Core Insights - Sezzle Inc. will release its fourth quarter 2025 results on February 25, 2026, after market close, followed by a conference call at 5:00 pm ET [1] - Investors can submit questions in advance via email to enhance engagement during the call [1] Company Overview - Sezzle is a fintech company focused on empowering consumers through its digital payment platform, which offers point-of-sale financing options and digital payment services [5] - The company aims to enhance consumers' purchasing power and promote responsible spending, financial management, and independence [5] Upcoming Events - Sezzle management will participate in investor events, including the Wolfe Research FinTech Forum on March 10, 2026, and the Oppenheimer Non-Deal Roadshow on March 11, 2026 [6] - The latest investor presentation will be available on the company's Investor Relations page prior to these events [3]

Core Viewpoint - The fintech stock Block is currently trading 77% below its all-time high established in August 2021, indicating a potential investment opportunity as it may surge before Wall Street takes notice [2]. Valuation - Block's shares are trading at an attractive EV-to-EBIT ratio of 15.1, making it a compelling valuation in a market where valuation is a significant concern [3]. - A lower valuation multiple provides a margin of safety for investors, minimizing downside risk if future performance expectations are overly optimistic [4]. Business Performance - Block is experiencing growth and profitability, with the Square segment showing a 9% year-over-year gross profit growth in Q3, while Cash App's gross profit rose by 24% during the same period [5]. - The company's operating income has been increasing significantly [5]. Bitcoin Focus - Block's Bitcoin initiatives are often overlooked, but they present underappreciated upside potential [6]. - CEO Jack Dorsey has been a proponent of Bitcoin since 2021, believing it could serve as a native currency for the internet due to its digital, decentralized, and scarce nature [7]. - Block's Bitcoin projects include a self-custody wallet called Bitkey, cryptocurrency mining equipment under the Proto brand, Bitcoin trading for Cash App users, and the ability for Square sellers to accept Bitcoin payments [8].

Core Viewpoint - The post-earnings sell-off of LendingClub appears to be an overreaction, presenting a potential buying opportunity for investors in the banking sector due to its strong growth story and attractive valuation [1][3]. Financial Performance - In Q4, LendingClub reported a revenue increase of 22.7% to $266.5 million and an EPS rise of 338% to $0.35 per share, both figures exceeding expectations [4]. - Originations grew by 40% to $2.59 billion, aligning with management's outlook and indicating a strong foundation for future growth [4]. Guidance and Market Reaction - The guidance for the current quarter indicated flat quarter-over-quarter originations growth at $2.6 billion and slight EPS growth in the range of $0.34 to $0.39, which may have disappointed investors [5]. - Full-year guidance suggests originations between $11.6 billion and $12.6 billion and an EPS range of $1.65 to $1.80, reflecting a 26% growth in originations and 48% growth in EPS at midpoints [6]. Accounting Changes - LendingClub is transitioning to a new accounting method starting in 2026, which is expected to enhance its bottom line by allowing for immediate recognition of earnings from new loans [7][9]. - The previous CECL method required upfront loss estimates, which depressed earnings during periods of growth [8]. Marketing and Growth Strategy - The company is ramping up marketing investments to drive future growth, having previously pulled back during the COVID pandemic and subsequent interest rate hikes [12]. - New marketing channels are being tested, with the company currently about 75% through optimizing direct mail and halfway through paid search [14][15]. Future Outlook - The second and third quarters are typically higher-volume periods for LendingClub, allowing for better absorption of marketing expenses and improved response rates [16]. - New lending initiatives, including home-improvement and furniture financing, are expected to contribute to growth in 2027 and 2028 [17]. - A rebranding effort is underway to reflect the company's evolution from a peer-to-peer lender to a more institutional banking model, with associated near-term costs [18]. Valuation Metrics - Following the earnings sell-off, shares are trading around $16.50, equating to a P/E ratio of 10 based on the lower end of 2026 guidance, which is considered very cheap [20]. - Even with conservative growth estimates, the PEG ratio is projected to be 0.5, indicating a strong valuation opportunity [23].

