NEW YORK (AP) — The Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate Wednesday for the first time in nine months. Since the last cut, progress on inflation has slowed while the labor market has cooled. That means Americans are dealing with both high prices and a challenging job market. The federal funds rate, set by the Federal Reserve, is the rate at which banks borrow and lend to one another. While the rates that consumers pay to borrow money aren’t directly linked to this rate, shifts in Fed policy affe ...

Key Points SoFi’s stock has nearly quadrupled over the past year. It’s still gaining millions of members and hosting millions of new products. Its stock looks reasonably valued relative to its growth potential. 10 stocks we like better than SoFi Technologies › SoFi's (NASDAQ: SOFI) stock surged nearly 270% over the past 12 months. The fintech company's robust revenue growth, rising profits, and expanding ecosystem all drew a stampede of bulls back to its stock. Expectations for lower interest rate ...

Core Insights - Expanding access to credit is a significant challenge in consumer finance, with legacy systems causing inefficiencies and limiting capital access [1][4] - Figure Technology Solutions aims to modernize consumer lending through AI and blockchain integration, enhancing loan origination, underwriting, and trading processes [1][3] Company Overview - Founded in 2018, Figure started with home equity lending and has developed a vertically integrated model encompassing origination, marketplace distribution, and capital markets execution [3] - The company is expanding its product offerings beyond home equity loans to include a variety of credit products and digital asset marketplaces [3][5] Market Potential - Figure estimates its addressable market in lending and capital markets at approximately $185 billion in annual revenue potential [5] - The asset tokenization market is projected to reach $16 trillion by 2030, while the stablecoin market could approach $5 trillion in the same timeframe [5] Operational Efficiency - The company claims to have achieved profitability with a capital-efficient model, generating revenue from fees on originations, servicing, and technology usage [6] - Partner-branded lending constitutes 77% of total originations, with 168 active partners as of mid-2025 [6] Regulatory Framework - Figure holds over 180 lending and servicing licenses, 48 money transmitter licenses, and SEC registration as a broker-dealer, which supports its scaling ambitions [7] Performance Metrics - For the 12 months ending June 30, 2025, Figure facilitated approximately $6 billion in HELOC lending, a 29% increase from the previous year, with a compound annual growth rate of 70% since mid-2021 [8] - The Figure Connect Marketplace processed $1.3 billion in loan volume in its first year, connecting originators and investors directly [8] Financial Performance - For the six months ending June 30, 2025, net revenue was $191 million, up from $156 million year-over-year, with net income of $29 million compared to a $13 million loss the previous year [12] - Adjusted EBITDA reached $83 million, more than double the prior year [12] Product Diversification - Although HELOCs currently account for 99% of originations, Figure is exploring new products such as debt service coverage ratio loans and digital asset-backed loans [12] - The company plans to use IPO proceeds to invest in new product development and expand its loan marketplace [12]

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Core Viewpoint - SoFi Technologies reported strong first-quarter earnings, leading to a temporary stock price increase, but the stock remains down significantly from its January peak, raising questions about its long-term growth potential [2][5]. Group 1: Company Performance - In Q1 2025, SoFi Technologies achieved record performance metrics, with total lending product originations increasing by 66% year over year to $7.2 billion [5]. - The number of SoFi members grew by 34% year over year to 10.9 million, while the number of financial products managed rose by 35% to 15.9 million [4]. - SoFi raised its guidance, expecting adjusted net revenue to increase by 24% to 27% in 2025, projecting a range between $3.235 billion and $3.31 billion [7]. Group 2: Financial Metrics - Sales and marketing expenses surged by 42% year over year to $238.2 million in Q1, constituting 31% of total net revenue [8][10]. - Management anticipates a significant decline in earnings, with GAAP net income expected to fall about 23.5% this year to $325 million [11]. - The company's current valuation stands at 2.95 times its tangible book value, which is considered high given the projected earnings decline [12]. Group 3: Market Position and Strategy - SoFi's integrated financial services platform allows members to manage various financial products through a single application, appealing to consumers seeking convenience [3]. - The company has secured over $8 billion in new commitments from third parties to support future loan originations [13]. - Despite the positive aspects, there are concerns regarding the sustainability of growth due to high marketing expenses and competition in consumer banking [8].