Flexible payments firm Klarna has brought its payment solution to Walmart Canada.By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions .Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.The roll-out, announced Monday (Aug. 25), makes Walmart Canada and its 400-plus store ...

Core Insights - Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) reported strong third-quarter fiscal 2025 results, with net sales increasing 8% year over year to $62 billion, driven by digital commerce growth [1][9] - E-commerce sales saw a notable 14.8% increase in Q3, with adjusted growth reaching 15.7%, highlighting the company's ability to integrate digital and physical retail [9] Digital Commerce Performance - Digital momentum was evident with website traffic rising 20%, average order value increasing 3%, and Costco Logistics enhancing deliveries of bulky items by 31% [2][9] - Categories such as gold and jewelry, toys, health and beauty, and home furnishings experienced double-digit online gains, indicating a shift in consumer behavior towards higher-value digital purchases [2] Growth Initiatives - Costco's partnership with Affirm introduced Buy Now, Pay Later financing, making large-ticket items more accessible [3] - The implementation of personalized product recommendation tools and the expansion of the Costco Next marketplace improved the member experience while maintaining a value-first philosophy [3] Physical Store Performance - Comparable sales across the company rose 5.7%, with U.S. traffic up 5.5%, demonstrating strong performance in physical stores [4] - Membership renewal rates remained high at 92.7% in the U.S. and Canada, indicating sustained customer loyalty despite the growth in digital adoption [4] Overall Business Strategy - Costco's online business is evolving into a significant growth pillar, reinforcing its leadership in both physical retail and digital commerce [5] - The balance between warehouse operations and e-commerce is a key competitive advantage for Costco [4] Comparative Analysis - Costco's e-commerce growth is notable when compared to competitors, with Walmart Inc. reporting a 25% increase in global e-commerce sales and Sprouts Farmers Market achieving 27% growth [6][7] Stock Performance and Valuation - COST stock has outperformed the industry, with a 7.4% increase over the past year compared to the industry's 3.3% growth [8] - The forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio for Costco stands at 48.19, higher than the industry average of 32.34, indicating a premium valuation [11]

Core Insights - Affirm Holdings, Inc. is expected to report its fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 results on August 28, 2025, with an earnings estimate of 11 cents per share and revenues of $839.9 million [1][6] - The earnings estimate has improved by 2 cents over the past 60 days, indicating a year-over-year improvement of 178.6%, while quarterly revenues are projected to grow by 27.4% year-over-year [2] Financial Performance - For the current fiscal year, Affirm's revenue estimate stands at $3.19 billion, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 37.2%, with EPS projected at 5 cents, indicating a 103% improvement [3] - Affirm has consistently beaten earnings estimates in the last four quarters, with an average surprise of 102.2% [3] Earnings Predictions - The company is predicted to beat earnings expectations this quarter, supported by a positive Earnings ESP of +62.00% and a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [4] - Key growth drivers for Q4 include expansion in Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV), an increase in active merchants and consumers, and higher virtual card usage [6] Growth Metrics - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for GMV in Q4 suggests a growth of 32.3% year-over-year, with management anticipating GMV to be between $9.4 billion and $9.7 billion [8] - Active consumers are expected to grow by 20.9% year-over-year, with transactions per active consumer projected to rise by 18.4% [9] Revenue Breakdown - Merchant network revenues are estimated at $235 million, indicating a 29.8% increase from the prior year [7] - Card network revenues are expected to improve by 37.5% year-over-year, with interest income projected at $416.1 million, reflecting a 23.3% rise [10] Stock Performance - Affirm's stock has increased by 30.5% year-to-date, outperforming both its industry (19.3%) and the S&P 500 (9.8%) [12] - The stock is currently trading at a forward P/S ratio of 6.33, above its three-year median of 3.63 and the industry average of 5.72, indicating a stretched valuation [14] Strategic Positioning - Affirm is enhancing its BNPL market position by focusing on repeat usage and expanding its ecosystem, with partnerships with major retailers and a growing merchant network of nearly 360,000 [16] - The company is also expanding into essential spending categories and has collaborations that extend its reach into Europe and younger demographics [16] Competitive Landscape - The BNPL market remains competitive, with significant players like PayPal, Block, and Klarna increasing their offerings, posing risks to Affirm's market share [19] - Rising operating expenses and a premium valuation suggest that investors may consider waiting for a more favorable entry point [20]

