ML-driven underwriting

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Will Affirm Be a Long-Term Winner in a Crowded Fintech Space?
ZACKSยท 2025-07-10 17:35
Core Insights - Affirm Holdings, Inc. (AFRM) is adapting its strategy in the competitive Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) market by focusing on transparency and flexible financing options for both high-ticket and low-ticket purchases [1][4] Group 1: Company Strategy and Performance - Affirm is shifting its focus from primarily financing larger purchases to collaborating with retailers for smaller, everyday items, such as Costco and World Market, to attract a broader audience [2][8] - Total transactions in Q3 FY25 increased by 45.6% year over year, reaching 31.3 million, driven by a significant rise in repeat customer transactions [2][8] - The number of active merchants for Affirm reached 358,000, marking a 23% year-over-year increase, as the company invests in machine learning-driven underwriting and real-time decision-making [3][8] Group 2: Competitive Landscape - Competitors like PayPal and Block are also active in the BNPL space, with PayPal's net revenues rising 1% year over year to $7.8 billion in Q1 2025, and Block's Gross Payment Volume increasing by 4.4% year over year [5][6] - PayPal's offerings, such as "Pay Monthly" and "Pay in 4," directly compete with Affirm's business model, targeting both high-ticket and low-ticket purchases [5] Group 3: Financial Metrics and Valuation - Affirm's stock has appreciated by 133.3% over the past year, significantly outperforming the industry average increase of 38.3% [7] - The company trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 5.66, which is below the industry average of 5.81 [9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Affirm's fiscal 2025 earnings suggests a remarkable growth of 101.8% compared to the previous year [10]