NEW YORK — As of 1:21 p.m. ET on Friday, December 26, 2025, U.S. markets are open and trading through a typically thin, post-holiday session—exactly the kind of tape where high-volatility names can swing harder than the headlines justify.
Sezzle Inc. (NASDAQ: SEZL) is living that reality today: the stock is down intraday even as the broader market is only modestly mixed, and investors are weighing a busy set of fundamental catalysts—share repurchases, index inclusion, regulatory strategy, and ongoing litigation—against a backdrop of year-end positioning and light liquidity. [1]
SEZL stock price today (intraday): where shares are trading
Sezzle shares were recently around $70.28, down $3.36 (-4.56%) on the session, with an intraday range of roughly $69.87 to $73.55.
For context, the major index ETFs were close to flat around early afternoon in New York—an environment where single-stock moves are often more about positioning and liquidity than about a single new datapoint:
- SPY (S&P 500 ETF proxy) slightly lower
- QQQ (Nasdaq-100 ETF proxy) slightly higher
- DIA (Dow ETF proxy) modestly lower
The Associated Press characterized Friday’s session as quiet, light trading as investors returned from the Christmas holiday—another ingredient that can exaggerate moves in high-beta names. [2]
Why Sezzle stock is down today: the most likely drivers (and what’s not showing up)
As of this writing, there isn’t a single dominant, fresh company-specific headline driving Sezzle lower today. Instead, the setup around SEZL makes it unusually sensitive to normal market micro-dynamics:
1) Holiday-thin liquidity can amplify volatility
When volume is light, price moves can look “louder” than the news cycle. AP specifically flagged expectations for light trading on Dec. 26. [3]
2) SEZL trades like a high-octane momentum stock (because it is one)
TradingView lists SEZL with a beta around 2.32 and elevated volatility—traits that tend to magnify both rallies and pullbacks. [4]
3) Heavy short interest can add fuel to both directions
MarketBeat data shows Sezzle had about 5.34 million shares sold short as of Dec. 15, 2025, roughly 30.98% of the float, with a “days to cover” figure around 4.6. That kind of positioning can contribute to sharper daily moves—down or up—especially around catalysts or in thin markets. [5]
Bottom line: SEZL’s drop today can plausibly be explained by year-end risk management + thin liquidity + high-beta behavior, without requiring any single “shock” headline.
The big Sezzle catalysts investors are pricing right now
1) Sezzle authorized a new $100 million stock repurchase program (after finishing the prior $50 million)
On Dec. 15, 2025, Sezzle announced its board authorized an additional $100 million in share repurchases after completing a $50 million program initially announced in March. The company said that across its repurchase programs it has bought back about 2.9 million shares at an average price of $24.03. [6]
CEO Charlie Youakim framed the move as a reflection of Sezzle’s “strong financial position” and a view that the market environment offers an attractive opportunity to enhance shareholder value. [7]
Why investors care:
A buyback can provide a structural bid—but it’s not a guarantee. Sezzle’s authorization has no fixed expiration and repurchases may be adjusted or paused depending on conditions. [8]
2) Sezzle joined the S&P SmallCap 600: potential index-fund flow support
Sezzle announced it would join the S&P SmallCap 600, effective after the market close on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. [9]
S&P’s index change notice also indicated inclusion would be effective prior to the opening of trading on Dec. 15, 2025 (the next session after that Dec. 12 close). [10]
Why investors care:
Index additions can trigger mechanical buying from funds that track the benchmark, as well as broaden visibility among institutions that screen by index membership.
3) Product engagement and “platform-ification”: MoneyIQ milestone
On Dec. 18, 2025, Sezzle said its in-app financial literacy program MoneyIQ surpassed one million lessons completed by 200,000+ users in less than a year. [11]
The company also cited survey-based improvements in reported financial confidence among users (and disclosed MoneyIQ is powered by Zogo and mapped to national personal finance education standards). [12]
Why investors care:
This isn’t just feel-good PR. Sezzle is trying to strengthen retention and frequency—key levers for BNPL economics—by turning the app into more than a checkout button.
4) Sezzle is exploring a bank charter strategy (industrial loan company)
Payments Dive reported that Sezzle has expressed interest in securing a bank charter—specifically exploring an industrial loan company (ILC) approach—partly to reduce exposure to a patchwork of state oversight. CEO Charlie Youakim said an ILC could move Sezzle “one step further away” from state-level BNPL regulatory fights, and the company may apply in Utah next year. [13]
This is showing up as a broader industry theme: the FDIC has also been engaging the public on industrial banks/ILCs via requests for information and comment. [14]
Why investors care:
If Sezzle ultimately becomes a direct lender via a chartered structure, it could change funding, margins, compliance obligations, and competitive positioning. It’s a potential upside lever—but also a regulatory/time-to-execution risk.