Core Insights - Brown University has made a significant investment in Chime Financial, acquiring 102,805 shares valued at approximately $2.59 million [2][6] Company Overview - Chime Financial is a leading U.S. fintech platform that provides mobile banking services, including checking, savings, early paycheck access, and overdraft protection [5] - The company generates revenue primarily through interchange fees from card transactions processed via partner FDIC-insured banks [5] - As of January 31, 2026, Chime's stock price is $25.42, with a market capitalization of $9.52 billion and a revenue of $2.07 billion [4] Financial Performance - Chime Financial reported a net income of -$984.77 million for the trailing twelve months (TTM), which is common for newly public companies [4][8] - The investment by Brown University represents 1.8% of its 13F reportable assets under management after the trade [9] Investment Context - Brown University's investment aligns with its strategy, as college students are a key demographic for Chime's services [6] - The university's investment portfolio is relatively small, with only 10 holdings, ranking 7th among Chime's holdings [7]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Bancorp reported an EPS of $1.28 for Q4, reflecting an 11% year-over-year growth [4] - GDV increased by 16% in Q4 compared to the prior year, with a total annual growth of 17% in 2025 [4][5] - Revenue growth for the quarter was 3% year-over-year, excluding credit enhancement income [4] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Credit sponsorship balances reached $1.1 billion, up 40% from Q3 and 142% year-over-year [5] - The total loan portfolio increased by $919 million to $7.26 billion, with consumer fintech loans constituting 15% of the portfolio [8] - Non-interest income, excluding credit enhancement, accounted for over 30% of revenue in the quarter, with approximately 90% of fees coming from the fintech business [9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Average deposits in Q4 were $7.6 billion, with an average cost of 177 basis points [9] - 95% of deposits were sourced from fintech, and 92% of total deposits were insured [9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The Bancorp is focused on three main fintech initiatives aimed at creating shareholder value, including credit sponsorship, embedded finance platform development, and new program implementations [5][6] - The company is targeting a 2026 EPS guidance of $5.90, with a preliminary guidance of $8.25 for 2027 [12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in achieving the $1.75 EPS target for Q4 2026, citing strong tax remittances and expected growth in credit sponsorship [21][17] - The company anticipates continued improvements in credit metrics, including reduced criticized assets and delinquency rates [7][9] Other Important Information - The Bancorp repurchased $150 million of its stock in Q4, totaling $375 million for the year, representing 12% of outstanding shares [11] - The company is actively engaged in optimizing its funding costs by managing on-balance and off-balance sheet deposits [22][23] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you provide more building blocks to help bridge the EPS gap? - Management indicated that large revenue opportunities are on track, with upcoming announcements on credit sponsorship and the launch of the embedded finance platform [16] Question: What were the drivers that weighed on results in Q4? - Key drivers included legal fees, the unexpected duration of the government shutdown affecting payments and deposits, and the timing of credit sponsorship growth [18][19] Question: Can you discuss the economics of off-balance sheet deposits? - The company expects to continue generating deposit growth that outpaces demand, optimizing earnings through lower-cost deposits off-balance sheet [22][23] Question: What is the plan for The Audrey property? - The property is nearing cash flow break-even, with plans to exit prudently to maximize shareholder value [32][34] Question: How does the company view the potential