TLDR
- Affirm stock jumped nearly 12% on Tuesday after CFO Rob O’Hare provided upbeat commentary during a company fireside chat
- O’Hare said quarter-to-date trends are favorable heading into the holiday season, with customer delinquency rates remaining stable
- Evercore ISI analyst Adam Frisch reiterated his outperform rating and $95 price target on the stock
- The CFO dismissed recent third-party volume data showing weakness, calling it unreliable due to serious tracking errors
- Analysts expect Affirm to deliver 31% year-over-year growth in gross merchandise value for the current quarter
Affirm Holdings saw its stock price race higher on Tuesday, closing up nearly 12% after positive commentary from company leadership and renewed analyst support.
Affirm Holdings, Inc., AFRM
The buy-now-pay-later company got a boost from CFO Rob O’Hare, who spoke at a fireside chat hosted by the firm. His remarks painted an optimistic picture of the business heading into the crucial holiday shopping period.
O’Hare told investors that quarter-to-date trends are looking quite favorable for Affirm. The timing matters because the holiday season represents a particularly important period for retail spending and payment services.
The CFO also addressed credit quality concerns, noting that customer delinquency rates were staying level. That’s good news for a company whose business model depends on consumers paying back their loans on time.
The positive management commentary quickly caught the attention of Wall Street. Evercore ISI analyst Adam Frisch responded by reiterating his outperform rating on the stock, which translates to a buy recommendation.
Frisch maintained his $95 price target for Affirm shares. That figure represents substantial upside from current trading levels and signals confidence in the company’s growth trajectory.
Questionable Data Gets Pushback
Part of Tuesday’s rally stemmed from O’Hare’s direct challenge to recent negative data about Affirm. Third-party reports had suggested the company was seeing week-over-week declines in transaction volumes.
The CFO didn’t mince words, stating that the third-party data contained serious tracking errors. He implied the information wasn’t reliable enough to draw meaningful conclusions about Affirm’s actual performance.
Frisch echoed this skepticism in his research note. The analyst argued that Affirm stock had been unfairly punished based on flawed external data that didn’t accurately reflect the company’s real business trends.
According to Frisch’s analysis, if the third-party data is indeed unreliable, Affirm appears on track to meet consensus estimates. Analysts are expecting roughly 31% year-over-year growth in gross merchandise value for the current quarter.
The stock had taken a hit recently as investors worried about the company’s core customer base. Affirm tends to serve relatively less affluent consumers, and some market watchers feared these customers might pull back on spending if economic conditions weaken.
Holiday Season Performance in Focus
The timing of O’Hare’s comments adds weight to their importance. The holiday shopping season typically drives a large portion of annual retail sales, making it a critical period for payment platforms like Affirm.
During the fireside chat, the CFO discussed both Affirm’s specific performance and broader trends in the buy-now-pay-later industry. His upbeat tone suggested confidence that the company can capitalize on holiday spending patterns.
The stable delinquency rates O’Hare mentioned help address one of the key risks investors watch in the BNPL sector. Rising defaults would threaten Affirm’s profitability and potentially signal problems with its underwriting standards.
Affirm’s stock has been volatile throughout 2025 as investors weigh the company’s growth potential against concerns about consumer health and competitive pressures. The nearly 12% single-day gain represents one of the stock’s strongest performances in recent months.
The company operates in a crowded field that includes both specialized BNPL providers and traditional credit card companies. Competition has intensified as more players recognize the appeal of installment payment options to younger consumers.
Frisch’s reiteration of his outperform rating and $95 price target came shortly after O’Hare’s fireside chat concluded on Tuesday. The analyst maintained his positive stance despite recent market turbulence around the stock.
The post Affirm (AFRM) Stock Jumps 12% as CFO Signals Strong Holiday Demand appeared first on Blockonomi.
Source: https://blockonomi.com/affirm-afrm-stock-jumps-12-as-cfo-signals-strong-holiday-demand/