Despite the fintech industry being dominated by established giants like PayPal (PYPL), Block (XYZ), Visa (V), and Mastercard (MA), Affirm Holdings (AFRM) is quietly but steadily carving out its own path in the "buy now, pay later" (BNPL) space.
Affirm is a fintech company that focuses on BNPL services. Instead of using traditional credit cards, Affirm allows customers to break down purchases into smaller installments, sometimes with no interest and sometimes with clear, fixed interest rates, depending on the product and merchant. A strong end to fiscal 2025 sent its stock soaring 10% on Friday. So far this year, Affirm stock has risen 36%, outperforming the broader market.
