Core Insights - The "Buy Now, Pay Later" (BNPL) services are becoming increasingly popular during the holiday shopping season, with spending expected to reach $20.2 billion, an 11% increase from the previous year [2] - Annual BNPL spending is projected to hit $116.7 billion by 2025, doubling from 2022 and increasing more than sevenfold compared to 2020 [3] - A survey indicates that half of holiday shoppers are likely to use BNPL services if available, highlighting its growing acceptance [4] Industry Trends - BNPL services are embedded in consumer culture, leading to higher average order values—91% for enterprises and 62% for small businesses [5] - Despite the growth, there are rising concerns about the financial strain on consumers, with 41% of users admitting to missing payments, up from 34% last year [6] - Financial experts warn that BNPL can create a false sense of affordability, leading consumers to make purchases beyond their means [7] Regulatory Environment - There is increasing regulatory scrutiny on BNPL services, with proposed legislation aimed at extending consumer protections similar to those for credit cards [10] - A multistate inquiry into major BNPL providers is underway, focusing on fees, disclosures, and consumer risks [11] - The regulatory landscape is inconsistent, with BNPL products being treated differently across states, leading to confusion and potential regulatory arbitrage [12] Market Performance - The year 2025 has been mixed for BNPL companies, with varying stock performances: PayPal down 30.54%, Block down 24.90%, Affirm up 25.69%, Klarna down 31.67%, Sezzle up 65.27%, and Zip up 7.32% [15]

Key Points Financial stocks continue to deliver returns for investors, since everyone needs to use and manage money. Sezzle continues to gain market share in the BNPL industry and looks attractive after the recent correction. Robinhood has multiple high-growth revenue opportunities and continues to attract new investors. 10 stocks we like better than Sezzle › No matter what innovations reach the marketplace, people will exchange money to buy goods and services. Financial institutions and fintech ...

: US stocks ended Tuesday on a mixed note as investors weighed the latest labor market data and ongoing shifts within the market, marking another cautious session on Wall Street.S&P 500 and Dow Fall for Third Straight Session, Nasdaq GainedThe S&P 500 slipped for a third straight day, falling 0.24% to close at 6,800.26, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped more sharply, losing 302.30 points, or 0.62%, to finish at 48,114.26, as per a CNBC report. The Nasdaq Composite managed to buck the trend, edging u ...

Key Takeaways Affirm partners with Pacsun to offer installment payments during the holiday shopping season.Shoppers can choose interest-free biweekly plans or monthly options of up to 24 months.AFRM expects December-quarter revenues of $1.03-$1.06B as holiday BNPL volume rises.Affirm Holdings, Inc. (AFRM) recently partnered with Pacsun, a youth-focused fashion retailer, to power pay-over-time options at checkout. Shoppers can split purchases into installments directly using Affirm when buying Pacsun’s colle ...

Ovanti Ltd (ASX:OVT) is in talks with Nasdaq-listed Miluna Acquisition Corp (MMTXU) to effectively stage a backdoor listing on the world’s biggest technology index through what is called a “SPAC deal.”Listen to the HotCopper podcast for in-depth discussions and insights on all the biggest headlines from throughout the week. On Spotify, Apple, and more.Disclaimer: This content has been prepared as part of a partnership with Ovanti Ltd and is intended for informational purposes only.Ovanti U.S.’s flagship BNP ...

NEW YORK (AP) — A strong year for initial public offerings on Wall Street has fizzled out due to the government shutdown and a cautious turn by investors. Many IPOs targeted for the end of this year will likely be pushed into next year as the Securities and Exchange Commission works to clear a backlog of hundreds of registration statements. Meanwhile, shares of companies that did make their market debuts haven't fared well lately amid concerns that stocks have gotten too expensive after another double-dig ...

