Block Shares Rise Amid Layoff Reports and Turnaround Momentum
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 09 2026
0mins
Should l Buy XYZ?
Source: stocktwits
- Stock Price Surge: Block shares rose nearly 3% in after-hours trading on Sunday, indicating a potential second consecutive day of gains if momentum holds during Monday's opening, reflecting positive market sentiment towards the company's restructuring efforts.
- Layoff Plans: According to a Bloomberg report, Block is informing hundreds of employees about potential layoffs, with up to 10% of the total workforce, approximately 1,100 employees, likely affected, indicating a strategic shift aimed at improving operational efficiency.
- Shifts in Market Sentiment: Despite retail sentiment on Block shifting from 'neutral' to 'bearish' over the past month, message volumes on Stocktwits surged by 250% in the last week, highlighting increased investor interest in the company's future prospects.
- Analyst Ratings: Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage of Block with an 'Overweight' rating and a price target of $87, noting that after the early stages of the turnaround, the company's innovation engine is firing on all cylinders, emphasizing the importance of execution in the upcoming period.
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Analyst Views on XYZ
Wall Street analysts forecast XYZ stock price to rise
30 Analyst Rating
25 Buy
3 Hold
2 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 49.090
Low
55.00
Averages
86.51
High
108.00
Current: 49.090
Low
55.00
Averages
86.51
High
108.00
About XYZ
Block, Inc. builds technology to increase access to the global economy. The Company operates through two segments: Square and Cash App. The Square includes managed payment services, software solutions, hardware, and financial services offered to sellers, excluding those that involve Cash App. The Cash App segment includes the financial tools available to individuals within the mobile Cash App, including peer-to-peer payments, bitcoin and stock investments. The Cash App also includes Cash App Card, which is linked to customer stored balances that customers can use to pay for purchases or withdraw funds from an ATM. Cash App also includes the BNPL platform. Its Afterpay business is transforming the way customers manage their spending over time. Its TIDAL business is a music platform that empowers artists to thrive as entrepreneurs. Its Bitkey business is a simple self-custody wallet built for bitcoin. Proto business is a suite of bitcoin mining products and services.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Capital Market Competition: Currently, companies like OpenAI and Anthropic are also vying for entry into the capital markets, highlighting the fierce competition among large capital-intensive firms for IPOs, and the merger of SpaceX and xAI could enhance their market attractiveness in this context.
- Investor Confidence: Although the market remains cautious about mergers involving Elon Musk's companies, analysts believe that such a merger could provide these firms with greater resource and capital liquidity, helping them achieve better valuations ahead of their IPOs.
- Technological Integration Potential: If SpaceX and xAI successfully merge, it could create a powerful technological ecosystem that leverages AI to enhance innovation in aerospace and transportation, thereby gaining a competitive edge in future market dynamics.
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- Time Savings Benefits: The launch of Square AI is expected to help businesses save 4.3 hours per week on data analysis and 2.3 hours on administrative tasks, allowing owners to focus more on customer relationships and business growth, thus improving overall work efficiency.
- Strong Industry Adaptability: Adoption of Square AI is highest in the food and beverage sector, where business owners report that the tool provides quick access to key data, enabling them to make more informed decisions in a competitive market and enhance customer satisfaction.
See More
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- AI Adoption Status: While 53% of UK SMEs have experimented with AI, only 30% use it regularly, indicating that many businesses are still in the experimental phase and failing to fully leverage AI's potential value, which impacts overall operational efficiency.
- Launch of Square AI: Square has launched Square AI, a free conversational AI assistant in the UK, designed to help businesses of all sizes make clearer and faster decisions using their own data, simplifying the adoption of AI tools and lowering the technical barrier for enterprises.
- Data-Driven Decision Making: Research indicates that 74% of SME owners feel more confident when combining instinct with data, and Square AI provides real-time insights into business performance, helping owners utilize data more effectively in daily operations and reducing the 4.3 hours spent weekly on data analysis.
- Positive Industry Feedback: Early users like Brickwood Coffee & Bread have reported that Square AI quickly provides sales data and trend analysis, enabling owners to make faster decisions, showcasing the strong application potential of AI in the food and beverage sector.
See More
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Cash App's New Features: Cash App announced the rollout of zero-to-low fee Bitcoin purchases, with no fees on large or recurring buys, and fee-free Bitcoin spending via the Lightning Network, alongside higher withdrawal limits for eligible users.
Block Inc.'s Cost-Cutting Measures: Block Inc. is preparing to reduce its workforce by up to 10% as part of a broader efficiency push, which includes restructuring efforts aimed at improving profitability and integrating Cash App with its Square business.
Expansion of Bitcoin Services: The latest updates from Cash App include clearer fee structures for Bitcoin transactions over $2,000, enhanced funding options for purchases, and improvements to the app's Bitcoin functionality, aiming to make Bitcoin a more usable form of money.
Market Response and Future Projections: Following these announcements, Block Inc.'s stock saw a positive response, and analysts expect the company to report significant revenue in its upcoming earnings, with a goal of generating nearly $12 billion in gross profit by 2026.
See More
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- User Base: Step boasts over 7 million users and has attracted notable investors such as Stephen Curry and Charli D’Amelio, creating a substantial market potential that is expected to enhance MrBeast's influence among younger demographics following the acquisition.
- Competitive Landscape: Step competes with fintech giants like Block, Robinhood, and SoFi, which are scaling growth by attracting younger customers; MrBeast's acquisition is poised to draw greater attention and resources to Step in this fiercely competitive market.
- Market Sentiment: Retail sentiment for Robinhood has shifted from bearish to extremely bullish, with expectations of strong quarterly results, reflecting a robust interest from young investors in fintech platforms, thereby validating the strategic significance of MrBeast's acquisition of Step.
See More
Block Inc. Plans to Cut 10% of Workforce Amid Restructuring
- Layoff Announcement: Block Inc. has informed employees about a potential 10% workforce reduction during its annual performance review, which could affect approximately 1,137 employees, highlighting cost control pressures amid restructuring efforts.
- CashApp Growth: Despite the looming layoffs, Block's CashApp saw a 24% year-over-year gross profit increase, with monthly active users surging to 58 million, indicating strong performance in the payments sector.
- Profit Margin Pressure: Square only experienced a 9% growth in gross profit, as rising processing costs have pressured margins, reflecting challenges in the company's profitability.
- Future Outlook: Analysts predict that by 2026, Block will improve its margins and recover key metrics, despite facing temporary headwinds, demonstrating market confidence in its long-term potential.
See More
