Core Insights - Block has seen a modest stock increase of 32% over the past five years, significantly underperforming the S&P 500, which returned 107% in the same period [1] Group 1: Business Strategy - Block's management is focused on enhancing the integration between Square and Cash App to create a more independent payment system, reducing reliance on major networks like Visa and Mastercard [2] - The ideal transaction scenario for Block involves Cash App users purchasing from Square merchants, utilizing payment methods like Cash App Pay, Cash App Card, or Afterpay [3][4] - By bypassing major card networks, Block aims to retain a larger share of transaction fees, which is crucial for its growth as a fintech disruptor [4] Group 2: User Base and Market Position - As of September 30, Block had 57 million monthly Cash App users and 24 million Cash App Card holders, with Square processing $59.9 billion in gross payment volume in Q3 [5] - Despite these figures, Block remains a small player in a vast market, with a total payment volume of $6.5 trillion in the same period [5] Group 3: Bitcoin Initiatives - Block's CEO, Jack Dorsey, is a strong proponent of Bitcoin, viewing it as a critical focus for the company [6] - The company is pursuing various Bitcoin-related initiatives, including a hardware wallet and mining equipment, and holds $530 million in Bitcoin on its balance sheet as of September 30 [7] - While some critics see this focus as a distraction, supporters argue that it aligns with Block's mission to enhance financial freedom and economic empowerment [8] Group 4: Financial Performance and Valuation - Block is experiencing rising profits, with expectations of nearly $1.6 billion in adjusted operating income for 2024, representing a 344% increase from the previous year [9] - The stock has seen a 24% increase in November, and despite this rise, it trades at a price-to-sales ratio of under 2.4, which is less than half the average valuation over the past five years [10] - Given its current trajectory, Block is expected to potentially outperform the S&P 500 by the end of 2029 [11]

From their initial public offering in November 2015 to their all-time high in August 2021, shares of Block (SQ -0.26%) have skyrocketed an impressive 2,060%. That gain easily trounced the broader indexes. Since then, the market has adopted a more subdued perspective on this fintech stock, as well as other once high-flying growth enterprises. As a result, shares trade 68% off that peak from more than three years ago.You might be considering buying Block on the dip. Could this move set you up for life?Block s ...

I am mostly a trader engaging in both long and short bets intraday and occasionally over the short- to medium term. My historical focus has been mostly on tech stocks but over the past couple of years I have also started broad coverage of the offshore drilling and supply industry as well as the shipping industry in general (tankers, containers, drybulk). In addition, I am having a close eye on the still nascent fuel cell industry.I am located in Germany and have worked quite some time as an auditor for Pric ...

The average investor can easily find new investment ideas by following well-known asset managers. One of those managers is Cathie Wood, who heads up Ark Invest, an investment fund that focuses on disruptive and innovative businesses. In the Ark Innovation ETF, the flagship product that the asset manager offers to clients, fintech enterprise Block (SQ -0.47%) is a top holding. As of Nov. 21, it's the eighth largest position. Should you buy this top Cathie Wood stock while it trades below $100 per share? Bull ...

H&R Block, Inc. (HRB) has performed exceptionally well in the past year and has the potential to sustain this momentum in the near term. Consequently, if you haven’t taken advantage of its share price appreciation yet, it’s time you add the stock to your portfolio.What Makes HRB an Attractive Pick?An Outperformer: A glimpse at this consumer services company’s price trend reveals that the stock has had an impressive run over the past year. Shares of H&R Block have gained 22%, significantly outperforming the ...

Block’s (SQ) Afterpay division and strong partner base are boosting its prospects in the ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ (BNPL) market. Its partnership with several brands, including Curology, Helzberg Diamonds, Journeys, Rawlings Sporting Goods, and Zenni Optical, is noteworthy.Afterpay’s BNPL offering is now available to Alphabet’s (GOOGL) Google Play users. The expansion bodes well for the Afterpay division, on which Block estimates that consumers have spent more than $72 billion since its acquisition. Block levera ...

BP plc (BP) , the British energy major, has signed a Production Sharing Agreement ("PSA") with Trinidad and Tobago in the shallow water block NCMA 2. BP's subsidiary won an offshore bidding round hosted by Trinidad and Tobago last year. The agreement allows for the exploration and production of natural gas in the shallow water block. The PSA is aimed at increasing the country's natural gas output to boost the supply of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities. Trinidad and Tobago's natural gas supply has ...

The stock prices for H&R Block and Intuit fell after a Tuesday report saying the Trump transition team is considering creating a free tax-filing app.Intuit, which makes the TurboTax tax-filing software, was down 5%, putting it on pace for its worst day since Aug. 23, when the company's stock price fell nearly 7%. H&R Block was down 8% and on pace for its worst day since 2020.President-elect Donald Trump's "Department of Government Efficiency" has held "highly preliminary" discussions about creating the free ...

Donald Trump's election has shaken up financial markets in a way that few elections have. Stocks soared broadly on his victory with financials and energy stocks leading the way, while some sectors fell, including real estate, which is sensitive to interest rates, and consumer staples, which could get hit by tariffs.Bond yields initially jumped, a sign that bond investors anticipated interest rates would stay elevated due to tax cuts and other economic stimulus, as well as the impact of tariffs and larger de ...

One company that likely won't be happy to exit this week is Block (SQ -2.80%). Its stock was on the rise across the past few trading days thanks to a set of fresh -- and bullish -- evaluations of the fintech by analysts tracking its fortunes. As a consequence its share price had risen nearly 12% week to date as of Thursday night, according to data compiled by S&P Global Market Intelligence. Post-earnings updates Somewhat counterintuitively, that cluster of positive new evaluations for Block came on the heel ...