Hello – When central banks, retail investors and industry all clamor for the same metal, prices don’t just rise—they can launch. Our 2026 Gold Forecast: A Perfect Storm for Demand explains why spot gold could break past $4,000 this year and provides guidance on how to position yourself before it happens. Inside, you’ll discover: -
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Special Report Affirm: A Solid Footing or More Volatility Ahead?Authored by Peter Frank. First Published: 3/29/2026. 
Key Points - Affirm is delivering strong growth and improving profitability as adoption expands across merchants and consumers.
- Partnerships and network effects are strengthening its position in the competitive buy-now-pay-later market.
- Rising credit risks and intense competition could pressure margins if economic conditions weaken.
- Special Report: Elon's "Hidden" Company
If you've ever split a purchase into separate payments at checkout, there's a good chance you've been a customer of Affirm Holdings (NASDAQ: AFRM). The company sits at the center of the buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) boom, and after years of prioritizing growth over profits, it's beginning to deliver both. That's encouraging, but there are reasons to be cautious. Strong Growth and Profitability Signal Momentum After nearly five decades on Wall Street, Louis Navellier says a major currency shift is already underway - and the wealthiest Americans, including Musk, Zuckerberg, and Ellison, are quietly moving money out of dollars and into a different type of asset entirely. It's not bitcoin or any other crypto. Navellier has identified 7 companies he believes are positioned at the center of this trend - the last time he spotted a setup like this, Nvidia climbed as high as 10,000%. Watch Navellier's urgent briefing and get all 7 company names Affirm's most recent quarter was a standout. In its second fiscal quarter ended Dec. 31, gross merchandise volume (GMV) — the total value of purchases financed through its platform — reached $13.8 billion, up 36% year over year. Revenue climbed 30% to $1.12 billion, and net income rose 61% year over year to $130 million. The company also beat Wall Street expectations, reporting earnings per share of $0.37 and delivering an adjusted operating margin of 30%. The underlying operating metrics were similarly strong. Total transactions in the quarter jumped 44% to nearly 55 million, the number of merchants offering Affirm at checkout grew 42% to 478,000, and active customers increased 23% to 25.8 million. This growing adoption matters because, beyond any single partnership, it suggests a network effect that can become self-reinforcing over time. Expansion Strategy and Partnerships Drive Scale Management has laid out a clear roadmap. It projects full-year GMV of $48.3–$48.85 billion and revenue of $4.09–$4.15 billion. Hitting those targets would help convince investors that Affirm has transitioned from a fast-growing startup to a durable, expanding business. The company is also expanding its reach through partnerships with Shopify (NASDAQ: SHOP), Wayfair (NYSE: W), Intuit (NASDAQ: INTU), Expedia (NASDAQ: EXPE), Worldpay, Fiserv (NASDAQ: FISV), and others. Those deals move Affirm beyond discretionary retail and deeper into everyday commerce. A partnership with Stripe, for example, enables shared payment tokens to be used by Stripe-connected sellers. Analyst Sentiment and Stock Volatility Analysts are broadly bullish on the stock, rating it a Moderate Buy. Of 28 firms covering Affirm, 19 rate it a Buy and nine rate it a Hold. The 12-month price target range is $55 to $110, with an average target of $85 per share — nearly double the current market price. Still, the stock remains well below past highs. It is down more than one-third from where it traded about five years ago soon after its IPO and has fallen roughly 40% since the start of this year. Those kinds of swings can create opportunities — and risks. Credit Risks and Competitive Pressure Despite improving revenue and profits, investing in a company like Affirm carries meaningful risks. Credit markets remain jittery. Delinquency rates at Affirm have risen, and provisions for credit losses have increased. Affirm operates fundamentally as a lender, so if the economy softens and consumers struggle to repay, loan losses could rise and profits could decline. Unlike traditional banks with decades of credit-cycle experience, Affirm is still navigating a relatively young category. Competition is also stiff. PayPal (NASDAQ: PYPL), Klarna (NYSE: KLAR), Afterpay, and major banks are all pushing installment-payment products. Affirm's partnerships help defend its position, but they also create the risk of losing a major partner — as happened when Walmart (NASDAQ: WMT) shifted its primary BNPL relationship to Klarna last year. Those shifts can reduce volume and revenue quickly. One other point worth noting is that the company's CEO, Max Levchin has sold more than $110 million in company shares since September 2025. Nearly half of that came in January when the stock was above $80 per share. The significance is unclear — insider sales can reflect many motives — but investors considering a position should monitor insider activity. There are no records of recent significant insider purchases. Overall, Affirm belongs in the high-risk, high-reward portion of a diversified financial-services allocation. The growth story is intact, profitability is improving, and partnerships are building scale. It may appeal to investors focused on digital payments and consumer lending over the long term, or to traders chasing rallies. Either way, potential buyers should weigh the company-specific and macro risks before initiating a position in AFRM. |
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