This story was originally published on Payments Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Payments Dive newsletter. Buy now, pay later company Klarna Group was sued in federal court by a shareholder last month in a complaint that seeks class action status.  The lawsuit lodged in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York alleges that investors suffered losses when the Klarna’s stock declined after a September initial public offering. The stock drop followed the com ...

Key insights: Euronet is buying CrediaBank's merchant acquiring unit, Lloyds is set to shutter its invoice financing business and an industry group is calling for increased BNPL regulation. What's at stake: Greek banks have been offloading their merchant acquiring business over the last few years, according to William Blair.  Forward look: The deal is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026. Greece-based CrediaBank is selling its merchant acquiring business to Euronet Worldwide for an undisclosed amo ...

Core Viewpoint - A securities class action has been filed against Klarna Group plc, alleging that the company's offering documents for its September 2025 IPO misrepresented the risks associated with its lending practices [1][2][3]. Group 1: Legal Action and Allegations - The class action lawsuit, Nayak v. Klarna Group plc, seeks to represent investors who acquired Klarna securities during its IPO [1]. - Hagens Berman, a law firm, is investigating claims that Klarna's offering documents violated federal securities laws, urging affected investors to come forward [2]. - The lawsuit focuses on the misleading nature of Klarna's statements regarding credit risks, particularly in lending to financially unsophisticated clients [3]. Group 2: Financial Performance and Market Reaction - Klarna reported a 102% year-over-year increase in its provision for credit losses in Q3 2025, alongside a significant rise in operating losses, which negatively impacted investor sentiment [4]. - Following the disappointing financial results, Klarna's share price fell to $31.63, approximately 20% below the IPO price of $40 [4]. Group 3: Transparency and Investor Concerns - The spike in Klarna's provision for credit losses raises questions about the transparency of the company's risk disclosures at the time of the IPO [5]. - The firm leading the investigation emphasizes the importance of transparency in investor communications, particularly regarding financial risks [5].

Core Viewpoint - A securities class action has been filed against Klarna Group plc, alleging that the company's offering documents for its September 2025 IPO misrepresented the risks associated with its lending practices, particularly regarding credit losses [1][2][3]. Group 1: Legal Action and Allegations - The class action lawsuit, Nayak v. Klarna Group plc, seeks to represent investors who acquired Klarna securities during its IPO, which involved the issuance of over 34 million shares at $40 each [1][2]. - The lawsuit claims that Klarna's offering documents materially understated the credit risks involved in lending to financially unsophisticated clients, which could lead to significant losses [3][4]. - The lead plaintiff deadline for the class action is set for February 20, 2026, and investors are encouraged to contact the law firm Hagens Berman for assistance [2]. Group 2: Financial Performance and Market Reaction - Klarna reported a 102% year-over-year increase in its provision for credit losses in Q3 2025, alongside a significant rise in operating losses, which contributed to a sharp decline in its stock price [4][5]. - Following the Q3 financial results announcement on November 18, 2025, Klarna's share price fell to $31.63, approximately 20% below the IPO price [4]. Group 3: Transparency and Investor Concerns - The lawsuit raises concerns about the transparency of Klarna's financial disclosures, particularly regarding the timing of the reported increase in credit loss provisions relative to the IPO [5]. - Hagens Berman emphasizes the importance of transparency in IPO settings, questioning whether the risks had already materialized by the time of the IPO [5].

Core Viewpoint - A securities class action has been filed against Klarna Group plc, focusing on alleged violations of federal securities laws during its September 2025 IPO, where over 34 million shares were issued at $40 each [1][2][3]. Group 1: Legal Action and Allegations - The lawsuit seeks to represent investors who acquired Klarna securities during the IPO and claims that the offering documents were misleading regarding credit risks [2][3]. - The complaint highlights that Klarna's statements about its credit modeling and scoring performance were deceptive, as they downplayed the risks associated with lending to financially unsophisticated clients [3][4]. Group 2: Financial Performance and Market Reaction - Klarna reported a significant 102% year-over-year increase in its provision for credit losses in Q3 2025, alongside a material rise in operating losses, which led to a sharp decline in its share price to $31.63, approximately 20% below the IPO price [4][5]. - The spike in credit loss provisions raises questions about the transparency of Klarna's risk disclosures at the time of the IPO [5].

