Nu Holdings stock jumps 5% to near $18 — what’s driving NU and what investors watch next

Nu Holdings stock jumps 5% to near $18 — what’s driving NU and what investors watch next

New York, Jan 5, 2026, 21:21 EST — Market closed

Nu Holdings Ltd (NU.N), the parent of Brazilian digital lender Nubank, gained 5.4% on Monday to about $17.94 after trading between $17.02 and $18.14. Volume topped 74 million shares.

The move matters now because NU is pushing into the $18 handle just as investors start to price in the first wave of quarterly results and recalibrate risk after a strong 2025 run for equities.

It also leaves the stock closer to where many analysts peg fair value, raising the bar for the next catalyst to keep the rally intact.

Financial stocks set the tone on Wall Street, with the sector leading broader gains. “The mood has been favoring financial stocks in recent days,” said Steve Sosnick, chief market analyst at Interactive Brokers. Reuters

Brazil-linked lenders rose alongside Nu, with Itaú Unibanco (ITUB.N) up about 2% and Banco Bradesco (BBD.N) up roughly 4.8% in U.S. trading.

In its most recent results, Nu reported third-quarter net income of $783 million, up 39% on a currency-neutral basis — stripping out exchange-rate swings — and posted a record 31% return on equity, a measure of profit per dollar of shareholder capital, Reuters reported in November. Reuters

Regulation has stayed on the radar. Nubank said in December it intends to obtain a banking license in Brazil in 2026 by adding a banking institution to its conglomerate, while keeping its brand and visual identity unchanged.

Analysts tracked by MarketBeat have an average 12-month price target of $18.04 for NU, with estimates ranging from $16 to $21. MarketBeat

MarketBeat lists Nu’s next earnings date as an estimate for Feb. 19, after market close, and notes the company has not confirmed the timing.

But the run leaves Nu exposed if risk appetite fades or if credit losses rise in its consumer loan book, especially in a higher-rate or weaker-growth environment across its core markets.

For Tuesday’s session, traders will watch whether NU can hold above the $18 area, with support around $17. Macro focus turns to the U.S. Employment Situation report for December, due Friday at 8:30 a.m. ET.

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