Core Insights - PayPal's Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) service is a significant growth driver, with total payment volume increasing over 20% year over year in Q2 2025 and monthly active accounts growing by 18% [1][8] - The average order value for transactions using BNPL is more than 80% higher than standard checkout, leading to increased merchant sales and revenue opportunities [2][8] - PayPal is expanding its BNPL offerings into omnichannel retail with the "Pay Later To Go" product, which allows installment payments in physical stores, enhancing its competitive position [3][8] PayPal's BNPL Performance - BNPL total payment volume rose over 20% year over year in Q2 2025, with active accounts increasing by 18% across nine global markets [1][8] - Retailers utilizing BNPL, such as Ace Hardware, reported a 35% increase in PayPal sales and a sevenfold increase in order size [2][8] Competitive Landscape - Standalone BNPL providers are innovating rapidly, and the entry of major players like Apple is intensifying competition [4] - Block's Afterpay saw a 17% year-over-year growth in BNPL Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) to $9.11 billion in Q2 2025, with a high on-time payment rate of 96% [5] - Affirm Holdings reported a 45.6% year-over-year increase in total transactions, reaching 31.3 million, with a 94% repeat transaction rate [6] Valuation and Estimates - PayPal shares have declined 20.9% year to date, underperforming the broader industry and the S&P 500 Index [7] - The stock is trading at a forward 12-month P/E of 12.13X, significantly lower than the industry average of 22.17X, indicating a potentially undervalued position [10] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PayPal's earnings in 2025 is $5.22 per share, reflecting a 12.3% growth over 2024, with a further estimate of $5.77 for 2026, suggesting 10.5% growth year over year [11]

Core Insights - Affirm Holdings, Inc. (AFRM) has established a unique position in the rapidly expanding Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) market, emphasizing transparency and catering to both high-ticket and low-ticket purchases while providing convenient financing options [1] Company Performance - In the third quarter of fiscal 2025, total transactions increased by 45.6% year over year to 31.3 million, with a repeat transaction rate of 94%, indicating strong customer trust and loyalty [2][9] - The company reported a 36% year-over-year increase in total revenues, projecting fiscal 2025 revenues to be between $3.163 billion and $3.193 billion [3][9] - Affirm has an active merchant network of nearly 360,000 partners, which enhances its revenue potential by fostering repeat usage among customers [3] Competitive Landscape - Competitors in the BNPL space include PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL) and Sezzle Inc. (SEZL). PayPal's net revenues grew by 5% year over year, with a total payment volume increase of 6% [5] - Sezzle's total revenues surged by 76.4% year over year, with total transactions rising by 62.6% to 8.2 million and a repeat usage rate of 96.4% [6] Valuation and Estimates - Affirm's shares have gained 19.8% year-to-date, outperforming the industry average increase of 17.5% [7] - The forward price-to-sales ratio for AFRM is 5.83, which is above the industry average of 5.55 [10] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Affirm's fiscal 2025 earnings suggests a growth of 103% compared to the previous year [11]

Core Insights - Costco Wholesale Corporation's partnership with Affirm to offer "Buy Now, Pay Later" (BNPL) financing is expected to enhance digital sales, particularly for high-value items like appliances and electronics, by reducing psychological barriers for budget-conscious consumers [1][3] Digital Sales Performance - E-commerce comparable sales increased by 14.8% in Q3 of fiscal 2025, with website traffic rising by 20% and average order values up by 3% [2][8] - Costco Logistics reported a 31% year-over-year increase in big and bulky e-commerce deliveries, indicating a strong demand in this segment where BNPL could further drive adoption [2][8] Competitive Landscape - Competitors such as Walmart and Amazon have already integrated BNPL options into their platforms, with Walmart focusing on seasonal items and electronics, while Amazon offers Amazon Pay Later to facilitate monthly payments [5][6] Financial Metrics - Costco's stock has performed well, with shares increasing by 11.4% over the past year, surpassing the industry's growth of 7.7% [7] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate indicates year-over-year sales growth of 8.1% and earnings per share growth of 11.6% for the current financial year [10] Valuation - Costco's forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio is 48.96, which is higher than the industry average of 32.67, reflecting a Value Score of D [9]

