1/ Affirm Holdings, Inc. - $AFRM
Set to IPO on 01/13/2020, Affirm shares are expected to start trading anywhere from $41-$44, a jump from the previously anticipated $33-$38 range.
In this [THREAD
]:
- Overview
- Mgmt
- How It Works
- BNPL Industry
- Financials
Let's go
Set to IPO on 01/13/2020, Affirm shares are expected to start trading anywhere from $41-$44, a jump from the previously anticipated $33-$38 range.
In this [THREAD

- Overview
- Mgmt
- How It Works
- BNPL Industry
- Financials
Let's go

2/ Overview:
Affirm is a financial technology services company that offers installment loans to consumers at the point of sale.
Co. Vision: To be as ubiquitous, secure, and convenient as legacy networks, yet far more transparent, honest, and both consumer and merchant centric.
Affirm is a financial technology services company that offers installment loans to consumers at the point of sale.
Co. Vision: To be as ubiquitous, secure, and convenient as legacy networks, yet far more transparent, honest, and both consumer and merchant centric.
3/ Management:
Founded in 2012 by Jeffrey Kaditz, Max Levchin, and Nathan Gettings.
- Jeffery was previously CTO (now gone)
- Nathan was previously CRO (now gone); co-founder of Palantir $PLTR
Founded in 2012 by Jeffrey Kaditz, Max Levchin, and Nathan Gettings.
- Jeffery was previously CTO (now gone)
- Nathan was previously CRO (now gone); co-founder of Palantir $PLTR
4/ Management:
Max Levchin: Founder & Current CEO
- Co-founded Slide, HVF, and PayPal $PYPL (1998)
- Affirm was spun off of HVF in 2012
- Max brings an invaluable amount of knowledge as a software developer. More specifically within FinTech.
Max Levchin: Founder & Current CEO
- Co-founded Slide, HVF, and PayPal $PYPL (1998)
- Affirm was spun off of HVF in 2012
- Max brings an invaluable amount of knowledge as a software developer. More specifically within FinTech.
5/ How It Works:
Consumer Side:
1. Fill your cart
- +6,500 Merchants currently offering Affirm services
2. Choose how you pay
- Options usually include 3, 6, or 12-mo. repayment plans
- APR rates range from 0% - 30% based on credit check (does not affect credit score)
Consumer Side:
1. Fill your cart
- +6,500 Merchants currently offering Affirm services
2. Choose how you pay
- Options usually include 3, 6, or 12-mo. repayment plans
- APR rates range from 0% - 30% based on credit check (does not affect credit score)
6/ How It Works:
3. Make easy monthly payments
- Download Affirm App or sign in at http://affirm.com (email and text reminders)
- If Affirm is not offered at your merchant, can get a one-time-use virtual card for online or in-store purchase and pay back over time.
3. Make easy monthly payments
- Download Affirm App or sign in at http://affirm.com (email and text reminders)
- If Affirm is not offered at your merchant, can get a one-time-use virtual card for online or in-store purchase and pay back over time.
7/ How It Works:
Merchant Side:
- $AFRM is capable of integrating with 31 different e-commerce platforms or directly through their API.
- Receive deposit into your company bank within 1-3 days of the system initiating ACH payment.
Timeline pictured below
Merchant Side:
- $AFRM is capable of integrating with 31 different e-commerce platforms or directly through their API.
- Receive deposit into your company bank within 1-3 days of the system initiating ACH payment.
Timeline pictured below
8/ Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) Industry:
IBISWorld Predicts:
- BNPL will cont. to grow 9.8% annually over the next 5 yrs to $1.1B.
- BNPL will grow 9.1% in 2020-2021, bringing it to $741.5M, as online shopping revenue grows 6.4% this yr to $31.2B and credit card adoption decreases.
IBISWorld Predicts:
- BNPL will cont. to grow 9.8% annually over the next 5 yrs to $1.1B.
- BNPL will grow 9.1% in 2020-2021, bringing it to $741.5M, as online shopping revenue grows 6.4% this yr to $31.2B and credit card adoption decreases.