threat from fintechs obtaining their own bank charters? - Management believes many partners will not seek licenses and that the company provides scalable, low-cost solutions that remain beneficial to partners [36][39] Question: What is the expectation for net interest margin (NIM) going forward? - NIM is expected to compress near 4% as the company shifts towards fintech, but fee revenue is anticipated to grow, offsetting the margin compression [61]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Bancorp reported earnings per share (EPS) of $1.28 for the fourth quarter, reflecting an 11% year-over-year growth [4] - Gross Deposit Value (GDV) increased by 16% for the quarter compared to the prior year [4] - Revenue growth for the quarter was 3% year-over-year, excluding credit enhancement income [4] - Return on Equity (ROE) reached a record 30.4% for the quarter and 28.9% for the full year [8] - Total assets increased to $9.4 billion, up 7% from the prior year [8] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Credit sponsorship balances ended at $1.1 billion, up 40% from the third quarter and 142% year-over-year [5] - The total loan portfolio increased by $919 million to $7.26 billion, with consumer fintech loans constituting 15% of the portfolio [8] - Non-interest income, excluding credit enhancement, accounted for just over 30% of revenue in the quarter, with approximately 90% of fees coming from the fintech business [9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Average deposits in the quarter were $7.6 billion, with an average cost of 177 basis points [9] - Delinquency rates declined from 2.19% at the end of the third quarter to 1.6% at the end of the fourth quarter [7] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The Bancorp is focused on three main fintech initiatives aimed at creating significant shareholder value [5] - The company is targeting a guidance of $5.90 EPS for 2026 and $8.25 EPS for 2027, which includes stock buybacks [12] - The strategy emphasizes platform efficiency, productivity gains from restructuring, and AI tools [12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in achieving the EPS guidance for 2026 and highlighted the positive impact of tax season on business [21] - The company anticipates continued growth in credit sponsorship and overall fintech business, with significant improvements in credit metrics [9][10] - Management acknowledged challenges from legal fees and the unexpected duration of the government shutdown affecting GDV [18][19] Other Important Information - The company repurchased $150 million of its stock in the fourth quarter, totaling $375 million for the year [11] - Criticized assets decreased from $268 million to $194 million, a 28% decline quarter-over-quarter [7] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you provide more building blocks to help bridge the EPS gap? - Management indicated large revenue opportunities and confidence in upcoming initiatives, including credit sponsorship and the embedded finance platform [16] Question: What were the primary drivers affecting fourth-quarter results? - Key drivers included legal fees, the impact of the government shutdown on GDV, and the timing of credit sponsorship growth [18][19] Question: Can you discuss the economics of off-balance sheet deposits? - Management explained that off-balance sheet deposits are used to optimize funding costs and generate revenue as deposit growth exceeds balance sheet capacity [22][41] Question: What is the plan for the Aubrey property? - The company is nearing cash flow break-even and is looking for exit opportunities to maximize value [32][34] Question: How does the company view the threat of fintechs obtaining their own bank charters? - Management believes many partners will not seek licenses and highlighted the scalability and low-cost benefits of their platform [36][39] Question: What is the expectation for net interest margin (NIM)? - Management expects some compression in NIM as the company shifts towards fintech, but anticipates an increase in fee revenue as a portion of total revenue [60][61]

