For new and old investors, taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals. Zacks Premium provides lots of different ways to do both.The research service features daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, all of which will help you become a smarter, more confident investor.Zacks Premium also includes the Zacks Style Scores. What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Za ...

Group 1: Apple Car Keys Feature Expansion - Apple is expanding its car keys wallet feature with Toyota now supporting the tool, joining 13 other carmakers [1][2] - Toyota has been added to Apple's back-end database for vehicle brands that can support the car key feature, which allows drivers to lock/unlock and start their vehicles using their phones [3] Group 2: CarPlay and AI Integration - Apple plans to allow third-party AI chatbots to operate within its CarPlay interface, moving away from the current system where only Siri is available [4][8] - This change is in response to user demand for more versatile voice-control options beyond Siri's capabilities, which are limited to music, messaging, and navigation [8] Group 3: Mobile Wallet Adoption Trends - Recent research indicates a surge in mobile wallet adoption, with 31% of shoppers using them weekly, up from 14% in August 2024, largely driven by Apple Wallet [9] - Apple Pay has seen a significant increase, with 16% of shoppers using it in stores in the past week, doubling from 8% in 2024 [9] - Competitors like Google Pay, PayPal, and Cash App are rapidly increasing their in-store usage, narrowing the gap with Apple Pay despite it maintaining the largest user base [10]

Does Europe Need an Airbus for Payments? - Moby THE GIST Europe is suddenly treating Visa and Mastercard like a strategic risk. The fear is understandable. But the real issue is not who printed the logo on your card. It is who controls the rules of the rails, and whether Europe can build credible alternatives without turning payments into a political trophy. WHAT HAPPENED A fresh push for payments sovereignty is gathering pace in Brussels and national capitals. European Central Bank president Christine ...

With PayPal (NASDAQ: PYPL) stock plunging more than 30% in 2026, a United States senator placed a notable bet on the fintech giant.In this line, Senator John Boozman disclosed purchasing PayPal shares worth between $1,001 and $15,000 through a joint account on January 29, 2026, just days before the company reported disappointing earnings and announced a sudden leadership change.The transaction was revealed in periodic filings dated February 15, 2026, detailing his broader activity in stocks and ETFs. Since ...

（原标题："美版支付宝"掉入估值陷阱） 作者 | 王晗玉 编辑 | 张帆 在美股科技股屡创新高的过去一年，曾经的"美版支付宝"PayPal却逆势走低。 自2月3日公布2025年第四季度及全年财报以来，至目前其股价已跌去25.32%。拉长时间线来看，其相 较2025年年初估值已打对折，股价跌超54%，当前市盈率仅6.9倍。 公布财报后PayPal股价跌幅 图源：Wind 据Wind统计，与PayPal同一分类下的其他个股市盈率中位值接近20倍。 调整后每股收益为1.23美元，同比增长3.4%，同样未达预期的1.28美元。 全年来看，PayPal营收为331.72亿美元，同比增长4.3%，实现每股收益为5.41美元，略高于分析师预期 的5.36美元。 尽管全年数据仍保持正增长，但第四季度的显著放缓引发了市场对公司未来增长前景的担忧。 更值得关注的是PayPal的品牌支付业务表现。该业务是其主要收入来源，但在第四季度，在线品牌结账 的总支付额按固定汇率计算仅增长了1%，远低于此前常年维持在5%左右的增幅。 尽管管理层在财报电话会议中解释称，品牌支付业务的放缓主要受到美国零售业整体疲软、德国市场宏 观经济挑战以及旅游 ...

