Latest news with #Affirm
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Affirm expands partnership with Williams-Sonoma into Canada
Affirm (AFRM) announced the expansion of its partnership with Williams-Sonoma (WSM) into Canada, building on their existing U.S. collaboration. This brings Affirm's pay-over-time options to Canadians shopping at Williams-Sonoma's brands, including Williams Sonoma, West Elm, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Teen, Pottery Barn Kids, and Mark & Graham. Approved Canadian shoppers can now split purchases into monthly payments with no late or hidden fees. Easily unpack a company's performance with TipRanks' new KPI Data for smart investment decisions Receive undervalued, market resilient stocks right to your inbox with TipRanks' Smart Value Newsletter Published first on TheFly – the ultimate source for real-time, market-moving breaking financial news. Try Now>> See Insiders' Hot Stocks on TipRanks >> Read More on AFRM: Disclaimer & DisclosureReport an Issue Mixed options sentiment in Affirm Holdings with shares up 4.41% Affirm (AFRM) Navigates BNPL Paradox as Growing Pains Weigh on Sentiment Klarna's IPO Is on Thin Ice as Q1 Losses Double to $99 Million Mixed options sentiment in Affirm Holdings (AFRM), with shares down $-4.81 (-8.51%) near $51.74 Affirm Stock (AFRM) Surges after Revealing New Deal with Costco
Business Wire
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Affirm expands partnership with Williams-Sonoma, Inc. into Canada
TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Affirm (NASDAQ: AFRM), the payment network that empowers consumers and helps merchants drive growth, today announced the expansion of its partnership with Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE: WSM) into Canada. This builds on the companies' multi-year partnership in the U.S. and brings Affirm to Canadians shopping at Williams-Sonoma, Inc.'s family of brands including Williams Sonoma, West Elm, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Teen, Pottery Barn Kids, and Mark & Graham. Whether shopping for a sofa at their local West Elm or furnishing a new nursery with Pottery Barn Kids, approved Canadian shoppers can now split their purchases into monthly payments with Affirm. The process is simple: after selecting Affirm at checkout, consumers go through a quick, real-time eligibility check. If approved, they can choose the customized payment plan that best suits their needs and rest assured that they will never pay any late or hidden fees. 'As Canadian consumers continue to embrace smarter and more flexible ways to manage spending on home furnishings and essentials, Affirm has become a go-to choice for greater payment control and transparency,' said Wayne Pommen, Chief Revenue Officer at Affirm. 'We're thrilled to build on our successful collaboration with Williams Sonoma and their family of brands to bring more Canadians the financial clarity, flexibility, and peace of mind they deserve.' With this launch, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. and its family of brands join leading Canadian retailers, including Amazon, Apple, Samsung, Brown's Shoes, and more in offering Affirm's payment solutions to their customers. About Affirm Affirm's mission is to deliver honest financial products that improve lives. By building a new kind of payment network—one based on trust, transparency, and putting people first—we empower millions of consumers to spend and save responsibly, and give thousands of businesses the tools to fuel growth. Unlike most credit cards and other pay-over-time options, we never charge any late or hidden fees. Follow Affirm on social media: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | X. Rates from 0-31.99% APR (subject to provincial regulations). Payment options through Affirm Canada Holdings Ltd. ('Affirm') are subject to an eligibility check and depend on purchase amount, vary by merchant, and may not be available in all provinces/territories. A down payment (or a payment due today) may be required. AFRM-PA
National Post
4 days ago
- Business
- National Post
Affirm expands partnership with Williams-Sonoma, Inc. into Canada
Article content Article content TORONTO — Affirm (NASDAQ: AFRM), the payment network that empowers consumers and helps merchants drive growth, today announced the expansion of its partnership with Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE: WSM) into Canada. This builds on the companies' multi-year partnership in the U.S. and brings Affirm to Canadians shopping at Williams-Sonoma, Inc.'s family of brands including Williams Sonoma, West Elm, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Teen, Pottery Barn Kids, and Mark & Graham. Article content Whether shopping for a sofa at their local West Elm or furnishing a new nursery with Pottery Barn Kids, approved Canadian shoppers can now split their purchases into monthly payments with Affirm. The process is simple: after selecting Affirm at checkout, consumers go through a quick, real-time eligibility check. If approved, they can choose the customized payment plan that best suits their needs and rest assured that they will never pay any late or hidden fees. Article content 'As Canadian consumers continue to embrace smarter and more flexible ways to manage spending on home furnishings and essentials, Affirm has become a go-to choice for greater payment control and transparency,' said Wayne Pommen, Chief Revenue Officer at Affirm. 