Key Takeaways Block jumped 24.7% in a month, outperforming its industry's 5.7% gain and rising 7.2% intraday yesterday. SBlock, Inc. (XYZ) shares have surged 24.7% in a month, outperforming its industry’s rise of 5.7%. Notably, XYZ shares gained 7.2% during the intra-day trading session yesterday, after Block had made it to the coveted S&P 500 list.On Friday, July 18, S&P Dow Jones Indices announced that it will add Block to the S&P 500 Index, replacing Hess, which is set to be acquired by Chevron. The cha ...

Core Viewpoint - Block, once a high-flying fintech stock, has seen a significant decline since its peak in August 2021, trading 76% below its record as of July 14, with a 21% decline in 2023. Despite this, the company's profits are increasing, and it currently trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 24.7, raising questions about long-term investment potential based on Bitcoin's trajectory [2][10]. Group 1: Company Overview - Block operates two main ecosystems: Square, which provides tools for small- and medium-sized merchants, and Cash App, a personal finance platform with 57 million users [4][5]. - Square has shown a year-over-year gross profit growth of 9% in the first quarter, benefiting from customer switching costs [5]. Group 2: Bitcoin Strategy - CEO Jack Dorsey emphasizes the importance of Bitcoin for Block's future, viewing it as a means to enhance economic empowerment and financial freedom [6][7]. - Block owns 8,584 bitcoins valued at over $1 billion, and its success in the coming years is closely tied to Bitcoin's price trajectory [8][10]. - The company is developing initiatives to support Bitcoin adoption, including allowing merchants to accept cryptocurrency payments and selling a Bitcoin self-custody hardware wallet [10][11]. Group 3: Financial Impact - Currently, Bitcoin-related activities contribute only $65 million in gross profit, approximately 3% of Block's total [10]. - If Bitcoin's price rises, Block could see significant benefits from hardware wallet sales and increased demand for its services [11][12].

Core Insights - The article discusses the decision to sell stocks in Block and Pinterest after five years of holding, highlighting changes in company vision and performance concerns [4][16]. Group 1: Block (formerly Square) - Block has evolved significantly since its initial investment, changing its name and expanding its business segments, which has led to uncertainty about its long-term vision [5][7]. - The company has experienced 300% revenue growth over the last five years; however, revenue growth per share has been diluted due to acquisitions and stock-based compensation [9]. - The investment underperformed compared to the S&P 500, raising concerns about the effectiveness of its growth strategy [9]. Group 2: Pinterest - Pinterest has seen a 65% increase in monthly active users and a 73% increase in revenue per user over five years, but growth has not met expectations [13][14]. - In Q1 2025, Pinterest's advertisement pricing dropped by 22% year-over-year, despite a 49% increase in ad impressions, raising concerns about potential over-saturation of ads [15]. - The company has struggled to improve pricing compared to competitors, leading to disappointment in its growth relative to its potential [15]. Group 3: Future Investment Focus - The focus has shifted towards companies that demonstrate consistent growth, sustainable profits, and do not dilute shareholder value, with Wingstop and Comfort Systems USA highlighted as examples [17][22]. - Wingstop has maintained a 21-year streak of same-store sales growth and plans to double its locations, contributing to a 164% stock increase over five years [20]. - Comfort Systems has seen a 1,300% stock increase over five years, benefiting from increased spending in data centers and a strong backlog of nearly $7 billion [21].