Americans' Debt Payment Anxiety Peaks, Especially Among Seniors
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 14 2026
0mins
Should l Buy TREE?
Source: CNBC
- Rising Debt Payment Anxiety: The New York Fed's survey indicates that over 60% of American adults expect to miss minimum debt payments in the coming months, with the highest concerns among those over 60, without college degrees, and earning below $50,000, highlighting increased economic pressure post-pandemic.
- Significant Credit Score Impact: Research from LendingTree shows that a single missed payment can lead to an average credit score drop of 80 points, with an average score of 553 for those missing payments, resulting in higher borrowing costs and lower credit limits, thus affecting overall borrowing capacity.
- Increasing Economic Uncertainty: Amid a softening labor market, a growing share of adults express anxiety about their current jobs and future credit access, reflecting an uneven economic recovery and fragile consumer confidence.
- Proactive Communication Recommended: Experts advise borrowers at risk of missing payments to proactively contact lenders for assistance, potentially pausing payments or lowering interest rates to avoid credit score damage and alleviate financial pressure.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy TREE?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on TREE
Wall Street analysts forecast TREE stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for TREE is 81.33 USD with a low forecast of 72.00 USD and a high forecast of 85.00 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.
6 Analyst Rating
6 Buy
0 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 42.960
Low
72.00
Averages
81.33
High
85.00
Current: 42.960
Low
72.00
Averages
81.33
High
85.00
About TREE
LendingTree, Inc. operates LendingTree.com, an online financial services marketplace. The Company provides customers with access to offers on loans, credit cards, insurance and more through its network of approximately 430 financial partners. Its segments include Home, Consumer, and Insurance. The Home segment includes products, such as purchase mortgage, refinance mortgage, and home equity loans and lines of credit. Its Consumer segment includes products, such as credit cards, personal loans, small business loans, auto loans, deposit accounts, and other credit products such as debt settlement. The Insurance segment consists of insurance quote products and insurance policies in its agency businesses. It helps customers obtain financing, save money, and improve their financial and credit health in their personal journeys. With a portfolio of products and tools and personalized financial recommendations, the Company helps customers achieve everyday financial wins.
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.
LendingTree (TREE) to Release Q4 2025 Earnings on March 2, 2026
- Earnings Release Schedule: LendingTree will announce its fiscal Q4 2025 results after market close on March 2, 2026, aiming to provide investors with the latest financial performance insights and enhance market transparency.
- Shareholder Letter Publication: The company will post a letter to shareholders on its website, further elaborating on financial results and future outlook, helping investors better understand the company's strategic direction.
- Conference Call Arrangement: LendingTree will hold an earnings conference call at 5:00 p.m. ET to discuss the financial results and answer investor questions, enhancing interaction and communication with shareholders.
- Webcast Replay Availability: The conference call will be webcast live on the company's website, with a replay available afterward, ensuring that investors who cannot participate in real-time can access key information.
See More
LendingTree (TREE) to Release Q4 2025 Earnings on March 2, 2026
- Earnings Release Schedule: LendingTree will announce its fiscal Q4 2025 results after market close on March 2, 2026, providing investors with insights into its latest financial performance and market trends.
- Shareholder Letter Publication: The company will post a letter to shareholders on its website, elaborating on financial results and future outlook, thereby enhancing transparency and boosting investor confidence.
- Conference Call Details: LendingTree will hold an earnings conference call at 5:00 p.m. ET to discuss the earnings release, ensuring that investors receive timely access to key information.
- Webcast Replay Availability: The conference call will be webcast live on the company's website, with a replay available afterward, allowing investors who cannot attend live to access the relevant information.
See More
The Impact of a Rate Cap on Credit Card Rewards
Trump's Proposal: President Donald Trump proposed capping credit-card interest rates at 10%, which negatively impacted the stocks of card issuers.
Legislative Challenges: Experts believe that Congress would need to pass legislation for the proposal to be enacted, a process that has faced difficulties in the past.
Market Reaction: The announcement led to a decline in the stock prices of credit card companies, indicating investor concern over the potential impact of the proposal.
Expert Insight: Matt Schulz from LendingTree suggests that the current political climate may make this proposal feel different from previous attempts that lacked traction.
See More
Americans' Debt Payment Anxiety Peaks, Especially Among Seniors
- Rising Debt Payment Anxiety: The New York Fed's survey indicates that over 60% of American adults expect to miss minimum debt payments in the coming months, with the highest concerns among those over 60, without college degrees, and earning below $50,000, highlighting increased economic pressure post-pandemic.
- Significant Credit Score Impact: Research from LendingTree shows that a single missed payment can lead to an average credit score drop of 80 points, with an average score of 553 for those missing payments, resulting in higher borrowing costs and lower credit limits, thus affecting overall borrowing capacity.
- Increasing Economic Uncertainty: Amid a softening labor market, a growing share of adults express anxiety about their current jobs and future credit access, reflecting an uneven economic recovery and fragile consumer confidence.
- Proactive Communication Recommended: Experts advise borrowers at risk of missing payments to proactively contact lenders for assistance, potentially pausing payments or lowering interest rates to avoid credit score damage and alleviate financial pressure.
See More
Trump's Interest Rate Cap May Impact Credit Card Rewards
Trump's Proposal: President Donald Trump has proposed capping credit card interest rates at 10%.
