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Enova Reports Third Quarter 2024 Results

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Strong top-line growth with total company revenue increasing 25% and originations increasing 28% from the third quarter of 2023Diluted earnings per share of $1.57 increased 22% and adjusted earnings per share of $2.45 increased 63% compared to the third quarter of 2023Credit performance remained strong compared to a year ago with lower consolidated net charge-off and delinquency ratios, a stable net revenue margin and a higher fair value premium on the total company portfolioLiquidity, including cash and marketable securities and available capacity on facilities, totaled $1.2 billion at September 30

CHICAGO, Oct. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Enova International (NYSE: ENVA), a leading financial services company powered by machine learning and world-class analytics, today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024. 

“For the second quarter in a row, we generated annual growth above 25% in originations, revenue and adjusted EPS as we continue to leverage our world-class machine learning risk management algorithms and sophisticated unit economic framework to swiftly adapt to the operating environment,” said David Fisher, Enova’s CEO. “Both our consumer and small business customers are performing well, resulting in solid credit performance across our portfolio.  Looking forward, our diversified product offerings and strong competitive position coupled with a constructive, macroeconomic environment position us well for continued financial success.”

Third Quarter 2024 Summary

Total revenue of $690 million in the third quarter of 2024 increased 25% from $551 million in the third quarter of 2023.Net revenue margin of 58% in the third quarter of 2024, consistent with the third quarter of 2023, reflecting continued solid credit performance.Net income of $43 million, or $1.57 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2024 increased 22% from $41 million, or $1.29 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2023.Third quarter 2024 adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, of $172 million increased 42% from $121 million in the third quarter of 2023.Adjusted earnings of $68 million, or $2.45 per diluted share, both non-GAAP measures, in the third quarter of 2024 increased from $48 million, or $1.50 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2023.Total company combined loans and finance receivables increased 23% from the end of third quarter of 2023 to a record $3.8 billion with total company originations of $1.6 billion in the quarter.Repurchased $23 million of common stock under the company’s share repurchase program.

“Our ability to deliver strong top and bottom-line results that are in line or better than our expectations reflects the solid footing of our consumer and small business customers and the powerful combination of our diversified product offerings, scalable operating model and world-class risk management capabilities,” said Steve Cunningham, CFO of Enova. “Our solid balance sheet should provide tailwinds to our future profitability in a falling interest rate environment while enabling our ability to both efficiently fund growth and return significant capital to shareholders through share repurchases.”

For information regarding the non-GAAP financial measures discussed in this release, please see “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and “Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.

Conference Call

Enova will host a conference call to discuss its third quarter 2024 results at 4 p.m. Central Time / 5 p.m. Eastern Time today, October 22nd. The live webcast of the call can be accessed at the Enova Investor Relations website at http://ir.enova.com, along with the company’s earnings press release and supplemental financial information. The U.S. dial-in for the call is 1-855-560-2575 (1-412-542-4161 for non-U.S. callers). Please ask to join the Enova International call. A replay of the conference call will be available until October 29, 2024, at 10:59 p.m. Central Time / 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, while an archived version of the webcast will be available on the Enova International Investor Relations website for 90 days. The U.S. dial-in for the conference call replay is 1-877-344-7529 (1-412-317-0088). The replay access code is 6898465.

About Enova

Enova International (NYSE: ENVA) is a leading financial services company with powerful online lending that serves small businesses and consumers who are underserved by traditional banks. Through its world-class analytics and machine learning algorithms, Enova has provided more than 11.1 million customers with over $58 billion in loans and financing. You can learn more about the company and its portfolio of businesses at www.enova.com.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 about the business, financial condition and prospects of Enova. These forward-looking statements give current expectations or forecasts of future events and reflect the views and assumptions of Enova’s senior management with respect to the business, financial condition and prospects of Enova as of the date of this release and are not guarantees of future performance. The actual results of Enova could differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements because of various risks and uncertainties applicable to Enova’s business, including, without limitation, those risks and uncertainties indicated in Enova’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Forms 10-Q and current reports on Forms 8-K. These risks and uncertainties are beyond the ability of Enova to control, and, in many cases, Enova cannot predict all of the risks and uncertainties that could cause its actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. When used in this release, the words “believes,” “estimates,” “plans,” “expects,” “anticipates” and similar expressions or variations as they relate to Enova or its management are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Enova cautions you not to put undue reliance on these statements. Enova disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date of this release.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to the financial information prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, Enova provides historical non-GAAP financial information. Management believes that presentation of non-GAAP financial information is meaningful and useful in understanding the activities and business metrics of Enova’s operations. Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures reflect an additional way of viewing aspects of Enova’s business that, when viewed with its GAAP results, provide a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting its business.

