Company Overview - StubHub made its debut on the New York Stock Exchange with shares opening at $25.35, generating approximately $800 million in revenue for the company [2][4] - The company primarily generates revenue by connecting ticket resellers with online buyers, competing with Ticketmaster's Live Nation Entertainment, Vivid Seats, and SeatGeek [3] Historical Context - StubHub was acquired by eBay in 2007 for about $310 million and was later sold to Viagogo in 2019 in a multi-billion dollar cash deal [4] - In the previous year, over one million sellers sold more than 40 million tickets on StubHub's platform [4] Regulatory Challenges - The District of Columbia's attorney general filed a lawsuit against StubHub, alleging deceptive practices regarding mandatory fees [5] - The Federal Trade Commission issued a warning letter to StubHub, emphasizing compliance with its "junk fee" rule and alleging that some listed tickets did not meet federal standards [5]

Core Insights - The fintech revolution has significantly changed consumer spending, borrowing, and money movement, highlighting companies like Affirm Holdings, Inc. and Block, Inc. as key players in digital payments [1][2] Affirm Holdings, Inc. - Affirm is a leader in the "buy now, pay later" (BNPL) sector, with active consumers reaching 23 million as of June 30, 2025, and partnerships with major retailers like Shopify, Costco, and Amazon [4][10] - The company reported a gross merchandise volume (GMV) increase of 43% year over year to $10.4 billion, with total revenues growing 33% to $876 million in the last quarter [5][10] - Affirm's long-term debt-to-capital ratio stands at 71.8%, indicating a need for balance sheet improvement, while management is focused on diversifying funding sources [6][7] - The company has a strong consumer engagement rate, with 95% of transactions being repeat purchases in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, and is expanding into international markets [5][7] - Analysts project Affirm's earnings per share (EPS) to increase by 473% in fiscal 2026, supported by strong revenue growth and market positioning [10][13] Block, Inc. - Block has diversified from its original Square POS systems into Cash App, BNPL through Afterpay, and Bitcoin-related revenue streams, but this diversification also introduces volatility [8][12] - In the June quarter of 2025, Block's BNPL GMV reached $9.1 billion, a 17% year-over-year increase, but it lags behind Affirm's growth [9][10] - Block's total net revenues decreased by 2% year over year, primarily due to lower Bitcoin contributions, while its adjusted operating margin was 22% compared to Affirm's 27% [11][12] - The company's cash flow to invested capital is at 5.7%, trailing Affirm's 7.7%, indicating less efficiency in converting invested funds into cash [12] - Analysts expect Block's EPS to decline by 23.7% in fiscal 2025, reflecting challenges in growth compared to Affirm [10][14] Market Performance - Affirm's stock has increased by 47.7% year-to-date, indicating strong investor confidence, while Block's stock has declined by 10.9% during the same period [15] - Affirm trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 7.03, reflecting its growth potential, while Block trades at a lower ratio of 1.76 [19] Conclusion - Affirm is positioned as a focused BNPL leader with strong growth prospects, while Block's diversified ecosystem presents both opportunities and risks due to its exposure to crypto and lower margins [21][22] - Affirm's better earnings growth estimates and efficiency levels suggest a more favorable risk-reward profile compared to Block [22]

Company Overview - StubHub, an online ticket reseller, successfully completed its IPO on September 17, 2025, with shares opening at $25.35 after pricing at $23.50, raising $800 million [1] - The company is now trading under the ticker symbol "STUB" [1] Market Context - The IPO is part of a broader trend of tech offerings as the market recovers from previous downturns, with other companies like Klarna and Gemini also recently debuting [2] - The market has seen a resurgence with several tech firms, including Bullish, Figma, and Circle, entering the public market in recent months [2] Historical Transactions - StubHub has undergone significant changes in ownership, initially being acquired by eBay for $310 million in 2007 and later reacquired by co-founder Eric Baker in 2020 for approximately $4 billion through Viagogo [3]

Company Overview - StubHub has successfully raised $800 million from its initial public offering (IPO) after pricing the deal at the midpoint of a marketed range [2][4] - The company sold 34 million shares at $23.50 each, with a price range set between $22 and $25, valuing StubHub at approximately $8.8 billion [3][4] - StubHub plans to start trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "STUB" [3] Market Context - The IPO market is experiencing a resurgence, with funds raised in 2025 already surpassing those in previous years, marking the highest level since 2021 [3][4] - Recent IPOs, including those from Klarna and Gemini, have shown positive market performance, although the track record of recent listings has been mixed compared to earlier months [4]

Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski is overhauling how he controls his roughly $1.1 billion stake in the financial technology firm https://t.co/21YRwnEYAe ...

Microcap fintech BNPL player Ovanti (ASX:OVT), currently a penny stock (which saw no change in price Wednesday and very low volumes), has revived its nearly 12-month-long plans to list on the Nasdaq, informing the market it continues to speak with multiple Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) operators.Listen to the HotCopper podcast for in-depth discussions and insights on all the biggest headlines from throughout the week. On Spotify, Apple, and more.SPACs are an American phenomenon that can be some ...

