The financial technology, or fintech, industry was one of the hardest hit parts of the stock market in the post-pandemic bear market, but there are still some excellent opportunities. PayPal ( PYPL -1.45% ) is one great example with a stock price that is still about 70% below its 2021 peak and excellent turnaround progress in 2024, while SoFi ( SOFI -3.74% ) is an app-based bank with tremendous momentum. However, these are two very different businesses. Here's a rundown of the bull cases for both stocks and what to keep in mind before you decide which is best for you. PayPal wiped the slate clean and is now moving forward After growth stagnated in the post-pandemic era and management didn't have a clear path to restoring the once-strong momentum, PayPal decided to make some big leadership changes. Not only was former Intuit (NASDAQ: INTU) executive Alex Chriss named CEO, but the entire executive leadership team was replaced. The focus of the team was initially on efficiency. In the most recent quarter, PayPal's revenue grew by just 6% year over year, but thanks to efficiency improvements, earnings per share (EPS) soared by 22%. Management continues to buy back stock hand over fist, and the company is doing a great job with engagement, as evidenced by a 9% increase in transactions per active account. However, many of the most exciting moves PayPal has made aren't reflected in the numbers yet. For example, the company announced it is creating an advertising platform and hired the former head of Uber 's (NYSE: UBER) ad business to run it. It rolled out its Fastlane checkout product recently, as well as its PayPal Everywhere cash-back, debit-card initiative. And PayPal has announced several key partnerships, most notably with Shopify (NYSE: SHOP) to offer PayPal as a checkout option to U.S. customers. In short, PayPal's efficiency efforts have been paying off. In 2025, its growth initiatives started to show results. SoFi is one of the best products of the SPAC boom Hundreds of companies went public through blank-check companies, or SPACs (special purpose acquisition companies) in the 2020 to 2021 time frame, and to be honest, the bulk of them didn't turn out well for investors. SoFi -- which used one of Chamath Palihapitiya's SPACs to go public -- is a notable exception. I don't say that just because it's one of the few with a share price above the $10 initial SPAC valuation. I say that SoFi is one of the best products of the SPAC era because not only has it sustained incredible growth momentum, but it has become profitable in the process. Over the past three years, SoFi's member base has more than tripled, with 35% year-over-year growth in the most recent quarter. About 8.5 million financial services products like bank accounts, investment accounts, and credit cards have been opened in that period. And SoFi's deposit base grew from zero when it first got its banking charter in early 2022 to $24.4 billion in customer deposits. As mentioned, SoFi has become consistently profitable, and its bottom-line income could soar in the next few years as the business continues to scale. Two great fintech opportunities To be perfectly clear, I don't think anyone will go wrong with either of these stocks. In fact, they are the two largest fintech investments I own in my portfolio (in full disclosure, SoFi is the bigger position). PayPal shines when it comes to profitability, but there's a lot that needs to go right for sustainable growth to return to the business. On the other hand, SoFi is growing at an impressive pace and has been growing rapidly for years but just recently became profitable and is still in full growth mode. The best choice for you depends on which of those profiles fits best with your investment style.
Knight stops 20 shots, Florida rolls past Carolina 6-0 for 2nd win over 'Canes in as many daysTWO of I’m A Celebrity contestant Coleen Rooney’s four sons have landed in Australia — and have been missing their mum terribly, according to their gran. Coleen’s mum Colette McLoughlin , 62, said one of the lads had been really down in the dumps without their mother around — but did not say which one. 4 I'm A Celeb star Coleen Rooney’s sons have landed in Australia Credit: Rex 4 Coleen’s mum Colette McLoughlin, who is also in Oz, said one of the lads had been really down in the dumps without their mother around Credit: Tim Merry/Staff Photographer She said: “One of them’s been really quiet and subdued. “They’ve been really good, to tell you the truth. I think it’s because they’ve been able to see her. "If they hadn’t been able to see her, it would’ve been different. Not much longer now.” Colette arrived at Brisbane Airport with eight-year-old Kit and Cass, six. READ MORE ON COLEEN ROONEY COLL-ED OUT I’m a Celeb fans 'work out reason’ Dean didn’t quit grim trial with Coleen They are expected to be part of an emotional special episode when campmates will be reunited with friends and family. Coleen, 38, and footie manager hubby Wayne, 39, are also parents to Kai, 15, and 11-year-old Klay. Meanwhile, Colette has praised her daughter’s sleuthing skills. Coleen earned the nickname Wagatha Christie after a 2019 social media post accusing her rival and Sun jungle columnist Rebekah Vardy of leaking stories to the press. Most read in I’m A Celebrity 2024 letting loose Ruth Langsford flies to I'm A Celebrity in Australia as bosses sign her up MISSING? Moment Barry McGuigan 'goes missing' after TEN days in the I'm A Celebrity jungle clap back I'm A Celebrity star Dean McCullough's mum slams Ant for being 'too hard' on him jungle jinks I'm A Celeb star claims bosses edit show to make campmates look bad And she has continued to put her detective skills to good use in the jungle by rumbling the Jungle Junkyard lies being peddled by Maura Higgins and Rev Richard Coles . They had been living in luxury in a separate camp — but pretending to the other contestants that they were slumming it. Coleen figured out the deception after believing Maura and Rev Richard looked too content. Coleen Rooney opens up about forgiving Wayne for cheating ahead of I’m a Celebrity stint Colette said: “I’m not surprised at all. She’d figure anything out, yeah.” She also said she had been following Coleen’s rules on how to look after the boys while she is away. Before leaving for Australia, Coleen left two whiteboards filled with instructions. They resembled the football tactics-style boards that Wayne would use as boss of Plymouth Argyle. Colette said she would have got into trouble with Coleen for not following the strict rules her daughter had laid out. Read more on the Scottish Sun LOOKING UP I'm a four-time world champ but my eyesight is going so I've made crucial change ISLE SAY Stunning home with panoramic views for sale for just £135k - but there's a catch She said: “Oh, the whiteboard. I followed the whiteboard, all right. “I’m glad to see the back of the whiteboard!” 4 Wayne and Coleen Rooney with their four sons Credit: Instagram 4 The parents with Klay, Kai, Kit and Cass Credit: Refer to caption
