Naspers Ltd., the South African media and technology conglomerate, sold 12 million Remitly shares on March 12 for roughly $191.8 million — its second large block sale in under a year. A similar 11.9 million-share disposal came in May 2025. Combined, the two moves have cut Naspers's indirect stake roughly in half, and this latest sale drops it below the 10% ownership threshold that triggers enhanced SEC reporting.The company targets immigrant communities as its primary customer base, focusing on individuals ...

Bakkt I (NYSE:BKKT) 2026 Investor Day March 17, 2026 09:30 AM ET Company ParticipantsAkshay Naheta - CEOAnkit Khemka - Chief Product OfficerKaren Alexander - CFONick Baes - COORémi Tuyaerts - CTOConference Call ParticipantsDillon Heslin - AnalystJared Watson - AnalystMarnie Lysaght - AnalystModeratorGood morning.Akshay NahetaGood morning.ModeratorThanks everybody for coming today to Bakkt's first Investor Day, both here in person and virtually at homes or in your offices. We really do appreciate you joining ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported net revenue from continuing operations of $18.2 million for 2025, an 81% year-over-year increase compared to $10.1 million in 2024, exceeding previous guidance of $16.5 million [11] - Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV) grew 411% year-over-year, driven by the growth of the payments business [12] - General and administrative expenses were reduced by $9.9 million or 26% compared to the prior year, while R&D expenses increased by $1.9 million [14] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Financial technology, including payment processing via PSQ Payments and credit offerings via Credova, earned $7.3 million in net revenue, a 109% increase from the prior year [12] - The credit business revenue in Q4 increased by $1.5 million or 47% year-over-year to $4.8 million [13] - Repeat customer rates for the Credova platform increased by 25% compared to 2024, indicating stronger customer engagement [13] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The firearms industry showed growth despite broader market softness, with December 2025 NSSF Adjusted NICS checks declining approximately 3.4% year-over-year [5] - The company is focusing on underserved industries, particularly those moving towards e-commerce infrastructure, benefiting its payments and credit businesses [5] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is simplifying operations and focusing on financial infrastructure, emphasizing operational accountability and cash efficiency [4] - The strategic focus includes leveraging AI to improve underwriting performance and operational efficiency [7] - The company aims to build a more integrated financial platform for merchants and consumers, moving away from traditional payment rails [8][9] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management believes the current operating environment presents opportunities for growth in fintech, particularly in underserved markets [4] - The company expects to see significant disintermediation across the payments ecosystem, allowing for more efficient systems and reduced transaction costs [8] - Management is optimistic about achieving profitability in the near term through cost reductions and improved revenue per employee [6] Other Important Information - The company incurred approximately $250,000 in cash severance expense in Q4, with expectations of recognizing one-time severance costs in the first half of 2026 [6] - The company had $16.1 million of cash and restricted cash as of December 31, 2025, with a net cash decrease of $14.2 million during the year [17] Q&A Session Summary Question: Why was now the appropriate time for the management change? - The management change was a deliberate decision made by the Board to align with the strategic pivot into fintech, leveraging the new CEO's background in financial technology [23] Question: How will the go-to-market strategy change for the company's fintech efforts? - The strategy will focus on executing what is already working, tapping into market demand for financial infrastructure and credit products [26] Question: What are the capital priorities for the company? - The focus is on running a capital-efficient business, improving revenue per employee, and moving towards profitability before considering debt repayment or strategic M&A [29] Question: Where do you see the biggest opportunity for payments and credit? - The company sees opportunities in the 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) space, as well as in the lending industry, where traditional fintech has been hesitant [35] Question: Is a digital asset strategy still part of the portfolio? - The focus is on stablecoins and new payment rails, aiming to improve transaction speed and reduce costs for merchants [38] Question: How will AI be integrated into the business? - AI will be used internally to enhance productivity and externally to improve compliance and efficiency in lending and payments [41] Question: How will proceeds from the divestiture be used? - Proceeds will be used to execute the product roadmap and improve unit economics, focusing on accretive revenue [46] Question: What KPIs should be followed to measure success? - Key metrics include top-line growth, adjusted EBITDA loss reduction, operating cash flow, and revenue per employee [48]

Why An Unsustainable Bubble Is Growing Inside Fintech https://t.co/OYcCAzhy53 (📸: Claffra via Getty Images) https://t.co/ujeLr9FCxr ...

