Nu Holdings Receives Conditional Approval for National Bank Formation
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 12 2025
0mins
Should l Buy NU?
Source: Businesswire
Nu Holdings Ltd. experienced a price decline of 5.02% as it crossed below the 20-day SMA amid broader market weakness, with the Nasdaq-100 down 0.85% and the S&P 500 down 0.11%.
The company has received conditional approval from the OCC for the establishment of Nubank, N.A., which is a significant milestone in its U.S. expansion strategy. This approval is expected to facilitate the launch of deposit accounts, credit cards, and loans, enhancing its product offerings and competitive position in the U.S. market. Co-founder Cristina Junqueira will lead U.S. operations, supported by former Central Bank of Brazil President Roberto Campos Neto as Chairman, ensuring compliance and competitiveness in the U.S. landscape.
This regulatory milestone positions Nu for long-term growth in the U.S. market, aligning with its plans to fully capitalize the bank within 12 months and open it within 18 months. The company aims to leverage its existing customer base of over 127 million globally to enhance its brand influence and drive growth.
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Analyst Views on NU
Wall Street analysts forecast NU stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for NU is 18.80 USD with a low forecast of 16.00 USD and a high forecast of 22.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
9 Analyst Rating
7 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 16.810
Low
16.00
Averages
18.80
High
22.00
Current: 16.810
Low
16.00
Averages
18.80
High
22.00
About NU
Nu Holdings Ltd is a Brazil-based holding company, which engages in the provision of digital banking services. The Company offers its customers products across the five financial seasons: spending, saving, investing, borrowing, and protecting. Its spending solutions are designed to help customers pay for goods and services in their everyday lives with a customized credit line or instantly through a mobile phone, while collecting loyalty points and rewards on applicable transactions. Its savings solutions are designed to help customers deposit, manage, and save their money in interest-earning accounts with complementary debit cards. Its investing solutions are designed to help customers invest their money in investment products and services. Its borrowing solutions are designed to provide customers with unsecured loans that are easy to receive, manage, and pay back. Its protecting solutions are designed to help customers secure life insurance and funeral benefits.
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.
Comparing Latin American and U.S. Fintech Giants
- Nu Holdings Growth: As of February 2, Nu Holdings' shares surged 284% over the past three years, boasting 110 million customers in Brazil and tapping into the vast unbanked population in Latin America, indicating significant future growth potential.
- Revenue and Profit Surge: In Q3, Nu's revenue climbed 42% year-over-year, with net income up 41%, driven by a scalable business model that eliminates branch costs, thereby enhancing profitability.
- SoFi's Technological Innovation: SoFi Technologies saw a 38% surge in adjusted net revenue in 2025, adding 1 million new customers to reach a total of 13.7 million, with projected adjusted net income of $825 million in 2026, reflecting a 72% year-over-year increase.
- Market Potential Comparison: Both companies excel in their respective markets, with Nu focusing on Latin America and SoFi thriving in the U.S., making a case for investing in both as they hold substantial growth potential over the next five years.
See More
Nu Holdings: A Fast-Growing Fintech Leader in Latin America
- Customer Base Surge: From the end of 2021 to Q3 2025, NuBank's customer base more than doubled from 53.9 million to 127 million, showcasing its online model's robust expansion in Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia, thereby solidifying its leadership in the Latin American fintech sector.
- Active Customer Ratio Increase: The activity rate of NuBank rose from 76% to 83%, indicating enhanced customer retention and the successful locking in of users through new fintech services, which boosts overall business stability and profitability.
- Revenue Growth Potential: Analysts project Nu's revenue to grow at a CAGR of 30% from 2024 to 2027, with earnings per share turning positive in 2023 and expected to nearly double in 2024 at a CAGR of 41%, reflecting strong future profitability prospects.
- Market Valuation Compression: Despite being impacted by geopolitical tensions, inflation, and currency devaluation, Nu's market valuation may be compressed; however, as these headwinds dissipate, it is expected to continue expanding over the next decade, positioning itself as a leader in the Latin American fintech market.
See More
Three Emerging Market Stocks Capitalizing on South America's Growth
Emerging Markets Performance: U.S. equities have struggled in 2023, while emerging markets have shown strong performance, particularly driven by renewed interest in commodities and non-dollar assets, with the MSCI Emerging Markets ETF up 10.5% year-to-date compared to just 1.8% for the S&P 500 ETF.
South Africa's Currency Strength: The South African rand has appreciated nearly 25% against the U.S. dollar over the past year, contributing to significant gains in the MSCI South Africa ETF, which is up almost 15% year-to-date and over 84% in the last 12 months.
