TD Cowen sees fintech sector rally as tariff worries ease

Published 19/05/2025, 15:20
TD Cowen sees fintech sector rally as tariff worries ease

On Monday, TD Cowen analysts provided insights into the first quarter earnings of the fintech and payments sector, highlighting a rally across the board as tariff concerns begin to soften. The analysis followed a tumultuous earnings season for certain companies within the sector, which was marked by volatility due to tariff-related concerns and investor sentiment that remains tentative.

According to the analysts, despite a general message of consumer stability, companies that reported any significant deceleration in volume or growth during the first quarter of 2025 were penalized by the market. This was particularly evident for firms like FI, XYZ, and PRTH. However, firms that delivered relatively stable earnings reports saw modest gains, including Visa (NYSE:V), MasterCard (NYSE:MA), Adyen (AS:ADYEN), and PayPal (NASDAQ:PYPL). Mastercard has shown particularly strong performance, with its stock trading near its 52-week high of $584.94 and delivering an impressive 27.47% return over the past year. The company maintains robust revenue growth of 13.12% and commands a substantial market capitalization of $530.72 billion.Want deeper insights into Mastercard’s performance? InvestingPro offers extensive analysis with 13+ additional ProTips and a comprehensive Pro Research Report, helping investors make informed decisions.

A major transaction that occurred during the first quarter, involving FIS and Global Payments (NYSE:GPN), was noted as a standout event. This news, coupled with easing tariff concerns, has led to a sector-wide rally, with XYZ leading the charge. The analysts believe that the likelihood of additional positive news concerning tariff negotiations could provide further support for consumer behavior, which has been shaky following consecutive weak confidence reports.

The TD Cowen report also pointed out that near-term macroeconomic indicators such as consumer spending, inflation, and job figures will be critical in assessing the confidence in fiscal year 2025 guidance. Companies have been divided into two categories: those that have incorporated continued consumer stability into their full-year guidance, likely facing greater pressure in the second half of the year, and those that have accounted for potential softening, potentially offering more leeway to outperform expectations.

Overall, the TD Cowen analysis suggests that the fintech and payments sector is on a path to recovery, buoyed by improving sentiment around trade negotiations and macroeconomic data points that will shape investor confidence moving forward. For Mastercard specifically, analysts maintain a bullish outlook with a consensus recommendation of 1.8, while InvestingPro’s Financial Health Score rates the company as "GREAT" with a score of 3.14 out of 5, suggesting strong fundamental positioning in the sector.Discover comprehensive analysis of 1,400+ stocks like Mastercard through InvestingPro’s detailed research reports, featuring expert insights and actionable intelligence for smarter investing decisions.

In other recent news, Mastercard reported strong first-quarter 2025 earnings, surpassing Wall Street’s expectations. The company achieved an earnings per share of $3.73, exceeding the forecast of $3.57, and reported revenues of $7.3 billion, which was higher than the anticipated $7.13 billion. Mastercard’s net revenues increased by 17% year-over-year, driven by a 15% rise in cross-border volumes, highlighting a recovery in international travel. Meanwhile, Jefferies analyst Surinder Thind revised Mastercard’s stock price target from $660 to $630, maintaining a Buy rating. Thind cited a slowdown in cross-border travel as a factor affecting transaction volumes, though consumer spending remains strong. The analyst noted that Mastercard’s organic foreign exchange-neutral growth continues to outpace Visa’s by a five percentage point spread. Despite a positive first quarter, Mastercard anticipates a slight deceleration in growth for the second half of the year. The company expects full-year organic growth of 10%, adjusted from a previous estimate of 11.5%.

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