Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ: INTU) is in focus on Thursday, December 18, 2025, after announcing a multi-year partnership with Circle Internet Group to bring USDC stablecoin capabilities into Intuit’s ecosystem—TurboTax, QuickBooks, and Credit Karma—while also launching a new consumer-facing tax-season campaign aimed at boosting engagement and refunds. [1]
Key takeaways for INTU stock on Dec. 18, 2025
- Major product catalyst: Intuit is integrating Circle’s stablecoin infrastructure and USDC into its platforms to enable faster, lower-cost and “programmable” money movement. [2]
- Stock reaction: INTU traded higher on the day as the stablecoin partnership made headlines across equity and crypto outlets. [3]
- Forecasts remain broadly positive: Aggregated analyst trackers still show Buy/Strong Buy-leaning consensus ratings and average price targets implying upside from current levels (though targets vary by methodology and coverage set). [4]
INTU’s headline news on Dec. 18: Intuit partners with Circle to bring USDC stablecoins to TurboTax, QuickBooks, and Credit Karma
Intuit said Thursday it has formed a multi-year strategic partnership with Circle to incorporate stablecoin technology (USDC) across Intuit’s financial platforms. The company frames this as a step toward faster, always-on money movement for consumers and small businesses inside products people already use for taxes, accounting, and personal finance. [5]
In its announcement, Intuit positioned stablecoins as an upgrade to legacy rails—especially for high-volume, time-sensitive flows. One reason: Intuit says it processes more than $100 billion in annual tax refunds, and stablecoins could help enable continuous transaction capability beyond traditional banking hours. [6]
Coverage of the announcement quickly spread beyond traditional equity news into crypto/fintech outlets, underscoring that this isn’t merely “crypto news”—it’s a mainstream fintech platform testing how digital dollars can modernize everyday payments and payouts. [7]
What Intuit says stablecoins could unlock inside its products
Intuit’s messaging focuses on stablecoins as a way to deliver:
- Faster and lower-cost money movement
- Global reach (cross-border compatible rails)
- Programmable financial experiences (automation and new workflows) [8]
The company also highlighted potential use cases including refunds, remittances, savings, and payments—a broad set that spans TurboTax tax-time flows, QuickBooks small-business cash flow, and Credit Karma personal finance. [9]
Why this matters now: stablecoins are moving into regulated, mainstream finance
Intuit’s move lands at a moment when stablecoins are steadily becoming part of the “serious” financial conversation in the U.S.—not just trading tokens. Reuters has described 2025 as a year of notable crypto-policy wins, including movement toward clearer rules for dollar-pegged tokens, while also noting the policy path can remain uncertain and politically sensitive heading into 2026. [10]
Regulators have also been taking steps that bring crypto infrastructure closer to the banking perimeter. For example, Reuters reported that the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) granted preliminary/conditional approvals for several major crypto firms—including Circle—to pursue national trust bank paths, a development that could matter for how stablecoin infrastructure is supervised and scaled. [11]
Meanwhile, stablecoin settlement has been showing up in payments networks as well. In recent days, coverage has highlighted moves like Visa’s expansion of USDC settlement options for U.S. banks—another signal that stablecoins are being treated increasingly as payments plumbing rather than a niche asset class. [12]
Why investors care: If stablecoins become a standard settlement layer, platforms like Intuit—already embedded in tax and small-business workflows—could potentially reduce friction and cost while enabling new premium services tied to faster payouts, smarter cash-flow automation, or cross-border functionality.
INTU stock price today: how the market is trading the news
Intuit shares traded higher Thursday. As of 19:08 UTC (about 2:08 p.m. ET) on Dec. 18, 2025, INTU was around $668.44, up roughly 1.28% on the session, with trading between roughly $660.76 and $673.00.
Several market stories tied the day’s move to the Circle partnership announcement. One report noted Intuit stock rose following the stablecoin news while Circle’s shares also gained. [13]
Important context for readers: Intraday moves around 1%–2% can reflect headline digestion rather than a definitive verdict on long-term economics. The bigger question is whether Intuit can translate “stablecoin rails” into measurable product adoption, retention, or monetization—especially in QuickBooks’ payments ecosystem and during TurboTax’s high-intensity tax season.
The second Intuit headline today: TurboTax and Credit Karma launch “Now This Is Taxes”
On the same morning as the Circle announcement, Intuit also unveiled a consumer-facing tax-season push: TurboTax and Credit Karma launched “Now This Is Taxes,” highlighting expert help and the theme of maximizing refunds. The initiative is positioned as part of Intuit’s broader consumer platform strategy—meeting filers where they are and matching them with the right level of help. [14]
While marketing campaigns rarely move mega-cap stocks on their own, they matter for:
- Tax-season share gains (DIY filing and assisted filing competition is intense)
- Cross-sell potential between TurboTax and Credit Karma
- A stronger narrative that Intuit is blending technology + experts rather than relying on “software-only” positioning [15]
In a market increasingly attentive to customer acquisition costs and durable engagement, a coordinated campaign can be a tell—especially if it’s paired with product upgrades or new payout/financial tools that improve refund speed, user trust, or conversion.
Wall Street forecasts for INTU: where analyst price targets stand on Dec. 18, 2025
Analyst outlooks remain constructive overall, though the exact “consensus” depends on the tracker and the set of analysts included.
