
Core Insights - Affirm Holdings, Inc. (AFRM) and SoFi Technologies, Inc. (SOFI) are prominent players in the fintech sector, targeting Gen Z, millennials, and older consumers with technology-driven financial solutions [1][2] - Affirm focuses on point-of-sale financing through a buy now, pay later (BNPL) model, while SoFi offers a broader platform that includes lending, investing, banking, and tech infrastructure [1][2] Affirm's Performance - Affirm reported $783.1 million in revenues for Q3 fiscal 2025, a 36% year-over-year increase, and achieved an adjusted EPS of $0.01, surpassing estimates [3][9] - The company raised its full-year revenue guidance to $3.163-$3.193 billion, up from the previous range of $3.13-$3.19 billion [3] - Affirm's growth is supported by expanding merchant partnerships and a growing international presence, with an expected adjusted operating margin of 23-23.6% for fiscal 2025 [4][5] - The company is leveraging AI to enhance productivity and customer interactions, and it has completed 24 asset-backed securitizations totaling $12.25 billion [6][7] SoFi's Performance - SoFi achieved record revenue of $770.7 million in Q1 2025, a 33% increase from the previous year, with net income rising over 200% to $71.5 million [8][10] - The platform added over 800,000 new users, bringing total membership to 10.9 million, and its adjusted EBITDA reached $210.3 million with a 27% margin [8][10] - However, SoFi's reliance on unsecured personal loans, which constitute nearly 70% of its lending portfolio, raises concerns about credit risk, especially with a borrower-level delinquency rate of 3.49% [11][12] Liquidity and Financial Health - Affirm's current ratio stands at 11.5, indicating strong liquidity, while SoFi's current ratio is below average at 0.8, suggesting limited flexibility to meet near-term obligations [9][12] - SoFi's current liabilities amount to $27.9 billion, with only $2.7 billion in cash as of March 31, 2025 [12] Growth Estimates - Zacks estimates indicate Affirm's fiscal 2025 sales and EPS are expected to grow by 37% and 101.8%, respectively, while SoFi's sales and EPS are projected to rise by 26.2% and 80% [13] - Affirm's earnings momentum is stronger compared to SoFi, with EPS estimates trending upward for both companies [13] Price Performance - Year-to-date, AFRM shares have increased by 9.8%, while SOFI shares have grown by 8.9%, outperforming the S&P 500 Index's 2.9% growth [16] - Affirm has shown stronger short-term momentum with a 1-month gain of 32% compared to SoFi's 25.9% [16] Valuation Comparison - Affirm is trading at 5.49X forward 12-month P/S, slightly higher than SoFi's 5.15X, reflecting investor confidence in Affirm's rapid scaling and profitability [19] - SoFi's broader but more complex business model is valued more conservatively, potentially due to operational diversification and execution risks [19] Conclusion - Both Affirm and SoFi are innovative fintech companies with strong growth narratives, but Affirm currently exhibits more growth potential due to its profitability, revenue growth, and disciplined execution [22][23] - Affirm's integration of AI, risk-managed lending, and robust capital partner network support its scalability, while SoFi faces challenges related to credit concentration risk and liquidity pressures [22][23]