The global market defeat on Thursday, triggered by President Donald Trump’s widespread tariff announcement, had a major impact on fintech companies and credit card issuers who are closely tied to consumer spending and credit.
positiveOffer now, pay buy options later, plummet 19%, stock trading app Robin Hood 10% slide and paying company PayPal It fell by 8%. American Express and Capital 1 Each fell 10% Discover It has decreased by more than 8%.
President Trump on Wednesday stipulated US “mutual tariffs” and assessed that more than 180 countries and territory, including members of the European Union, will face under his radical new trade policy. Trump said his plan would set a full 10% baseline tariff, but that number was much higher in some countries.
The announcement rewinds stocks and wipes out nearly $2 trillion in value. S&P 500and on the worst day since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, it fell the tech-heavy Nasdaq by 6%.
The sale was particularly notable in the most companies in the global supply chain, including consumer spending and payment providers and lenders. Fintech companies relying on transaction volume or installment-based lending can have poor revenue and credit performance.
“When you go down the spectrum, it’s when you have more periodic risks and you’re exposed to tariffs,” Sanjay Sakhrani, Keefe analyst at Bruyette & Woods, citing Paypal, asserting it as a risky business. He said large companies in this sector are “more defensive and in a better position.”
visa, Mastercard And Fiserv held up better on Thursday.
Mizuho analyst Dan Dolev fiserv Not exposed to customs volatility.
“It’s considered a safe haven,” he said.
Positive executives have previously said that rising prices could potentially increase demand for the product. Chief Financial Officer Rob O’Hare says higher prices could push more consumers to buy now and pay for later services.
“If tariffs make consumer prices higher, we’re there to help,” O’Hare told StockTwits Fireside chat last month. Affirm CEO Max Levchin offers a similar comment.
However, SIG analyst James Friedman told CNBC that delinquency is a concern. He compared the assertion to private label store cards, pointing to historical trends in credit performance during recession, saying that “private label delinquency fees are almost doubled” when compared to traditional credit cards.
“You have to see who is being overexposed at discretion,” he said.
Affirm did not provide comment, but pointed out recent comments from executives.
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