Block Inc (NYSE:XYZ) is one of the best NYSE stocks to buy for the long term. On February 12, Morgan Stanley kept its Equalweight rating and $72 price target on Block Inc. (NYSE:XYZ), noting slower growth in Square’s payment volumes. The firm now expects Q4 2025 Seller GPV growth of 10.3% year‑over‑year, down from 12.7%, with U.S. growth at 7% and international growth at 26%. Square’s gross profit growth is projected at 8%, lower than earlier estimates, due to processor transition impacts that may last unt ...

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. financial technology sector is poised for growth as President Trump's focus shifts to affordability, potentially benefiting fintech companies over traditional lenders [1][2]. Fintech Sector Opportunities - Companies like Affirm Holdings Inc, SoFi Technologies Inc, and Block Inc are well-positioned to capitalize on the affordability trend, according to Citigroup [3]. - Other potential beneficiaries include Toast Inc and Shopify Inc, which are also highlighted for their consumer-friendly services [3]. Traditional Lenders' Response - Traditional lenders initially experienced a rally following Trump's return to the White House, anticipating a more lenient regulatory environment. However, the renewed focus on affordability may shift investor attention towards fintech challengers [4]. Fintech Growth Metrics - Block reported over $200 billion in global lending through its credit products, indicating significant growth in the fintech sector [5]. - SoFi announced a $1.5 billion fundraising plan aimed at enhancing its capital position and supporting future growth [5]. Mixed Outlook on Specific Companies - Kerrisdale has expressed concerns about Affirm, labeling it a "Buy Now, Cry Later" story, suggesting that its rapid growth may reflect underlying risks similar to past subprime lending failures [6]. - Affirm's growth of over 30% in gross merchandise volume since 2022 is noted, but concerns about weakening credit quality due to high-interest rate lending are raised [6]. Reactions to Affordability Initiatives - Trump's affordability initiatives, including blocking institutional investors from acquiring single-family homes, have received mixed reactions, with some praising the efforts while others warn of potential market instability [7]. - The proposed nationwide 10% cap on credit card interest rates could limit access to credit, potentially hindering consumers' ability to build credit and pushing them towards less regulated options [8]. Price Performance - Over the past year, SoFi and Affirm Holdings saw stock price increases of 48.32% and 29.05%, respectively, while Block's stock declined by 25.64% [9].

Core Investment Moves - Ark Invest executed significant trades across multiple ETFs, focusing on technology and cryptocurrency-related companies [1] - The total investment in Meta Platforms amounted to approximately $21.5 million, with 33,837 shares purchased [2] - Ark Invest acquired 174,293 shares of Alphabet Inc., totaling around $56.4 million [4] - A purchase of 396,198 shares of CoreWeave Inc. was made, valued at approximately $28.2 million [6] - Ark sold 106,651 shares of Advanced Micro Devices Inc., valued at about $21.98 million [7] - The sale of 354,955 shares of Palantir Technologies was valued at approximately $58.05 million [8] - Ark purchased 212,538 shares of Block Inc., valued at around $13.5 million [11] - The ARKF and ARKW funds acquired 96,200 shares of ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF, valued at approximately $2.8 million [12] - The ARKK fund purchased 108,450 shares of Circle Internet Group Inc., valued at approximately $7.60 million [14] Market Reactions and Trends - Meta's stock rose by 3.78% amid speculation of a collaboration with Google on AI chips, despite ongoing investigations into fraudulent ads [3] - Alphabet's shares increased as the company approached a $4 trillion valuation, driven by AI developments [5] - CoreWeave's stock declined by 3.14% due to concerns over reliance on Nvidia GPUs [6] - AMD's shares fell by 4.15% influenced by reports of Meta's potential shift to Google's AI chips [7] - Palantir's stock rebounded due to strong third-quarter results and positive guidance, despite insider selling concerns [9] - Block's stock was bolstered by positive guidance from its recent Investor Day event [11] - Bitcoin prices have collapsed over 23% in the last 30 days, impacting Ark's investment strategy in digital assets [13] - Circle reported significant revenue growth, with a 202% increase in net income year-over-year [15]