Management provides non-GAAP financial information for informational purposes and to enhance understanding of Enova’s GAAP consolidated financial statements. Readers should consider the information in addition to, but not instead of or superior to, Enova’s financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. This non-GAAP financial information may be determined or calculated differently by other companies, limiting the usefulness of those measures for comparative purposes.

Combined Loans and Finance Receivables
The combined loans and finance receivables measures are non-GAAP measures that include loans and finance receivables that Enova owns or has purchased and loans that Enova guarantees. Management believes these non-GAAP measures provide investors with important information needed to evaluate the magnitude of potential receivable losses and the opportunity for revenue performance of the loans and finance receivable portfolio on an aggregate basis. Management also believes that the comparison of the aggregate amounts from period to period is more meaningful than comparing only the amounts reflected on Enova’s consolidated balance sheet since revenue is impacted by the aggregate amount of receivables owned by Enova and those guaranteed by Enova as reflected in its consolidated financial statements.

Adjusted Earnings Measures
In addition to reporting financial results in accordance with GAAP, Enova has provided adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings per share, or, collectively, the Adjusted Earnings Measures, which are non-GAAP measures. Management believes that the presentation of these measures provides investors with greater transparency and facilitates comparison of operating results across a broad spectrum of companies with varying capital structures, compensation strategies, derivative instruments and amortization methods, which provides a more complete understanding of Enova’s financial performance, competitive position and prospects for the future. Management also believes that investors regularly rely on non-GAAP financial measures, such as the Adjusted Earnings Measures, to assess operating performance and that such measures may highlight trends in Enova’s business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying on financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. In addition, management believes that the adjustments shown below are useful to investors in order to allow them to compare Enova’s financial results during the periods shown without the effect of each of these expense items.

Adjusted EBITDA Measures
In addition to reporting financial results in accordance with GAAP, Enova has provided Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin, or, collectively, the Adjusted EBITDA measures, which are non-GAAP measures. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure that Enova defines as earnings excluding depreciation, amortization, interest, foreign currency transaction gains or losses, taxes and stock-based compensation. In addition, management believes that the adjustments for other nonoperating expenses, equity method investment income or loss and certain transaction-related costs shown below are useful to investors in order to allow them to compare our financial results during the periods shown without the effect of the expense items. Adjusted EBITDA margin is a non-GAAP measure that Enova defines as Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of total revenue. Management believes Adjusted EBITDA Measures are used by investors to analyze operating performance and evaluate Enova’s ability to incur and service debt and Enova’s capacity for making capital expenditures. Adjusted EBITDA Measures are also useful to investors to help assess Enova’s estimated enterprise value.

ENOVA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(dollars in thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

September 30,

December 31,

2024

2023

2023

Assets

Cash and cash equivalents

$

67,500

$

62,908

$

54,357

Restricted cash

186,880

133,413

323,082

Loans and finance receivables at fair value

4,134,440

3,321,062

3,629,167

Income taxes receivable

66,290

65,664

44,129

Other receivables and prepaid expenses

68,926

58,624

71,982

Property and equipment, net

117,970

103,911

108,705

Operating lease right-of-use assets

12,705

15,984

14,251

Goodwill

279,275

279,275

279,275

Intangible assets, net

12,964

21,019

19,005

Other assets

28,746

41,193

41,583

Total assets

$

4,975,696

$

4,103,053

$

4,585,536

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

$

259,535

$

275,160

$

261,156

Operating lease liabilities

26,346

27,136

27,042

Deferred tax liabilities, net

217,387

96,942

113,350

Long-term debt

3,293,735

2,442,784

2,943,805

Total liabilities

3,797,003

2,842,022

3,345,353

Commitments and contingencies

Stockholders’ equity:

