Core Viewpoint - CLA, a buy now pay later company, had a successful IPO, raising nearly $1.4 billion, marking one of the largest IPOs of the year and the biggest week for IPOs in four years [1] Company Overview - CLA offers various consumer financing options, including a CLA card and a technology platform for tracking spending [2] - Approximately 48% of the top 100 merchants in CLA's markets use its services, and 66% advertise on its network [2] - The company generates about 75% of its revenue from transaction and service fees, with the remaining 24% from interest income on traditional lending [3] Financial Performance - CLA's gross merchandise volume (GMV) grew by 12% in 2023 and 14% in 2024, with a 14% year-over-year increase in the first half of the current year [6] - Revenue increased by 20% in 2023 and 24% in 2024, with a 15% rise in the first half of 2025 and a 21% increase in the second quarter [7] - CLA's transaction margin improved from 36% in 2022 to 48% in 2023 but fell to 43% in 2024 and 38% in the first half of 2025 [8] - The adjusted operating margin transitioned from negative 38% in 2022 to positive 6.4% in the previous year, with a 2.1% margin in the first half of this year [9] IPO Details - The IPO involved the sale of 34.3 million shares, with only 16% coming from the company itself, indicating that it primarily served as an exit for early investors [10][11] - CLA had $5.5 billion in cash and cash equivalents at the end of June, suggesting it does not need the funds from the IPO [12] Valuation Insights - CLA's valuation fluctuated significantly, from $46 billion four years ago to $6.7 billion in 2022, and recently raised funds at a $15 billion valuation [15] - The IPO priced above $40 per share, valuing the company at over $15 billion, and after opening in the 50s, it is now valued at over $17 billion [16] - Projected sales for CLA are expected to reach $3.23 billion this year, reflecting a 15% growth from last year [17] - Compared to publicly traded analogs, CLA's current sales multiple is approximately 5.4 times, while competitors trade at around 6.9 to 7 times sales [18]