We recently compiled a list of Top 10 Fintech Stocks to Buy NowIn this article, we will look at how Nu Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NU) stands relative to other fintech stocks. If you are interested, you can also read our article on the The 12 Best Financial and Fintech ETFs to Buy.
Fintech services have become an integral part of our lives in recent years, transforming the financial sector in a big way. Consumers no longer need to queue up at banks to get their statements, make money transfers or carry heavy wallets to pay for groceries in cash only. Mobile banking, credit cards and digital wallets have revolutionized the way people manage their finances.
Global FinTech Sector
According to a report released last May by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), the fintech sector is expected to grow more than six times to reach a size of $1.5 trillion by 2030, from its current level of $245 billion. The sector’s share of the financial services sector is also expected to increase from 2% to 7% during this period, with Asia-Pacific set to overtake the US to become the world’s largest fintech market.
The fintech sector in Asia Pacific is expected to grow by 27% by then, with China, India and Indonesia being the main drivers of this growth due to their large numbers of unbanked people and the large number of small businesses present in these countries. However, North America, and in particular the United States, will continue to be a key market and lead innovation in the sector. The market is also expected to see significant growth in emerging economies in Latin America and Africa.
That said, even though the market is expected to grow in the coming years, 2023 has been a tough year compared to the boom of previous years. According to KPMG, this is the slowest year for the global fintech sector since 2017, with around $114 billion Investors are becoming increasingly cautious about spending, financial experts say, due to high inflation and ongoing military conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
The decline in fintech investment was seen across multiple regions, with Asia Pacific seeing the largest decline, from $51 billion in 2022 to just under $11 billion in 2023. Investment also halved in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, from $49.6 billion to $24.5 billion. In the Americas, investment slowed by 22% over the period. For 2024, US rating agency Fitch Ratings sees mixed results for fintech companies in North America and Europe, with revenue growth expected but EBITDA margins likely to remain weak.
The Rise of Generation AI in Fintech
Generative AI, or Gen AI, has taken much of the global financial services industry by storm. According to McKinsey, the technology is expected to add $200 billion to $340 billion to the market in the coming years. Fintech companies are actively following the trend and ensuring they adapt to the capabilities and risks of Gen AI. Between 2022 and 2023, the share of fintech companies that have enhanced their AI capabilities increased from 30% to 70%. On the other hand, about 90% of fintech companies surveyed by McKinsey in March this year reported having implemented centralized Gen AI functions. According to experts, the use of this technology is poised to make fintech companies more agile and efficient in the coming years.
Methodology
Insider Monkey’s database of 920 hedge funds was rated for Q1 2024. We chose the 10 best fintech stocks to buy now based on hedge fund sentiment toward each stock. Stocks are ranked in ascending order of hedge fund holders in each company.
Why do we care about the stocks that hedge funds are heavily invested in? The reason is simple: Our research has shown that we can outperform the market by mimicking the best stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter strategy selects 14 small- and large-cap stocks each quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, outperforming its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).
Wide angle shot of a team of bankers and financial advisors evaluating an investment portfolio on a touch screen.
Nu Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NU)
Number of hedge fund holders: 63
In the first quarter of 2024, 63 hedge funds were bullish on Nu Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NU), up from 50 in the third quarter and 54 in the fourth quarter of 2023. The Brazil-based digital banking company provides financial services in several countries, including Brazil, Mexico and Colombia.
Nu Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NU) is among the most promising stocks to buy right now across various sectors, with its share price up 40% over the past year and now three times its value in January 2023. According to NASDAQ, one of the main reasons for this growth is that the company has consistently increased its net income in each of the last five quarters.
Baron FinTech Fund said the following regarding Nu Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NU) in its Q1 2024 Investor Letter:
Nu Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NU) is a digital bank with operations in Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia. Shares rose in the quarter after the company reported strong balance sheet growth and improving margins. New product launches and expansion into new countries are providing favorable results. Nu also benefited from its inclusion in the MSCI Brazil Index, which prompted passive funds to buy. We continue to own the stock as Nu is disrupting the financial services industry in Latin America with its digital distribution and focus on user experience. The company has grown to serve more than 90 million customers in less than 10 years, largely through word-of-mouth. We believe the company’s superior product offering will drive continued share gains in large and growing markets.
Overall NU ranks 8th on our list of the best fintech stocks to buy. You can visit Top 10 Fintech Stocks to Buy Now to see other fintech stocks that are on hedge funds’ radar. While we recognize NU’s potential as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks have more promise to deliver higher returns, and in a shorter time frame. If you’re looking for an AI stock that has more promise than NU but is trading at less than 5x earnings, check out our report on the the cheapest AI stock.
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Disclosure: None. This article was originally published on Insider Monkey.