Analysts have questioned the performance of Afterpay after it missed Wall Street’s growth forecasts within Jack Dorsey’s sprawling fintech Block, more than a year after it was acquired in a scrip deal worth $39 billion.
On average, Wall Street analysts expected Afterpay’s gross profit – as a measure of revenue from merchants less transaction costs – to reach $US188 million, with the $US150 million reported a 20.2 per cent miss relative to consensus. Afterpay said interest costs to consumers vary across payment plans and suggested a typical 12-month, $US1000 loan may see a consumer pay back $US117.40 on an annual percentage rate of 21 per cent.
Citi said the stock advanced as brokers moved to lift adjusted EBITDA forecasts for 2023, after Block’s management said it would significantly slow hiring and overall expense growth in 2023.