driven by consumer behavior shifting towards digital platforms for convenience and cost-effectiveness [4] Catalysts for Growth - The performance of the fintech sector is inversely related to interest rates; a recent reduction in the Federal Reserve's benchmark interest rates is expected to benefit fintech companies [3] - The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning is revolutionizing banking, payments, and investments, providing efficient and secure financial solutions [5] Recommended Stocks - Five fintech stocks are recommended for long-term investment: Affirm Holdings Inc. (AFRM), StoneCo Ltd. (STNE), ACI Worldwide Inc. (ACIW), Coinbase Global Inc. (COIN), and OppFi Inc. (OPFI) [2][6] Company-Specific Insights Affirm Holdings Inc. (AFRM) - Affirm has strong revenue growth from diverse income streams, expecting revenues of $3.13-$3.19 billion in fiscal 2025, driven by growing active merchant numbers and improving gross merchandise value [7] - Key partnerships, including those with Apple Pay and Hotels.com, are crucial for Affirm's expansion, including a recent entry into the UK market [8] - Affirm's expected revenue and earnings growth rates are 36.9% and 96.4%, respectively, with a 60% improvement in earnings estimates over the last 30 days [9] - The average short-term price target indicates a potential increase of 70.6% from the last closing price of $40.76, suggesting a maximum upside of 111% [10] StoneCo Ltd. (STNE) - StoneCo is a leading provider of point-of-sale payment processing services, enabling businesses to accept various payment methods [11] - The company offers a full suite of products for e-commerce transactions and client management, utilizing transaction data for credit assessment [12] - StoneCo's expected revenue and earnings growth rates are 4.1% and -6.7%, respectively, with a 9.6% improvement in earnings estimates over the last 30 days [13] - The average short-term price target suggests a potential increase of 12.2% from the last closing price of $11.83, indicating a maximum upside of 86% [13] ACI Worldwide Inc. (ACIW) - ACI Worldwide provides software solutions for digital payments, powering electronic payments for over 5,000 organizations globally, including major financial institutions [15][16] - The company offers real-time payment capabilities and a comprehensive omni-channel payments experience [17] - ACIW's expected revenue and earnings growth rates are 6.8% and 6.1%, respectively, with a 2.6% improvement in earnings estimates over the last 30 days [18] - The average short-term price target indicates a potential increase of 22.9% from the last closing price of $51.31, suggesting a maximum upside of 38.4% [18] Coinbase Global Inc. (COIN) - Coinbase provides financial infrastructure for the crypto economy, offering a user-friendly platform for consumers and sophisticated trading features for experienced users [19][20] - The expected revenue and earnings growth rates for Coinbase are 26.2% and 0.7%, respectively, with a 2.7% improvement in earnings estimates over the last 30 days [21] - The average short-term price target indicates a potential increase of 62.7% from the last closing price of $172.21, suggesting a maximum upside of 179.1% [22] OppFi Inc. (OPFI) - OppFi operates a financial technology platform that helps banks provide credit access to consumers, focusing on those turned away by mainstream options [23] - The expected revenue and earnings growth rates for OppFi are 9.7% and 12.6%, respectively, with a 10.3% improvement in earnings estimates over the last 60 days [25] - The average short-term price target indicates a potential increase of 38.4% from the last closing price of $8.35, suggesting a maximum upside of 55.7% [25]

Industry Overview - The Internet Software and Services sector is experiencing growth due to increased IT spending on hybrid operating environments and the high penetration of mobile devices, prompting businesses to invest in web-based infrastructure, applications, and security software [1][3] - The Internet Software industry is ranked in the top 37% of Zacks Industry Rank, indicating an expectation to outperform the market in the next three to six months [2] Growth Drivers - The industry is benefiting from the global digital transformation and the rapid adoption of Software as a Service (SaaS), which provides flexible and cost-effective application delivery [3] - There is a growing demand for web-based cybersecurity software due to the need to secure cloud platforms against cyber-attacks, leading to increased demand for performance management monitoring tools [5] Company Highlights Affirm Holdings Inc. (AFRM) - Affirm is projected to achieve revenues between $3.13 billion and $3.19 billion in fiscal 2025, driven by growing active merchant numbers and partnerships with companies like Apple Pay [11] - The expected revenue and earnings growth rates for Affirm are 36.9% and 96.4%, respectively, for the current year, with a short-term price target indicating a potential upside of 112.4% from the last closing price of $40.49 [12][13] Five9 Inc. (FIVN) - Five9 offers intelligent cloud software for contact centers, benefiting from the adoption of AI tools, with a focus on personalized AI agents [14][16] - The expected revenue and earnings growth rates for Five9 are 9.8% and 5.7%, respectively, with a short-term price target suggesting a maximum upside of 190.4% from the last closing price of $23.07 [17] Unity Software Inc. (U) - Unity provides a platform for creating interactive, real-time 3D content across various devices, catering to developers and content creators [18][19] - The expected revenue and earnings growth rates for Unity are -2% and 31%, respectively, with a short-term price target indicating a potential upside of 82% from the last closing price of $19.23 [20][21] Olo Inc. (OLO) - Olo operates an open SaaS platform for restaurants, facilitating digital ordering and payment solutions, enhancing guest experiences [22][23] - The expected revenue and earnings growth rates for Olo are 17.5% and 40.9%, respectively, with a short-term price target suggesting a maximum upside of 62.1% from the last closing price of $6.17 [25] StoneCo Ltd. (STNE) - StoneCo provides financial technology solutions for electronic commerce in Brazil, distributing through proprietary Stone Hubs [26] - The expected revenue and earnings growth rates for StoneCo are 4.1% and -6.7%, respectively, with a short-term price target indicating a potential upside of 90.8% from the last closing price of $11.53 [27][28]

