Core Insights - dLocal Limited, a technology-first payments platform, will release its financial results for Q3 2025 on November 12, 2025, after market close [1] - A conference call and video webcast will be held on the same day at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time [1] Company Overview - dLocal connects global enterprise merchants with billions of consumers in emerging markets across APAC, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa [3] - The "One dLocal" concept allows global companies to manage payments, payouts, and fund settlements through a single API, platform, and contract, eliminating the need for multiple local entities and payment processors [3]

Core Insights - The interest in stablecoins is growing across various sectors, but challenges remain in making them user-friendly like credit cards or digital wallets [1] - Coinflow has raised $25 million in Series A funding to enhance the use of stablecoins for faster transactions [1] - Coinflow aims to reduce transaction times from hours or days to seconds by using stablecoins as an intermediary [2] Company Overview - Coinflow, led by CEO Daniel Lev, is a payment service provider competing with established players like Stripe and Worldpay [2] - The company believes that stablecoins represent a paradigm shift in payment technology, potentially creating new winners in the market [2][5] - Coinflow's technology allows merchants to process payments without directly dealing with stablecoins, enhancing speed and cost efficiency [3] Technology and Partnerships - Coinflow partners with banks and stablecoin issuers globally, enabling it to mint and burn stablecoins and settle payments instantly [4] - The company operates across multiple blockchains, including Solana and Ethereum, focusing on speed and fees rather than specific blockchain preferences [4] Market Context - Coinflow was founded in 2022 during a downturn in crypto enthusiasm, but the perception of stablecoins as a powerful tool for money movement has shifted positively [5]

Group 1: Robinhood Markets - Robinhood's shares have increased by approximately 280% as of October 7, indicating strong market performance [3] - The company has generated $3.6 billion in sales and a net profit of $1.8 billion over the past four quarters, showcasing its profitability and growth potential [5] - Robinhood is expanding its offerings beyond traditional trading, including prediction markets and tokenized share offerings for private companies, which could attract more retail investors [4] Group 2: Uber Technologies - Uber's business model is characterized by its simplicity, relying on an app to connect riders with drivers without owning a fleet of vehicles [6] - The company has significant growth opportunities beyond ride-hailing, positioning itself as a potential leader in the travel industry [7] Group 3: Mastercard - Mastercard's strong position in the global payments industry suggests it will remain a leading financial stock for the foreseeable future [7]

Core Insights - Nayax Ltd. has formed a strategic partnership with ChargeSmart EV to enhance the EV charging infrastructure in the United States, positioning itself as a leader in payment solutions for EV charging stations [1][3] - ChargeSmart has selected Nayax as its preferred cashless payments provider, aiming to deploy thousands of new DC fast chargers and integrate Nayax's eCommerce SDK payment solution into its mobile application [2][3] Company Overview: Nayax - Nayax is a global commerce enablement and payments platform that helps merchants scale their business through cashless payment acceptance, management tools, and loyalty solutions [4] - As of June 30, 2025, Nayax operates 12 global offices, employs approximately 1,200 staff, and has connections to over 80 merchant acquirers and payment method integrations [4] Company Overview: ChargeSmart EV - ChargeSmart EV is a provider of electric vehicle charging solutions, focusing on sustainable transportation through reliable and accessible charging technology [5] - The company offers end-to-end solutions for various clients, including commercial properties and municipalities, helping them establish profitable EV charging programs [5]

Market Overview - Mid cap growth equities experienced modest gains in Q3, with the Russell Midcap Growth Index returning 2.8%, lagging behind the Russell Midcap Value Index at 6.2% and the Russell Midcap Index at 5.3% [3] - The U.S. Federal Reserve's rate cut in September contributed to easing monetary policy, benefiting rate-sensitive sectors and renewing interest in cyclical and innovation-led areas [3] Investor Sentiment - Investor sentiment improved due to the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill and progress on trade agreements, reducing policy uncertainty and enabling companies to execute delayed strategic decisions [4] - Earnings estimates stabilized, particularly in technology and AI-related sectors, despite ongoing challenges in non-residential construction and discretionary segments [4] Portfolio Performance - The ClearBridge Mid Cap Growth Strategy outperformed its benchmark in Q3, driven by stock selection in IT, consumer staples, and healthcare sectors, while consumer discretionary and financials sectors slightly detracted from performance [5] Sector Contributions - In the IT sector, AppLovin (APP) and Monolithic Power Systems (MPWR) were standout performers, with AppLovin benefiting from strong earnings and optimism around its e-commerce business [6] - Consumer staples saw positive contributions from Performance Food Group (PFGC) and Casey's General Stores (CASY), both benefiting from strong operational performance [7] - The consumer discretionary sector faced challenges, particularly with Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) and Wingstop (WING) experiencing declines due to competitive pressures and softer spending trends [8] - Financials sector was a modest drag on performance, with Tradeweb Markets (TW) and Corpay facing challenges from macro volatility and company-specific issues [9] Portfolio Positioning - New positions were initiated in Roblox, benefiting from improved growth dynamics and advertising opportunities, and APi Group, which is well-positioned in safety and industrial services [10][11] - Exited position in Deckers Outdoor (DECK) due to increasing competitive pressures in the sneaker market [12] Outlook - Leadership within mid growth stocks remains selective, with a few companies rewarded for differentiated technology and strong pipelines, while others struggle with demand and competition [13] - Focus remains on identifying businesses with secular growth drivers across technology, healthcare, and industrials sectors [14] - Near-term market uncertainty is expected to persist, but the strategy is positioned to benefit from companies sustaining durable growth in earnings and cash flow [15] Portfolio Highlights - The ClearBridge Mid Cap Growth Strategy had positive contributions across seven of the 11 sectors, with IT and healthcare being the leading contributors [16] - Stock selection in IT, consumer staples, healthcare, and energy sectors contributed positively, while consumer discretionary and financials sectors weighed on performance [17] - Individual stock contributions included AppLovin, United Rentals (URI), and Performance Food, while detractors included Chipotle Mexican Grill and Tradeweb Markets [18]

