How Block’s CTO Is Working To Reinvent Jack Dorsey’s Payments Company For The AI EraBlock is working to transform its payments company for the AI era under the leadership of Dhanji Prasanna, who is recognized on the Forbes 2025 CIO Next list. Prasanna oversaw the development of Goose, an open-source AI agent utilized by Anthropic, Databricks, and Stripe.Read more: https://t.co/OTEDuuzC6H #ForbesCIO (Illustration By Oriana Fenwick For Forbes) ...

Core Insights - The article compiles significant research calls from Wall Street that are influencing market movements and investor decisions [1] Upgrades Summary - Truist upgraded Block (XYZ) to Hold from Sell with a price target of $68, increased from $67, citing improved risk/reward dynamics following a recent share pullback, despite concerns over credit risk and growth in Cash App Borrow [2] - TD Cowen upgraded Yum! Brands (YUM) to Buy from Hold with a price target of $173, up from $162, anticipating that the potential sale of Pizza Hut will enhance Yum's growth profile [2] - Mizuho upgraded Rubrik (RBRK) to Outperform from Neutral, maintaining a price target of $97, attributing the upgrade to valuation as shares have declined 16% since mid-May despite solid execution [2] - Barclays upgraded Gap (GAP) to Overweight from Equal Weight with a price target of $30, raised from $19, praising the company's disciplined leadership strategy under CEO Richard Dickson [2] - UBS upgraded Expeditors (EXPD) to Buy from Neutral with a price target of $166, up from $138, believing that growth in the Customs and other segments will counterbalance the pressure from lower ocean rates in 2026 [2]

Group 1: Regulatory Environment and Market Outlook - The current administration is becoming more open to cryptocurrency solutions, indicating a shift towards a more favorable regulatory environment for crypto projects [1] - Proposed regulatory frameworks are paving the way for mainstream adoption of crypto-backed solutions [1] Group 2: Company Overview - Block (formerly Square) - Block, founded in 2009 by Jack Dorsey, aims to simplify mobile payments for merchants of all sizes, with over 4 million sellers currently using its payment system [5] - The name change from Square to Block reflects the company's shift in focus towards blockchain technologies while maintaining its mission of economic empowerment [6] - Block allows transactions in various cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, and offers a platform for consumers to buy crypto through its Cash App, holding over 8,000 BTC in its corporate treasury [6] Group 3: Investment Potential - Block is identified as a promising stock for growth investors interested in the crypto economy, especially with the easing of regulations [7] - Cathie Wood, CEO of Ark Invest, has been a long-term shareholder of Block since 2016, indicating confidence in the company's future prospects [4]

Core Insights - PayPal and Block are significant players in the fintech industry, each with distinct strategies and strengths [1][10] - PayPal is focusing on profitability and platform innovation, while Block emphasizes product velocity and network expansion [2][10] PayPal Overview - PayPal's Q3 2025 results showed a revenue increase of 7.3% year over year to $8.42 billion, with Total Payment Volume (TPV) rising 8.4% and non-GAAP EPS growing 11.7% to $1.34 [3][10] - The company raised its full-year EPS and transaction margin dollar guidance, indicating confidence in ongoing momentum [3] - PayPal's growth strategy includes four pillars: enhancing checkout, scaling Venmo, driving payment services profitability, and investing in AI and stablecoins [4] - Venmo's revenue grew over 20% year over year, with significant increases in active accounts and TPV [4] - Recent initiatives include a partnership with Blue Owl Capital for "Pay in 4" loans, collaboration with Google for digital commerce, and the launch of PayPal links for easy transfers [5] - Despite challenges such as a 4.5% decline in payment transactions and a 6.2% drop in engagement per user, PayPal's core payments engine remains healthy [6][10] Block Overview - Block's Q3 2025 results featured a 2.3% year-over-year increase in net revenues to $6.11 billion, with gross profit rising 18.3% to $2.66 billion [8][10] - Cash App was a key driver, with gross profit increasing 24.3%, and new product introductions enhancing user engagement [9] - Block's adjusted operating income grew 8.3% year over year, reflecting improved scale and efficiency [8] - The company faces challenges, including reliance on Bitcoin for revenue, which adds volatility, and competition in consumer payments [12] Comparative Analysis - PayPal operates on a larger global scale with a stronger presence in branded checkout, while Block's growth is more rapid but concentrated in the U.S. [7][12] - PayPal's estimated sales and EPS for 2025 suggest increases of 4.72% and 14.62%, respectively, while Block's estimates indicate a 0.99% sales rise and a 24.04% EPS decline [13][14] - Valuation metrics show PayPal shares are trading at a lower Price/Sales ratio of 1.76X compared to Block's 1.43X, indicating PayPal may be undervalued [17] Conclusion - PayPal demonstrates steady and profitable growth with a focus on innovation and global reach, making it a safer investment choice [22] - Block remains valuable due to its innovative ecosystem and long-term potential, but its earnings are less predictable [22]

Core Viewpoint - Truist analyst Matthew Coad has lowered the price target for Block (XYZ) to $67 from $74 and maintains a Sell rating on the shares due to increased credit risk taken on by Block [1] Summary by Category Price Target Adjustment - The price target for Block has been reduced from $74 to $67 [1] Earnings Multiple - The earnings multiple is being cut to a range of 21-times to 24-times as a result of Block's increased credit risk [1] Analyst Rating - Truist maintains a Sell rating on Block shares following the adjustments made in the research note [1]

