But the fees themselves because of Apple Pay, I tried to buy a h 100 bucks worth of uh Bitcoin and the fee because I had to use Apple Pay was $6.25%. So I got $93.75%. So if you're looking for that and you're outside the United States, might be something for you like GemJim.But if you're in the United States and stuck like me, watch out for those fees because they can be pretty pretty vicious. ...

What happenedSignal Advisors Wealth, LLC reported to the Securities and Exchange Commission that its position in Apple(AAPL -0.59%) increased by 29,843 shares, according to its July 9, 2025, SEC filing. The transaction was valued at $6.04 million, bringing the firm’s total Apple stake to 68,821 shares, worth $14.12 million as of July 10, 2025.What else to knowThe fund increased its Apple position, which now comprises 1.1% of its $1.28 billion in reportable U.S. equity assets as of Q2 2025. The top five hold ...

Core Insights - The new wave of globalization for Chinese enterprises is gaining momentum, with Deloitte assisting over 2,000 Chinese companies in their internationalization efforts across 96 countries in 2024, highlighting the depth and breadth of this trend [2] - Opportunities and challenges coexist in the global market, with capability building becoming a key factor for success, requiring a long-term strategic approach [2] Existing Advantages - Chinese enterprises currently possess strong advantages in technological innovation, large-scale manufacturing, and supply chain organization, which are crucial for establishing core competitiveness in international markets [3] - In technological innovation, Chinese companies lead in emerging fields such as renewable energy and artificial intelligence, with notable examples including BYD's blade battery technology and DJI's drone control systems [4] - The speed of technological iteration is essential for maintaining competitive advantage, as seen with Huawei's commitment to R&D and CATL's significant investment in battery technology [5] Manufacturing Capability - Manufacturing is a critical area for national competition, with China's mature industrial chain and cost advantages making it attractive for global markets [6] - Companies like BYD and CATL are expanding their manufacturing capabilities in Europe, establishing a high-end manufacturing presence and integrating into local supply chains [6] Supply Chain Organization - Chinese enterprises must evolve from being mere producers to leaders in supply chain organization, requiring global planning and local supplier development capabilities [7] - The case of Geely's acquisition of Proton illustrates how Chinese companies can enhance local supply chains and foster mutual growth [7] High-Level Goals - Chinese enterprises should focus on building brand value, setting standards, and gaining industry influence to transition from OEMs to globally recognized brands [8] - Anta's strategy to prioritize its main brand and Nanjing QuanFeng's commitment to developing its own brand exemplify this shift towards brand independence [8] Global Standards and Influence - Mastering technical standards is crucial for long-term competitive advantage, as seen in the case of Chinese electric vehicles in Indonesia, where adherence to European standards has limited their market competitiveness [9][10] - Companies must aim to export not only products and technologies but also standards, requiring collaboration between national strategies and corporate initiatives [10] Overall Capabilities - Compliance, cross-cultural management, and understanding international dynamics are essential capabilities for Chinese enterprises venturing abroad [12] - Compliance challenges often arise from a lack of legal knowledge and resources, necessitating a robust compliance framework [13][14] - Cross-cultural management is vital for building trust and understanding local customs, which can mitigate cultural conflicts [16][17] - Companies must develop a keen awareness of international trends and geopolitical risks to navigate potential disruptions effectively [18][19] Conclusion - The essence of going global for Chinese enterprises lies in evolving capabilities and managing increasing environmental complexities [23] - Companies must leverage their first-mover advantages and focus on strengthening their overall capabilities to thrive in the new global landscape [24]

Core Viewpoint - FirstCash Holdings, Inc. has reached a settlement with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) regarding alleged violations of the Military Lending Act, which includes financial compensation and the introduction of a new pawn lending product for military members and their families [1][2]. Group 1: Settlement Details - The settlement is subject to final court approval and includes an estimated consumer redress of $5 million to $7 million for affected customers, along with a $4 million fine to the CFPB victims relief fund [2]. - The financial impact of the settlement will be reflected in the Company's GAAP financial results for the second quarter of 2025 [2]. Group 2: Company Overview - FirstCash operates over 3,000 retail pawn stores in the U.S. and Latin America, focusing on serving cash and credit-constrained consumers [3]. - The pawn segments in the U.S. and Latin America account for approximately 80% of annualized segment earnings, with the remainder coming from its subsidiary, AFF, which provides lease-to-own and retail finance solutions [3]. Group 3: Market Position - FirstCash is a component of both the Standard & Poor's MidCap 400 Index and the Russell 2000 Index, with its common stock traded on Nasdaq [4].

