Klarna Group logo 3 of the Most Highly Anticipated IPOs of 2026 Klarna Group (NYSE:KLAR) reported what management described as an accelerating adoption of its expanded set of “banking services” in Q4 2025, including the Klarna Card, deposit accounts, and “fair financing,” alongside its core buy now, pay later (BNPL) offering. On the company’s earnings call, CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski said growth in these products outpaced internal expectations during the quarter, while the company also emphasized tha ...

Klarna (KLAR) shares closed roughly 26% down on Thursday even though the buy now, pay later (BNPL) firm posted its first billion-dollar quarter. Investors bailed on KLAR mostly because its profitability metrics deteriorated in the fourth quarter and the management offered disappointing guidance for Q1. Following the post-earnings decline, Klarna’s relative strength index (14-day) sits at about 18.39, indicating extremely oversold conditions that often trigger a relief rally. More News from Barchart How ...

Core Viewpoint - Affirm's CEO Max Levchin expresses confidence in the resilience of the US consumer, countering recession narratives by highlighting strong demand for the company's buy now, pay later (BNPL) services [1][7] Company Performance - Affirm reported a 36% year-over-year increase in gross merchandise volume (GMV) for the past quarter, although guidance suggests a slowdown to 30% growth in Q3 and 25% in Q4 [5] - The company has maintained "very solid" repayment curves over the past eight quarters, indicating stable financial performance among borrowers [2] Consumer Sentiment - Despite Affirm's positive outlook, the University of Michigan's Index of Consumer Sentiment indicates a decline, with the index at 57.3 in February, 20% below last year's peaks [3][4] - This suggests that while consumers are utilizing BNPL services, they are doing so amidst concerns about inflation and labor market conditions [4] Competitive Position - Levchin asserts that Affirm's proprietary AI underwriting is crucial for maintaining high credit quality, allowing the company to identify "healthy" consumers [3] - The company has established a strong brand presence, with 96% of transactions coming from existing consumers, positioning itself as a competitor to major players like PayPal [6]

NEW YORK, Feb. 03, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Klarna Group PLC (“Klarna” or the “Company”) (NYSE: KLAR). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980, (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased. The class action concerns whether Klarna and certain of its officer ...

Block, Inc. (NYSE:XYZ) is one of the Best Long-Term Tech Stocks to Buy According to Analysts. On January 20, Truist analyst Matthew Coad lifted the firm’s price objective on the company’s stock to $72 from $68, while keeping a “Hold” rating, as reported by The Fly. This was seen as part of the broader research note, which previewed Q4 2025 earnings in FinTech. Truist Raises PT on Block (XYZ) Stock The analyst expects the quarter’s results to be strong. However, a difficult YoY comparison could restrict t ...

Core Insights - Fiserv has announced an exclusive collaboration with Affirm to integrate pay-over-time capabilities into debit card programs for financial institutions, allowing them to meet consumer demand for flexible payment options without developing new lending products [1][2] Group 1: Collaboration Details - The partnership builds on a previous integration in 2022, enhancing Fiserv's commitment to innovative debit solutions for financial institutions [2] - The collaboration aims to provide community and regional banks and credit unions with a scalable way to offer payment flexibility through existing debit products, enhancing customer relationships and engagement [2] Group 2: Benefits of the Integration - The integration will manage all technical aspects, allowing banks and credit unions to offer Affirm's flexible payment options seamlessly without operational lift [5] - Debit cardholders will have the option to split eligible purchases into fixed payments with a clear repayment schedule and no hidden fees, directly from their bank's mobile app [5] - Consumers will have access to Affirm's network of nearly 420,000 merchants, enabling them to apply for flexible payment options and expand their purchasing power [5]

Core Insights - Affirm is seeking to establish a bank subsidiary named Affirm Bank to enhance its financial services and product offerings [2][3] - The proposed bank will be a Nevada-chartered industrial loan company, allowing Affirm to scale operations while being FDIC-insured [2][3] - Affirm's CEO, Max Levchin, emphasized that the banking subsidiary would diversify the platform and provide more accessible financial products to consumers and merchants [4] Company Developments - Affirm has submitted applications to the Nevada Financial Institutions Division and the FDIC for the establishment of Affirm Bank [2] - If approved, Affirm Bank will operate independently with its own governance and internal controls [3] - The establishment of the bank is part of Affirm's strategy to expand access to financial products, particularly for younger consumers and those underserved by traditional credit systems [5] Industry Context - The trend among FinTech companies, including Affirm, is to pursue bank charters to broaden product lines and streamline access to the U.S. financial system [6] - Other FinTechs, such as Revolut, are also seeking banking licenses to enhance their service offerings in the competitive retail finance market [6]