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Chargers place Eli Apple on injured reserveSantinni, based in Shildon, announced on their social media on Tuesday, that they would provide a free bowl of hot soup and warm bread to those aged 65 and over from December 1 until January 2025. The Italian restaurant will serve the complimentary meal from Monday to Friday between 12pm and 5pm. In the Facebook post, the restaurant said: "We understand at this time of year with the cold weather some people do struggle and don't always get a hot meal. "So here at Santinni, it's time to give something back." Kerry Varan, director of the restaurant, said that the idea came about when an older man was spotted eating alone in the restaurant recently. Most read Get the most out of your local news with The Northern Echo Subscribe now and enjoy access for the whole of 2025 for only £25 or enjoy your first six months for £6. Don’t miss out on our biggest sale of the year. "A customer then came and said they would like to pay for his meal as they felt for him sitting alone," Kerry said. "Which then got me thinking about how we could just do a little bit to help out the elderly with a hot meal at least once per day if needed." Santinni plans to advertise the offer on Facebook and around the local area, as they recognise not everyone in the older generation uses social media. Kerry said: "It's not a lot but at least it's something, we feel like we need to give something back." The restaurant received widespread praise on social media for its kind gesture, with one commenter stating, "What a lovely gesture." Another wrote: "I don't live near the place but what an amazing thing to do, you are good people and I will tell my parents and other people about it." The restaurant also plans to work with the Angel Trust charity to provide meals for the homeless over the cold winter months, which is expected to be fully announced in the coming weeks.Limited again, 49ers QB Brock Purdy still fighting sore shoulder
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Commonwealth Games row latest: Ex-UK sports minister says tying Ulster Banner flag to racism is 'insulting'SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Even when Penn State quarterback gets some praise, it's usually a backhanded compliment. They say he's a good game manager and stays within himself, or that he doesn't try to do too much. They mention he might not be flashy, but he gives the team a chance to win. And here's the thing about Penn State since Allar stepped under center: The Nittany Lions have won games. A lot of them. Sometimes that's hard to remember considering the lukewarm reception he often gets from fans. “I get it — we have a really passionate fan base and they're a huge part of our success,” Allar said Sunday at media day. “For us, we always want to go out there every drive and end with a touchdown, so when we don't do that, there's nobody more frustrated than us.” The polarizing Allar is having a solid season by just about any standard, completing more than 68% of his passes for 3,021 yards, 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions while leading the sixth-seeded Nittany Lions to a 12-2 record and a spot in the Fiesta Bowl for Tuesday's game against No. 3 seed Boise State. But in a college football world filled with high-scoring, explosive offenses, Allar's no-frills performances often are the object of ire. , led by the talented combo of Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen. “If we had a nickel for every time there was a Monday morning quarterback saying some BS stuff, we'd all be pretty rich,” offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki said. “I think part of being a quarterback, especially at Penn State but really anywhere, is how you respond to and manage criticism.” The 20-year-old Allar has made strides in that department after a trying 2023 season that finished with a 10-3 record. He says that's largely because once fall camp started back in August, he logged off the social media platform X. Allar said negative online experiences wore on him last year, and his phone number was leaked a few times, which added to the stress. He finally realized that controlling outside narratives was impossible, so the best course of action was to eliminate a needless distraction. “I’ve been more mentally free, as much as that sounds crazy,” Allar said. “I think that’s been a huge difference for me this year.” The biggest criticism of Allar — and really Penn State as a whole during the 11-year James Franklin era — is that he isn't capable of winning the big games. He's 0-2 against rival Ohio State and threw a late interception against Oregon in the Big Ten title game earlier this month, . He wasn't great in the CFP's first round, either, completing just 13 of 22 passes for 127 yards as Penn State to advance to the Fiesta Bowl. But the quarterback is confident a better performance — aided by a game that will be played in comfortable temperatures in a domed stadium — is coming. “For me, I just have to execute those (easy) throws early in the game and get our guys into rhythm,” Allar said. “Get them involved early as much as I can and that allows us to stay on the field longer, call more plays and open up our offense more. That will help us a ton, building the momentum throughout the game.” Allar might be a favorite punching bag for a section of the Penn State fan base, but that's not the case in his own locker room. Star tight end Tyler Warren praised his quarterback's ability to avoid sacks, saying that the 6-foot-5, 238-pounder brings a toughness that resonates with teammates. “He’s a football player,” Warren said. “He plays quarterback, but when you watch him play and the energy he brings and the way he runs the ball, he’s just a football player and that fires up our offense.” Now Allar and Penn State have a chance to silence critics who say that the Nittany Lions don't show up in big games. Not that he's worried about what other people think. “I think it's a skill at the end of the day — blocking out the outside noise," Allar said. "Focusing on you and the process and being honest with yourself, both good and bad.” ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up . AP college football: and David Brandt, The Associated Press