Core Insights - The article discusses the overseas expansion of Chinese fintech companies, particularly focusing on the digital financial services of Sea Limited, the parent company of Shopee, in Southeast Asia and Latin America [1][13][14]. Group 1: Market Overview - Key factors for Chinese fintech companies considering overseas expansion include population size, GDP, payment and internet infrastructure, and policy openness and stability [1]. - The popularity of e-commerce in a country indicates a well-developed payment and internet infrastructure [2]. Group 2: Sea Limited and Shopee - Shopee is part of Sea Limited, which also includes Garena (digital entertainment) and Monee (digital financial services) [5][6]. - Sea Limited went public on the New York Stock Exchange in October 2017 [7]. Group 3: Monee's Performance - Monee has become one of the largest unsecured consumer loan companies in Southeast Asia, with significant growth in its loan portfolio [8][15]. - As of Q4 2024, Monee achieved over 60% loan growth, with a loan balance exceeding $5 billion (approximately 35.8 billion RMB) [18]. - In Q1 2025, Monee's loan business grew over 75% year-on-year, reaching $5.8 billion (approximately 47.6 billion RMB) [19]. Group 4: User Growth and Loan Quality - Monee added over 4 million first-time borrowers in Q1 2025, with active users exceeding 28 million, a year-on-year increase of over 50% [22][23]. - The 90-day non-performing loan rate remained stable at 1.1%, down from 1.2% at the end of 2024 [24]. Group 5: Regional Insights - Monee's growth is driven by high demand for credit in regions with low credit card penetration, such as Indonesia and the Philippines [26]. - SPayLater, a buy now pay later (BNPL) product, is gaining traction, with significant loan amounts reported in Thailand and Malaysia [24][25]. Group 6: Revenue and Cost Structure - Sea's total revenue for Q1 2025 was $4.8 billion, a 29.6% year-on-year increase, with digital financial services growing the fastest at 57.6% [38]. - Marketing expenses for digital financial services increased significantly, reflecting the rising costs associated with customer acquisition [40][41]. Group 7: Business Model - The BNPL business primarily generates revenue from merchant fees rather than interest from consumers, with Shopee raising seller fees to 4.5% for SPayLater [35][36]. - Monee also engages in asset-backed securities (ABS) financing to support its lending operations [33][34]. Group 8: Ecosystem Synergy - The rapid growth of Monee is supported by the synergies between Sea's e-commerce, gaming, and financial services, creating a closed-loop ecosystem [37].

Core Insights - Affirm Holdings, Inc. (AFRM) is focused on reinventing payments through a diverse merchant network, which has grown to approximately 358,000 active merchants as of March 31, 2025, up from around 292,000 the previous year [1][10] Merchant Network and Partnerships - The merchant partners of Affirm span various industries, including fashion, electronics, travel, and home and lifestyle, utilizing Affirm's buy now, pay later (BNPL) solutions to enhance average order values and customer conversion rates [2] - Recent partnerships include collaborations with Shopmonkey and Xsolla, extending payment solutions to auto repairs and game developers, while partnerships with Williams-Sonoma and KAYAK facilitated entry into the Canadian market [3] Financial Performance - In the first nine months of fiscal 2025, Affirm's gross merchandise volume (GMV) reached $26.3 billion, reflecting a 36% year-over-year increase, with expectations for fiscal 2025 GMV to be between $35.7 billion and $36 billion, indicating a 34.8% rise at the midpoint [5][10] - Merchant network revenues improved by 30% year-over-year during the same period [10] Competitive Landscape - Key competitors in the BNPL space include PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL) and Sezzle Inc. (SEZL), with PayPal reporting over 36 million merchants globally and a 1% year-over-year revenue increase to $7.8 billion [6][7] - Sezzle's merchant base exceeds 40,000 businesses, with total revenues more than doubling year-over-year to $104.9 million, supported by a 64.1% rise in GMV [8] Stock Performance and Valuation - Affirm's stock has surged 132.1% over the past year, outperforming the industry growth of 41.2% [9] - The company trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 5.61, which is below the industry average of 5.88 [12] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Affirm's fiscal 2025 earnings suggests a 101.8% improvement from the previous year, with revenue growth projected at 37% year-over-year [14]

