BLOCK(SQ) The Motley Fool·2025-03-01 08:32Core 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 6.29 billion; Square revenue rose 9% to 4.02 billion [3] - Gross profits rose 14% to 924 million and Cash App gross profits jumping 16% to 0.71 but fell short of the 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]