A top manager at the company tried to assuage concerns that the customer base might rein in its spending.On Tuesday, many investors chose to buy Affirm Holdings (AFRM +11.77%) stock. The buy-now, pay later (BNPL) specialist saw a nearly 12% increase in its share price following comments from one of the company's top managers, as well as an analyst price target upgrade. A bullish discussionThe comments were made by Affirm CFO Rob O'Hare in a fireside chat presented by the company. In his presentation, O'Hare ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue increased by 67% year-over-year to $116.8 million in Q3 2025 [18] - GAAP net income grew by 72.7% year-over-year to $26.7 million, with an adjusted net income increase of 52.6% to $25.4 million [23] - Adjusted EBITDA rose nearly 74.6% year-over-year to $39.6 million, representing a 33.9% adjusted EBITDA margin [24] - GMV increased by 58.7% year-over-year, marking the company's first $1 billion quarter [19] - The take rate rose by 60 basis points year-over-year to 11.2% [19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The number of monthly on-demand users reached 264,000 by the end of Q2 2025, but the subscriber count decreased from 529,000 to 484,000 during the same period [10] - By the end of Q3 2025, subscribers increased to 568,000 as the company pivoted back to focus on subscription products [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consumer metrics measured by mods rose almost 50% year-over-year [4] - Monthly active users grew by 38% year-over-year, while revenue-generating users rose by 120% year-over-year [42] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on enhancing its product experience and deepening consumer engagement through new features like the Earn tab [5][18] - There is a strategic shift back to subscription products, with on-demand services being used as a fallback option [12] - The company is exploring a banking charter to enhance efficiency and flexibility in its operations [16] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management believes the BNPL industry is still in its early days, with significant growth potential ahead [3] - The company has not seen any deterioration in consumer activity despite recent headlines affecting the lending sector [21] - The outlook for 2026 includes adjusted EPS guidance of $4.35, reflecting a 29% growth over 2025 [25] Other Important Information - The company incurred $1.3 million in costs related to corporate strategic projects during the quarter [23] - The CFO, Karen Hartje, is retiring, but will assist in the transition for the next 12 months [17] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of de-emphasizing on-demand on growth - Management noted that the decision to de-emphasize on-demand was made mid-quarter due to insufficient conversion rates into subscriptions [27][28] Question: Take rate trends and credit losses - The take rate is targeted at 60% gross margin, and the 3.1% credit loss rate aligns with expectations, with a potential drop as on-demand is de-emphasized [30][31] Question: Market strategy for BNPL in the U.S. - Management believes the BNPL market has significant growth potential, viewing it as a safer alternative to credit cards for consumers [38][40] Question: Underlying drivers of 2026 EPS guidance - The guidance reflects continued growth in subscriptions and a focus on maintaining gross margin dollars at a faster pace than operational expenses [49] Question: Changes in competition - Management has not observed significant changes in pricing or strategy from competitors, aside from Klarna launching a subscription product [52]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue increased by 67% year-over-year to $116.8 million in Q3 2025 [17] - GAAP net income grew by 72.7% year-over-year to $26.7 million, with an adjusted net income increase of 52.6% to $25.4 million [22] - Adjusted EBITDA rose nearly 74.6% year-over-year to $39.6 million, representing a 33.9% adjusted EBITDA margin [23] - GMV (Gross Merchandise Volume) increased by 58.7% year-over-year, marking the first $1 billion quarter for the company [17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The number of monthly on-demand users reached 264,000 by the end of Q2 2025, but the subscriber count decreased from 529,000 to 484,000 during the same period [9] - By the end of Q3 2025, subscribers rose to 568,000 as the company pivoted back to focus on subscription products [11] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The take rate, defined as total revenue as a percentage of GMV, rose by 60 basis points year-over-year to 11.2% [18] - The provision for credit losses as a percentage of GMV increased by 70 basis points year-over-year to 3.1% [19] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on enhancing its subscription model while using on-demand as a supplementary tool for specific consumer segments [11][10] - There is a strong emphasis on responsible lending practices, positioning the BNPL product as a budgeting tool rather than a means to overspend [4][33] - The company is exploring new product features, including AI-driven tools to enhance customer service and engagement [6][7] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the long-term growth potential of the BNPL industry, citing its early-stage development and consumer preference over traditional credit cards [3][31] - The company reaffirmed its guidance for top-line growth and adjusted net income, with modest adjustments to GAAP net income due to a discrete tax benefit [24] Other Important Information - The company incurred $1.3 million in costs related to corporate strategic projects, including an antitrust suit and capital markets exploration [12][13] - Total cash grew by $14.7 million in the quarter to $134.7 million, demonstrating the strength of the balance sheet [23] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of de-emphasizing on-demand on growth - Management noted that the decision to de-emphasize on-demand was made mid-quarter based on conversion data, indicating that on-demand is better suited for enterprise merchants rather than direct-to-consumer [25][26] Question: Take rate trends and credit losses - The take rate is targeted at maintaining a 60% gross margin, and the 3.1% credit loss rate aligns with expectations, with guidance indicating a range of 2.5%-2.75% for the year [27][29] Question: Market strategy for BNPL in the U.S. - Management believes the BNPL market has significant growth potential, viewing it as a safer alternative to credit cards and emphasizing responsible spending [31][33] Question: Drivers of 2026 EPS guidance - The company anticipates continued growth in subscriptions and is focused on maintaining cost discipline while monitoring economic conditions [37][39] Question: Changes in marketing strategy for subscriptions - The marketing approach has shifted to prioritize subscription offerings directly to consumers, contrasting with previous strategies that emphasized on-demand products [40][42]