Key Takeaways Global Payments launched OroPay with Oro to streamline B2B payments on the OroCommerce platform. OroPay integrates invoicing, ERP and payments while lowering interchange fees via Level 2 and 3 data. GPN aims to grow in B2B by embedding payments into platforms for manufacturing, distribution and wholesale.Global Payments Inc. (GPN) has expanded its presence in B2B commerce with the launch of OroPay, a seamless payment solution developed by Oro Inc. specifically for its OroCommerce platform. T ...

Core Insights - Mastercard is transforming into a tech-forward payments enabler as physical cards decline in usage, focusing on digital wallets and tokenized payments [1][2] Group 1: Company Strategy - Mastercard is enhancing its Digital Enablement Service and Tokenization services to help banks and fintech securely integrate card details into digital wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay [2] - The company is engaging in the Buy Now, Pay Later trend and exploring Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) and crypto initiatives to remain relevant in a changing landscape [2][8] - By partnering with major tech companies, Mastercard is ensuring its credentials are integrated into digital ecosystems, facilitating tap-to-pay transactions and launching APIs for smoother checkout experiences [3] Group 2: Technology and Security - The focus on cybersecurity, biometric authentication, and AI-powered fraud detection is critical for building trust in the digital payments space [4] - Mastercard's global network and strategic collaborations position it well for a cardless future, emphasizing the need for faster innovation to stay ahead of fintech and tech-native competitors [4] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Competitors like Visa and PayPal are also advancing in the digital wallet space, with Visa focusing on real-time payments and PayPal enhancing its direct user engagement through its own digital wallet [5][6] Group 4: Financial Performance - Year-to-date, Mastercard's shares have increased by 7%, outperforming the industry's rise of 5.4% [7] - The company trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 32.36, above the industry average of 22.76 [9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Mastercard's 2025 earnings indicates a growth of 9.5% from the previous year, with recent upward estimate revisions [10]

American Express (AXP) is expected to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended June 2025. This widely-known consensus outlook gives a good sense of the company's earnings picture, but how the actual results compare to these estimates is a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price.The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 18. ...

Company Overview and Mission - Sezzle's mission is to financially empower the next generation by enabling merchants to offer customer-friendly credit alternatives [11, 12, 13] - The company aims to provide flexible, reliable, transparent, and secure services to both merchants and consumers [14] - Sezzle highlights its commitment to trust, financial freedom, technology, and the future [16, 17, 18, 19] - Sezzle is transitioning to a Public Benefit Corporation, focusing on purpose-driven actions and benefits for all stakeholders [20] Growth and Market Opportunity - Sezzle experienced triple-digit year-over-year growth in revenue, consumers, and merchants in 2018, 2019, and Q1 2020 [24] - The company operates in large retail markets: US (over $5.4 trillion), Canada ($461.1 billion), and Australia ($215 billion) [25] - Sezzle has over 1.3 million active consumers and over 14.9K active merchants [28] 2019 Performance Highlights - Sezzle completed its Initial Public Offering (IPO) at A$1.22 per CDI on July 29, 2019 [30] - The company secured a $100 million credit facility in November 2019, maturing in May 2022 [30] - There was significant growth in 2019, including a 775% increase in merchant fees, a 685% increase in merchant sales, and a 489% increase in active consumers [30] COVID-19 Impact and Response - Sezzle implemented a mandatory work-from-home policy and suspended business travel for employees [76] - The company expanded fee forgiveness and payment flexibility programs for consumers [77] - Sezzle highlights the potential positive impact of the US government's stimulus measures on its stakeholders [81] 2020 Momentum - In May, Underlying Merchant Sales (UMS) surged 321% year-over-year [93] - Active Customers rose 326% year-over-year in May [93]