Consensus targets vary, but imply upside in many models
- MarketBeat: “Moderate Buy” consensus; average 12-month price target $796.60 (with a wide range from $530 to $900) based on 29 analysts. [16]
- StockAnalysis: “Strong Buy” consensus; average price target $811.72 (range $700 to $880) from 18 analysts. [17]
- MarketScreener: “Buy” consensus; average target around $803.89 with 33 analysts listed and a range that extends higher (up to $971) and lower (to $600). [18]
Recent notable target moves cited by trackers
Several trackers list late-November target adjustments following Intuit’s fiscal Q1 report—for example, Wells Fargo maintaining a bullish stance while trimming its price target. [19]
How to read this as an investor: When multiple consensus systems cluster targets in the ~$800 area, it typically signals broad confidence in Intuit’s medium-term fundamentals—balanced by ongoing debate about valuation, growth durability, and margins.
Earnings backdrop: Intuit’s last quarter beat estimates, but guidance drew scrutiny
Today’s stablecoin headlines are landing on top of an earnings narrative investors have been tracking for weeks.
In Intuit’s most recently reported quarter (fiscal Q1 2026), the company posted:
- Revenue of about $3.89 billion, up roughly 18%
- Adjusted EPS around $3.34, also ahead of expectations [20]
However, Reuters also reported that Intuit’s outlook for the following quarter (ending Jan. 31) included:
- Revenue growth guidance of 14%–15%
- Adjusted EPS guidance of $3.63–$3.68, which was cited as below some market expectations at the time [21]
Capital return remains part of the story as well: Intuit declared a quarterly dividend of $1.20 per share payable Jan. 16, 2026 (record date Jan. 9, 2026) and disclosed remaining buyback authorization in its filings. [22]
Ownership signals: institutions add exposure while insider sales continue under trading plans
Investors looking for positioning clues have two additional threads to watch:
Institutional buying
One report notes Czech National Bank reported acquiring Intuit shares in the third quarter (a relatively small position in the context of Intuit’s market cap, but a data point showing continued institutional participation). [23]
Insider selling (planned)
SEC filings show Director Scott D. Cook reported multiple stock sales earlier in December, with the forms indicating transactions made under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan (pre-arranged). The filings include sales dated Dec. 3, 2025 and Dec. 8, 2025, among others, reported as indirect holdings via trusts. [24]
Why it matters (and what it doesn’t mean): Planned insider selling is not automatically bearish—especially under 10b5-1 plans—but persistent selling can still shape sentiment, particularly when a stock trades at a premium multiple.
The big question for INTU investors: will stablecoins become a feature—or a foundation?
The Circle-USDC integration can be interpreted two ways:
- Feature view (near-term): Stablecoin support is a new option inside a massive platform—useful, but not immediately transformative. In this scenario, the market impact depends on small, measurable wins (faster payouts, lower payment costs, smoother cross-border flows).
- Foundation view (multi-year): Stablecoins become a settlement layer that changes unit economics for money movement—turning QuickBooks and TurboTax into “financial operations hubs” where payments, refunds, lending, and savings are increasingly automated and continuous.
Intuit’s own framing leans toward the second interpretation, emphasizing speed, cost, programmability, and global scope. [25]
What to watch next for Intuit stock
If you’re tracking INTU into year-end and tax season, these are the practical signposts that can validate (or challenge) today’s narrative:
- Product specifics and rollout timing: Will USDC capabilities launch as pilots first? Which customer segments get it (SMBs, gig workers, refund recipients)? [26]
- Tax-season momentum: TurboTax engagement, assisted-filing mix, and any Credit Karma cross-sell lift from “Now This Is Taxes.” [27]
- Payments and cash-flow KPIs: Any commentary on faster settlement, reduced payment friction, or new monetizable services in QuickBooks. [28]
- Regulatory tone shifts: Stablecoin rules and bank-charter pathways have shown momentum in 2025, but policy uncertainty remains a recurring risk factor into 2026. [29]
- Next earnings cycle: Guidance and margin commentary will matter as much as innovation headlines.
Bottom line
On Dec. 18, 2025, Intuit is giving investors a clear signal: it wants to be more than the software layer for taxes and accounting—it’s aiming to modernize the movement of money itself, from refunds to small-business payments, by integrating stablecoin rails (USDC) through Circle. The stock’s initial reaction was positive, while analyst consensus trackers continue to project upside—though valuation, execution, and regulation remain the key swing factors. [30]
References
1. investors.intuit.com, 2. investors.intuit.com, 3. ng.investing.com, 4. www.marketbeat.com, 5. investors.intuit.com, 6. investors.intuit.com, 7. www.theblock.co, 8. investors.intuit.com, 9. investors.intuit.com, 10. www.reuters.com, 11. www.reuters.com, 12. www.barrons.com, 13. ng.investing.com, 14. investors.intuit.com, 15. investors.intuit.com, 16. www.marketbeat.com, 17. stockanalysis.com, 18. www.marketscreener.com, 19. stockanalysis.com, 20. www.reuters.com, 21. www.reuters.com, 22. investors.intuit.com, 23. www.marketbeat.com, 24. investors.intuit.com, 25. investors.intuit.com, 26. investors.intuit.com, 27. investors.intuit.com, 28. investors.intuit.com, 29. www.reuters.com, 30. investors.intuit.com