Core Viewpoint - StubHub Holdings Inc. successfully completed its IPO, raising $800 million at a share price of $23.50, achieving a market valuation of $8.64 billion, marking a significant milestone for the company and its co-founder Eric Baker [1][5]. Group 1: IPO Details - StubHub priced its IPO at the midpoint of its proposed range, selling 34 million shares with a valuation of $8.64 billion based on the IPO price [1]. - The IPO was underwritten by major banks including JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs, with shares expected to begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker "STUB" [5]. Group 2: Market Context - The U.S. IPO market has been active, raising approximately $4.7 billion since September 1, excluding SPACs, with several companies experiencing significant stock price increases on their debut [1]. - StubHub's IPO comes amid increased scrutiny of the ticketing industry, particularly regarding practices at Ticketmaster, which is under investigation by the FTC [3]. Group 3: Company Background and Financials - StubHub's IPO follows a long pursuit of going public, initially aiming for a valuation exceeding $13 billion, which was postponed due to unfavorable market conditions [2]. - For the six months ending June 30, StubHub reported revenue of $827.9 million and a net loss of $76 million, compared to $803.5 million in revenue and a net loss of $24 million in the same period last year [5]. - The company is expanding its new ticketing business, which currently represents a small portion of its overall sales, and has secured a multi-year partnership with Major League Baseball [2]. Group 4: Leadership and Ownership Structure - Co-founder Eric Baker, who previously founded Viagogo, retains significant control over StubHub post-IPO, holding 4.2% of Class A common stock and 88.3% of voting power through Class B shares [4]. - Other investors, including Madrone Partners LP and WestCap Management, will hold 2.7% and 1.3% of voting power, respectively, with both having board representation [4].

Core Insights - Klarna Group has recently gone public, pricing shares at $40 and raising approximately $1.37 billion, resulting in a valuation of around $15 billion [1][2] Company Overview - Klarna is a significant player in the buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) sector, which gained popularity during the pandemic by allowing consumers to make purchases without upfront payment, repaying in installments, often interest-free [3][5] - The company partners with merchants to attract new customers and provide repeat business, offering interest-free payments and a budgeting tool through its app [5][6] Financial Performance - In 2024, Klarna's gross merchandise volume (GMV) reached over $105 billion, reflecting a 14% year-over-year increase, following a 12% growth in 2023 [10] - For the second quarter of 2025, Klarna reported a 21% year-over-year GMV growth, with active consumers increasing by 31% to 111 million, while revenue was $823 million, also up 21% year-over-year [11][12] - Despite revenue growth, Klarna experienced a rise in net losses to $53 million, compared to a $2 million loss in the same quarter of 2024 [11] Competitive Landscape - Compared to Affirm Holdings, Klarna has a higher GMV of approximately $56.5 billion over the last two quarters, while Affirm's GMV was $19 billion [12] - Both companies generated similar revenue in the second quarter, with Klarna at $823 million and Affirm at $876 million, but they operate under different business models [12][13] Business Model and Sustainability - Klarna's revenue primarily comes from merchant fees, while Affirm relies on longer-term loans that often include interest [13] - Klarna's fee-heavy model focusing on interest-free loans may be more sustainable through economic cycles, although rising losses could necessitate stricter underwriting, potentially slowing GMV growth [14] Market Position - Klarna's stock trades at a little over 5 times annualized revenue, which is considered reasonable in the current market context [14] - Having a banking charter provides Klarna with an advantage over Affirm, which depends on selling loans to asset managers and private credit companies, a less sustainable funding source during economic downturns [15]

The StubHub logo is seen at its headquarters in San Francisco.Online ticket platform StubHub is pricing its IPO at $23.50, CNBC's Leslie Picker confirmed on Tuesday.The pricing comes at the midpoint of the expected range that the company gave last week. At $23.50, the pricing gives StubHub a valuation of $8.6 billion. StubHub will trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "STUB." The San Francisco-based company was co-founded by Eric Baker in 2000, and was acquired by eBay for $310 million seven ...

Business Model & Market Positioning - Klarna views itself as more than just a buy now pay later service, aiming to be a comprehensive payment solution similar to a PayPal wallet, with 20% of transactions being debit payments [1] - Klarna is expanding its services to include a new card and mobile phone plans, reflecting its ambition to diversify beyond buy now pay later [6] - Klarna believes it can offer more affordable and better products in the US market compared to existing options, leveraging its experience in the European market with lower rates [7] Risk & Customer Behavior - Concerns exist regarding the potential for customers to overextend themselves with buy now pay later services [2][4] - A recent survey indicates that 41% of buy now pay later users have paid late at least once in the past year, an increase from 34% the previous year [5] - Klarna states its losses are 20-30% lower than credit card companies, suggesting a healthier product despite being a form of credit [3] - Klarna's customers typically repay their loans in 50-60 days on average [5] Financial Performance & Valuation - Klarna's valuation is now over $16 billion after going public [6] Competitive Advantage - Klarna emphasizes its ability to adapt quickly to economic changes, positioning itself as nimble in uncertain economic times [6]