Grab Holdings ( GRAB ), Southeast Asia's dominant super-app, I believe remains undervalued after strong growth projections and sustained profitability. The financial services segment has the potential to be one of Grab's most important long-termHi, my names Tyler! While I am currently a student at University of South Carolina well on my way to earning majors in Finance and Risk Management, I spend nearly all my free time analyzing companies and the market. My credentials include a Level 2 certification thro ...

RT Jeff Kauflin (@JeffKauflin)1/ NEW: My story on why an unsustainable bubble is growing inside fintech, with fresh details on Stripe’s 2025 revenue and profits: https://t.co/Opmkt33VkR ...

Trade media highlights ECGI pilot progress as Nomyx and tZERO expand institutional tokenization infrastructureIRVINE, Calif., March 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via IBN -- ECGI Holdings, Inc. (OTC:ECGI) today said its RezyFi mortgage tokenization pilot has drawn third-party industry attention from Inside Mortgage Finance, as institutional infrastructure around partner Nomyx continues to develop through its recently announced relationship with tZERO. ECGI believes these developments strengthen the commercial ...

Affirm Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:AFRM) ranks among the best growth stocks to buy and hold for the long term. Following the company’s conference presentation, Baird reaffirmed a Neutral rating on Affirm Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:AFRM) with a $55 price target on March 5. Baird believes the company’s risk-reward profile is balanced to moderately favorable at 36x calendar 2026 projections. The firm recognized the company’s solid growth rate and potential for market dominance. However, these benefits are outweighed b ...

Geopolitical Developments - The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have initiated extensive military strikes against Iran, marking a significant escalation in regional tensions [2][11] - U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has confirmed its involvement in targeting locations within Iran, indicating a coordinated military strategy [2] Investor Sentiment - The Bank of America (BAC) March Fund Manager Survey indicates a shift in global investor sentiment towards bearishness, primarily due to concerns over the Middle East conflict and private credit risks [3][11] Energy Markets - Angola is projected to load 1.04 million barrels per day (b/d) of crude oil in May, providing some clarity amidst geopolitical uncertainties [5] - Ukraine's President Zelenskiy reported that repairs on the Druzhba pipeline are nearing completion, which could alleviate supply constraints for Central and Eastern Europe within 1.5 months [6] - The European Union is actively seeking alternative routes for non-Russian crude oil to ensure stable transit for landlocked nations despite ongoing conflicts [7] Corporate Strategy Shifts - OpenAI is undergoing a significant internal reorganization to refocus on coding and business users, moving away from its previous consumer-centric approach [8][11] - PayPal has expanded its cryptocurrency services by enabling stablecoin access in 70 countries, enhancing the utility of its PYUSD stablecoin in international markets [9][11] - Audi, a subsidiary of Volkswagen, is adjusting its pricing strategy and will not implement further price increases for American customers despite global inflationary pressures [9] Healthcare Developments - Pfizer reported positive Phase 2 results for its next-generation CDK4 inhibitor, atirmociclib, which targets second-line metastatic breast cancer, potentially strengthening its oncology pipeline [12][11]

Core Insights - S&P 500 financial stocks are experiencing a negative trend, marked by the formation of a Death Cross, indicating weakening momentum and increased downside risk [1][2] Group 1: Death Cross and Historical Context - The recent Death Cross is the first since October 2023, suggesting a significant shift in market dynamics [1] - Historical patterns show that the last Death Cross occurred in November 2023, coinciding with a downturn that began in 2022 due to aggressive Federal Reserve rate hikes [2] - A similar setup in April 2022 saw the sector decline by 18% over six months after the 50-day average fell below the 200-day average [3] Group 2: Underperformance of Financial Stocks - Financial stocks are underperforming relative to the broader market, with their strength compared to the S&P 500 dropping to levels last seen during the COVID-era recovery in late 2020 [4] - This underperformance indicates that challenges in the financial sector extend beyond recent market volatility [4] Group 3: Market Pressures and Hedge Fund Activity - Current pressures on the financial sector include exposure to private credit markets and the macroeconomic impact of rising oil prices [5] - Hedge funds have been actively shorting financial stocks, with net selling observed across banks, insurers, fintech firms, and trading companies [6] - The increase in short interest may reflect broader hedging strategies rather than outright bearish sentiment towards banks [6]