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Core Insights - StoneCo Ltd. is positioned to potentially continue its earnings-beat streak in the upcoming report, having achieved an average surprise of 15.63% over the last two quarters [1][5]. Earnings Performance - In the last reported quarter, StoneCo posted earnings of $0.39 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.32 per share, resulting in a surprise of 21.88% [2]. - In the previous quarter, the company was expected to earn $0.32 per share but delivered $0.35 per share, achieving a surprise of 9.38% [2]. Earnings Estimates and Predictions - There has been a favorable change in earnings estimates for StoneCo, with a positive Earnings ESP of +5.17%, indicating bullish sentiment among analysts regarding the company's earnings prospects [5][8]. - The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) suggests a high likelihood of another earnings beat in the upcoming report, expected on May 8, 2025 [8]. Statistical Insights - Research indicates that stocks with a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) or better have a nearly 70% chance of producing a positive surprise [6]. - The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate, with the Most Accurate Estimate reflecting the latest analyst revisions [7].

Group 1 - StoneCo Ltd. will announce its first quarter 2025 financial results on May 08, 2025, after market close [1] - A conference call to discuss the results will take place on the same day at 5:00 PM ET [1] - The company will enter a Quiet Period related to its first quarter 2025 financial results starting April 24, 2025 [3] Group 2 - Stone is a leading provider of financial technology and software solutions that enable merchants to conduct commerce seamlessly across multiple channels [4]

StoneCo Ltd. (STNE) could be a solid choice for investors given the company's remarkably improving earnings outlook. While the stock has been a strong performer lately, this trend might continue since analysts are still raising their earnings estimates for the company.The upward trend in estimate revisions for this company reflects growing optimism of analysts on its earnings prospects, which should get reflected in its stock price. After all, empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in ...

Core Viewpoint - StoneCo Ltd. has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), indicating a positive outlook on its earnings estimates, which significantly influence stock prices [1][3]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Price Impact - The Zacks rating system emphasizes the importance of earnings estimate revisions, which are strongly correlated with near-term stock price movements [4][6]. - Rising earnings estimates for StoneCo suggest an improvement in the company's underlying business, likely leading to increased stock prices [5][10]. Zacks Rating System - The Zacks Rank system classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with Zacks Rank 1 stocks historically generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [7]. - Only the top 5% of Zacks-covered stocks receive a 'Strong Buy' rating, indicating superior earnings estimate revisions [9][10]. Recent Earnings Estimate Revisions for StoneCo - For the fiscal year ending December 2025, StoneCo is expected to earn $1.26 per share, reflecting a -6.7% change from the previous year [8]. - Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for StoneCo has increased by 5.3%, indicating positive sentiment among analysts [8].

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the investment positions and recommendations of The Motley Fool, particularly focusing on StoneCo, highlighting its potential as an investment opportunity [1] Company Analysis - The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends StoneCo, indicating a positive outlook on the company's performance and growth potential [1] - Parkev Tatevosian, CFA, is affiliated with The Motley Fool, suggesting that his insights may align with the company's investment strategies [1] Disclosure and Compensation - The article mentions that Parkev Tatevosian may be compensated for promoting The Motley Fool's services, which could influence his opinions [1] - The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy, ensuring transparency regarding its investment positions and recommendations [1]

Group 1: Stock Performance and Price Targets - StoneCo Ltd. (STNE) closed at $10.62, with a 14.7% gain over the past four weeks, and a mean price target of $13.41 indicating a 26.3% upside potential [1] - The average of 10 short-term price targets ranges from a low of $6 to a high of $22, with a standard deviation of $5.05, suggesting variability in analyst estimates [2] - The lowest estimate indicates a potential decline of 43.5%, while the most optimistic estimate suggests a 107.2% upside [2] Group 2: Analyst Consensus and Earnings Estimates - Analysts show strong agreement on the company's ability to report better earnings than previously predicted, which supports the view of potential upside [4] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has increased by 3.2% due to one estimate moving higher over the last 30 days without any negative revisions [11] - STNE holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), placing it in the top 20% of over 4,000 ranked stocks based on earnings estimates [12] Group 3: Price Target Reliability and Analyst Behavior - Price targets set by analysts are often questioned for their reliability, as empirical research indicates they rarely predict actual stock price movements [6][9] - Analysts may set overly optimistic price targets due to business incentives related to their firms' interests in the companies they cover [7] - A low standard deviation in price targets indicates a high degree of agreement among analysts regarding the stock's price movement direction, serving as a starting point for further research [8]

Group 1 - StoneCo Ltd. (STNE) has reached an important support level and surpassed resistance at the 200-day moving average, indicating a long-term bullish trend [1][2] - STNE has moved 19.8% higher over the last four weeks, suggesting potential for further gains [2] - The company is currently rated as a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), reflecting positive market sentiment [2] Group 2 - Earnings estimate revisions for STNE show one upward revision and no downward revisions for the current fiscal year, indicating a positive outlook [3] - The consensus earnings estimate for STNE has also increased, further supporting the bullish sentiment [3] - Investors are encouraged to monitor STNE for potential gains due to its key technical levels and favorable earnings revisions [3]