Core Viewpoint - A class action lawsuit has been filed against Klarna Group PLC, alleging securities fraud and unlawful business practices by the company and its officers [2][3]. Group 1: Lawsuit Details - Investors are encouraged to contact Pomerantz LLP for participation in the class action, with a deadline of February 20, 2026, to apply as Lead Plaintiff [3]. - The lawsuit arises from Klarna's initial public offering (IPO) and subsequent financial disclosures that raised concerns about the company's business practices [2][4]. Group 2: Financial Performance - Klarna conducted its IPO on September 10, 2025, offering 34,311,274 shares at $40 each [4]. - Following the IPO, Klarna reported a net loss of $95 million, with provisions for credit losses amounting to $235 million, exceeding analyst expectations of $215.8 million [4]. - Provisions for credit losses represented 0.72% of gross merchandise volume, an increase from 0.44% the previous year [4]. - As of December 22, 2025, Klarna's stock closed at $31.31, which is below the IPO price [4]. Group 3: Market Context - The company faces scrutiny over customer loan defaults, particularly within its buy now, pay later (BNPL) business model, which has been criticized for targeting younger individuals with lower financial security [4]. - Research from the Richmond Fed indicates that BNPL customers typically have riskier credit profiles, being younger, less-educated, and carrying higher debt burdens [4].

Core Viewpoint - The stock market presents compelling opportunities as the US economy shows resilience, the AI boom continues, and equity rallies broaden beyond a few leading stocks, creating favorable conditions for stock selection heading into 2026 [1] Group 1: Zacks Rank and Stock Selection - The Zacks Rank is highlighted as an effective investment tool with a strong track record of identifying emerging leaders before they gain widespread recognition [2] - Three stocks are identified as top picks: Pagaya Technologies Ltd. (PGY), Eli Lilly (LLY), and Weatherford International (WFRD), all carrying a top Zacks Rank and backed by strong growth expectations and attractive valuations [3] Group 2: Eli Lilly (LLY) - Eli Lilly has shown exceptional performance due to the adoption of GLP-1 weight-loss therapies, experiencing a powerful stock advance towards the end of 2025 after a temporary pause [5][6] - The stock is currently rated Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) with earnings estimates revised upward, trading at 32.2x forward earnings, and projected EPS growth of 41.4% annually over the next three to five years [6] - Technical analysis indicates a bullish setup, with a recent breakout above resistance levels suggesting potential for further gains [7] Group 3: Pagaya Technologies Ltd. (PGY) - Pagaya Technologies is positioned in the "buy now, pay later" (BNPL) space, previously highlighted for its strong growth projections and attractive valuation, with shares having more than tripled before a significant pullback [9][10] - The stock has returned to a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), trading at 6.5x forward earnings, with sales expected to grow by 28.4% this year and 19.2% next year, alongside a projected earnings growth of 274% [10] - Recent technical movements indicate a potential pivot point for renewed buying interest, suggesting favorable conditions for investors [11] Group 4: Weatherford International (WFRD) - Weatherford International's shares have risen sharply amid geopolitical developments affecting global energy markets, particularly following military actions in Venezuela [13] - The stock has maintained a top Zacks Rank and has shown signs of renewed leadership in the energy sector prior to recent events [14] - Technical analysis shows a decisive breakout from a bull flag pattern, reinforcing a bullish outlook for Weatherford and the broader energy sector [15] Group 5: Investment Considerations - Each of the highlighted stocks offers unique investment opportunities: Eli Lilly as a structural growth leader, Pagaya as a high-upside growth story, and Weatherford as a play on a resurgent energy cycle [16]

Market Overview - The market rebound that began in April continued into the third quarter of 2025, with growth and momentum stocks delivering double-digit returns [1] - Small and micro-cap value stocks achieved their best quarterly returns since Q4 2023 [1] Deep Value Strategy Performance - The Deep Value strategy appreciated by +26.50% in Q3 2025, outperforming the S&P 1500 Value Index (+6.29%) and the S&P 600 Value Index (+11.71%) [1] - Year-to-date, the strategy's net returns are +9.20%, compared to +9.28% for the S&P 1500 Value Index and +3.17% for the S&P 600 Value Index [1] Company Highlight: Bread Financial Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:BFH) - Bread Financial Holdings, Inc. is a financial services company offering tech-forward payment and lending solutions, with a one-month return of 13.24% and a 52-week gain of 13.94% [2] - As of December 04, 2025, Bread Financial's stock closed at $72.00 per share, with a market capitalization of $3.29 billion [2] Performance and Transformation of Bread Financial Holdings, Inc. - Bread Financial was the only negative holding during the quarter, with a market share price down 2% [3] - The company has undergone a multi-year transformation to streamline its business model, enhance underwriting processes, and expand brand partnerships [3] - Since the beginning of the transformation in early 2020, capital ratios improved by more than 3x, debt was reduced by $2 billion, and direct-to-consumer deposits increased by over $6 billion [3] - Management has increased credit reserves to 13%, with delinquency rates at half of reserve levels, indicating potential for significant reserve release in the coming years [3] - The company aims for normalized ROTCE in the mid-20% range and normalized earnings above $15 per share, with shares trading at more than 25% normalized earnings yield [3]