Impact on Rewards: This cap is expected to lead to a reduction in rewards for consumers, particularly those with lower credit scores.
See More
LendingTree Appoints Ian Smith as COO to Drive Growth
- Leadership Transition: LendingTree announced the promotion of Ian Smith to Chief Operating Officer, succeeding Scott Peyree, who became CEO after the passing of founder Doug Lebda, aiming to enhance the company's operational execution and long-term growth potential.
- Insurance Business Leadership: Laura Nelson will take over as Head of Insurance, continuing to drive performance and innovation in the insurance marketplace while strengthening relationships with carriers to enhance consumer value.
- Operational Efficiency Boost: Smith's established operating system within the insurance sector will be extended across LendingTree, expected to improve operational efficiency in lending and other financial services, thereby strengthening the company's position in a competitive financial market.
- Internal Talent Development: This leadership change reflects LendingTree's commitment to nurturing internal talent, with CEO Peyree emphasizing that Ian and Laura's leadership capabilities will lay a solid foundation for the company's continued growth.
See More
LendingTree (TREE) to Release Q4 2025 Earnings on March 2, 2026
- Earnings Release Schedule: LendingTree will announce its fiscal Q4 2025 results after market close on March 2, 2026, aiming to provide investors with the latest financial performance insights and enhance market transparency.
- Shareholder Letter Publication: The company will post a letter to shareholders on its website, further elaborating on financial results and future outlook, helping investors better understand the company's strategic direction.
- Conference Call Arrangement: LendingTree will hold an earnings conference call at 5:00 p.m. ET to discuss the financial results and answer investor questions, enhancing interaction and communication with shareholders.
- Webcast Replay Availability: The conference call will be webcast live on the company's website, with a replay available afterward, ensuring that investors who cannot participate in real-time can access key information.
See More
LendingTree (TREE) to Release Q4 2025 Earnings on March 2, 2026
- Earnings Release Schedule: LendingTree will announce its fiscal Q4 2025 results after market close on March 2, 2026, providing investors with insights into its latest financial performance and market trends.
- Shareholder Letter Publication: The company will post a letter to shareholders on its website, elaborating on financial results and future outlook, thereby enhancing transparency and boosting investor confidence.
- Conference Call Details: LendingTree will hold an earnings conference call at 5:00 p.m. ET to discuss the earnings release, ensuring that investors receive timely access to key information.
- Webcast Replay Availability: The conference call will be webcast live on the company's website, with a replay available afterward, allowing investors who cannot attend live to access the relevant information.
See More
The Impact of a Rate Cap on Credit Card Rewards
Trump's Proposal: President Donald Trump proposed capping credit-card interest rates at 10%, which negatively impacted the stocks of card issuers.
Legislative Challenges: Experts believe that Congress would need to pass legislation for the proposal to be enacted, a process that has faced difficulties in the past.
Market Reaction: The announcement led to a decline in the stock prices of credit card companies, indicating investor concern over the potential impact of the proposal.
Expert Insight: Matt Schulz from LendingTree suggests that the current political climate may make this proposal feel different from previous attempts that lacked traction.
See More
Americans' Debt Payment Anxiety Peaks, Especially Among Seniors
- Rising Debt Payment Anxiety: The New York Fed's survey indicates that over 60% of American adults expect to miss minimum debt payments in the coming months, with the highest concerns among those over 60, without college degrees, and earning below $50,000, highlighting increased economic pressure post-pandemic.
- Significant Credit Score Impact: Research from LendingTree shows that a single missed payment can lead to an average credit score drop of 80 points, with an average score of 553 for those missing payments, resulting in higher borrowing costs and lower credit limits, thus affecting overall borrowing capacity.
- Increasing Economic Uncertainty: Amid a softening labor market, a growing share of adults express anxiety about their current jobs and future credit access, reflecting an uneven economic recovery and fragile consumer confidence.
- Proactive Communication Recommended: Experts advise borrowers at risk of missing payments to proactively contact lenders for assistance, potentially pausing payments or lowering interest rates to avoid credit score damage and alleviate financial pressure.
See More
Trump's Interest Rate Cap May Impact Credit Card Rewards
Trump's Proposal: President Donald Trump has proposed capping credit card interest rates at 10%.
Impact on Rewards: This cap is expected to lead to a reduction in rewards for consumers, particularly those with lower credit scores.
See More
LendingTree Appoints Ian Smith as COO to Drive Growth
- Leadership Transition: LendingTree announced the promotion of Ian Smith to Chief Operating Officer, succeeding Scott Peyree, who became CEO after the passing of founder Doug Lebda, aiming to enhance the company's operational execution and long-term growth potential.
- Insurance Business Leadership: Laura Nelson will take over as Head of Insurance, continuing to drive performance and innovation in the insurance marketplace while strengthening relationships with carriers to enhance consumer value.
- Operational Efficiency Boost: Smith's established operating system within the insurance sector will be extended across LendingTree, expected to improve operational efficiency in lending and other financial services, thereby strengthening the company's position in a competitive financial market.
- Internal Talent Development: This leadership change reflects LendingTree's commitment to nurturing internal talent, with CEO Peyree emphasizing that Ian and Laura's leadership capabilities will lay a solid foundation for the company's continued growth.
See More