Economic Indicators - The US trade deficit in August decreased to -$59.6 billion from -$78.2 billion in July, which was better than the expected -$60.4 billion [1] - US MBA mortgage applications fell by -5.2% for the week ending November 14, with the purchase mortgage sub-index down -2.3% and the refinancing sub-index down -7.3% [1] - The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate increased by +3 basis points to 6.37% from 6.34% in the previous week [1] Federal Reserve and Interest Rates - The minutes from the October 28-29 FOMC meeting indicated a hawkish stance, with many officials suggesting it may be appropriate to keep interest rates steady through 2025 [2] - The likelihood of a Fed rate cut at the next FOMC meeting on December 9-10 dropped to 30% from 70% the previous week [3][6] - The cancellation of the October employment report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics has reduced the chances of a Fed rate cut [3][8] Stock Market Performance - US stock indexes experienced a recovery, with the S&P 500 Index closing up by +0.38%, the Dow Jones up by +0.10%, and the Nasdaq 100 up by +0.56% [5] - Nvidia's stock rose more than +2% ahead of its earnings report, which is seen as a critical indicator for tech stock valuations [5] - Semiconductor stocks showed strength, with Broadcom, Lam Research, and Applied Materials all closing up more than +4% [11] Corporate Earnings - Q3 earnings for S&P 500 companies rose by +14.6%, significantly exceeding expectations of +7.2% year-over-year, with 82% of reporting companies surpassing forecasts [6] - La-Z-Boy Inc reported Q2 sales of $522.5 million, exceeding the consensus estimate of $517.7 million, leading to a stock increase of more than +20% [15] - Dycom Industries announced an acquisition for $1.95 billion, resulting in a stock increase of more than +10% [15] International Markets - Overseas stock markets showed mixed results, with the Euro Stoxx 50 up +0.13% and Japan's Nikkei Stock 225 down -0.34% [7]

Core Insights - The digital payments industry is experiencing rapid growth, but security measures have not kept pace with this expansion [1][2] - There is a significant gap between transaction speed and the ability to authenticate users in real-time, which poses risks for fraud, particularly with the rise of AI-powered agents [3][4] - The future growth of fintech is contingent upon advancements in identity verification and real-time authentication systems [5] Group 1: Security Concerns - Mastercard's Director of Identity Value Chain Expansion highlighted that the financial system is operating beyond its safety limits, indicating a lack of infrastructure to control automated payment systems [1] - The industry has not developed adequate real-time verification systems to secure instant transactions, which could lead to vulnerabilities [2] Group 2: AI and Fraud Risks - The increasing use of AI agents for financial transactions raises concerns about the ability to verify both human users and their automated counterparts [4] - The potential for AI-powered fraud is heightened as digital agents autonomously handle payments and disputes, creating a need for improved security measures [3] Group 3: Future of Fintech - Companies that can innovate in identity verification and establish real-time authentication will be pivotal in shaping the next phase of digital payments [5]

Market Overview - Stocks initially fell due to concerns over a potential government shutdown but recovered significantly by the market close [1] - The S&P 500 gained 0.4%, the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.3%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 0.2% higher [7] Company Performances - CoreWeave, backed by Nvidia, saw a stock increase of 11.7% after securing a $14.2 billion long-term cloud deal with Meta [2][11] - Nvidia's stock rose 2.6%, reaching a 52-week high of $187.35, and it has joined the $4.5 trillion market cap club [10][11] - Pfizer's stock increased by 6.8%, indicating a strong performance in the healthcare sector [2][7] - Robinhood gained 4.7% following its recent entry into the S&P 500 [2] Sector Insights - The healthcare sector showed general gains, with multiple pharmaceutical companies performing well [2][7] - Nvidia's upcoming GPU Technology Conference is expected to be a positive catalyst for its stock, boosting analyst confidence [12]

RT JuanGalt.com (@JuanSGalt)How Jack Dorsey’s Block Inc Is Reinventing Finance With BitcoinFresh off the press! Featuring exclusive interview with Miles Suter, Product Lead at @BIockInchttps://t.co/uW5C2e3CJr via @bitcoinmagazine ...

Ark Invest buys $20 million in BitMine shares, sells $15 million in Block Inc https://t.co/Uw71GNUssW ...

Tech giant Block Inc (NYSE:XYZ) is charging 9% higher to trade at $79.21 at last glance, after news broke late last week it will be joining the S&P 500 Index (SPX) before the bell on Wednesday. Block stock will replace Hess (HES), after the company was purchased by Chevron (CVX) for $53 billionXYZ is now on track for a fourth-straight daily win, aiding in its attempt to erase some of its 7% year-to-date deficit. Should today's gains hold, the equity will log its best daily pop since May 12, though potential ...

Suneet Wadhwa, ex Ripple Head of Investments, joins Board of Advisors David Mansfield, ex VinFast CFO, has joined as group CFO Keith Loose, ex Block.one blockchain and tech infrastructure leader, has joined as group CTO LONDON, June 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VivoPower International PLC (NASDAQ: VVPR, “VivoPower” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce key executive leadership appointments, namely David Mansfield as Chief Financial Officer and Keith Loose as Chief Technology Officer. In addition, Sune ...