Sydney, Feb 16, 2026, 18:10 AEDT — Market closed
Zip Co Ltd clawed back some ground Monday, as shares finished up 5.46% at A$2.51. That move helped offset Friday’s 8.46% slide. Trading was heavy—about 23.3 million shares switched hands, according to data. (MarketScreener)
The buy-now-pay-later group plans to release its half-year results for the period ending Dec. 31, 2025, on Thursday, Feb. 19, with a conference call set for 10:00 a.m. AEDT. Investors get another look at growth and credit performance—a sector that’s just come through a volatile run for high-beta stocks. (Yourir)
The S&P/ASX 200 in Australia picked up 0.22% Monday, according to Market Index’s evening wrap, as tech shares snapped back sharply and took some pressure off iron ore majors. The renewed appetite for risk gave battered smaller and growth stocks a chance to catch their breath. (Market Index)
Zip’s business is buy now, pay later—shoppers break up their bills into instalments, typically interest-free if they meet the schedule. But the success of that setup hinges less on headline growth and more on how well Zip manages credit quality and what it pays to fund those loans.
Eyes are on late payments and bad debt levels—any movement there could be telling. The Street also wants to see if customers keep spending and if new merchants are still joining up. Guidance is key, since tweaks to marketing budgets or risk settings can swing earnings fast.
Zip runs its business in Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S.—and this earnings update zeroes in on its crucial holiday half. The U.S. operation stands out as a wild card for Zip’s stock, with more intense competition and shifts in consumer credit moving quickly there.
Market jitters are still in play. “If the mega-cap technology companies announce a pause in capital expenditure, that might lead to a sharp correction,” wrote Nick Ferres, chief investment officer at Vantage Point, in a note focused on Asian markets. (Reuters)
Zip faces off with Block’s Afterpay in Australia, while in the U.S., Affirm is frequently seen as a benchmark for buy-now-pay-later appetite. Shifts in rate expectations and risk tolerance tied to those players tend to ripple back into Zip.
Still, Thursday’s figures might wipe out Monday’s gains just as fast. If credit losses tick higher, merchant growth slows, or management sounds wary about U.S. operations, the stock may find itself back under pressure.
Market participants tracking Zip have an eye on Feb. 19, waiting to hear what management lays out on the call. Traders are sifting through this week’s local headlines, with Reserve Bank of Australia minutes and fresh employment data offering potential signals on rates and household finances, according to local media. (News)
