Core Insights - Several companies are downsizing or postponing their U.S. IPOs in 2026 due to market volatility, valuation scrutiny, and weak peer performance [1][2] - Goldman Sachs analysts predict the number of IPOs will double to 120 this year, but caution about valuation risks highlighted by a selloff in software stocks [1] Company Actions - Clear Street has postponed its U.S. IPO, marking its second delayed listing this month due to "market conditions" [2][5] - Clear Street reduced its fundraising target by 65% before postponing the listing [3] - Agibank raised $240 million in its downsized U.S. IPO, selling 20 million shares at $12 each, down from an initial offering of approximately 43.6 million shares priced between $15 and $18 [4] - Liftoff Mobile has also postponed its planned New York listing, citing "current market conditions" amid a significant selloff in software stocks [5]

Core Viewpoint - Affirm Holdings Inc. is identified as a high-risk, high-reward growth stock, with a recent target price reduction by Mizuho to $95 from $114, while maintaining an Outperform rating, citing an unjustified selloff and two positive catalysts: a partnership with Intuit and conservative FY2026 guidance [1][2]. Group 1: Partnership with Intuit - On February 2, Affirm announced a multi-year exclusive partnership with Intuit, making Affirm the built-in pay-over-time solution in QuickBooks Payments, which provides access to millions of small and mid-market businesses with over $2 trillion in invoices annually [2]. - The integration of Affirm into QuickBooks Payments is expected to offer businesses a transparent way to provide customers with payment options while ensuring businesses receive payments upfront [2]. Group 2: Financial Performance - Affirm's Q2 FY2026 earnings report revealed a 36% year-over-year growth in gross merchandise volume, reaching $13.8 billion, and a 30% year-over-year revenue growth to $1.1 billion [2][3]. - Active consumers increased by 23% year-over-year to 25.8 million, and transactions per active customer grew by 20% year-over-year to 6.4 times [2]. Group 3: Future Revenue Guidance - For Q3 FY2026, Affirm expects revenue between $0.97 billion and $1.00 billion, indicating a year-over-year growth rate of 23.9% to 27.7% [3]. - For Q4 FY2026, the revenue guidance is set between $1.06 billion and $1.09 billion, suggesting a year-over-year growth rate of 21.0% to 24.4% [3]. Group 4: Company Overview - Affirm Holdings, Inc. operates a payment network across Canada, the United States, and internationally, offering a consumer-focused app, point-of-sale payment solutions, and merchant commerce solutions [4].

Group 1 - WeChat Pay has launched a series of promotional activities for the Spring Festival, including "Shake for Discounts," aiming to stimulate consumer spending with over 10 billion yuan in discounts [1] - The "Shake for Discounts" activity allows users to receive high-value merchant coupons and bank discounts after completing a payment, enhancing user engagement [1] - WeChat Pay is collaborating with banks to offer cash discounts ranging from 0.5 yuan to 10 yuan per transaction, with users able to claim multiple discounts [1] Group 2 - WeChat Pay is enhancing the payment experience for foreign visitors by allowing them to bind international credit cards like VISA and Mastercard directly to the platform, facilitating easier transactions in China [2] - A fee waiver for transactions of 200 yuan or less has been introduced to further improve the user experience for foreign users [2] - WeChat Pay supports 29 foreign wallets from 12 countries, enabling foreign users to make payments using their wallet apps while in China [2] Group 3 - During the Spring Festival, WeChat Pay is participating in a "Lucky Invoice" pilot program in collaboration with government departments, allowing users to win prizes through the WeChat payment interface [3] - The "Lucky Spring Festival" themed red envelope covers will be launched in limited quantities to enhance the festive atmosphere and encourage consumer spending [3]

Core Insights - Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services like Affirm and Klarna are increasingly popular among consumers, particularly younger demographics, allowing them to make purchases in smaller, often interest-free payments [3][10] - Analysts are divided on the investment potential of Affirm versus Klarna, with some viewing Affirm as a stronger buy due to its lower fees and established profitability [14][18] Industry Overview - The BNPL market is growing as consumers seek flexible payment options, with services allowing payments to be split into smaller amounts without interest, appealing to a wide range of consumers [6][9] - The Federal Reserve indicates that credit card debt in the U.S. has reached $1.28 trillion, highlighting a shift towards alternative payment methods like BNPL [5] Consumer Behavior - Approximately 19% of individuals aged 18 to 29 and 30 to 44 have utilized BNPL services, with late payment rates being notably higher among younger users [10][11] - The financial stability of consumers using BNPL is questioned, as a significant percentage of users report making late payments, indicating potential budgeting risks [11][13] Company Performance - Affirm's CEO reported that a majority of their users are financially stable, with 72% of stable users and 89% of fragile users making multiple BNPL purchases in a year [13] - Affirm is currently priced at $54.26, down 27% year-to-date, while Klarna is trading at $18.34, having experienced a 36% decline year-to-date [17][20] Investment Analysis - Analysts have mixed views on Affirm and Klarna, with some recommending Affirm as a buy due to its profitability and lower fees, while others express caution regarding Klarna's lack of profitability and potential risks [14][19] - Merc Research has a contrarian view on Affirm, suggesting a strong sell position due to anticipated challenges in the UK market and competition in the checkout space [16] Market Dynamics - Both Affirm and Klarna have established relationships with retailers, with Klarna offering cash back for certain merchants, while Affirm has discontinued its cash back rewards program [21]

