[Click eStock] "US SoFi Technologies to Sustain Financial Services Growth Driven by AI and Blockchain"

On February 2, NH Investment & Securities evaluated the US fintech company SoFi Technologies, stating, "Based on its efforts to enhance brand awareness and its technological capabilities in artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain, the company is expected to see continued growth in its 'financial services revenue.'

On this day, Minseong Ko, a researcher at NH Investment & Securities, said, "The strategy to acquire new customers and expand services is ongoing," making this assessment.

SoFi Technologies is a peer-to-peer (P2P) online investment platform company aspiring to become the 'Amazon Web Services (AWS) of the financial industry.' The company started with student loan services and has grown into a comprehensive financial services provider, offering personal loans, mortgage loans, stock trading, debit cards, insurance, and investment advisory services. In particular, its 'membership strategy,' which differentiates SoFi Technologies, involves securing high future-value customers in advance through student loans and providing customized financial services tailored to their life stages.

In the fourth quarter of last year, the company recorded a net increase of 1.01 million members compared to the previous quarter, marking the largest growth ever. The total number of members rose to 13.65 million. Its marketing strategies across various fields such as sports and music are considered to have been highly effective. Researcher Ko noted, "Brand awareness, which was only around 2% in 2018, has risen to 9.6% this year," adding, "The company plans to continue investing with a mid- to long-term goal of reaching the mid-20% range."

In the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025, revenue reached $1.01 billion, up 37% year-on-year, while adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) was $320 million, up 60%, exceeding the market consensus. By business segment, financial services revenue was $460 million, up 78%; lending revenue was $490 million, up 15%; and the technology platform recorded $120 million, up 19%.

The drivers behind the stock price increase are cited as increased loan demand due to interest rate cuts, expansion of financial services products through regulatory easing, and improvements in net interest margin (NIM) and non-interest income. Researcher Ko stated, "The company plans to further expand its business this year by leveraging AI and blockchain technologies, including launching a stablecoin-based payment system and smart cards." He added, "Although the stock price declined due to negative investor sentiment following cryptocurrency price adjustments, it is expected to rebound as the company demonstrates successful business expansion going forward."