Investment Opportunities in Latin America: Companies like Mercado Libre, DLocal, and Nu Holdings are highlighted as key players in the Latin American fintech and e-commerce sectors, with strong growth potential and expanding user bases, particularly in Mexico and Colombia.
Market Recommendations: Analysts recommend five emerging market stocks for investors looking to diversify outside the U.S., emphasizing their potential for growth and value without extreme valuations, suggesting a balanced approach to investing in these markets.
See More
Berkshire Hathaway's Performance Under Buffett's Legacy
- Digital Banking Surge: Nu Holdings has rapidly expanded in Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia, becoming the largest financial institution in Brazil with 61% of the adult population as customers, showcasing its strong appeal and growth potential in the Latin American market.
- Market Expansion Plans: Nu is set to open new offices in the U.S., including Miami, Palo Alto, and Washington, D.C., indicating its strategic focus on international markets and future growth, which is expected to further drive user acquisition.
- Investment Return Comparison: Although Berkshire Hathaway completely exited Nu Holdings by the end of 2024, the company's performance in 2025 has outpaced other top Berkshire stocks, highlighting potential missteps in investment decisions and Nu's robust market performance.
- Sustained Growth Expectations: Nu continues to rapidly add new customers in the Brazilian market, with expectations for higher growth in the coming years, reflecting its competitive advantages and market opportunities in the digital banking sector.
See More
Buffett Completely Exits Nu Holdings Investment
- Buffett's Exit: Warren Buffett completely sold his stake in Nu Holdings at the end of 2024, despite the company becoming Brazil's largest financial institution, indicating a potential missed opportunity for Berkshire Hathaway to capitalize on future gains in a rapidly growing market.
- Strong Market Performance: Following Berkshire's divestment, Nu's stock outperformed all other Buffett holdings in 2025, already up 11% at the start of the year, highlighting its robust growth potential in the competitive fintech landscape.
- User Base Expansion: Over the past decade, Nu Holdings has rapidly grown to become the largest financial institution in Brazil, with 61% of the adult population on its platform, and penetration rates of 14% in Mexico and 10% in Colombia, showcasing its significant influence in the Latin American market.
- New Market Plans: Nu is set to open offices in the U.S., including Miami, Palo Alto, and Washington, D.C., further expanding its market share and expected to drive future growth, although it carries a higher risk profile compared to traditional Buffett investments.
See More
Nu Holdings Poised for Strong 2026 Performance
- Significant Growth: Nu Holdings reported a 42% year-over-year revenue increase in Q3 2025, reaching $4.2 billion, indicating strong performance in the financial services sector, with a projected 31% revenue growth in 2026 further solidifying its market position.
- Market Share Expansion: With 110 million customers in Brazil, representing over 60% of the adult population, and an additional 13 million in Mexico and 4 million in Colombia, Nu demonstrates extensive coverage and growth potential in the Latin American market.
- Profitability Improvement: The company achieved a net profit margin of 18.8% in Q3 2025, a significant increase from 0.6% in Q3 2022, showcasing the effectiveness of its low-cost operating model, which is expected to drive further profit growth.
- Reasonable Valuation: As of January 29, Nu's forward price-to-earnings ratio stands at 23.4, which is considered reasonable given its strong growth prospects, attracting investor interest and likely to continue driving stock price appreciation.
See More
Comparing Latin American and U.S. Fintech Giants
- Nu Holdings Growth: As of February 2, Nu Holdings' shares surged 284% over the past three years, boasting 110 million customers in Brazil and tapping into the vast unbanked population in Latin America, indicating significant future growth potential.
- Revenue and Profit Surge: In Q3, Nu's revenue climbed 42% year-over-year, with net income up 41%, driven by a scalable business model that eliminates branch costs, thereby enhancing profitability.
- SoFi's Technological Innovation: SoFi Technologies saw a 38% surge in adjusted net revenue in 2025, adding 1 million new customers to reach a total of 13.7 million, with projected adjusted net income of $825 million in 2026, reflecting a 72% year-over-year increase.
- Market Potential Comparison: Both companies excel in their respective markets, with Nu focusing on Latin America and SoFi thriving in the U.S., making a case for investing in both as they hold substantial growth potential over the next five years.
See More
Nu Holdings: A Fast-Growing Fintech Leader in Latin America
- Customer Base Surge: From the end of 2021 to Q3 2025, NuBank's customer base more than doubled from 53.9 million to 127 million, showcasing its online model's robust expansion in Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia, thereby solidifying its leadership in the Latin American fintech sector.