'We're thrilled to build on our successful collaboration with Williams Sonoma and their family of brands to bring more Canadians the financial clarity, flexibility, and peace of mind they deserve.' Article content With this launch, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. and its family of brands join leading Canadian retailers, including Amazon, Apple, Samsung, Brown's Shoes, and more in offering Affirm's payment solutions to their customers. Article content Affirm's mission is to deliver honest financial products that improve lives. By building a new kind of payment network—one based on trust, transparency, and putting people first—we empower millions of consumers to spend and save responsibly, and give thousands of businesses the tools to fuel growth. Unlike most credit cards and other pay-over-time options, we never charge any late or hidden fees. Follow Affirm on social media: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | X. Article content Rates from 0-31.99% APR (subject to provincial regulations). Payment options through Affirm Canada Holdings Ltd. ('Affirm') are subject to an eligibility check and depend on purchase amount, vary by merchant, and may not be available in all provinces/territories. A down payment (or a payment due today) may be required. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
Business Insider
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Affirm (AFRM) Navigates BNPL Paradox as Growing Pains Weigh on Sentiment
Affirm Holdings (AFRM) has experienced a volatile journey since its 2021 IPO. After soaring to bubble-level valuations, the Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) leader saw its stock fall to $9 per share in 2023. Since then, shares have been on a steady upward trajectory, driven by notable financial improvements. However, the current valuation suggests that investor expectations are now running high, setting the stage for its fiscal Q3 2025 earnings earlier this month, which delivered beats on both revenue and earnings per share. Confident Investing Starts Here: However, Affirm's guidance for its fiscal fourth quarter fell short of investor expectations, contributing to recent stock volatility. In my view, Affirm—and the broader BNPL sector—is caught in a strategic paradox: demand for BNPL services tends to rise during inflationary periods, yet these same economic conditions heighten investor focus on sustainable growth and profitability. This tension leads me to maintain a cautiously neutral stance on Affirm's stock. Why Consumers Are Flocking to BNPL in Today's Economy The Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) market is positioned for significant expansion in the years ahead, with Affirm competing among a handful of major players, including Klarna, PayPal, and Afterpay (now part of Block). In its fiscal third quarter, Affirm reported a 36% year-over-year increase in Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV), reaching $8.6 billion, driven primarily by rising transaction volumes and a growing base of active users. Current macroeconomic conditions—marked by persistent inflation and more cautious consumer spending—are accelerating BNPL adoption. The ability to break large purchases into smaller, manageable payments appeals to budget-conscious consumers seeking flexibility. Moreover, BNPL is becoming a familiar option for many shoppers, and emerging data suggests that some consumers are increasingly favoring these services over traditional credit cards, which often come with hidden fees and compounding interest. Guidance Miss Spooks AFRM Investors Affirm's fiscal fourth quarter revenue guidance—ranging from $815 million to $845 million—came in below consensus expectations, which were around $840 million at the midpoint. The market reacted swiftly, with the stock falling nearly 10% following the announcement. This response highlights just how sensitive Affirm's valuation remains to any signs of slowing growth. Beyond the disappointing guidance, broader market concerns are at play. While macroeconomic headwinds such as inflation may support increased BNPL adoption, they also amplify investor focus on financial durability. Key concerns include the risk of rising consumer defaults and Affirm's still-unproven path to consistent GAAP profitability. Despite recent operational progress, the company has yet to deliver the margin stability needed to fully reassure the market. Moreover, Affirm's stock performance appears increasingly influenced by market sentiment around its ability to navigate future economic uncertainty—particularly when forward-looking guidance falls short of expectations. While the company continues