Square says bitcoin demand slowed in Q3 but picked up again in October; earnings ding stock

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Square Inc. reported lower-than-expected gross for the 3rd 4th arsenic little volatile pricing for bitcoin impacted demand, though the company’s main fiscal serviceman noted “strength” successful measurement during October.

The institution posted a break-even 3rd quarter, aft net $37 million, oregon 7 cents a share, successful the year-earlier quarter. On an adjusted basis, Square SQ, -1.99% earned 37 cents a share, up from 34 cents a stock a twelvemonth earlier, portion analysts tracked by FactSet were expecting 38 cents a share. The fintech institution grew gross to $3.84 cardinal from $3.03 billion, portion analysts had been modeling $4.39 billion.

Shares fell much than 4% successful after-hours trading pursuing the merchandise of the reportt.

Square’s gross full for the latest 4th consisted of $1.30 cardinal successful transaction-based revenue, $695 cardinal successful subscription revenue, $37.3 cardinal successful hardware revenue, and $1.82 cardinal successful bitcoin revenue. Analysts tracked by FactSet were expecting $2.6 cardinal successful bitcoin revenue.

Bitcoin BTCUSD, +0.06% is simply a comparatively low-margin concern for Square and the institution incurred $1.77 cardinal successful bitcoin costs during the quarter.

“Bitcoin gross and gross nett benefited from year-over-year increases successful the terms of bitcoin and fig of bitcoin actives,” the institution noted successful its shareholder letter, though bitcoin gross and gross nett some declined connected a sequential basis, which Square mostly attributed to “relative stableness successful the terms of bitcoin.”

Chief Financial Officer Amrita Ahuja noted connected a telephone with reporters that arsenic bitcoin prices accrued successful October, the institution “saw strength” successful demand.

The company’s full gross nett for the 3rd 4th came successful astatine $1.13 billion, up from $794 cardinal a twelvemonth earlier. Analysts had been expecting $1.15 billion. Speaking connected the telephone with reporters, Ahuja argued for the value of the gross-profit metric arsenic an indicator of Square’s performance.

During the 3rd quarter, Square saw a little information of transactions instrumentality spot done debit cards, portion mean transaction size besides fell connected a year-over-year basis. Despite the decreases, Square noted successful its shareholder missive that “these trends remained elevated comparative to humanities periods partially arsenic a effect of changes to user behaviors owed to COVID-19 and authorities disbursements, which whitethorn not proceed successful aboriginal quarters.”

Square saw gross outgo measurement of $45.43 billion, up from $31.73 cardinal a twelvemonth earlier. The FactSet statement was for $45.61 billion.

Square expects seller GPV to beryllium up 42% connected a year-over-year ground during October.

Shares of Square person declined astir 7% implicit the past 3 months arsenic the S&P 500 SPX, +0.42% has risen astir 6%.

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