Block Stock (NYSE:SQ)
Investors in Block, Inc. (NYSE:SQ) have had a lot to be happy about since October 2022. Since the market bottomed out in October, Block has outperformed the S&P 500 by a wide margin. As a result, Block stock has increased by about 60% since its October lows.
Despite the dread and gloom surrounding high-growth FinTech businesses like Block, it was a good decision to disregard the panic in October and December.
Notably, Block has reclaimed the November highs and now seems to be edging closer to its August highs. It’s appropriate to inform investors about whether buying is appropriate if they missed those pessimistic lows, which gave an exceptional reward/risk ratio.
More Competition in the FinTech Space This Year
Despite last year’s washout, the FinTech market will likely become more competitive in 2023. For instance, Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC), Bank of America (NYSE:BAC), and JPMorgan (NYSE:JPM) are “working on a digital wallet for online shopping. The wallet will be linked to clients’ debit and credit cards,” according to a statement from the key banking institutions backing Zelle.
Given their lucrative business models, the banks are taking advantage of the FinTech downturn in 2022 to expand their market share and direct their efforts to disrupt the disruptors to alter consumer spending habits. As a result, WSJ emphasized that: “The goal of the service is to compete with third-party wallet operators like PayPal and Apple Pay. Banks are concerned about losing control of customer relationships and want to reduce fraud by eliminating the need for customers to enter card numbers.”
As a result, Block must keep achieving operating leverage improvements while concentrating on expanding its customer and merchant accounts.
However, given its less wealthy ecosystem and the expected slowdown in consumer spending, Block may be more negatively affected than its competitors and the top banks. As a result, when Block releases its Q4 earnings on February 23, investors must pay special attention to its MAU increases and outlook.
Why? Given the spectacular recovery from its October lows, intelligent market participants may be able to profit from opportunities to sell and/or reduce their position if they expect Block to see more substantial consumer and disproportionate macroeconomic headwinds.
If so, does it make sense? It does, indeed.
In FY23, Block is anticipated to produce adjusted EBITDA of $1.29B, an increase of more than 40% YoY. Therefore, even if consumer spending may worsen, Street analysts anticipate Block to keep increasing its operating leverage significantly.
The tech sector is no longer the only one seeing layoffs, but the employment market is still robust. Given Block’s optimistic profitability growth projections, investors should recognize the possibility of future worsening challenges to consumer spending.
Block’s Valuation Is Less Attractive
As a result of the rapid recovery, Block last traded at an NTM EBITDA multiple of 42.5x, significantly higher than the peer median of 10.9x, and PayPal (NASDAQ:PYPL) stock’s 12.7x.
As a result, the reward/risk is far less alluring than it was at its lowest point the previous year, indicating that optimism about its recovery is likely represented.
Furthermore, the price movement of Block indicates that a retracement in the recent spike is overdue.
The price movement of Block supports our hypothesis that its lows were most likely formed in October. It’s a positive development that undoubtedly enticed breakout traders and investors to add exposure that the stock has broken above its November highs.
We determined that Block’s August highs, in line with its less desirable valuation, could still impede the stock’s upward comeback.
As a result, we advise investors to exercise caution when making aggressive additions, as Block stock price movement and valuation signal that caution is necessary at the moment.
Instead of following the upward surge immediately, it could be best to wait for a more profound retreat that signals positive consolidation above its late December lows.
Featured Image: Freepik @ Nostagrams