Core Insights - Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services like Affirm and Klarna are increasingly popular among consumers, particularly younger demographics, allowing them to make purchases in smaller, often interest-free payments [3][10] - Analysts are divided on the investment potential of Affirm versus Klarna, with some viewing Affirm as a stronger buy due to its lower fees and established profitability [14][18] Industry Overview - The BNPL market is growing as consumers seek flexible payment options, with services allowing payments to be split into smaller amounts without interest, appealing to a wide range of consumers [6][9] - The Federal Reserve indicates that credit card debt in the U.S. has reached $1.28 trillion, highlighting a shift towards alternative payment methods like BNPL [5] Consumer Behavior - Approximately 19% of individuals aged 18 to 29 and 30 to 44 have utilized BNPL services, with late payment rates being notably higher among younger users [10][11] - The financial stability of consumers using BNPL is questioned, as a significant percentage of users report making late payments, indicating potential budgeting risks [11][13] Company Performance - Affirm's CEO reported that a majority of their users are financially stable, with 72% of stable users and 89% of fragile users making multiple BNPL purchases in a year [13] - Affirm is currently priced at $54.26, down 27% year-to-date, while Klarna is trading at $18.34, having experienced a 36% decline year-to-date [17][20] Investment Analysis - Analysts have mixed views on Affirm and Klarna, with some recommending Affirm as a buy due to its profitability and lower fees, while others express caution regarding Klarna's lack of profitability and potential risks [14][19] - Merc Research has a contrarian view on Affirm, suggesting a strong sell position due to anticipated challenges in the UK market and competition in the checkout space [16] Market Dynamics - Both Affirm and Klarna have established relationships with retailers, with Klarna offering cash back for certain merchants, while Affirm has discontinued its cash back rewards program [21]

Core Insights - Apple shares have appreciated 18.1% over the past six months, outperforming the Zacks Computer and Technology sector's return of 10.2, driven by strong iPhone 17 sales and growth in Services [1][8] iPhone Sales Performance - iPhone 17 sales increased by 23.3% year over year to $85.27 billion, accounting for 59.3% of first-quarter fiscal 2026 net sales [1][8] - The strong sales of iPhone 17 significantly boosted revenues in China during the first quarter of fiscal 2026 [1] Services Growth - Services contributed 20.9% to quarterly revenues, growing 14% year over year to $30.01 billion, aligning with management guidance [1] - The Services segment includes advertising, AppleCare, Cloud Services, and digital content, achieving all-time revenue records in the first quarter of fiscal 2026 [6] AI Initiatives and Collaborations - Apple is enhancing iPhone features through Apple Intelligence tools and a collaboration with Alphabet, which is expected to improve the capabilities of Apple Intelligence [2][3] - The partnership with Alphabet aims to address execution challenges and enhance the adoption of Apple Intelligence among developers [5] Market Position and Valuation - Apple shares have outperformed Microsoft and Amazon but underperformed Alphabet in the past six months, with Alphabet shares rising by 53.9% [11] - Apple's stock is trading at a premium, with a forward price/sales ratio of 8.56, compared to the sector's 6.51 and Microsoft's 8.43 [14] Fiscal Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Apple's fiscal 2026 earnings has increased by 3.2% to $8.41 per share, indicating a 12.7% growth from fiscal 2025 [9] - The revenue estimate for fiscal 2026 is pegged at $461.12 billion, reflecting a 10.8% growth over fiscal 2025 [10] Conclusion - Apple's strong iPhone and Services business, along with the expanding AI capabilities from the collaboration with Alphabet, are expected to drive future growth, justifying a premium valuation despite competitive pressures [17]

