Core Insights - American Express Company (AXP) is adapting to the Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) trend by integrating it into its existing card services rather than resisting it [1][4] - The company's 'Plan It' feature allows cardholders to split purchases of $100 or more into manageable monthly payments, enhancing the cardholder experience with rewards and benefits [2][8] - American Express is collaborating with various companies to strengthen its presence in the digital shopping landscape, showcasing that traditional financial institutions can innovate and grow within the BNPL space [3][4] Financial Performance - American Express achieved a 98% spend retention rate, with network volume increasing by 7% year over year in Q2 2025, indicating strong customer loyalty and growth [4][8] - The forward price-to-earnings ratio for American Express is 18.4X, which is lower than the industry average of 20.6, suggesting a potentially attractive valuation [10] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for American Express' 2025 earnings is projected at $15.26 per share, reflecting a 14.3% increase from the previous year [11] Competitive Landscape - Competitors in the BNPL space include PayPal Holdings, which reported a 6% year-over-year growth in total payment volume and a 2% increase in active accounts to 438 million in Q2 2025 [5] - Affirm Holdings is focusing on higher-ticket purchases and reported a 23% year-over-year increase in active consumers, along with a 36% growth in gross merchandise volume in Q3 2025 [6]

Core Insights - Visa Inc. is adapting to changing consumer spending habits by forming partnerships with Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) companies, positioning itself strategically within the transaction ecosystem rather than viewing BNPL as competition [1][4][11] Group 1: Partnerships and Strategy - Visa is collaborating with BNPL providers like Klarna, Afterpay, and FIS, allowing these companies to utilize Visa's payment infrastructure, which in turn increases transaction volumes for Visa and enhances the credibility of BNPL offerings [2][11] - The introduction of Visa Installments is part of Visa's strategy to offer flexible payment options to issuers and merchants, further solidifying its role in the evolving payments landscape [2][11] Group 2: Financial Performance - In fiscal 2023 and 2024, Visa's payment volume increased by 6.4% and 6.7% respectively, with an 8% year-over-year growth in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 [3][11] - Processed transactions grew by 9% year-over-year in the same quarter, indicating strong operational performance [3][11] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Competitors in the BNPL space include Mastercard, which has launched Mastercard Installments, and PayPal, which offers Pay in 4 and Pay Monthly options, leveraging their extensive user bases [5][6][7] - Visa's strategic partnerships with BNPL companies are seen as proactive measures to maintain relevance in a market that may shift away from traditional credit cards [4][11] Group 4: Valuation and Earnings Estimates - Visa's shares have increased by 13.5% year-to-date, outperforming the industry growth of 6.3% [8] - The forward price-to-earnings ratio for Visa is 28.88, above the industry average of 23.06, indicating a premium valuation [9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Visa's fiscal 2025 earnings suggests a 12.9% increase from the previous year, with recent upward revisions in earnings estimates [13][14]

Core Insights - Affirm will start reporting all pay-over-time loans to TransUnion from May 1, including Pay in 4 and longer-term monthly installments [1] - Transactions will be visible on consumers' TransUnion credit files but will not affect traditional credit scores; future credit scoring models may incorporate this data [2] - Affirm's initiative aims to make its financial products more mainstream, with 53% of non-BNPL users likely to consider using it if it could improve their credit scores [3] Industry Impact - Affirm's loan reporting to TransUnion is seen as a significant milestone for the BNPL industry, allowing millions of consumers to receive credit for their payment behavior [4] - The company has also begun furnishing information to Experian, expanding its credit reporting to include pay-over-time products [5] - The evolution of BNPL into a trusted service is emphasized by Affirm's CEO, highlighting the control consumers have over their payment schedules [5]