The Bancorp Investor Presentation January 2026 Forward Looking Statements & Other Disclosures Statements in this presentation regarding The Bancorp, Inc.'s ("The Bancorp") business, that are not historical facts, are "forward-looking statements." These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the words "intend," "may," "believe," "will," "expect," "look," "anticipate," "plan," "estimate," "continue," or similar words. Forward-looking statements include but are not li ...

Core Insights - The bank maintained its position as a top 10 SBA 7(a) lender with nearly $580 million in funded originations in 2025 despite industry challenges [1] - The bank's initiatives in banking-as-a-service (BaaS) generated over $1.3 billion in new deposits during 2025, more than tripling the previous year [2] - A strategic sale of approximately $850 million in single-tenant lease financing loans to Blackstone strengthened the bank's capital and improved its rate-risk profile [3] - The company reported strong fourth-quarter results with a 21% increase in quarterly revenue and a 30% year-over-year growth in net interest income for 2025 [4] Financial Performance - Fourth-quarter net income was reported at $5.3 million, or $0.60 per diluted share, with adjusted net income of $5.6 million and adjusted EPS of $0.64 [13] - Adjusted total revenue for the fourth quarter was $42.1 million, reflecting a 21% increase from the same period in 2024 [14] - Non-interest income was $11.8 million, showing growth from the prior year, driven by fintech partnership fee revenue [15] Credit Metrics and Provisions - Credit issues are concentrated in SBA and franchise finance, leading to a higher provision outlook for 2026 of $50 million to $53 million [5][9] - Non-performing loans (NPLs) rose to $58.5 million, with an NPL-to-total loans ratio of 1.56% [16] - The allowance for credit losses (ACL) was 1.49% of total loans, with a small business lending ACL to unguaranteed balances at 7.34% [17] 2026 Outlook - The bank is guiding for net interest income of $30.3 million for 2026, representing a year-over-year increase of about 29% [19] - Loan growth is projected at 15% to 17%, with a net interest margin expected to reach 2.75% to 2.80% by the fourth quarter of 2026 [20] - Management expects gradual improvement in credit quality in the second half of 2026 as problem loans are resolved [9][12]

Company Overview - Chime Financial has a revenue of $2.07 billion and a net income of -$984.77 million, with a market capitalization of $9.32 billion as of January 29, priced at $26.22 [4]. - The company operates a technology-driven platform providing fee-free banking services, targeting underbanked populations through partnerships with FDIC-insured banks [6][9]. Recent Developments - Ashton Thomas Private Wealth disclosed a new position in Chime Financial, acquiring 5.13 million shares valued at $129.1 million, representing 3.1% of the fund's 13F reportable assets [1][2][3]. - Chime's revenue increased by 29% year over year to $544 million, with active members rising by 21% to 9.1 million, and adjusted EBITDA turning to a $29 million profit [10]. Strategic Insights - Chime's business model focuses on interchange-driven revenue, which is scalable and resilient in the evolving fintech landscape [6]. - The company has raised its full-year guidance and announced a $200 million share repurchase program, indicating confidence in its future performance [12].

Market Overview - Stocks are lower, primarily driven by a significant decline in Microsoft shares, which has negatively impacted the S&P 500 and NASDAQ indices [1][3][8] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average is down 111 points, with a peak decline of over 300 points earlier in the day [2] - The NASDAQ experienced its worst day in a month, dropping over 2.5% at its lowest point [2][3] Company Performance - Microsoft shares fell by 12%, marking its worst day in months, while Meta shares rose by 10%, indicating a strong performance in the communication services sector [4][5] - Other tech companies, including Oracle, SAP, and Salesforce, also saw declines, with SAP down 16% and Salesforce down 7% [6] - The software sector ETF (IGV) is deep in the red, reflecting widespread selling pressure across major software stocks [40] Sector Analysis - The communication services sector is up 2.4%, reaching a record high not seen since last year, while the tech sector is down 2.4% [5] - Energy and real estate sectors are also performing well, with both sectors up more than 1% [5] - Concerns about AI spending are weighing heavily on the software sector, with analysts suggesting that investors are shifting focus to sectors with clearer growth prospects [39][41] Economic Indicators - The bond market shows a slight decrease in yields, with the 10-year Treasury note yield down to 4.22% and the 30-year yield at 4.85% [4] - The US dollar index is slightly negative, indicating a potential shift in currency dynamics [4] Consumer Insights - Despite low consumer confidence reported, retail sales remain solid, supported by lower gas prices and a resilient consumer base [19][20] - There is a noted dichotomy in consumer behavior, with high-end consumers showing stronger spending compared to lower-income consumers [20] Investment Strategies - Analysts suggest that the current market environment presents buying opportunities in sectors like small caps and fintech, which are expected to benefit from ongoing economic growth [14][15][66] - The fintech sector is highlighted as a key area for investment, particularly companies that aim to disrupt traditional financial systems and improve affordability for consumers [66][67]