Core Insights - The article highlights the increasing trend of Chinese families traveling abroad during the Spring Festival, contributing significantly to the global tourism market [1][11] - Agricultural Bank of China (ABC) is enhancing its credit card services to cater to the needs of travelers, offering various benefits and promotions to facilitate their journeys [11][14] Group 1: Travel Trends - In the first eight months of 2025, the total number of inbound and outbound trips in China reached 460 million, with 14.366 million trips during the Spring Festival [11] - During the New Year's holiday in 2026, the number of outbound trips was 6.615 million [11] Group 2: Financial Services Enhancements - ABC launched the "Wow Treasure Accompanying You" service series, introducing a family card product with unlimited 1% cashback on overseas UnionPay transactions [11][14] - The bank also provides services such as loss insurance and convenient card binding for travelers [11][14] Group 3: Technological Innovations - In January 2026, ABC announced the support for binding its Visa credit cards with Apple Pay, allowing customers to make payments easily and securely using their mobile devices [13] - This innovation aims to enhance customer experience by eliminating the need for physical cash and cards while ensuring the security of personal payment information [13] Group 4: Customer-Centric Approach - ABC focuses on providing simple and sincere financial services, contrasting with high-end cards that have complex rules [14] - The bank's initiatives aim to ensure that every penny spent by customers is worthwhile, especially during the peak consumption season of the Spring Festival [14] Group 5: Support for Specific Demographics - ABC is addressing the needs of specific groups such as students studying abroad and business travelers by offering tailored services and information [16] - Customers can handle currency exchange and cross-border transactions at 20,000 outlets nationwide, with 1,700 locations providing specialized overseas financial services [16] Group 6: Expanding Payment Ecosystem - ABC is enhancing the acceptance of foreign cards in key tourist destinations and cities, supporting various payment methods to improve the experience for foreign visitors [17] - The bank has established a comprehensive payment ecosystem in popular areas, including airports and tourist attractions, to facilitate seamless transactions [17] Group 7: Event Support and Reliability - ABC has provided reliable payment services for international events, achieving zero errors in foreign card transactions during major conferences [19] - The bank's commitment to high-quality service is evident in its proactive measures to ensure a stable payment environment during significant events [19]

Core Insights - Visa expresses confidence and optimism for the new development phase under the "14th Five-Year Plan," aiming to support the high-quality development of China's financial system through payment solutions [7][9] - The company emphasizes the accelerating digitalization trend, highlighting the growing importance of payment in promoting consumption and stabilizing trade [7][8] Industry Developments - In the past year, Visa has made significant progress in enhancing payment convenience and empowering small and micro enterprises, including collaboration with China UnionPay to promote dual-standard magnetic stripe card chip technology [8] - Visa has also supported the use of Apple Pay for cross-border transactions for millions of cardholders, improving payment experiences both domestically and internationally [8] - The implementation of the "One Tap to Ride" solution in cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, and Guangzhou aims to enhance urban international service levels [8] Future Outlook - Visa anticipates that the payment industry is moving towards a smarter and more open phase, with artificial intelligence reshaping business and payment methods [8] - The company highlights the need for a security system centered on identity authentication as the foundation of digital trust, and interconnected ecosystem capabilities as key infrastructure for innovation [8] - In the new year, Visa plans to strengthen payment security, deepen the application of tokenization and biometric technologies, and enhance risk defense systems while collaborating with industry partners to seize new opportunities in consumption and cross-border payment development [8][9]

Core Viewpoint - Europe urgently needs to reduce its dependence on US payment companies like Visa and Mastercard due to concerns over potential leverage in deteriorating transatlantic relations [1][2]. Group 1: Industry Dependence - The European Payments Initiative (EPI), which includes 16 European banks and financial services, highlights the heavy reliance on international payment solutions, noting the lack of cross-border alternatives despite having national assets [2]. - The European Central Bank (ECB) reported that Visa and Mastercard accounted for nearly two-thirds of card transactions in the Eurozone in 2022, with 13 member states lacking a national alternative to US networks [3]. Group 2: Political and Economic Context - As cash payments decline, European officials are increasingly concerned about the influence of US payment companies and the risks associated with this dependence in the event of political tensions [4]. - Mario Draghi, former ECB president, emphasized that deep integration has created dependencies that could be exploited, shifting interdependence from a source of mutual restraint to one of leverage and control [5]. Group 3: Initiatives and Challenges - The EPI launched Wero in 2024 as a European alternative to Apple Pay, which has gained 48.5 million users across Belgium, France, and Germany, with plans to expand into online and physical retail payments by 2027 [5][6]. - The ECB has pointed out the challenges of achieving scale through private initiatives, citing previous attempts to create competing card schemes as evidence of the difficulties in scaling [7].