Core Viewpoint - A securities class action has been filed against Klarna Group plc, alleging that the company's offering documents for its September 2025 IPO misrepresented the risks associated with its lending practices, particularly regarding credit risks and loss provisions [1][3]. Group 1: Legal Action and Investigation - The lawsuit, Nayak v. Klarna Group plc, seeks to represent investors who acquired Klarna securities during its IPO, which involved the issuance of over 34 million shares at $40 each [1][2]. - Hagens Berman, a national shareholder rights law firm, is investigating claims that Klarna's offering documents violated federal securities laws and is encouraging affected investors to come forward [2][5]. Group 2: Financial Performance and Investor Reaction - Klarna reported a significant 102% year-over-year increase in its provision for credit losses in Q3 2025, alongside a material increase in operating losses, which led to a sharp decline in its share price to $31.63, approximately 20% below the IPO price [4]. - The increase in credit loss provisions raises concerns about the transparency of Klarna's risk disclosures at the time of the IPO, suggesting that the risks may have already materialized [5].

The deluge of new high-profile IPOs in 2025 has largely all followed a predictable pattern: a big burst upfront, followed by a deep multi-month correction. Klarna ( KLAR ), the "buy now, pay later" digital bank that originated in Sweden and recently launched inWith combined experience of covering technology companies on Wall Street and working in Silicon Valley, and serving as an outside adviser to several seed-round startups, Gary Alexander has exposure to many of the themes shaping the industry today. He ...

that how much if you have the data how much do you replace or supplant store branded credit cards which can often have APRs up to 34%. Basically usery interest rates in some cases people might be better off going to the buy now pay later model than taking out some of these cards. Do you do you take their share.>> Uh very much so. So, I mean the point is that in the US there's this uh group called self-aware avoiders. People who've tried credit cards uh didn't like them.Uh found that they are the product of ...

Core Insights - The American consumer remains healthy and engaged in shopping, driven by upcoming holidays, countering recent market concerns about consumer spending [2][3] - The growth in consumer behavior is reflected in the increasing demand for services and products, particularly in the buy now, pay later sector [9][10] Consumer Behavior - Different segments of consumers exhibit varied spending behaviors, with some focusing on saving money through promotions while others prioritize cash flow over total costs [7][8] - The Affirm platform has seen a rise in active consumers, indicating a diverse range of spending habits among users [6] Company Strategy - The company emphasizes transparency and control for users, which helps maintain customer loyalty and repeat usage [4][8] - Partnerships with major retailers like Amazon, Shopify, and Apple enhance the company's service offerings and market reach [8][10] Market Position - The competitive landscape includes smaller firms that often rely on late fees, which positions the company favorably due to its customer-friendly approach [11] - Current growth trajectories are strong enough that the company is not actively pursuing mergers and acquisitions at this time [11] Future Outlook - The company is focused on executing its existing strategies and is cautious about announcing new products until they are fully developed [15] - There is an ongoing interest in adapting to generational wealth transfer trends and expanding product offerings to meet diverse consumer needs [12][13]

Company Overview - Block, Inc. is a fintech and financial-services company based in Oakland, California, focusing on technology ecosystems around payments, commerce, and financial services [1] - The company operates platforms such as Square for merchants and Cash App for peer-to-peer payments, along with other ventures like "buy now, pay later" services [1] - Block's current market capitalization is approximately $44.9 billion [1] Stock Performance - Block's shares have underperformed the broader market, with a year-to-date decline of 13.3% and a 52-week increase of only 1.8%, compared to the S&P 500 Index's 15.6% rise in 2025 and 17.5% over the past year [2] - The stock has also lagged behind the Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund, which saw a 26.9% increase in 2025 and a 30.1% gain over the past 52 weeks [3] Market Challenges - The decline in Block's stock is attributed to softness in consumer-driven segments, particularly within its Cash App business, amid weak discretionary spending and heightened competition [4] - A challenging macroeconomic environment and muted growth have raised concerns among investors regarding the potential for growth re-acceleration [4] Earnings Outlook - For the full fiscal year 2025, analysts project Block's earnings per share (EPS) to be $1.02, reflecting a significant year-over-year decline of 69.7% [5] - The company has a mixed earnings surprise history, missing bottom-line estimates once in the past four quarters while surpassing projections three times [5] Analyst Ratings - The stock holds a consensus "Moderate Buy" rating, with 42 analysts covering it, including 26 "Strong Buys," four "Moderate Buys," seven "Holds," and five "Strong Sells" [5] - Recent analyst sentiment has become slightly more bullish, with UBS maintaining a "Buy" rating and a price target of $95, citing strong momentum in its Square and Cash App ecosystems [6] - The mean price target for Block is $86.89, indicating an 18% premium to current price levels, while the highest target of $105 suggests a potential upside of 42.6% [6]