In much of the West, access to credit is taken for granted. Banks rely on long credit histories, stable wages, and government datasets to determine who qualifies for loans. But for billions of people globally, those systems do not exist or do not work. Builders working on Solana say crypto based lending models are forcing a rethink of how credit risk is actually measured. During a recent interview with TheStreet Roundtable at Solana Breakpoint, Nicolas Cabrera, chief product officer at Tala, explained t ...

Core Insights - Scalable profitability is the main driver behind SoFi Technologies' improved outlook for 2025, with significant upward revisions in all major operating metrics [1][3] - The company anticipates adding approximately 3.5 million new members, reflecting a 34% growth compared to the previous 30% forecast, indicating a strengthening ecosystem [1][7] Revenue and Profitability - Adjusted net revenue is now projected to reach $3.54 billion, representing a 36% year-over-year growth, surpassing the earlier estimate of $3.375 billion [2] - Adjusted EBITDA is guided at $1.035 billion, with adjusted net income expected at $455 million and adjusted EPS at 37 cents [2] - Tangible book value growth is forecasted at $2.5 billion, significantly higher than the previous estimate of $640 million, indicating stronger capital formation [2] Structural Efficiency - The revisions suggest that SoFi is gaining structural efficiency as it scales, with robust member growth, disciplined cost management, and expanding fee-based revenue streams contributing to its evolution into a more resilient financial platform [3] Peer Comparison - Upstart serves as a comparison point, focusing on AI-driven lending but facing inconsistent loan volume, making it less predictable in achieving sustained profitability [4] - LendingClub, another peer, follows a marketplace-bank hybrid model but has not matched SoFi's member expansion or fee-income scale, reflecting challenges in achieving similar operating leverage [5] Stock Performance and Valuation - SoFi's stock has increased by 64% year-to-date, contrasting with a 13% decline in the industry [6] - The company trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 44X, significantly above the industry's 22X, and carries a Value Score of F [8]

We recently published 10 Stocks With Easy Double-Digit Gains. Figure Technology Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:FIGR) was one of the top performers on Monday. Figure Technology rallied to a new all-time high on Monday as investor sentiment was fueled by expectations of more rate cuts in the next Federal Reserve meeting. At intra-day trading, Figure Technology Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:FIGR) soared to its highest price of $53.53 before trimming a few cents to finish the day just up by 21.67 percent at $53.22 apiece ...

Core Insights - Low-interest personal loans are primarily available to highly creditworthy borrowers, with competitive APRs often below the national average of 12.21% as of December 31, 2025, and frequently below 10% [2] Group 1: Qualification Criteria - To qualify for the best personal loan rates, borrowers typically need an excellent credit score, defined as a score between 800 and 850, which indicates responsible credit management [3] - Checking credit reports for errors is essential, as inaccuracies can negatively impact credit scores; free reports can be obtained weekly from all three major credit bureaus [4] - Paying off revolving debt is crucial, as credit utilization ratio significantly affects credit scores; even small balances can lower scores enough to disqualify borrowers from the lowest rates [6][7] Group 2: Additional Requirements - A high credit score and sufficient income are vital for securing the lowest personal loan rates; improving credit scores before applying can lead to better rates [8] - Borrowers should shop around with at least three lenders or use a marketplace to compare offers, ensuring they meet criteria such as a FICO score above 740, an established credit history, and a bank account for automatic payments [8]

Core Insights - Pagaya Technologies Ltd. (PGY) has shown stabilization and improvement in credit quality throughout 2025, driven by portfolio seasoning and structural changes in funding and underwriting [1] Credit Quality and Financial Performance - In the nine months ended September 30, 2025, credit-related impairment losses on investments in loans and securities declined by over $95 million year-over-year, primarily due to improved market conditions and changes in fair value assumptions [2] - The reduction in impairments is attributed to better-performing loan vintages, stable delinquency and charge-off trends, and enhanced accuracy of AI-driven underwriting models, indicating that recent cohorts are seasoning better than earlier vintages [3] - As credit-related losses decline, PGY's earnings volatility has reduced, leading to improved profitability, with three consecutive quarters of positive GAAP net income in 2025, a significant turnaround from previous years [4][10] Risk Considerations - While credit risks are becoming more manageable, PGY still faces elevated leverage and reliance on capital markets, necessitating sustained credit discipline [5] Market Position and Competitors - Upstart Holdings, Inc. (UPST) operates similarly to PGY as an AI-based lending platform but often holds loans on its balance sheet temporarily, making it more volatile [6][8] - LendingTree (TREE) differs from PGY as it is a marketplace platform that does not underwrite or hold loans, focusing instead on a fee-based digital marketplace [9] Stock Performance and Valuation - PGY's stock has increased by 126.2% over the past year, contrasting with a 4.9% decline in the industry [11] - The current price-to-sales (P/S) ratio for PGY is 1.11X, below the industry average of 3.36X over the last three years [12] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PGY's earnings for 2025 and 2026 has risen to $3.10 and $3.41, indicating year-over-year growth of 273.5% and 10%, respectively [15]

