This fintech stock just posted a huge 62% gain in 2025.The first month of 2026 is coming to a close. And investors are already well on their way to figuring out what portfolio moves to make. Maybe companies that have performed well in the past are best positioned to keep the momentum going. Here's why it's important to take a look at Nu Holdings (NU 5.52%). This fintech stock posted a monster 62% return last year. And Nu is poised to have another great showing in 2026. This booming fintech stock isn't expen ...

Industry Overview - The fintech market is projected to expand rapidly over the next decade, driven by factors such as the growth of e-commerce [2] - Investors are encouraged to consider shares of leading companies in the fintech sector for long-term performance [2] Company: Adyen - Adyen simplifies payment systems for companies, allowing them to accept payments for online and in-person transactions through a single integrated platform, attracting major clients like Etsy, Spotify, and McDonald's [3] - Despite struggling in recent years, Adyen's net revenue increased by 20% year over year to 1.1 billion euros ($1.3 billion) in the first half of 2025, with an EBITDA margin of 50%, up from 46% [5] - The company reported a net income of 481 million euros, reflecting a 17% year-over-year increase [5] - Adyen maintains a strong economic moat due to high switching costs for clients, and its expansion into the U.S. market and focus on large-format retail clients present attractive growth prospects [7][8] Company: PayPal - PayPal has faced challenges with subpar financial results and user growth, processing $458.1 billion in payment volume, which is an 8% year-over-year increase, with 438 million active accounts [9] - The company is entering the digital advertising sector, leveraging transaction and consumer preference data to enhance its ad platform [10][12] - PayPal's strong brand recognition and trust position it well to benefit from the growing popularity of digital wallets, making it a potential leader in the fintech market over the next decade [13]

Core Insights - StoneCo Ltd. has experienced a significant share price increase of 44% over the past three months, outperforming the S&P 500's 7.7% gain and the Internet-Software industry's 2.1% rise [1][9] - The company's strategic focus on its core fintech operations and divestment of non-core software units has positioned it to target a total addressable market of BRL 100 billion, with substantial growth potential remaining [3][9] Financial Performance - In Q2 2025, StoneCo reported a 27% year-over-year increase in adjusted net income, with a return on equity (ROE) of 22%, and the financial services division achieving an ROE of 30% [5] - The company has repurchased nearly BRL 2.6 billion in shares over the past year, indicating management's confidence in its growth trajectory [6][9] Business Segments - The micro, small, and medium business (MSMB) payments segment has seen a 17% year-over-year increase in active clients, reaching 4.5 million, with total payment volume growing by 12% [10] - The banking ecosystem is also expanding, with active banking clients increasing by 23% to 3.3 million and client deposits rising by 36% [11] - StoneCo's credit portfolio grew by 25% sequentially to BRL 1.8 billion, supported by a 41% increase in merchant working capital loans, while maintaining healthy non-performing loan ratios [12][13] Valuation and Market Position - StoneCo's stock is currently trading at a forward P/E of 9.93X, significantly below its three-year high of 31.33X and the industry average of 38.37X, indicating it may be undervalued [15] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings per share for 2025 and 2026 has been revised upward, reflecting positive sentiment around the company's growth prospects [14] Investment Outlook - StoneCo's recent performance is supported by strong fundamentals, rising profitability, and a focused strategy, making it a compelling growth story in Latin America [18][19] - With a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), it is considered an opportune time for investors to capitalize on StoneCo's momentum before its full upside potential is realized [20]

Core Insights - Nu Holdings Ltd. (NU) stock has been consolidating over the past six months, contrasting with the industry's 25% growth [1] Company Performance - NU onboarded 4.3 million new customers in Q1 2025, reaching a total of 118.6 million, representing a 19% year-over-year increase [3][8] - The company has nearly 100 million monthly active users, demonstrating its ability to scale without sacrificing revenue potential [3] - Average revenue per active customer was $11.2, slightly down from $11.4 the previous year, indicating strong unit economics [4][8] - Revenues rose 19% year-over-year in Q1, driven by high engagement and diversified monetization streams, including lending and interchange fees [5] Competitive Positioning - NU's digital-first model has disrupted traditional banks in Brazil and is expanding in Mexico and Colombia, positioning itself as a regional powerhouse [6][9] - Unlike many fintechs that prioritize growth over profitability, NU effectively combines customer acquisition with financial discipline [5] Financial Metrics - NU's trailing 12-month Return on Equity (ROE) is 30.8%, significantly higher than the industry average of 11.4% [12] - The trailing 12-month Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) stands at 14.5%, well above the industry average of 3.4% [14] Valuation Concerns - NU trades at 18.62 times forward earnings, nearly double the sector's average of 9.33 times, indicating a significant valuation premium [8][18] - This premium reflects market optimism about NU's growth potential but also introduces risks related to earnings shortfalls or slower growth [18] Macroeconomic Challenges - Brazil faces an inflation rate of around 5%, higher than that of the U.S., and a weakening currency against the U.S. dollar, posing risks to profitability [19] - Persistent inflation and currency volatility in Latin America are key concerns for NU's operations [20] Strategic Outlook - Despite strong fundamentals, NU's stock has underperformed the broader industry over the past six months, suggesting a cautious approach may be warranted [20] - Long-term potential remains intact, but current price levels and macroeconomic headwinds call for patience [20]

