Chinese fintech 360 Finance gets a boost after management announces $60 million investment

In a move suggesting rising confidence in the stock, 360 Finance, Inc. (NASDAQ: QFIN) has said the company and its major shareholder, FountainVest Partners, as well as the board Chairman Hongyi Zhou would raise their holding in the stock over the next 12 months by up to $60 million.  

This comes in the backdrop of better-than-expected revenues in the third quarter, backed by a steady increase in loan originations. Despite relatively consistent earnings performance, the stock has taken a beating due to unfavorable market conditions.

The latest announcement is an indication that the management feels the stock is highly undervalued, given its upside potential and stable growth. QFIN stock ended Wednesday’s trading session up almost 9%.

Zhou, who is also the CEO of internet security firm Qihoo 360, said in a statement, “This reflects our confidence in the company’s business prospects and our long-term commitment to its strategy. I’m proud of the achievements the company has made over the past few years in serving inclusive finance.”

360 Finance is a spin-off of Qihoo 360, which is one of the largest internet companies in China.

Last month, the Chinese fintech company had inked a deal with Ruby Finance Investment, which is the investment arm of FountainVest Partners. As part of the deal, the latter purchased over 11.5 million ADS of 360 Finance stock from multiple holders. Continued collaboration with FountainVest is likely to ensure sustained investment flow in the coming quarters.  

LISTEN TO: 360 Finance Q3 2019 earnings conference call

360 Finance facilitates the delivery of unsecured, online loans to borrowers, mainly for consumption-spending and as a supplement to credit cards. Most of the funding comes from financial institution partners who serve the borrowers through the company’s digital platform.

The company had earlier this year announced its plans to enter into the highly-competitive group buying e-commerce sector. Though there have been uncertainties around this ambitious move, the latest reports indicate that talks are heading in the right direction.   

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