Core Insights - Bitcoin recently reached a record high of $126,000 but has since pulled back, leading to discussions about investor confidence in the cryptocurrency market [1] - The market has seen a surge in companies adding Bitcoin to their balance sheets, with significant improvements in accounting, tax regimes, and regulatory support [1][2] - The introduction of various financial instruments allows investors to engage with the digital asset market according to their risk tolerance and investment horizon [1][2] Investment Strategies - Investors seeking maximum performance must be prepared for high volatility, with strategies like MSTR showing a 75% average annual return over the last five years [1] - For those preferring lower volatility, credit instruments like STRC offer a stable yield of around 10% with tax deferral benefits, making them attractive alternatives [1][2] - The digital credit market has evolved significantly, with nearly $8 billion issued, providing a tax-equivalent yield four times higher than traditional bank credit [2] Market Dynamics - The digital asset market is evolving, with Bitcoin's market cap expected to surpass gold's by 2035, as only 1% of Bitcoin will remain to be mined after that year [8] - The recent government shutdown has not diminished confidence in the U.S. economy, but it has highlighted the appeal of Bitcoin as a stable asset amid economic uncertainty [2] - The energy sector is undergoing a transformation, with renewed interest in nuclear and natural gas power generation to meet the demands of cryptocurrency mining [3] Technological Advancements - The integration of AI in financial engineering has led to the creation of innovative securities, such as STRC, which has been described as the most successful preferred stock in recent history [3] - Continuous upgrades in hardware and software supporting Bitcoin's protocol are expected to enhance its security and efficiency, mitigating concerns about obsolescence [2][3] Investor Considerations - Investors are encouraged to assess their time horizons and risk tolerance when choosing between direct Bitcoin investment, ETFs, or equity in companies like MSTR that focus on digital credit [10][12] - The current market sentiment is viewed as a potential opportunity for equity investors who can make informed decisions based on improved fundamentals in the digital asset space [1][2]

Core Insights - PayPal has launched "Pay in 4," a no-fee buy now, pay later (BNPL) solution for Canadian consumers, allowing them to split purchases between $30 and $1,500 into four equal, interest-free payments over six weeks [1][8] - The BNPL segment is experiencing significant growth, with PayPal's total payment volume (TPV) projected to approach $20 billion in 2025, reflecting over 20% year-over-year growth in Q3 2025 [2][8] - Strategic initiatives include a partnership with Blue Owl Capital to purchase approximately $7 billion of PayPal's "Pay in 4" loans and a 5% cashback offer for U.S. customers on BNPL purchases [3][8] Company Developments - PayPal's BNPL solution is expanding geographically, now available in Canada, with extended payment terms in Italy and Spain allowing up to 24 installments [4] - The company has seen a decline in share price, down 21.5% year to date, underperforming the broader industry and the S&P 500 Index [7] Financial Performance - PayPal's shares are currently trading at a forward 12-month P/E of 11.44X, significantly lower than the industry average of 20.65X, indicating a potentially undervalued stock [10] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PayPal's full-year 2025 EPS has been revised upward, suggesting a year-over-year growth of 14.6% [11]

Core Insights - PayPal Holdings reported transaction revenues of $7.52 billion in Q3 2025, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 6.4% and accounting for approximately 89.4% of its net revenues [1][8] - The growth in transaction revenues is attributed to the rise in online shopping and mobile payments, contributing to solid financial results for the quarter [1] Transaction Revenue Details - Transaction revenues primarily derive from fees charged to merchants and consumers for payments processed through PayPal's platforms, based on the Total Payment Volume [2] - Transaction margin dollars (TM$) for Q3 2025 reached $3.87 billion, exceeding management's guidance range and representing a growth of 5.9% on a reported basis [3][8] - Excluding interest on customer balances, TM$ increased by 7.1% to $3.55 billion [3] Business Segments Contribution - TM$ growth is driven by various business segments, including branded experiences, Payment Service Providers (PSP), and Venmo, with a notable rebound in the enterprise payments business contributing to this growth [4][8] Competitor Performance - Block's transaction revenues for Q3 2025 were $1.87 billion, up 9.4% year-over-year, representing 30.6% of its net revenues [5] - Payoneer Global reported total revenues of $270.9 million for Q3 2025, a 9% year-over-year increase, with revenues excluding interest income growing by 15% [6] Valuation and Estimates - PayPal shares have declined by 21.3% year-to-date, underperforming the broader industry and the S&P 500 Index [7] - The stock is trading at a forward 12-month P/E of 11.44X, significantly lower than the industry average of 20.64X, indicating a cheap valuation [10] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for full-year 2025 EPS has been revised upward, suggesting a year-over-year growth of 14.6% [11]

Jack Dorsey's Block Enables Bitcoin Payments for Millions of Square Sellers► https://t.co/mqzsGTKWPy https://t.co/mqzsGTKWPy ...

Core Insights - Block stock has experienced a 14% decline in one week due to disappointing third-quarter results, with revenue and earnings falling short of analyst expectations [2] - The company has raised its full-year gross profit guidance for 2025 to $10.24 billion, an increase from the previous estimate of $10.16 billion [4] Financial Performance - Block reported a gross profit of $2.66 billion, representing an 18% year-over-year increase and exceeding the consensus estimate of $2.60 billion [4] - Revenue growth for Block was 0.5% over the last twelve months (LTM) and averaged 12.6% over the past three years [9] - The company has a free cash flow margin of nearly 7.6% and an operating margin of 9.6% LTM [9] Stock Valuation and Historical Performance - Block stock is currently trading within a historical support range of $62.18 to $68.72, with a historical average peak return of 46.7% after 13 rebounds from this level [3] - The stock has a price-to-earnings (PE) ratio of 12.7 [9]