Industry Overview - Many fintech stocks have experienced significant declines due to inflation, high interest rates, and macroeconomic challenges, impacting industry growth [1] - Intense competition has made it difficult for smaller players to scale their businesses and improve margins [1] Investment Opportunities - The recent sell-off in fintech stocks may present a buying opportunity for long-term investors, particularly in companies like Upstart and Affirm, which have seen their stock prices drop approximately 90% and 60% from all-time highs, respectively [2] Company Profiles - Upstart operates an AI-driven online lending marketplace, utilizing non-traditional data points to approve loans, having originated over $50.4 billion in loans for more than 3 million customers [3] - Affirm offers buy now, pay later services to younger, lower-income consumers, serving 24.1 million active consumers and 419,000 active merchants, without charging compound interest or hidden fees [4] Growth Projections - Analysts project Upstart's revenue and adjusted EBITDA to grow at CAGRs of 20% and 35% from 2025 to 2027, while Affirm's revenue and adjusted EBITDA are expected to increase at CAGRs of 25% and 125% from fiscal 2025 to fiscal 2028 [6] Valuation Insights - Upstart has an enterprise value of $4.6 billion, trading at 13 times next year's adjusted EBITDA, while Affirm, valued at $24.7 billion, trades at 16 times next year's adjusted EBITDA, indicating both stocks may be undervalued relative to their growth potential [7]

Core Insights - Lesaka Technologies, Inc. reported its Q2 2026 financial results, highlighting a positive net income for the first time since its inception in 2022, alongside a reaffirmation of its full-year guidance for FY2026 [5][6]. Financial Performance - **Group Level Performance**: - Revenue increased to $178.734 million from $176.216 million, a growth of 1.4% year-on-year [3]. - Net Revenue rose by 16% to $93.403 million from $77.060 million [3]. - Operating Income surged by 265% to $2.150 million from $547 thousand [3]. - Net Income turned positive at $3.645 million compared to a loss of $32.456 million [3]. - Group Adjusted EBITDA increased by 47% to $17.777 million from $11.580 million [3]. - **Segment Level Performance**: - **Merchant Segment**: Revenue decreased by 13% to $131.919 million from $145.209 million, with Net Revenue down 2% to $48.714 million [3]. - **Consumer Segment**: Revenue increased by 38% to $33.118 million from $22.929 million, with Segment Adjusted EBITDA up 106% to $9.310 million [3]. - **Enterprise Segment**: Revenue grew by 58% to $14.796 million from $8.933 million, with Net Revenue increasing by 67% to $12.670 million [3]. Guidance and Outlook - For Q3 FY2026, the company expects Net Revenue between ZAR 1.65 billion and ZAR 1.80 billion, and Group Adjusted EBITDA between ZAR 300 million and ZAR 340 million [12]. - For the full fiscal year 2026, guidance includes Net Revenue between ZAR 6.4 billion and ZAR 6.9 billion, and Group Adjusted EBITDA between ZAR 1.25 billion and ZAR 1.45 billion, with positive Net Income attributable to Lesaka [12]. Company Overview - Lesaka Technologies operates as a South African fintech company, providing a comprehensive platform for financial services, software, and business services aimed at underserved consumers and merchants in Southern Africa [24][25].

Core Insights - Aubrey Capital Management Ltd has completely exited its position in MercadoLibre, selling 5,638 shares for an estimated value of $13.18 million, which was 4.15% of the fund's assets under management [2][9] - As of February 3, 2026, MercadoLibre shares were priced at $2,099.90, reflecting a 10% increase over the past year, although underperforming the S&P 500 by 5.4 percentage points [3][10] - The company's market capitalization stands at $106.46 billion, with a revenue of $26.19 billion and a net income of $2.08 billion for the trailing twelve months [4] Company Overview - MercadoLibre operates a leading e-commerce and fintech platform in Latin America, providing services such as online marketplaces, digital payments (Mercado Pago), credit solutions, logistics, and advertising [6][7] - The company generates revenue through transaction fees, fintech services, advertising, logistics, and value-added services for merchants and consumers [7] - MercadoLibre's logistics network and diversified service offerings provide a competitive advantage in high-growth emerging markets [8] Performance Metrics - The stock has shown strong performance over the years, with a 77% increase since 2023, translating to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.9%, compared to the S&P 500's CAGR of 20.4% [10] - Despite recent challenges, including a decline in operating margins from nearly 13% to under 10%, the company continues to grow, with revenue increasing from $22.4 billion to $26.2 billion over the last 12 months [11][12]

Market Overview - The recent decline in tech stocks has prompted many investors to seek safety, but some view this as an opportunity to invest [1][2] - The tech sector is experiencing significant challenges due to high interest rates, slowing growth, and elevated valuations, leading to sharp pullbacks [2][3] Investment Strategy - A contrarian perspective suggests that steep declines in stock prices can turn previously "hyped and overpriced" stocks into attractive investment opportunities [3] - The focus should be on liquidity; stocks with high trading volumes allow for easier entry and exit, reducing the risk of significant losses [4][6] Specific Companies of Interest - Fintech companies, particularly Robinhood (HOOD), are highlighted as offering compelling entry points despite recent challenges, including a crypto sell-off [7] - Established tech companies like Oracle (ORCL) are also seen as potentially undervalued, with Oracle's stock down approximately 40% from its 52-week high, indicating that market corrections can reveal value in unexpected places [8]

By Tatiana Bautzer NEW YORK, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Boston-based startup EnFi is raising $15 million with venture capital ​funds to increase deployment of artificial intelligence agents ‌that analyze and make decisions on credit applications. The round is led ‌by Fintop, with Patriot Financial Partners, Commerce Ventures, Unusual Ventures and Boston Seed Capital. These investors are linked to more than 150 financial institutions, mainly regional or community ⁠banks. The round ‌raises total financing to $22.5 ...

