Stock Market Update, Dec. 17: Nu Holdings Declines as Mixed Institutional Actions Indicate Uncertainty
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 17 2025
0mins
Source: NASDAQ.COM
Nu Holdings Stock Performance: Nu Holdings closed at $15.86, down 2.10%, with trading volume significantly above its three-month average, reflecting investor concerns about sustaining profitability gains amid mixed institutional ownership signals.
Market Context: The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite also experienced declines, indicating a broader downturn in the market, particularly affecting Latin American financial stocks like Banco Macro and Grupo Financiero Galicia.
Institutional Ownership Changes: Recent 13F filings showed contrasting actions from asset managers regarding Nu Holdings, with Assenagon Asset Management increasing its stake by nearly 92%, while Salem Investment Counselors reduced its position slightly, suggesting differing strategies rather than fundamental concerns.
Investment Insights: The Motley Fool recommends Nu Holdings and highlights the potential benefits of following their stock tips, noting their Stock Advisor's impressive average return compared to the S&P 500.
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Analyst Views on NU
Wall Street analysts forecast NU stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for NU is 18.80 USD with a low forecast of 16.00 USD and a high forecast of 22.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
9 Analyst Rating
7 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 18.760
Low
16.00
Averages
18.80
High
22.00
Current: 18.760
Low
16.00
Averages
18.80
High
22.00
About NU
Nu Holdings Ltd is a Brazil-based holding company, which engages in the provision of digital banking services. The Company offers its customers products across the five financial seasons: spending, saving, investing, borrowing, and protecting. Its spending solutions are designed to help customers pay for goods and services in their everyday lives with a customized credit line or instantly through a mobile phone, while collecting loyalty points and rewards on applicable transactions. Its savings solutions are designed to help customers deposit, manage, and save their money in interest-earning accounts with complementary debit cards. Its investing solutions are designed to help customers invest their money in investment products and services. Its borrowing solutions are designed to provide customers with unsecured loans that are easy to receive, manage, and pay back. Its protecting solutions are designed to help customers secure life insurance and funeral benefits.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Comparing Investment Opportunities: JPMorgan Chase vs. Nu Holdings
- Stock Performance: JPMorgan Chase has achieved a total return of 156% over the past five years, indicating strong performance in the financial sector; however, its current price-to-book ratio of 2.4 is 33% above its five-year average, prompting investors to exercise caution.
- Financial Health: In Q4 2025, JPMorgan Chase reported a 7% year-over-year revenue growth with a net profit margin of 31%, showcasing its excellent risk management and operational discipline, which, despite its high stock price, continues to attract market interest.
- Nu Holdings Growth Potential: Nu Holdings, a digital bank, boasts 110 million customers, representing 60% of Brazil's adult population, and achieved a remarkable 42% revenue growth in Q3 2023, highlighting its strong expansion potential in the Latin American market.
- Future Expectations: Although Nu's price-to-book ratio of 8.3 is significantly higher than JPMorgan's, analysts project a 178% growth in earnings per share from 2024 to 2027, indicating substantial future growth potential that makes it an attractive option for investors.
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Nubank Receives Approval to Establish New U.S. Bank
- New Bank Approval: Nubank has received approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to establish a new bank in the U.S., aiming to launch deposit accounts, credit cards, and digital asset custody under a comprehensive federal framework, thereby expanding its financial services.
- Organization Phase Initiation: Nubank is now in the bank organization phase, where it must meet specific OCC conditions and obtain approvals from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the Federal Reserve, with plans to fully capitalize the institution within 12 months and open the bank within 18 months.
- Strategic Market Expansion: CEO David Vélez stated that this expansion is not only an opportunity for business growth but also a chance to validate the importance of a digital-first, customer-centric financial services model for the future globally.
- Leadership Team Adjustment: The newly established Nubank, N.A. will be led by co-founder Cristina Junqueira, who has relocated to the U.S., while former Central Bank of Brazil president Roberto Campos Neto will serve as chairman of the board, enhancing the company's leadership and market adaptability.
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