Nu Holdings (NYSE:NU) declines ahead of Q2 as attention shifts to credit costs
7 August 2026

Nu Holdings (NYSE:NU) declines ahead of Q2 as attention shifts to credit costs

NEW YORK, August 7, 2026, 13:08 EDT (U.S. market open)

  • Nu dropped 1.3% as of midday, while the S&P 500 rose 0.45%.
  • Early Q2 consensus projects earnings at $0.20 per share, compared to $0.21 per share a month earlier.
  • Risk-adjusted margin remains the key metric, with Q1 allowances up 33%.

Shares of Nu Holdings Ltd. slipped 1.3% to $13.93 on Friday, underperforming the S&P 500, which gained 0.45%. Over the course of the week, the stock lost roughly 2.8%.

Stock chart for NYSE:NU

Brazilian fintechs saw weakness persist in their shares. Nu experienced a less steep decline compared to Inter & Co Inc. and StoneCo Ltd. , while its performance was similar to PagSeguro Digital Ltd. .

CompanyPrice near 12:52 EDTMove on the dayMarket capitalization
Nu Holdings $13.93-1.3%$66.65 billion
Inter & Co $5.42-5.2%$2.38 billion
StoneCo $10.68-3.6%$3.30 billion
PagSeguro Digital $9.24-1.3%$3.04 billion

Recent company updates were largely procedural. At Thursday’s annual meeting, shareholders backed the 2025 accounts with 99.88% approval and re-appointed nine directors with 96.23% support.

Nu announced its Mexican unit will launch commercial-bank activities on August 6. The unit has over 15 million customers. Attaining full-bank status is expected to expand product offerings, though it will also increase execution requirements.

The more challenging test comes after U.S. markets close on August 13. Early estimates project Q2 earnings at $0.20 per share, around 11% higher than the rounded Q1 figure of $0.18.

The projection has decreased. It was $0.21 both a month and three months earlier. The consensus for full-year 2026 has declined to $0.84 from $0.87.

Preliminary EPS forecastLatestOne month priorThree months priorDifference from three months prior
Q2 2026$0.20$0.21$0.21-4.8%
Q3 2026$0.22$0.22$0.23-4.3%
Full-year 2026$0.84$0.85$0.87-3.4%
Full-year 2027$1.11$1.11$1.15-3.5%

The updated version is significant as Q1 highlighted a steeper credit trade-off. The portfolio increased by 7% quarter-on-quarter and 40% year-on-year, climbing to $37.2 billion. Credit-loss provisions were up 33%, totalling $1.79 billion.

Risk-adjusted net interest margin declined by 100 basis points to reach 9.5%. Early-stage delinquencies increased by 89 basis points to 5.0%. The loan-to-deposit ratio rose to 58.3% from 49.1%.

Credit and efficiency measureQ1 2026Change from Q4 2025
Credit-loss allowances$1.79 billionup 33%
Risk-adjusted NIM9.5%down 100 basis points
15–90 day NPL ratio5.0%higher by 89 basis points
90-day-plus NPL ratio6.5%10 basis points lower
Loan-to-deposit ratio58.3%increase of 9.2 percentage points
Efficiency ratio17.6%decrease of 2.3 percentage points

Offsetting factors were present. Delinquencies over ninety days declined to 6.5%. The efficiency ratio advanced to 17.6%, with net income totaling $871 million. Return on equity stood at 29%.

Executives emphasized a disciplined approach on Thursday. David Vélez, founder and CEO, stated that Nu relies on a “pessimist bias” when underwriting. Newly appointed CFO Rob Livingston described maintaining continuity as his “first priority.” Nubank International

Analysts remain broadly positive though optimism has eased somewhat. There are now 17 buy ratings, three holds, one underweight, and one sell. Three months earlier, the figures stood at 18 buys, two holds, and one sell.

Analyst ratingNowOne month priorPast three months
Buy171718
Overweight010
Hold322
Underweight110
Sell111
ConsensusOverweightOverweightBuy

The median price target stands at $18, representing an approximate 29% premium to the present share price. Estimates range between $10 and $22. This substantial gap suggests credit quality will likely play a decisive role.

Nu holds approval for a $1 billion buyback program valid until June 3, 2027, representing about 1.5% of its present market capitalisation. The repurchase initiative is optional and does not constitute a guaranteed price minimum.

Risks: As lending growth continues, initial delinquencies may further increase. Higher international investment levels could counteract improvements in efficiency. Execution risks are heightened by Mexico’s transition and upcoming U.S. market launch.

Investors are primarily focused on four Q2 figures: risk-adjusted NIM, allowances, early NPLs, and loan-to-deposit. An upside on revenue is unlikely to resolve the discussion. A rebound in margins might.

TS2 TECH • EXTENDED COVERAGE

Further analysis

What is the upcoming pivotal event for NU stock?
NU shares were at $13.93, falling 1.35%, as of 16:49 UTC on August 7. The company’s market capitalization stood near $66.6 billion. Second-quarter results are due August 13 following the close of trading. The first quarter was strong, posting revenue over $5 billion, net income of $871 million, and ROE of 29%.
Is Nu able to expand credit while maintaining risk-adjusted returns?
The credit portfolio grew 40% from a year earlier to $37.2 billion. Early-stage delinquencies increased by 89 basis points from the previous quarter to 5.0%. Credit-loss allowances rose 33% quarter-on-quarter to $1.79 billion. The risk-adjusted net interest margin decreased by 100 basis points to 9.5%. Second-quarter results will reveal whether seasonal pressures have started to ease.
Is Mexico positioned as a bigger driver of profits now?
Nu will launch full-scale banking operations in Mexico on August 6. The subsidiary currently has a customer base exceeding 15 million. It posted its first break-even in the opening quarter. Achieving full banking status enables it to expand credit, payment, and savings offerings. Revenue opportunities could increase, but Nu did not provide a short-term profit outlook.
To what extent will U.S. growth impact efficiency?
Nu has set U.S. entry costs at a maximum of 100 basis points across two years. The efficiency ratio improved to 17.6% in Q1, down from 19.9% in Q4. Management continues to forecast full-year efficiency aligning with the projected 2025 exit level. While cost controls are defined, the return on revenue remains unclear.
Does the acquisition of Banco Porto Real represent a growth-focused deal?
Largely not. Nu has entered an agreement to acquire all shares of Banco Porto Real, securing a banking license in Brazil. This acquisition is intended to comply with updated naming regulations for regulated entities. After closing, Nu does not anticipate further capital or liquidity needs. The transaction still requires approval from the Brazilian Central Bank.
Iwona Majkowska

Iwona Majkowska is a financial markets journalist at TS2.tech, specializing in stocks, artificial intelligence and technology. A graduate of the Warsaw School of Economics, she previously worked in equity research and financial analysis before focusing on market reporting. Her daily coverage helps investors follow major developments across U.S. and global markets. Follow Iwona Majkowska on Google News.

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