Core Insights - C WorldWide Group Holding A/S increased its stake in MercadoLibre by purchasing 44,747 additional shares during Q4 2025, with an estimated transaction value of approximately $93.99 million [2][6] - The fund's quarter-end position value in MercadoLibre rose by $87.34 million, reflecting both trading activity and stock price changes [2] Company Overview - As of February 3, 2026, MercadoLibre's stock price was $2,099.90, with a market capitalization of $106.46 billion [4] - The company reported a trailing twelve months (TTM) revenue of $26.19 billion and a net income of $2.08 billion [4] Business Model - MercadoLibre operates as a leading e-commerce and fintech platform in Latin America, offering a diverse portfolio of digital solutions including e-commerce, fintech, logistics, classifieds, advertising, and digital storefronts [6][7] - Revenue is primarily generated through transaction fees, payment processing, credit products, advertising, logistics services, and value-added marketplace offerings [7] Investment Implications - C WorldWide's stake in MercadoLibre increased by 517% in Q4, indicating a strong interest in the Latin American market, particularly as Amazon is one of the fund's largest positions [9] - Despite the increase in stake, MercadoLibre's stock has struggled over the past year due to heightened competition in e-commerce and challenges faced by its fintech arm, Mercado Pago, which had to increase provisions for doubtful accounts significantly [9]

Robinhood Markets, Inc. ( HOOD ) is expected to announce its Q4 2025 and FY2025 financial results on 10 th February after market close. As investors and fintech enthusiasts eagerly wait forFirst Principles Partners is an equity research analyst specializing in technology, innovation, and sustainability investment. My unique approach, "First Principles," involves breaking down complex problems to their most basic elements in terms of financial and technology, enabling me to uncover overlooked investment oppo ...

Core Insights - IQSTEL Inc. held its Annual Meeting of Shareholders on January 30, 2026, with strong participation, where shareholders elected the Board of Directors and received updates on financial performance and strategic initiatives [1][5][6] Financial Performance - In 2025, IQSTEL surpassed a $400 million annualized revenue run rate and reported a positive adjusted EBITDA from operating activities, achieving a $2.7 million adjusted EBITDA run rate [2][17] - The company eliminated convertible debt, significantly strengthening its balance sheet and enhancing shareholder value [2][18] Strategic Initiatives - IQSTEL plans to initiate quarterly earnings calls starting in 2026 to enhance transparency and engagement with shareholders [4] - The company aims to achieve a $15 million EBITDA run rate in 2026 through operational optimization, organic growth, and strategic acquisitions [9][20] - Management expects the AI division to generate seven-figure annual revenue by 2027, with two production-ready AI products already in place [9][28] Shareholder Engagement - The Annual Meeting included a comprehensive Q&A session addressing shareholder questions on profitability targets, acquisition strategy, and governance [5][16] - A detailed Shareholder Letter summarizing the meeting proceedings and voting results is being distributed to shareholders [5][6] Governance and Oversight - The company announced plans to seek shareholder approval via proxy for significant transactions, ensuring informed decision-making [9][24] - Management emphasized the importance of enhanced shareholder oversight and communication strategies, including increased Board meeting frequency and investor engagement initiatives [25][27]

Company Overview - Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (FIS) is a financial technology leader with a market cap of $28.6 billion, based in Jacksonville, Florida, providing secure transaction processing for financial institutions, businesses, and governments through various platforms and services [1] Stock Performance - FIS has significantly underperformed the broader market over the past 52 weeks, with shares declining 37.8%, while the S&P 500 Index gained 15.4%. Year-to-date, the stock is down 23.4%, compared to a 1.1% increase in the S&P 500 [2] - FIS also lagged behind the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF), which rose 4.4% over the past 52 weeks and declined 2.3% year-to-date [3] Recent Developments - On November 8, FIS launched its Asset Servicing Management Suite, a unified platform designed to automate and streamline asset-servicing functions, enhancing efficiency, data accuracy, and reducing operational risk. The market reacted positively, with FIS shares gaining about 1% in the following trading session [5] Earnings Outlook - For the current fiscal year ending in December, analysts project FIS' EPS to grow 10.5% year-over-year to $5.77. The company has a strong earnings surprise history, meeting or exceeding consensus estimates in the last four quarters [6] - Among 28 analysts covering FIS, the consensus rating is a "Moderate Buy," consisting of 13 "Strong Buy," three "Moderate Buy," 11 "Hold," and one "Strong Sell" ratings [6] Analyst Sentiment - The analyst sentiment has become more bullish, with 12 analysts now suggesting a "Strong Buy" rating. Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage of FIS with an "Overweight" rating and a price target of $72, indicating a potential upside of 41.3% from current levels [7]

Core Viewpoint - PayPal reported weaker-than-expected earnings for Q4 2025, missing both revenue and profit expectations due to a slowdown in its 'Branded Checkout' business, leading to a 20% drop in shares during a panic-driven sell-off [1] Financial Performance - PayPal's earnings for Q4 2025 were below expectations, indicating challenges in its financial performance [1] - The company experienced a significant decline in share price, dropping 20% as a result of the disappointing earnings report [1] Business Segment Analysis - The slowdown in the 'Branded Checkout' business was a key factor contributing to the missed revenue and profit targets [1]