Sezzle’s third quarter results surpassed Wall Street expectations, led by 67% year-on-year revenue growth and a GAAP profit that exceeded analyst forecasts. Management attributed this performance to increased consumer engagement and the expansion of subscription-based offerings, while also highlighting the impact of new features like the Earn tab. CEO Charles Youakim noted, “We just posted revenue growth of 67% year-on-year in Q3. Our net income margin for the quarter was over 22%.” Despite rapid top-line growth, management acknowledged that expanding underwriting criteria and elevated marketing spend contributed to lower operating margins.

Is now the time to buy SEZL? Find out in our full research report (it’s free for active Edge members).

While we enjoy listening to the management's commentary, our favorite part of earnings calls are the analyst questions. Those are unscripted and can often highlight topics that management teams would rather avoid or topics where the answer is complicated. Here is what has caught our attention.

Our Top 5 Analyst Questions From Sezzle’s Q3 Earnings Call

• Mike Grondahl (Northland): Asked about the impact of deemphasizing on-demand on growth. CEO Charles Youakim explained that while GMV growth may slow, revenue and income should improve due to higher-value subscription users.
• Mike Grondahl (Northland): Inquired about take rate trends and credit losses. Youakim clarified that take rates align with gross margin targets, and credit losses are within guided ranges, with new customers typically carrying higher risk.
• Harold Goetsch (B. Riley Securities): Questioned the long-term outlook for buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) in the U.S. Youakim emphasized strong consumer preference for BNPL over credit cards due to budgeting benefits and user safety.
• Rayna Kumar (Oppenheimer): Sought details on drivers behind 2026 EPS guidance. Youakim pointed to continued subscription and MODS growth, cost discipline, and stable credit provisioning as underlying factors.
• Hoang Nguyen (TD Cowen): Asked about the difference in marketing approach for subscriptions post-on-demand. Youakim said marketing now directly funnels users to subscriptions, reflecting a deliberate pivot to maximize customer lifetime value.

Catalysts in Upcoming Quarters

In the coming quarters, the StockStory team will be watching (1) the pace of subscriber additions and retention following the marketing shift back to subscriptions, (2) tangible efficiency gains and new product rollouts from Sezzle’s AI initiatives, and (3) the company’s ability to maintain disciplined underwriting as it expands credit access. Management’s execution on these fronts, alongside progress in its banking charter exploration, will be critical indicators of sustainable growth.

Sezzle currently trades at $56.53, down from $66.28 just before the earnings. At this price, is it a buy or sell? The answer lies in our full research report (it’s free for active Edge members).

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