Core Insights - Inbank achieved a record originated volume of 204 million euros in Q3 2025, marking a 14% year-on-year increase and a consolidated net profit of 5 million euros, up 62% from the previous year [1][6] - The total net income for the first nine months of 2025 reached 63.3 million euros, reflecting a 15% increase year-on-year [6] - The company successfully completed a Tier 2 bond issue on Nasdaq Tallinn, raising 8 million euros to support future growth [3] Financial Performance - Total assets as of September 30, 2025, were 1.59 billion euros, with a loan and rental portfolio of 1.24 billion euros and customer deposits of 1.32 billion euros [5][9] - Return on equity improved to 12.5% in Q3 2025, with an average of 11.4% for the first nine months [1][5] - The cost/income ratio declined to 52.3%, indicating improved efficiency [6] Growth Drivers - The growth in originated volume was driven by high demand for green financing products in Poland, expansion of buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) sales in the Baltics, and steady growth in direct lending across all markets [6] - Green financing sales reached a record 39.3 million euros, growing 57% year-on-year, while direct lending sales increased by 48% to 35.1 million euros [6] Customer and Market Engagement - Inbank serves over 5,900 partners and has 625,000 active customers, with a total of 915,000 active customer contracts by the end of Q3 2025 [4][6] - The company is focused on expanding its embedded finance solutions to more merchants and customers across existing and new European markets [4]

Zip Co Ltd (ZIP) - Zip Co Ltd's share price has increased by 61.6% since the beginning of 2025 [1] - Zip is a fintech company established in 2013, providing a buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) service that is favored by retail consumers [1] - The platform allows customers to make immediate purchases and repay in several interest-free installments [1] - Zip generates revenue through transaction fees from businesses and late fees from customers who miss payments [2] - The current price-to-sales ratio for Zip is 7.12x, higher than its 5-year average of 5.81x, indicating that shares are trading above historical averages [5] - Revenue for Zip has been growing over the last three years, which is a positive indicator despite the higher price-to-sales ratio [5] Scentre Group (SCG) - Scentre Group specializes in shopping centre real estate, operating under the Westfield brand in Australia and New Zealand [3] - The group manages a portfolio of 42 centres valued at over $34 billion, with an occupancy rate exceeding 99% and attracting over half a billion visitors annually [3] - SCG has a trailing dividend yield of approximately 4.18%, compared to its 5-year average of 4.78%, indicating a slight decrease in yield [6]

Zip Co Ltd (ZIP) - Zip Co's share price has increased by 46.5% since the beginning of 2025, indicating strong market performance [1] - The company specializes in buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) services, providing flexible payment options for retail consumers [2] - Zip has partnered with over 79,300 retailers and serves more than 6 million customers globally [2] - Revenue has grown at a rate of 75.7% per year since 2021, reaching $868 million in FY24, while net profit improved from -$678 million to $6 million [6] - The return on equity (ROE) for Zip is reported at 1.8% [6] Scentre Group (SCG) - Scentre Group operates shopping centres under the Westfield brand in Australia and New Zealand, managing a portfolio valued at over $34 billion [3] - The group has an occupancy rate exceeding 99% and attracts more than half a billion visitors annually [3] - In CY23, Scentre Group reported a debt/equity ratio of 87.3%, indicating more equity than debt [7] - The average dividend yield since 2020 has been 4.8% per year, while the ROE for SCG in CY23 was reported at 1.0% [8]

