NEW YORK, July 21, 2026, 07:07 EDT — U.S. equity markets traded in premarket hours.
- Nu has reached a deal to acquire all shares of Banco Porto Real. The terms of the deal were not revealed.
- The target’s assets represent roughly 0.008% of Nu’s $77.46 billion in total assets.
- An initial premarket indication put Nu at $14.08, an increase of 0.64%.
Nu Holdings Ltd. NYSE:NU reached a deal to acquire Banco Porto Real after markets shut on Monday. The transaction will provide Nu’s regulated group with a Brazilian banking license.
The financial impact is minimal. As of March, Banco Porto Real reported assets totalling R$32.1 million.
Based on Tuesday’s exchange rate, the amount is approximately $6.3 million. As of the end of March, Nu reported total assets of $77.46 billion.
The March comparison is based on the dollar rate of 5.0928 reais from Tuesday.
| March 2026 scale comparison | Value |
|---|---|
| Total assets of Banco Porto Real | R$32.1 million, equivalent to around US$6.3 million |
| Total assets of Nu Holdings | US$77.46 billion |
| Target assets as percentage of Nu | 0.008% |
| Nu’s assets versus target | Roughly 12,300-fold |
The target represents about 0.8 basis points of Nu’s assets. The acquisition leaves an unusually large balance-sheet gap.
The numbers clarify the intention: this transaction is regulatory in nature, rather than aimed at expanding the balance sheet.
Nu stated that the acquisition complies with Joint Resolution No. 17 regarding institutional naming. The company revealed details of its licensing strategy in December 2025.
The significance of that license is underscored by Brazil’s role, with over 115 million of Nu’s 135.2 million customers based there as of March.
This places Brazil at over 85% of the group’s customers. Nu stated that its app, products, services and name will stay the same.
David Vélez, founder and global CEO, stated that Brazil remains Nu’s “main focus.” He added that the company has room to “significantly expand our share” in the market. Nu International
Nu stated that the acquired license does not bring additional capital or liquidity requirements. The deal remains subject to approval from the Brazilian Central Bank.
Operating performance sets the earnings context. Managerial revenue for the first quarter increased 42% on an FX-neutral basis to $5.32 billion.
Net income totaled $871.4 million, yielding a return on equity of 29%. Deposits increased 22% from a year earlier to $42.4 billion.
Credit risk trends showed less improvement. Early-stage delinquencies increased by 89 basis points from the previous quarter, reaching 5.0%. The risk-adjusted margin decreased by 100 basis points to 9.5%.
Nu finished Monday’s session at $13.99, a gain of 2.94%. News of the acquisition was released following the 4 p.m. market close.
An initial premarket indication quoted $14.08, an increase of 0.64%, at 7:02 a.m. EDT. This represented the first market level seen following the announcement.
Between July 10 and July 17, the shares declined by 1.2%, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 2.8% in the same period.
No quarterly earnings are expected this week. Investors are focused on the terms of the deal and when approval may come. Nu is set to report its next earnings on August 13.
Risks: The value of the deal and the expected closing date have not been revealed. Approval from the central bank is necessary. Margins may face strain if credit quality worsens, following a rise in first-quarter delinquencies.
Related articles: NYSE:NU