Passive income is more than Airbnb side hustles and dividend stocks. There’s another moneymaker that’s earning savvy investors money on the side. It’s called private money lending, where everyday people — not banks or hedge funds — are pulling in returns just by wiring cash to local real-estate investors who need quick funding. But how exactly does private money lending work, and is it right for you? Must Read Benefits and risks of private money lending Think of private money lending as short-term, ...

Beginning the first week of January, the era of student loan leniency officially ends.  The Trump administration will resume administrative wage garnishment for defaulted federal student loan borrowers, marking the first time these “paycheck raids” have occurred since the pandemic-era pause began nearly six years ago. Wage Garnishment Starting on Jan. 7, 2026, the Department of Education will dispatch the first wave of notices to roughly 1,000 defaulted borrowers. The Trump administration plans to scal ...

IPO Overview - The Indian primary market is expected to be busy in 2026, with over 190 companies either cleared or in the approval queue, aiming to raise more than Rs 2.5 lakh crore [11] - Reliance Jio is anticipated to dominate the IPO calendar, with a valuation between Rs 11 lakh crore to Rs 12 lakh crore, potentially becoming India's largest IPO [11] - The National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) is gaining momentum for its IPO, having set aside Rs 1,300 crore to settle regulatory matters, with expectations for a no-objection certificate from Sebi soon [11] Consumer Internet and Technology Companies - Flipkart is preparing for a 2026 listing, targeting a valuation of $60 billion to $70 billion, and is expected to be one of the largest technology offerings from India [3][11] - PhonePe has filed confidential draft papers for a $1.5 billion IPO, valuing the company at around $15 billion, marking a significant milestone for India's fintech sector [4][11] Hospitality and Financial Services - OYO is preparing for an IPO that could raise up to $800 million, focusing on stabilizing its business and improving profitability [6][11] - SBI Funds Management is considering raising up to $1.2 billion through an IPO in the first half of 2026, backed by State Bank of India and Amundi [7][11] Lending and Fintech - Hero Fincorp plans to raise Rs 3,668.13 crore through its IPO, consisting of a Rs 2,100 crore fresh issue and an offer for sale by existing shareholders [7][11] - Navi Technologies is targeting a listing in the second half of FY26, expanding across personal loans, home loans, and insurance [8][11] Quick-Commerce and Consumer Electronics - Zepto is preparing to refile its draft papers, looking to raise $450 million to $500 million (approximately Rs 4,000 crore to Rs 4,440 crore) [9][11] - boAt aims to raise $300 million to $500 million at a valuation of over $1.5 billion, having finalized major investment banks for its IPO [10][11]

Key Takeaways UPST added Tech CU, Peak Credit Union & CAFCU as partners, expanding personal loans, auto refinance & HELOCs.UPST routes qualified applicants via its Referral Network into Tech CU-branded experiences for loan closing.UPST topped 100 lending partners by Sept. 30, 2025, with three generating 85% of loans and 63% of revenues.Upstart (UPST) has partnered with Tech CU, enabling the credit union to offer personal loans and auto refinance loans to more consumers. Tech CU began providing personal loan ...

Core Insights - Financial giants are showing bullish sentiment towards LendingClub, with 57% of traders being bullish and 21% bearish, indicating a positive outlook on the stock [1] - The price target for LendingClub has been identified in the range of $17.0 to $23.0 over the last three months, suggesting a focused interest from larger investors [2] - Recent options activity indicates a mix of bullish and neutral sentiment, with significant trades in puts and calls, reflecting varied investor strategies [9] Company Overview - LendingClub operates an online lending marketplace that connects borrowers with investors, providing access to loan products such as personal, education, small business, and auto loans [10] - The company generates most of its revenue from transaction fees associated with loan originations facilitated through its platform [10] Market Position - Current analyst ratings for LendingClub show a consensus target price of $25.0, with an Overweight rating maintained by JP Morgan [11][12] - The stock price of LendingClub is currently at $19.66, reflecting a slight increase of 0.05% with a trading volume of 709,865 [14]