What's Driving Block Inc's Surprising 23% Stock Rally?

Block Inc (SQ, Financial) has recently experienced a notable surge in its stock price, with a 14.51% gain over the past week and an impressive 23.45% gain over the past three months. As of the latest data, the company's market capitalization stands at $53.62 billion, with a stock price of $87.09. This performance has brought the company's valuation in line with the GF Value of $85.96, indicating that the stock is currently fairly valued. This is a shift from three months ago when the stock was considered modestly undervalued with a past GF Value of $84.46. The GF Value, defined by GuruFocus.com, calculates a stock's intrinsic value using historical multiples, past performance adjustments, and future business estimates.

Introduction to Block Inc

Block Inc, operating in the competitive software industry, is a leading payment services provider known for its significant payment volume. The company, which also owns the popular Cash App, has been a key player in the financial technology sector since its inception in 2009. In 2022, Square's payment volume exceeded $200 million, showcasing the company's substantial presence in the market. 1767932719028924416.png

Assessing Block Inc's Profitability

Block Inc's Profitability Rank stands at 6/10, reflecting a solid position within its industry. The company's operating margin is 1.74%, which is better than 46.82% of its industry peers. Additionally, Block Inc's return on equity (ROE) is 0.05%, surpassing 43.28% of competitors, while its return on assets (ROA) at 0.03% is better than 47.1% of industry peers. The return on invested capital (ROIC) is 1.61%, which is also higher than 49.58% of the companies in the same space. Over the past decade, Block Inc has achieved profitability in four years, outperforming 36.42% of its peers. 1767932737047654400.png

Growth Trajectory of Block Inc

Block Inc's Growth Rank is an impressive 10/10, indicating exceptional growth prospects. The company's 3-year revenue growth rate per share is 21.90%, which is better than 76.77% of industry peers. Over a 5-year period, the revenue growth rate per share has been an astounding 38.00%, surpassing 94.18% of competitors. Looking ahead, the estimated total revenue growth rate for the next 3 to 5 years is 12.28%, which is more favorable than 57.94% of industry peers. The 3-year EPS without NRI growth rate stands at 28.90%, and the 5-year rate is 25.00%, both of which are better than the majority of competitors. The estimated EPS growth rate for the next 3 to 5 years is 13.00%, which is higher than 37.29% of the industry. 1767932755037024256.png

Influential Holders of Block Inc

Block Inc's stock performance is also influenced by its major holders. Frank Sands (Trades, Portfolio) is the top holder with 13,748,994 shares, representing a 2.24% share percentage. Following closely is Catherine Wood (Trades, Portfolio), holding 11,887,628 shares, which accounts for 1.94% of the company's shares. Steve Mandel (Trades, Portfolio) holds a significant stake as well, with 6,606,269 shares, making up 1.08% of the shares.

Competitive Landscape

When compared to its competitors, Block Inc holds a strong market position. MongoDB Inc (MDB, Financial) has a market capitalization of $27 billion, Zscaler Inc (ZS, Financial) is valued at $30.31 billion, and Splunk Inc (SPLK, Financial) stands at $26.39 billion. Block Inc's larger market cap suggests a more dominant market presence relative to these competitors within the software industry.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Block Inc's recent stock performance reflects a positive market sentiment, aligning with its fair valuation and strong growth prospects. The company's profitability metrics, although modest, are competitive within the industry. The significant growth rates in revenue and EPS, coupled with the influence of major holders, contribute to the robust outlook for the stock. Compared to its competitors, Block Inc maintains a leading position, which may continue to drive its market performance moving forward.

This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein.

Disclosures

I/We may personally own shares in some of the companies mentioned above. However, those positions are not material to either the company or to my/our portfolios.