Core Insights - PayPal Holdings (NASDAQ: PYPL) is currently in a medium-term consolidation phase following a significant post-COVID downturn of approximately 80% from its peak [1] Company Analysis - The company has experienced a substantial decline in its stock price, indicating challenges in the market environment post-COVID [1] - The analysis emphasizes the importance of filtering through vast amounts of data to identify critical investment opportunities related to PayPal [1] Investment Perspective - The investment group Beyond the Wall Investing provides insights similar to those prioritized by institutional market participants, focusing on high-quality analysis of buying and selling ideas [1]

Core Insights - Visa Inc. has partnered with Pool United and First Internet Bank to launch a new consumer finance account designed for shared use among multiple users, featuring role-based permissions and a Pool Visa Debit Card [1][3][8] - This collaboration aims to create a smarter way for people to manage money together, emphasizing co-ownership, spending controls, transparency, and security [2][3] - The initiative aligns with Visa's strategy to innovate beyond traditional payments, reflecting adaptability in the evolving digital-first economy [3][4] Financial Performance - In Q3 of fiscal 2025, Visa's processed transactions increased by 10% year over year [4][8] - Visa's stock has appreciated by 27% over the past year, outperforming the industry average increase of 5.7% [7] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Visa's fiscal 2025 earnings suggests a 13.7% increase compared to the previous year [11] Competitive Landscape - Competitors such as Mastercard and American Express are also showing strong performance, with Mastercard reporting a 13% increase in net revenues and American Express showing 6% growth in network volumes in the first half of 2025 [5][6] - Visa's forward price-to-earnings ratio stands at 27.1, above the industry average of 20.2, indicating a premium valuation [9]

Core Viewpoint - Mastercard is a leading payments platform with a strong market position, benefiting from the rise of digital payments and a robust network effect, although its shares are currently fully priced [1][4][9]. Company Overview - Mastercard has generated a total return of 13,690% since its IPO in May 2006, with a current market capitalization of $525 billion [2]. - The company operates in a duopoly with Visa, which is larger, but has still managed to reward shareholders effectively [1]. Financial Performance - Mastercard has a net profit margin averaging 42.2% over the past decade, indicating strong profitability [7]. - The company is expected to benefit from the growth of electronic payments, projected to increase from $18.7 trillion in 2024 to $33.5 trillion by 2030 [4]. Growth Potential - There is significant growth potential in digital payment methods, particularly in emerging markets, which can offset slower growth in developed regions like the U.S. [4][9]. - Mastercard's position as a foundational commerce layer provides protection against competitive pressures [9]. Economic Sensitivity - The company's financial results are closely tied to overall economic performance, making it vulnerable to cyclical downturns, although such risks are considered temporary [6]. Network Effect - Mastercard's extensive network includes 150 million acceptance locations and 3.2 billion cards, creating a strong network effect that is essential for both merchants and cardholders [10].

Group 1: Company Performance - Middle Coast Investing's collective portfolio outperformed the S&P 500 in Q3 2025, returning 9.6% compared to the S&P 500's 7.8% [1] - The Core U.S. portfolios returned 10%, while the Russell 2000 returned 12%, the S&P 600 returned 8.7%, and the Nasdaq generated 11.2% during the same period [1] - European Portfolios appreciated by 5.5% in Q3 2025 [1] Group 2: Corpay, Inc. Overview - Corpay, Inc. (NYSE:CPAY) is a payment company that assists businesses and consumers in managing vehicle-related expenses [2][3] - The stock of Corpay, Inc. experienced a one-month return of -7.35% and a 52-week loss of 13.31%, closing at $288.70 per share with a market capitalization of $20.386 billion on October 6, 2025 [2] - Corpay's fastest-growing segment is corporate payments, which helps companies manage accounts payable and cross-border transactions [3] Group 3: Corpay's Business Model - Corpay operates a classic fuel card business that allows companies to monitor spending on gas or electric charging [3] - The company also has a lodging business targeting hotel payments for emergencies, flight delays, or business-related stays [3]

Core Insights - PayPal has launched PayPal Ads Manager, enabling millions of small businesses to create their own retail media networks and generate new revenue streams through advertising [1][3][6] - The retail media network industry is a multi-billion-dollar sector, previously dominated by large enterprises, which PayPal aims to democratize for small businesses [2][3] - PayPal Ads Manager simplifies the advertising process for small businesses, allowing them to easily integrate and manage ad placements without upfront costs or minimum commitments [3][5][6] Group 1: Product Features - PayPal Ads Manager allows small businesses to monetize their existing store traffic by serving relevant ads based on their preferences [3][4][6] - The platform utilizes PayPal's transaction graph to provide advertisers with insights based on real buying behavior, enhancing ad targeting [5][6] - Small businesses can manage their ad campaigns through a unified dashboard within their PayPal account, streamlining campaign management [6][7] Group 2: Market Positioning - With 99.9% of U.S. businesses classified as small, PayPal is positioned to tap into a vast market of potential advertisers [1][2] - The service will initially launch in the United States, with plans to expand to the United Kingdom and Germany in early 2026 [8] - PayPal's extensive experience in digital payments and its existing relationships with millions of merchants provide a strong foundation for the success of PayPal Ads Manager [5][8]