to pursue GAAP profitability, signs of slowing growth and a strategic emphasis on 0% APR financing may have raised investor concerns. Although these no-interest products appeal to higher-credit consumers with stronger income profiles, they are inherently less profitable than interest-bearing loans, potentially impacting near-term margins Fintechs, Banks, and Tech Giants Fight For Market Share As with any rising consumer trend, growing popularity inevitably attracts competition. The BNPL space is now populated by both dedicated fintech players, like Affirm, and established financial institutions eager to capitalize on the demand. In my view, the barriers to entry for large financial institutions are relatively low. Tech giants such as Apple and Google are integrating BNPL features directly into their ecosystems, potentially diminishing the relevance of standalone providers like Affirm. At the same time, major banks like JPMorgan Chase and Citibank are embedding BNPL-like options within existing credit card offerings, further intensifying competitive pressure. Is AFRM a Buy, Sell, or Hold? AFRM's average price target of $67.18 implies a potential upside of 36% in the next twelve months. Earlier this month, Wells Fargo analyst Andrew Bauch supported the bullish case for AFRM, issuing a Buy rating with a price target of $67. Bauch highlighted Affirm's strong GMV growth and was also encouraged by the 18% quarter-over-quarter growth in active cardholders. For context, the Affirm Card is a Visa card that permits full or split purchases, effectively becoming a more regular spending tool for consumers rather than just being used for individual online checkouts. Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley analyst James Faucette has a Hold rating on AFRM. He is cautiously optimistic on the stock, noting 'despite the macroeconomic volatility that poses risks to credit performance, Affirm's delinquency data remains strong, and insights from other consumer finance companies are generally positive.' Early BNPL Lead Meets Unproven Profit Path In summary, the BNPL market remains in its early stages, bringing both opportunity and risk. Affirm's early entry has helped build brand recognition, a growing user base, and strategic partnerships. With the overall market still expanding, there is significant upside if Affirm can capitalize on its foundation. For example, the company's card integration with platforms like Apple Pay enhances accessibility and broadens consumer reach. However, the path forward is far from certain. The BNPL sector faces meaningful regulatory and economic unknowns, having yet to be tested by a full economic downturn. The market is increasingly fragmented, and Affirm may need to prioritize brand differentiation, potentially at the expense of near-term profitability. Perhaps most importantly, its ability to consistently deliver GAAP profitability remains uncertain. In business, generating revenue is not enough—sustainable cash generation is what ensures survival. Overall, I remain neutral on Affirm (AFRM). At its current valuation, the stock appears to reflect both the growth potential and the underlying challenges of the BNPL paradox.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Costco Fans Debate Over New Checkout Process
Earlier this month, Costco announced its new buy now, pay later feature (BNPL) through Affirm. Basically, online orders totaling between $500 and $17,500 qualify for payment plans ranging from three to 36 months. The interest rates range from 10 percent to 36 percent with no hidden fees or late penalties. Additionally, payments are managed through the Affirm app or website, with options for automatic deductions. 😋😋🍳🍔 Taking to a popular Costco forum on Reddit, one user joked, 'Buy now and pay later = hotdog debt?' Unsurprisingly, it sparked a lot of debate about BNPL, and whether or not it's actually beneficial to shoppers. 'Affirm is a huge scam,' one user argued. 'No, not if you know what you're getting into; I bought a new MacBook Pro on Affirm and paid it off in four months, zero interest charged,' another responded. Related: 'It's still a predatory business model. They make money off the people who screw up or use it because they have no other choice. I understand the 0% benefit, but for me, a Macbook is a luxury purchase and luxury purchases should never be financed. Just my opinion,' the original user replied. A third user chimed in the thread, 'Would you finance a car? Or a house? I need my MacBook every day to do my work—yes, I could use a cheaper Windows PC, but the MacBook Pro is reliable and tough and helps me work best. Bought mine with cash, but have loans for my house and car still, oops.' Nowadays, many retailers use BNPL options through third-party providers like Affirm, Afterpay, Klarna, or PayPal. Examples include Amazon, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Zara, Revolve, Sephora, Apple, and Samsung. Costco Fans Debate Over New Checkout Process first appeared on Parade on May 25, 2025 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