Core Viewpoint - Klarna's IPO was highly successful, with the stock opening at $52, a 30% increase from the IPO price, and the company reaching a valuation close to $20 billion at its peak [1][2][5]. Group 1: IPO Details - Klarna's IPO raised approximately $1.37 billion by issuing about 34.3 million shares at an initial price of $40, which was above the guidance range of $35 to $37, representing a premium of 8.1% to 14.3% [5]. - The stock opened at $52, peaked at $57.2, and closed at $45.82, reflecting a 14.55% increase [2][5]. - The IPO attracted over 20 times the amount of oversubscription, indicating strong market demand [5]. Group 2: Financial Performance - For the six months ending June 30, Klarna reported revenues of $1.52 billion and a net loss of $153 million [6]. - The company has expanded its services beyond "Buy Now, Pay Later" (BNPL) to include savings accounts, checking accounts, and credit cards, holding a full banking license in the EU [6]. Group 3: Investor Insights - Sequoia Capital, Klarna's largest investor, invested approximately $500 million since 2010, and the IPO is expected to yield over $6 billion in returns [5][7]. - Sequoia held 21% of Klarna's voting shares, valued at $3.15 billion at the IPO price, and sold only about 2% of its holdings during the IPO [7][8]. Group 4: Market Context - Klarna's successful IPO revitalized the U.S. IPO market, contributing to a total fundraising amount of $25.7 billion for the year, a 26% increase compared to the previous year [5][10]. - The timing of Klarna's IPO coincided with a recovery in the IPO market, following delays due to market volatility earlier in the year [10].

Group 1 - Klarna went public on the New York Stock Exchange with an opening price of $52, which is 30% higher than the IPO price, reaching an intraday high of $57.2 before closing at $45.82, reflecting a 14.55% increase [2] - Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Stockholm, Klarna is known for its "Buy Now, Pay Later" (BNPL) services and is transitioning from a single BNPL service provider to a comprehensive financial services provider [2] - The company has expanded its offerings to include savings accounts, checking accounts, and credit cards, and holds a full banking license in the EU [2] Group 2 - In the U.S. market, Klarna has partnered with Visa to launch a debit card and is the exclusive BNPL service provider for Walmart, also offering services on platforms like eBay [2] - For the six months ending June 30, Klarna reported revenues of $1.52 billion and a net loss of $153 million [2] - Klarna operates in 26 countries and has seen an increase of 26 million active users over the past 12 months [2]

Core Viewpoint - Klarna Group, a company focused on the "buy now, pay later" (BNPL) model, made its debut on the US stock market with a significant stock price increase of over 30%, reaching $52.3 after opening at an IPO price of $40 [1] Company Overview - Klarna Group is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, and was founded in 2005 by Sebastian Siemiatkowski and two partners [1] - The company provides online and offline payment, installment, and checkout solutions to consumers and merchants [1] - Klarna operates in multiple countries globally [1] Market Context - Klarna's competitor, Affirm Holdings, has seen its stock price rise by over 40% this year [1]

Core Insights - Klarna Group Plc is pricing its IPO at $40 per share, implying a market capitalization of $15.1 billion, which is expected to yield significant returns for its major investor, Sequoia Capital [1][2] - Sequoia Capital's total investment in Klarna is approximately $500 million, and the value of its shares at the IPO pricing is around $3.2 billion, indicating a potential return of over six times the original investment [1][2] - Klarna's valuation has fluctuated dramatically, peaking at $45.6 billion in 2021 and dropping to about $6.7 billion in 2022 due to market volatility in the fintech sector [2] Company Overview - Klarna Group, founded in 2005 and headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, specializes in "buy now, pay later" (BNPL) services, offering payment and installment solutions for both consumers and merchants [4] - The company provides various BNPL options, including "Pay in 4" and "Pay in 30 days," and integrates features like price comparison and cashback within its app, positioning itself as a comprehensive shopping and payment platform [4] - Klarna serves over a hundred thousand merchants and has accumulated around 111 million users globally, making it a significant player in the BNPL sector [4] Market Context - The IPO of Klarna is part of a broader resurgence in the global IPO market, particularly in the U.S., which is expected to see a busy week for listings [2] - Klarna is recognized for its innovative financing solutions and aims to expand into a global digital banking entity, offering digital debit cards and other financial products [2] - The competitive landscape includes players like Affirm Holdings Inc., whose stock has risen over 40% this year, highlighting the growing interest in BNPL services [2]