Core Insights - Affirm is launching two integrations to enhance its buy now, pay later (BNPL) services, strengthening partnerships with Google and Stripe [1][4] - The integration with Google Chrome allows U.S. shoppers to select Affirm directly from the browser's autofill menu at checkout, facilitating easier access to installment payment plans [2][3] - The integration with Stripe Terminal enables in-store shoppers to scan a QR code for financing options, with repayment terms ranging from 30 days to 60 months [4] Integration with Google - Affirm's integration with Google Chrome's autofill menu allows eligible consumers to choose biweekly or monthly payment plans for purchases between $35 and $30,000 [3] - This feature requires no additional setup for merchants and will be automatically activated on select sites, aiming to make the payment process more seamless [3] Integration with Stripe - Affirm becomes the first BNPL provider to integrate with Stripe Terminal, allowing consumers to apply for financing in participating stores by scanning a QR code [4] - This integration is expected to help merchants drive growth and meet customer needs more effectively [4] Consumer Behavior Insights - Research indicates that nearly three-quarters of consumers' last non-grocery retail purchases were made in person, highlighting the importance of in-store payment options [5] - BNPL services influence consumer purchasing behavior, with many users delaying purchases or opting for cheaper items if BNPL is unavailable [6] - A significant portion of consumers relies on BNPL out of necessity, often linked to their income levels [6] Recent Partnerships - Affirm has been actively forming partnerships to boost adoption, including a recent collaboration with Shopmonkey for car repair shops and an expansion of its partnership with travel search engine Kayak [7]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company achieved a record high Total Payment Volume (TPV) of $9.2 billion, marking a 53% year-over-year growth and a 14% quarter-over-quarter increase [4][18] - Revenue reached $256 million, growing 50% year-over-year or 63% on a constant currency basis, with an 18% quarter-over-quarter increase [5][19] - Gross profit hit a record of $99 million, up 42% year-over-year or approximately 55% on a constant currency basis [5][20] - Net income for the quarter totaled $43 million, negatively impacted by the Argentine peso devaluation [5][25] - Free cash flow was $48 million, a significant 22% increase from the first quarter [8][25] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Growth was particularly strong in remittances and commerce, followed by SaaS, delivery, streaming, and ride-hailing, with some weaknesses in advertising [18] - The company added three new licenses in the UAE, Turkey, and the Philippines, enhancing its portfolio of financial services licenses [8] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The top three markets now represent less than 50% of revenues, down eight percentage points since 2023, indicating increased geographic diversification [12] - Revenue in the rest of the markets is growing almost three times faster compared to the last four quarters [12] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on expanding its merchant base and increasing share of wallet by integrating additional Alternative Payment Methods (APMs) [9] - The strategy includes significant investment in product innovation, with recent launches such as SmartPix in Brazil and buy now, pay later integrations [13][14] - The company aims to leverage stablecoin solutions, positioning itself as a key player in the emerging technology space [14] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the second half of 2025, citing strong performance in the first half and sustained momentum across businesses [27][29] - Risks highlighted include evolving macroeconomic conditions, regulatory changes, and potential currency devaluation [28][29] Other Important Information - The company announced a transition to a majority independent Board and the cancellation of treasury shares held on the balance sheet [30][32] Q&A Session Summary Question: What drove the better-than-expected results? - Management noted strong momentum across Brazil, Mexico, and other markets, with a significant increase in localization of payments by global merchants [36][39] Question: Is the growth coming from a few particular merchants or across the board? - The growth is driven by the top 20 merchants, indicating a broad-based increase rather than concentration in a few [41][43] Question: Can you clarify the one-off processing costs in Brazil? - Management confirmed that part of the gain was a reversal, but Brazil is expected to sustain momentum in gross profit [47][50] Question: How do you see stablecoins impacting the business? - Management views stablecoins as an opportunity rather than a threat, emphasizing the company's unique position in providing on-ramps and off-ramps for stablecoin transactions [51][53] Question: What is the outlook for take rates? - Management expects a gradual decline in take rates, influenced by increased volumes and the introduction of new products [56][57] Question: Can you elaborate on tariffs as a risk? - Management highlighted potential risks from increased tariffs on cross-border e-commerce, particularly in Mexico, but noted no current negative impacts [66][70] Question: What is the strategy for offline payments? - The company is developing capabilities for offline payments in response to specific merchant contracts, indicating a shift in strategy [71][72] Question: What should be expected regarding operating expenses in the second half of the year? - Management anticipates an increase in operating expenses due to hiring and expansion into new markets and products [73][74]

Buy Now, Pay Later services have ballooned in recent years, with companies like Klarna, Affirm, and others offering consumers to chance to break up their purchases into bite-size chunks. https://t.co/oO6uI2vzIw ...

Buy Now, Pay Later services have ballooned in recent years, with companies like Klarna, Affirm, and others offering consumers to chance to break up their purchases into bite-size chunks. https://t.co/TyleQOkHb0 ...