Affirm Holdings delivers strong first-quarter results, targets UK expansion By Investing.com

During a recent earnings call, Affirm Holdings (NASDAQ: AFRM) reported strong first-quarter results, with CEO Max Levchin expressing confidence in the company’s performance and strategic initiatives. The company expects a stronger second half of the year, with a focus on maintaining solid credit performance and capitalizing on growth opportunities. Affirm is also preparing to enter the UK market, aiming to meet the demand for long-term payment products.

Summary of key points

• Affirm reports strong first-quarter results and is optimistic about the upcoming holiday season.

• COO Michael Linford mentioned improvements in revenue as a percentage of GMV, driven by interest income, capital markets benefits and merchant fees.

• Affirm expects RLTC margins to be about 3.8% in the second quarter and expects stronger performance later this year.

• Adjusted operating income margin is expected to be in the range of 21% to 23%.

• Active consumer growth accelerated due to deeper approval and re-engagement strategies.

• The company is preparing for a UK market launch, saying there is demand for long-term payments products.

• Management remains confident in its competitive pricing strategy and promotional efforts.

• Regulatory scrutiny is not expected to hinder Affirm Card’s growth.

• Lower base rates may benefit financing costs, with cost savings likely to be reinvested in consumer and merchant services.

Company Outlook

• Affirm is preparing for increased consumer engagement during the holiday season.

• The company expects RLTC profit margin in the second quarter to be approximately 3.8%.

• Adjusted operating income margin guidance is set at a range of 21% to 23%.

• The long-term expectation is that margins will continue to grow due to operating leverage.

Bearish Highlights

• The company is cautious about its launch in the UK market, with only eight days of transaction data to gauge consumer behaviour.

• The company acknowledged there is regulatory scrutiny but does not expect a material impact on growth.

Positive highlights

• Optimism was driven by strong unit economics and improved revenue.

• Active consumer growth is accelerating, with strategies in place to deepen consumer engagement.

• Affirm has a sizable market share and sees operational complexity as a competitive advantage.

Falling short of expectations

• The company has not observed any payment defaults in the new UK market and is closely monitoring early performance indicators.

Q&A Highlights

• CEO Levchin is confident in the company’s underwriting and machine learning capabilities in the UK market.

• COO Linford estimates that every 100 basis points decrease in financing costs will bring about 40 basis points of income.

• Any cost savings from the lower base rate will be reinvested in consumer and merchant services.

Affirm Holdings is positioning itself for continued growth and expansion, with special emphasis on the upcoming holiday season and its new UK market presence. Company leadership is confident in the strength of its strategic initiatives and market position, although new market entries will need to be carefully monitored. With solid revenue growth and a focus on reinvesting in the business, Affirm will update stakeholders on its progress in the next quarter.

InvestingPro Insights

Affirm Holdings’ recent earnings call painted a picture of a company on the rise, a narrative further supported by InvestingPro data. The company’s market capitalization reaches an impressive $13.59 billion, reflecting investor confidence in its growth trajectory.

One of Affirm’s most notable InvestingPro metrics is its revenue growth, which reached 46.55% over the last twelve months. This is consistent with the company reporting a strong first quarter and an optimistic outlook for the holiday season. Quarterly revenue growth of 40.67% further highlighted the company’s strong performance and supported CEO Max Levchin’s confidence in Affirm’s strategic initiatives.

InvestingPro Tip highlights that Affirm has made significant returns over the past week, with a total price return of 12.89%. This recent rise may be attributed to positive earnings reports and upbeat forward-looking statements from the company. Additionally, the stock has performed strongly over the past three months, with a staggering total price return of 93.5%, indicating that investors are becoming increasingly enthusiastic about Affirm’s business model and growth prospects.

It’s worth noting that while Affirm is experiencing rapid growth, it’s not yet profitable. InvestingPro tips that analysts don’t expect the company to make a profit this year. This is consistent with the reported adjusted operating income margin forecast of 21% to 23%, indicating that Affirm is prioritizing growth and market expansion over immediate profitability.

As discussed during the earnings call, the company prepares for the UK market launch, which is particularly interesting in the context of another InvestingPro tip that suggests Affirm’s stock typically trades with high price volatility. This volatility can be amplified as investors react to a company’s performance in new markets.

For investors looking for a more comprehensive analysis,InvestingPro provides 8 additional tips for Affirm Holdings, providing a deeper understanding of the company’s financial health and market position.