Core Insights - Both Amazon and MercadoLibre have faced challenges primarily due to their non-e-commerce businesses, impacting their stock price growth over the past year [2][10] - The choice between investing in Amazon or MercadoLibre depends on the investor's risk tolerance [15][16] Amazon - Amazon's cloud computing arm, AWS, is its main profit source, contributing significantly to operating income despite only accounting for 18% of total revenue in 2025 [4] - The company plans to allocate $200 billion to capital expenditures in 2025, following a $132 billion spend in 2025, which has raised concerns among investors [5] - Amazon generated $11 billion in free cash flow in 2025 and has $123 billion in liquidity, allowing it to invest in growth [9] - Amazon's net sales grew by 12% in 2025, and its market cap is approximately $2.25 trillion [11][12] MercadoLibre - MercadoLibre's fintech business, Mercado Pago, has become a key growth driver but is currently facing issues with non-performing loans, with provisions for doubtful accounts increasing by 58% to over $2.1 billion in the first nine months of 2025 [6][10] - The company experienced a revenue surge of 37% in the first nine months of 2025, significantly outpacing Amazon's growth [12] - MercadoLibre's market cap is around $102 billion, allowing for potentially faster growth due to its smaller size [11][13] Investment Considerations - For risk-averse investors, Amazon's liquidity and potential in AI make it a more suitable choice despite high capital expenditures [15] - For those willing to take on higher risks, MercadoLibre may be a better option due to its ability to navigate challenges and its potential for rapid growth [16]

Core Insights - Global private equity and venture capital investments in the fintech sector increased by 43.7% year-over-year, reaching $18.54 billion in 2025, despite a decline in deal volume [2] - The volume of deals in the fintech sector fell by 34.2% from 2024, indicating a shift in investment dynamics [2] Investment Trends - The significant growth in investment value suggests strong investor confidence in the fintech sector, even as the number of deals decreases [2] - The decline in deal volume may reflect a more selective approach by investors, focusing on higher-quality opportunities rather than quantity [2]

KrakAcquisition Corp $KRAQx is launching on @xStocksFi.A publicly listed SPAC backed by Kraken, @TribeCapital, and Natural Capital, focused on regulated, revenue-generating digital asset and fintech businesses seeking public market access.Available in the Kraken app ⤵️ ...

Core Viewpoint - Affirm Holdings, Inc. (AFRM) has experienced significant volatility recently, despite reporting strong results, particularly in terms of sustained and increasing GAAP profitability [1] Group 1: Financial Performance - The company has demonstrated impressive incremental operating margins, which supports a positive outlook for its financial health [1] Group 2: Analyst Insights - Julian Lin, a financial analyst, focuses on identifying undervalued companies with long-term growth potential, emphasizing the importance of strong balance sheets and management teams [1] - Lin leads the investing group Best Of Breed Growth Stocks, which shares high-conviction stock positions expected to outperform the S&P 500 [1] - The investment strategy combines growth-oriented principles with strict valuation criteria to enhance the margin of safety [1]

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 12, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- National shareholder rights law firm Hagens Berman is notifying investors in Klarna Group plc (NYSE: KLAR) of the upcoming February 20, 2026, lead plaintiff deadline in a pending securities class action. The firm is actively investigating the lawsuit’s claims of alleged misstatements in Klarna’s September 2025 Initial Public Offering (IPO) documents. CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR KLARNA LOSSES Investors who purchased Klarna (KLAR) shares pursuant to the company’s ...

Core Insights - Toast's stock is currently testing lower boundaries, hitting a new low due to market reactions following its earnings report [1] Financial Performance - Toast reported a Q4 revenue of $1.63 billion, slightly above estimates of $1.62 billion [5] - The company achieved a Q4 EPS of 16 cents, exceeding estimates of 13 cents [5] - The annualized recurring run-rate (ARR) grew by 26% to over $2 billion as of December 31, 2025 [2] - Gross Payment Volume (GPV) increased by 22% year-over-year to $51.4 billion [2] Business Growth - Total locations increased by 22% year-over-year to approximately 164,000, with an addition of 30,000 locations in 2025 [2] - The CEO of Toast, Aman Narang, highlighted momentum across the business, including scaling the core restaurant business and accelerating growth in new markets [3] Future Expectations - For the first quarter, Toast expects gross profit from subscription services and financial technology solutions to be in the range of $505 million to $515 million, representing growth of 22% to 24% [4] - Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter is anticipated to be between $160 million and $170 million [4] Share Repurchase Program - Toast's board has authorized an increase of $500 million to the company's previously authorized share repurchase program [3] Market Reaction - Following the earnings report, Toast shares fell by 8.11% in after-hours trading, reaching $24.02 [5]