5) The Shopify litigation remains a real overhang (and a potential optionality)
Sezzle sued Shopify in an antitrust dispute tied to BNPL placement and merchant checkout options. Payments Dive reported Sezzle’s claim that Shopify “rigged” the checkout experience and imposed penalties related to using non-Shopify BNPL, while Shopify argued Sezzle is misapplying antitrust law and sought dismissal. [15]
From a public docket snapshot on Justia, Shopify’s motion to dismiss had a noticed hearing date of Dec. 8, 2025. However, Justia also notes its docket view was last retrieved on Dec. 2, 2025 and that newer entries may require PACER access—meaning investors shouldn’t assume the public snapshot reflects the latest court action. [16]
Sezzle itself discussed the motion-to-dismiss timeline in its SEC filing, including the scheduled hearing date. [17]
Why investors care:
Litigation can be a distraction cost and a headline risk, but it can also represent optionality if the case materially changes platform behavior or results in remedies. The market tends to discount this until there’s a clear procedural milestone.
Sezzle earnings: what the most recent results said about growth and profitability
In its Q3 2025 earnings call coverage, Sezzle reported:
- Revenue up 67% YoY to $116.8 million
- Its first $1 billion GMV quarter (GMV up 58.7%)
- Adjusted EBITDA up 74.6% to $39.6 million
- Raised 2025 adjusted EBITDA guidance to $175–$180 million [18]
Management also reiterated confidence that BNPL still has substantial runway, and discussed leveraging AI to improve productivity and scale. [19]
Earlier in 2025, Sezzle also provided detailed guidance and targets in an SEC-filed exhibit, including FY2025 revenue growth guidance of 60–65% and an adjusted EPS target for FY2026 of $4.35 (among other metrics). [20]
A quick valuation reality check:
Using the $4.35 adjusted EPS target as a reference point (not a guarantee), a ~$70 share price implies a forward multiple in the mid-teens—if Sezzle hits those targets. That’s why the stock can behave like a coiled spring: the market is constantly recalibrating the probability of “targets achieved” versus “targets missed.”
Analyst forecasts and price targets for SEZL stock: what the Street is modeling
Across multiple mainstream market-data aggregators, the analyst target band is strikingly consistent:
- TradingView shows analyst estimates ranging from $83 (low) to $111 (high). [21]
- Zacks also cites a target range of $83 to $111. [22]
- Investing.com’s consensus estimates cite an average target around the low-$100s with 4 analysts contributing, and a consensus leaning bullish (with a mix of buy/hold). [23]
How to interpret this (without fooling yourself):
Price targets are models, not prophecies. For SEZL specifically, small changes in assumptions around credit losses, funding costs, take-rate sustainability, and regulatory burden can swing targets dramatically—because the business is still in a rapid scaling phase.
If you’re trading or investing SEZL: what to watch into the close and before the next session
Even though the exchange is open right now (midday in New York), it’s smart to think one session ahead—especially during the last week of the year.
Key things investors watch before the closing bell
- Volume vs. average: Thin sessions can reverse sharply in the final hour. [24]
- Risk-on/risk-off tone: With indices near flat, any sudden macro headline can swing high-beta stocks disproportionately.
- Sezzle-specific flow: SEZL’s volatility profile (high beta) means late-day flows can matter more than usual. [25]
What matters before the next earnings print
Earnings-date estimates differ by provider, and the “true” date can change once the company formally confirms it:
- Zacks lists Feb. 24, 2026 for the next report. [26]
- TradingView and Investing.com list Mar. 2, 2026. [27]
- TipRanks also shows Mar. 2, 2026 in its earnings table. [28]
Investor takeaway: treat the next earnings timing as late Feb to early March 2026 until Sezzle confirms.
The “big three” thesis variables for 2026 positioning
- Capital returns: Will Sezzle actively deploy the $100M repurchase authorization, and at what pace? [29]
- Regulatory architecture: Does Sezzle move forward with an ILC/bank charter path—and how do regulators respond? [30]
- Platform risk / litigation: Any procedural update in the Shopify case could become a volatility trigger, even if fundamentals are unchanged. [31]
The weird, honest conclusion
Sezzle stock is the kind of name where fundamentals and flow both matter—and sometimes flow wins in the short run, especially in a thin holiday market.
Fundamentally, Sezzle is stacking real catalysts: a fresh $100M buyback authorization, S&P SmallCap 600 inclusion, strong recent growth/profitability metrics, and a strategy conversation around charter/regulatory positioning. [32]
Structurally, SEZL trades with high beta and heavy short interest, which can turn any quiet session into a surprisingly dramatic one. [33]
References
1. apnews.com, 2. apnews.com, 3. apnews.com, 4. www.tradingview.com, 5. www.marketbeat.com, 6. www.globenewswire.com, 7. www.globenewswire.com, 8. www.globenewswire.com, 9. www.globenewswire.com, 10. www.prnewswire.com, 11. www.globenewswire.com, 12. www.globenewswire.com, 13. www.paymentsdive.com, 14. www.federalregister.gov, 15. www.paymentsdive.com, 16. dockets.justia.com, 17. www.sec.gov, 18. www.investing.com, 19. www.investing.com, 20. www.sec.gov, 21. www.tradingview.com, 22. www.zacks.com, 23. www.investing.com, 24. apnews.com, 25. www.tradingview.com, 26. www.zacks.com, 27. www.tradingview.com, 28. www.tipranks.com, 29. www.globenewswire.com, 30. www.paymentsdive.com, 31. www.paymentsdive.com, 32. www.globenewswire.com, 33. www.tradingview.com