Core Insights - Klarna is expanding its partnership with Blackhawk Network to enhance gift card purchasing options for consumers ahead of the holiday season [2][3] - The collaboration allows consumers to purchase digital gift cards from over 350 brands using Klarna's payment options, which include Pay in Full, Pay in 4, and Financing [3][4] Company Developments - Klarna's chief commercial officer emphasized the importance of flexibility and control for consumers in gift card purchases as the company continues to grow in the U.S. market [2] - The partnership aligns with the rising popularity of digital gift cards, which can now be added to digital wallets like Apple Wallet and Google Wallet [5] Industry Trends - The demand for digital gift cards is increasing, with 81% of consumers having purchased a gift card in the previous year, marking a 6% increase from the prior year [5] - Klarna is evolving into a neobank, supported by a global retail payments network, with a revenue mix that includes merchant fees, interest income, and value-added services [6]

Core Viewpoint - Sezzle has experienced significant growth but has recently faced a sharp decline in stock price, presenting a potential buying opportunity amidst broader market concerns about the fintech sector and credit risks [1][2][3]. Company Performance - Sezzle's stock fell 43% since September 9, underperforming compared to other fintech stocks [3]. - Despite the stock's decline, Sezzle reported strong third-quarter results, with gross merchandise volume increasing by 58.7% to $1 billion and revenue rising by 67% to $116.8 million [8]. - Adjusted EBITDA rose 75% to $39.6 million, and adjusted earnings per share increased from $0.47 to $0.71 [9]. Market Position and Strategy - Sezzle operates in the buy now, pay later (BNPL) space, offering a "pay in four" feature and generating revenue primarily from merchants through a 6% processing fee plus $0.30 per transaction [9]. - The company positions itself as more user-friendly and less predatory than competitors, implementing measures to limit credit risk by cutting off users who miss payments [10]. Financial Metrics - Sezzle's current market capitalization is approximately $2 billion, with a forward P/E ratio of 16 based on an updated adjusted EPS of $3.38 for the year, indicating a potentially attractive valuation for a high-growth company [12]. - The provision for credit losses doubled to $32.2 million in the third quarter, reflecting rising credit risk in the current macroeconomic environment [13]. Future Outlook - If Sezzle can navigate the current market volatility, there is potential for significant stock appreciation, with a 10x gain considered possible if the company maintains its growth trajectory [14].

Group 1 - Affirm (AFRM) is experiencing strong growth rates, indicating it is gaining market share in the e-commerce sector, particularly in the buy now, pay later market [1] - The company stands out as a positive performer amidst concerns regarding market volatility [1] Group 2 - Julian Lin, a financial analyst, focuses on identifying undervalued companies with long-term growth potential and strong management teams [1] - The investment group led by Julian Lin emphasizes stocks with a high probability of delivering significant alpha compared to the S&P 500 [1] - The group's approach combines growth-oriented principles with strict valuation criteria to enhance the margin of safety [1]

Core Insights - The Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) industry is experiencing a pivotal moment, particularly for Affirm, as it prepares to report its fiscal Q1 2026 earnings, raising investor questions about the timing for buying or selling [2][3] Financial Performance - Affirm is set to report fiscal Q1 2026 results, covering the period from July to September 2025, with key metrics including revenue growth, earnings per share, gross merchandise volume (GMV), credit quality, and the performance of the Affirm Card, which saw a 97% increase in active users to 2.3 million in Q4 [3] - For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Affirm achieved its first-ever full-year GAAP net income of $52.19 million, a significant turnaround from the previous year's net loss [8] - The company reported a 43% year-over-year increase in GMV during its strong fiscal fourth quarter, marking its first quarterly operating profit [9] Market Conditions - Recent Federal Reserve rate cuts have eased funding pressures for BNPL players, improving margins and funding flexibility for Affirm [4] - Regulatory risks have diminished, as the CFPB reversed its earlier decision to classify BNPL lenders as "credit card providers," leading to a more favorable operating environment for Affirm and its peers [5] Stock Performance - Affirm shares have increased by 67.1% year-to-date in 2025, with a 52-week trading range between a low of $30.90 and a high of $100.00 [8] - The stock opened at $71.14 but declined to a low of $66.24 during the session at the time of writing [9] Industry Comparables - Klarna (KLAR), a relevant comparable in the BNPL space, has seen its stock price decline to around $35.66, more than 10% below its $40 IPO price, despite analysts maintaining a "Buy" consensus [10][12] Future Outlook - With high interest rates and regulatory uncertainties largely resolved, the BNPL industry is shifting focus towards diversification, with major players exploring traditional banking services [13]