Earnings season volatility: BitMine, Lemonade, Sezzle, Kemper experience largest weekly swings

Several companies, including BitMine, Lemonade, Sezzle, and Kemper, experienced significant weekly swings during the earnings season. The Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) rose 0.9% despite trailing the S&P 500 Index. Earnings reports played a significant role in shaping the financials sector's performance.

The recent earnings season has been a rollercoaster ride for several companies in the financial sector, with notable weekly swings impacting stock prices. The Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF), which tracks the performance of the financial sector, edged up 0.9% in the week ended Aug. 8, 2025, despite trailing the broader S&P 500 Index [1][2].

Among the key movers, Sezzle (SEZL) reported robust Q2 2025 earnings, with a 76.4% year-over-year (YoY) revenue growth to $98.70 million, exceeding expectations [1]. Despite a 5.7% earnings per share (EPS) decline, net income hit a 5-year high of $27.60 million. However, Sezzle's stock fell 44.9% month-to-date (MTD) post-earnings, contrasting with a 3-year post-earnings strategy yielding 1,158.66% returns [1]. The company highlighted strategic scaling through intentional investments, with a 6.8pp operating margin expansion to 36.6% of Total Revenue.

BitMine, Lemonade, and Kemper also experienced significant weekly swings during the earnings season. While Sezzle's stock fell post-earnings, other companies in the sector saw varying levels of performance. The Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) experienced a $169.5 million outflow, a 0.3% decrease week over week, while Citigroup (C), Blackstone (BX), and Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) rose by 1.2%, 0.9%, and 0.5% respectively [3].

The sector's mixed performance reflects broader market caution and regulatory changes [2]. Synchrony Financial (SYF) has outperformed the broader market over the past year, gaining 54.5% compared to the S&P 500 Index's 21.9% gains [2]. However, on a year-to-date (YTD) basis, SYF's stock is up 5.3% compared to the SPX's 7.8% gains [2].

In summary, while Sezzle delivered strong Q2 earnings, the financial sector as represented by XLF saw outflows. The sector's complexity and broader market caution continue to influence investor sentiment.

References:
[1] https://www.ainvest.com/news/sezzle-2025-q2-earnings-strong-performance-net-income-surges-7-2508/
[2] https://www.ainvest.com/news/financial-sector-etf-xlf-experiences-169-5-million-outflow-2508/
[3] https://seekingalpha.com/news/4482859-bitmine-lemonade-sezzle-kemper-record-biggest-weekly-swings-in-heat-of-earnings-season?feed_item_type=news