- Active Customer Ratio Increase: The activity rate of NuBank rose from 76% to 83%, indicating enhanced customer retention and the successful locking in of users through new fintech services, which boosts overall business stability and profitability.
- Revenue Growth Potential: Analysts project Nu's revenue to grow at a CAGR of 30% from 2024 to 2027, with earnings per share turning positive in 2023 and expected to nearly double in 2024 at a CAGR of 41%, reflecting strong future profitability prospects.
- Market Valuation Compression: Despite being impacted by geopolitical tensions, inflation, and currency devaluation, Nu's market valuation may be compressed; however, as these headwinds dissipate, it is expected to continue expanding over the next decade, positioning itself as a leader in the Latin American fintech market.
See More
Three Emerging Market Stocks Capitalizing on South America's Growth
Emerging Markets Performance: U.S. equities have struggled in 2023, while emerging markets have shown strong performance, particularly driven by renewed interest in commodities and non-dollar assets, with the MSCI Emerging Markets ETF up 10.5% year-to-date compared to just 1.8% for the S&P 500 ETF.
South Africa's Currency Strength: The South African rand has appreciated nearly 25% against the U.S. dollar over the past year, contributing to significant gains in the MSCI South Africa ETF, which is up almost 15% year-to-date and over 84% in the last 12 months.
Investment Opportunities in Latin America: Companies like Mercado Libre, DLocal, and Nu Holdings are highlighted as key players in the Latin American fintech and e-commerce sectors, with strong growth potential and expanding user bases, particularly in Mexico and Colombia.
Market Recommendations: Analysts recommend five emerging market stocks for investors looking to diversify outside the U.S., emphasizing their potential for growth and value without extreme valuations, suggesting a balanced approach to investing in these markets.
See More
Berkshire Hathaway's Performance Under Buffett's Legacy
- Digital Banking Surge: Nu Holdings has rapidly expanded in Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia, becoming the largest financial institution in Brazil with 61% of the adult population as customers, showcasing its strong appeal and growth potential in the Latin American market.
- Market Expansion Plans: Nu is set to open new offices in the U.S., including Miami, Palo Alto, and Washington, D.C., indicating its strategic focus on international markets and future growth, which is expected to further drive user acquisition.
- Investment Return Comparison: Although Berkshire Hathaway completely exited Nu Holdings by the end of 2024, the company's performance in 2025 has outpaced other top Berkshire stocks, highlighting potential missteps in investment decisions and Nu's robust market performance.
- Sustained Growth Expectations: Nu continues to rapidly add new customers in the Brazilian market, with expectations for higher growth in the coming years, reflecting its competitive advantages and market opportunities in the digital banking sector.
See More
Buffett Completely Exits Nu Holdings Investment
- Buffett's Exit: Warren Buffett completely sold his stake in Nu Holdings at the end of 2024, despite the company becoming Brazil's largest financial institution, indicating a potential missed opportunity for Berkshire Hathaway to capitalize on future gains in a rapidly growing market.
- Strong Market Performance: Following Berkshire's divestment, Nu's stock outperformed all other Buffett holdings in 2025, already up 11% at the start of the year, highlighting its robust growth potential in the competitive fintech landscape.
- User Base Expansion: Over the past decade, Nu Holdings has rapidly grown to become the largest financial institution in Brazil, with 61% of the adult population on its platform, and penetration rates of 14% in Mexico and 10% in Colombia, showcasing its significant influence in the Latin American market.
- New Market Plans: Nu is set to open offices in the U.S., including Miami, Palo Alto, and Washington, D.C., further expanding its market share and expected to drive future growth, although it carries a higher risk profile compared to traditional Buffett investments.
See More
Nu Holdings Poised for Strong 2026 Performance
- Significant Growth: Nu Holdings reported a 42% year-over-year revenue increase in Q3 2025, reaching $4.2 billion, indicating strong performance in the financial services sector, with a projected 31% revenue growth in 2026 further solidifying its market position.
- Market Share Expansion: With 110 million customers in Brazil, representing over 60% of the adult population, and an additional 13 million in Mexico and 4 million in Colombia, Nu demonstrates extensive coverage and growth potential in the Latin American market.
- Profitability Improvement: The company achieved a net profit margin of 18.8% in Q3 2025, a significant increase from 0.6% in Q3 2022, showcasing the effectiveness of its low-cost operating model, which is expected to drive further profit growth.
- Reasonable Valuation: As of January 29, Nu's forward price-to-earnings ratio stands at 23.4, which is considered reasonable given its strong growth prospects, attracting investor interest and likely to continue driving stock price appreciation.
See More
