Upstart Holdings ($UPST (-8,86%) ) is a company that uses artificial intelligence to revolutionize lending. After a rapid rise during the low-interest phase, the share price plummeted as interest rates rose. But with a possible interest rate cut in 2025, the tide could turn again. Is Upstart ready for a comeback? 🚀

Overview: What does Upstart do?

Upstart is an AI-powered FinTech company that evaluates loans differently than traditional banks:

✅ AI-supported lending: Instead of relying solely on credit scores, Upstart uses artificial intelligence and over 1,600 variables to better assess credit risks.

✅ Partnership with banks: Upstart does not grant loans itself, but brokers them to banks and credit institutions. As a result, the company does not bear any default risk of its own.

✅ Automated processes: Over 80 % of loans are approved fully automatically, saving banks time and money.

The business model is based on the fact that banks can grant more loans with Upstart technology without increasing the risk.

Competition: Who are the competitors?

🔸 SoFi Technologies ($SOFI (-4,68%)
SOFI) - Also a growing FinTech with a strong focus on loans and banking.

🔸 LendingClub ($LC (-2,88%)
) - Similar model, but with a stronger focus on peer-to-peer lending.

🔸 Affirm ($AFRM (-7,35%)
) - Competition in the "Buy Now, Pay Later" sector, offering real-time lending.

🔸 Traditional banks - Large banks such as JPMorgan or Wells Fargo offer their own lending solutions and could put Upstart under pressure in the long term.

Opportunities: Why could Upstart take off again?

✅ Possible interest rate environment in 2025: Upstart has suffered greatly from high interest rates. If the US Federal Reserve lowers interest rates in 2025, demand for credit could rise again.

✅ AI advantage: Upstart's technology could help banks make more accurate lending decisions - especially in an environment where traditional credit ratings are often too rigid.

✅ Expansion into new lending areas: Upstart is expanding its model beyond traditional consumer loans to include car loans and mortgages. This could open up new growth opportunities.

✅ Partnerships with banks: Upstart already works with over 100 banks The more institutions use the platform, the larger the network becomes.

✅ Automation and efficiency: The company has cut costs significantly in recent quarters, which could improve profitability in the long term.

Risks: What could continue to weigh on Upstart?

⚠️ Interest rate risk: If interest rates remain high or continue to rise, demand for credit could remain weak.

⚠️ Regulatory risks: AI-supported lending is under scrutiny - new regulations could affect the business model.

⚠️ Confidence problem at banks: After recent weak quarters, some banks are reluctant to use Upstart loans. The company needs to prove its model again.

⚠️ Competitive pressure: Large banks and other FinTechs could develop their own AI models and take market share away from Upstart.

⚠️ High volatility: The share has shown strong fluctuations in the past. Investors must expect high volatility.

Conclusion: Turnaround or AI FinTech in crisis?

Upstart is an exciting company with an innovative idea that could revolutionize traditional lending. But after the massive fall in its share price, the company first has to prove itself again. If interest rates fall and banks start lending more again, Upstart could be one of the biggest winners.

What do you think? Is Upstart ready for a comeback or is it still a risky bet? 🚀

When you really immerse yourself in the market matrix, you need a bit of spice - and I've put together a five-pack for that:$GOOGL, (-2,28%)
$TSLA (-4,32%), $TIGR (+0,95%), $SOFI (-4,68%) and $ETSY (-0,39%) .

GOOG not only rocks the search engine world, but also presents itself as an AI monster that always provides us with the next innovation kick - even if you sometimes think when Googling that they are deliberately driving us crazy, only to come up with ingenious innovations around the corner.

TSLA? Ah, the wild ride with Elon at the helm. The share is making more headlines than many a meme stock - you can't help but shake your head while applauding at the same time.

TIGR is the tiger in the portfolio, boldly plunging into risk - drama in its purest form, so to speak. Whether it is the joker that delivers the thrills or simply the one that always provides surprises remains to be seen.

SOFI brings the FinTech rebel into the fold, who is shaking up the long-established banking world. While the conservative cracks frown skeptically, SOFI shows that courage and innovation are sometimes the best cards.

And ETSY? The charming marketplace for creatives - a quiet up-and-comer that proves that handmade products also have their place in a high-tech world.

Ironically, this five-piece is like a financial cabaret where everyone plays their own game and together they create a dazzling kaleidoscope of possibilities. Not investment advice - just an exaggerated look at the opportunities that might help me get started next week.

What do you think: do we gamble with the big jokers or do you prefer to remain a spectator?

#GOOG
#TSLA
#TIGR
#SOFI
#ETSY
#FinanzKabarett
#BörsenDrama
#InvestingMitWitz
#AufLock

Hello,

I currently have 5000€ that I would like to invest in individual stocks. I am following a core satellite strategy and as I am still young and in training, I am a bit more risk-averse (hence the relatively small core of 50%).

I would like to invest in stable growth stocks on the one hand, but also take a little more risk on the other.

My current plan would look something like this:

500€ $NU (-11,11%) (came across Nu through the community)

700€ $NOVO B (+5,32%) (upgrade to 1000€)

1000€ $GOOGL (-2,28%) (stable outperformance of the market)

1000€ $ASML (-0,72%) (monopoly position and good future prospects)

1000€ $CRWD (-6,19%) /$PLTR (-3,33%) / $SNOW (-3,37%) (some of the stocks have done very well, so I'm a little unsure exactly which ones and whether I'm still waiting for a correction in the respective stock. But I find cybersecurity, cloud and big data very interesting with a lot of future potential)

I am also watching, for example: $SOFI (-4,68%) , $SHOP (-5,86%) , $MELI (-4,31%) , $ENR (-4,27%) .

If you have any suggestions for improvement or ideas as to which companies could benefit my strategy, I am open to them. Perhaps also expand other existing positions

Thank you very much#

$SOFI (-4,68%)
$WH (-3,72%)

Galileo secures a major partnership with Wyndham Hotels, which has 114 million members worldwide! This is a great success for $SOFI (-4,68%) & Galileo, extending its reach in the hospitality industry.

Wyndham is the second largest hotel chain in the world (after Jin Jiang) and the largest in North America in terms of number of hotels (although their revenue is lower than other chains).

Geoffrey A. Ballotti

CEO, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts:

$HLT (-2,82%)
$MAR (-1,49%)
$H (-3,29%)
$WH (-3,72%)

First entry...

The year 2025 is off to a very good start for many financial stocks ($JPM (-0,57%)
$SOFI (-4,68%)
$NU (-11,11%)
$V (-0,16%)
$MA (-0,3%)
$C (-1,37%)
$GS (-2,21%) )

but not much is happening at Blackrock so far

since I find the sector very exciting and the stock did well last year, I will take the opportunity and further expand my position

(buy and hold forever if possible)