Core Insights - SoFi Technologies is rapidly expanding its offerings beyond student loans to become a comprehensive financial services provider, showing impressive growth and robust demand for its loans [2][3][11] - The company achieved GAAP profitability for the first time in a full fiscal year, with earnings per share of $0.39, and reported a 33% increase in revenue year-over-year in the first quarter [12][11] Company Growth and Strategy - SoFi began by helping people refinance student loans but shifted focus to personal loans during the pandemic, expanding its product range to include banking, savings accounts, and investment accounts [3][4] - The acquisition of Golden Pacific Bancorp in 2022 provided SoFi with a banking charter, allowing it to accept deposits and offer a wider array of banking products, leading to a rapid growth in its deposit base, which increased by 39% to $25.9 billion [4][11] Financial Performance - In the last fiscal year, SoFi reported total revenue of $2.67 billion, representing a 26% growth from the previous year, with analysts projecting an additional 23% revenue growth for the current year [11][12] - The company’s net interest income growth has been strong, contributing to its overall financial performance [11] Market Position and Future Potential - SoFi's technology segment, including investments in platforms like Galileo and Technisys, positions it to provide essential back-end banking services, differentiating it in the competitive fintech landscape [6][17] - The company has secured significant loan commitments, including a $5 billion agreement with Fortress Investment Group, indicating strong demand for personal loans [16] Investment Considerations - For SoFi to be a successful long-term investment, it must continue to grow its customer base and engage existing customers with its diverse offerings [14] - Maintaining credit quality is crucial, as alternative investors show strong interest in SoFi's loan platform, which allows the company to shift towards less capital-intensive, fee-based revenue sources [15][17]

Core Viewpoint - Affirm Holdings, Inc. has experienced significant stock volatility following its fiscal Q3 2025 earnings report, with a sharp decline in stock price due to disappointing fourth-quarter guidance, followed by a rebound after announcing a new partnership with World Market [1][2]. Financial Performance - Affirm reported fiscal Q3 2025 earnings of $0.01 per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $0.09 and improving from a loss of $0.43 in the prior year [3]. - Revenue increased by 36% year-over-year to $783.1 million, aligning with the company's guidance range of $755–$785 million [3]. - Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) reached $8.6 billion, up 36% from the previous year, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $8.1 billion [4]. - Transactions totaled 31.3 million, reflecting a 45.6% year-over-year increase, primarily driven by repeat customers [4]. Growth Prospects - The company anticipates Q4 revenue between $815-$845 million and GMV between $9.4-$9.7 billion, although this guidance fell short of Wall Street expectations [5]. - Repeat customer transactions accounted for 94% of total transactions in Q3, indicating strong brand loyalty and potential for more predictable revenue [6]. - Affirm is expanding internationally, with plans to enter Western Europe, starting with France, Germany, and the Netherlands, in partnership with Shopify [7]. Business Model and Innovations - Affirm's model benefits both merchants and consumers by reducing cart abandonment and offering flexible payment options, including 0% APR monthly installments, which rose 44% year-over-year and accounted for 13% of GMV [8]. - The company is investing in complementary financial products, such as debit solutions and business-to-business tools, to enhance customer relationships and usage frequency [9]. Earnings Estimates and Valuation - The Zacks Consensus Estimate suggests a 95.8% year-over-year improvement in fiscal 2025 earnings, with fiscal 2026 earnings expected to surge nearly 960% [10]. - Revenue projections for fiscal 2025 and 2026 are expected to grow by 36.9% and 23.3%, respectively [10]. - Affirm's stock has increased by 67% over the past year, outperforming the broader industry and the S&P 500 Index [11]. Competitive Landscape - Affirm is trading at a premium valuation of 4.47X forward 12-month sales, higher than its three-year median of 3.49X, while competitors PayPal and Block are trading at 2.09X and 1.39X, respectively [14]. - The BNPL market remains competitive, with traditional financial institutions and credit card companies entering the space, exemplified by Walmart's switch from Affirm to Klarna [18]. Conclusion - Affirm's fiscal Q3 performance showcased strong revenue growth and rising transaction volumes, particularly from loyal customers, alongside an expanding merchant network and international market push [19]. - However, challenges such as elevated debt levels, rising expenses, and intense competition may impact margin stability and market share expansion [19].

Core Insights - SoFi Technologies is establishing itself as a comprehensive financial services platform, achieving strong performance in its latest earnings report with revenue and earnings exceeding expectations [1][3] - The company added a record 800,000 members in Q1, bringing the total to 10.9 million, with net revenue growing by 20% to $771.7 million and diluted EPS increasing by 200% to $0.06 [3][4] - SoFi's loan business has seen significant growth, with revenue in the lending segment rising by 25% and contribution profits increasing by 15% to nearly $239 million [4][9] Business Segments - The financial services segment, which includes products like SoFi Money and SoFi Invest, experienced remarkable growth, with net revenue surging by 101% and contribution profit increasing by 299% to $149.3 million [5] - Net interest income grew by 24% year-over-year, with total deposits reaching $27.3 billion, reflecting successful marketing efforts to attract customer deposits [7][12] - The loan platform business has expanded, allowing SoFi to meet borrower demand while transitioning to less capital-intensive, fee-based revenue sources [10] Investor Demand - There is a notable increase in investor appetite for SoFi's loans, supported by a $5 billion commitment from Fortress Investment Group and a similar agreement with Blue Owl Capital [11] - The strong demand for personal loans has contributed to the robust performance of SoFi's lending operations [12] Future Outlook - Management has raised revenue forecasts by $35 million and adjusted EPS expectations from a range of $0.25 to $0.27 to $0.27 to $0.28, indicating a positive outlook for the company [12] - Despite a price-to-earnings ratio of 31 and a price-to-tangible-book value of 3, the higher valuation reflects SoFi's rapid growth, making it an attractive option for growth-focused investors [13]