9/ BNPL:
BNPL industry isn't strictly e-commerce focused, but a majority of transactions occur there.
According to Statista, retail e-commerce sales worldwide will reach $6.5 trillion, with only 16% of total retail sales being e-commerce in 2020.
BNPL industry isn't strictly e-commerce focused, but a majority of transactions occur there.
According to Statista, retail e-commerce sales worldwide will reach $6.5 trillion, with only 16% of total retail sales being e-commerce in 2020.
10/ BNPL:
By the end of 2021, Statista predicts 73% of e-commerce sales will occur on a mobile device.
Affirm is poised to capitalize on the millennial transition into the working class.
- Less credit card adoption and more e-commerce sales
- Rated 4.9/5.0 on the app store
By the end of 2021, Statista predicts 73% of e-commerce sales will occur on a mobile device.
Affirm is poised to capitalize on the millennial transition into the working class.
- Less credit card adoption and more e-commerce sales
- Rated 4.9/5.0 on the app store
11/ BNPL:
According to a July 2020 Survey of ~1,900 respondents by The Motley Fool, the most popular BNPL services are pictured below.
According to a July 2020 Survey of ~1,900 respondents by The Motley Fool, the most popular BNPL services are pictured below.
12/ Revenue Model:
Merchants
- Merchant contracts
- Fees from converting a sale and powering a payment
- Larger fees on 0% APR transactions
- 0% APR trans. represented 43% of total GMV (YE 2020)
Consumers
- Interest income
- Earn % of interchange fee if the virtual card is used
Merchants
- Merchant contracts
- Fees from converting a sale and powering a payment
- Larger fees on 0% APR transactions
- 0% APR trans. represented 43% of total GMV (YE 2020)
Consumers
- Interest income
- Earn % of interchange fee if the virtual card is used
13/ Financials:
Y/Y Growth from 19-20:
- GMV: +77% (+626% since YE 2017)
- Active Customers: +77%
- Merchants: +84%
Info from S-1 pictured below.
Y/Y Growth from 19-20:
- GMV: +77% (+626% since YE 2017)
- Active Customers: +77%
- Merchants: +84%
Info from S-1 pictured below.
14/ Financials:
Please see pictures from S-1 regarding:
- Contribution Profit Walk
- Underwriting
- Merchant Retention Rate
Please see pictures from S-1 regarding:
- Contribution Profit Walk
- Underwriting
- Merchant Retention Rate
15/ Financials:
It is important to talk about the current customer concentration risk.
- Peloton $PTON represents ~28% of total rev for YE 2020
- Top 10 merchants represent ~35% of total rev for YE 2020
It is important to talk about the current customer concentration risk.
- Peloton $PTON represents ~28% of total rev for YE 2020
- Top 10 merchants represent ~35% of total rev for YE 2020
16/ Financials:
The fluctuations in general economic conditions could materially affect $AFRM future revenues.
In Sept. of 2020, Affirm entered into another 3-year contract with Peloton, ending Sept. 2023. This will automatically renew on an annual basis until terminated.
The fluctuations in general economic conditions could materially affect $AFRM future revenues.
In Sept. of 2020, Affirm entered into another 3-year contract with Peloton, ending Sept. 2023. This will automatically renew on an annual basis until terminated.
17/ Financials:
If the company vision of ubiquitous growth and full integration with merchants and consumers can be executed, future customer revenue concentration should be mitigated. For now, it is a risk.
If the company vision of ubiquitous growth and full integration with merchants and consumers can be executed, future customer revenue concentration should be mitigated. For now, it is a risk.
19/ Conclusion:
Although I won't be buying the IPO, I think the BNPL industry has many catalysts that could push further adoption among consumers. Affirm is also positioned well to disrupt the traditional credit card industry.
I will keep an eye on this company.
Cheers
Although I won't be buying the IPO, I think the BNPL industry has many catalysts that could push further adoption among consumers. Affirm is also positioned well to disrupt the traditional credit card industry.
I will keep an eye on this company.
Cheers
CORRECTION: IPO is 01/13/2021, not 2020
Mistake
Mistake