Affirm Expands Into Tax Services With H&R Block Canada Deal

Affirm Holdings, Inc. AFRM is expanding its horizons beyond just retail and travel by teaming up with H&R Block Canada. This partnership introduces buy now, pay later (BNPL) options for tax preparation services. Now, eligible customers can break down the cost of professional tax services into manageable installment payments, helping to alleviate the financial pressure that often comes with tax season.

With this new integration, H&R Block Canada clients can easily choose Affirm at checkout and opt for structured payment plans that come with clear terms. Affirm’s model emphasizes transparency, with no late fees or hidden charges, a feature that has helped it stand out in the competitive BNPL landscape.

The timing is notable. Tax season tends to put a bit of a squeeze on household finances, even though many people are looking forward to their refunds. A recent survey from H&R Block revealed that 37% of Canadians are unsure about which credits and benefits they qualify for, indicating that there's still a strong need for professional advice. By offering installment payments, Affirm helps to reduce the upfront costs, which could encourage more people to take advantage of their services.

This collaboration reflects AFRM’s broader push to diversify merchant categories and solidify its foothold in Canada. Expanding into services like tax preparation may also enhance customer lifetime value, as users introduced to installment payments in one context may later adopt Affirm across other spending categories, ultimately driving higher repeat usage and strengthening customer retention over time.

However, credit performance and funding costs remain critical drivers of profitability for BNPL providers. If AFRM can keep its underwriting disciplined while expanding into stable areas like tax services, it could boost its long-term revenue outlook.

AFRM’s Stock Price Performance

In the past year, AFRM shares have declined 21.4% compared with the industry’s fall of 14.3%.

AFRM’s Zacks Rank & Key Picks

AFRM currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Some better-ranked stocks in the computer and technology space are MongoDB, Inc. MDB, Cognex Corporation CGNX and HubSpot, Inc. HUBS, each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MongoDB’s current-year earnings of $4.79 per share has remained stable over the past 60 days. MongoDB beat earnings estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 69.3%. The consensus estimate for current-year revenues is pegged at $2.4 billion, implying 21.5% year-over-year growth.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Cognex’s current-year earnings of $1.26 per share has witnessed six upward revisions in the past 30 days against none in the opposite direction. Cognex beat earnings estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 19.2%. The consensus estimate for the current year’s revenues is pegged at $1.1 billion, indicating 7.9% year-over-year growth.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for HubSpot’s current-year earnings of $12.29 per share has witnessed 10 upward revisions in the past 30 days against none in the opposite direction. HubSpot beat earnings estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 3%. The consensus estimate for current-year revenues is pegged at $3.7 billion, calling for 17.9% year-over-year growth.

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This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

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