Common stock, $0.00001 par value, 250,000,000 shares authorized,
46,453,571, 45,140,504 and 45,339,814 shares issued and 26,266,846,
30,244,289 and 29,089,258 outstanding as of September 30, 2024 and
2023 and December 31, 2023, respectively

—

—

—

Preferred stock, $0.00001 par value, 25,000,000 shares authorized, no
shares issued and outstanding

—

—

—

Additional paid in capital

318,223

274,053

284,256

Retained earnings

1,634,059

1,453,538

1,488,306

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(9,422)

(7,203)

(6,264)

Treasury stock, at cost (20,186,725, 14,896,215 and 16,250,556
shares as of September 30, 2024 and 2023 and December 31, 2023,
respectively)

(764,167)

(459,357)

(526,115)

Total stockholders’ equity

1,178,693

1,261,031

1,240,183

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$

4,975,696

$

4,103,053

$

4,585,536

 

ENOVA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(in thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

September 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023

Revenue

$

689,924

$

551,360

$

1,928,249

$

1,534,047

Change in Fair Value

(289,568)

(231,749)

(811,836)

(629,161)

Net Revenue

400,356

319,611

1,116,413

904,886

Operating Expenses

Marketing

141,059

116,508

372,391

292,234

Operations and technology

56,628

51,686

165,960

147,816

General and administrative

38,916

37,731

118,489

111,117

Depreciation and amortization

10,039

9,954

30,011

29,123

Total Operating Expenses

246,642

215,879

686,851

580,290

Income from Operations

153,714

103,732

429,562

324,596

Interest expense, net

(76,902)

(48,666)

(213,453)

(137,571)

Foreign currency transaction (loss) gain

(95)

179

(162)

8

Equity method investment loss

(16,552)

(10)

(16,552)

(1,135)

Other nonoperating expenses

(4,678)

(25)

(5,691)

(279)

Income before Income Taxes

55,487

55,210

193,704

185,619

Provision for income taxes

12,073

13,925

47,951

45,266

Net income

$

43,414

$

41,285

$

145,753

$

140,353

Earnings Per Share

Earnings per common share:

Basic

$

1.64

$

1.35

$

5.36

$

4.53

Diluted

$

1.57

$

1.29

$

5.14

$

4.35

Weighted average common shares outstanding:

Basic

26,420

30,600

27,182

31,006

Diluted

27,711

31,902

28,382

32,269

 

ENOVA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW

(dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

Nine Months Ended September 30,

2024

2023

Total cash flows provided by operating activities

$

1,108,056

$

852,581

Cash flows from investing activities

Loans and finance receivables

(1,298,988)

(895,010)

Capitalization of software development costs and purchases of fixed assets

(33,244)

(33,429)

Total cash flows used in investing activities

(1,332,232)

(928,439)

Cash flows provided by financing activities

101,911

93,569

Effect of exchange rates on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

(794)

210

Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

(123,059)

17,921

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year

377,439

178,400

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period

$

254,380

$

196,321

 

ENOVA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

LOANS AND FINANCE RECEIVABLES FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA

(dollars in thousands)

 

The following table includes financial information for loans and finance receivables, which is based on loan and finance receivable balances for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023.

Three Months Ended September 30,

2024

2023

Change

Ending combined loan and finance receivable principal balance:

Company owned

$

3,593,366

$

2,904,686

$

688,680

Guaranteed by the Company(a)

18,292

13,684

4,608

Total combined loan and finance receivable principal balance(b)

$

3,611,658

$

2,918,370

$

693,288

Ending combined loan and finance receivable fair value balance:

Company owned

$

4,134,440

$

3,321,062

$

813,378

Guaranteed by the Company(a)

25,446

18,661

6,785

Ending combined loan and finance receivable fair value balance(b)

$

4,159,886

$

3,339,723

$

820,163

Fair value as a % of principal(c)

115.2

%

114.4

%

0.8

%

Ending combined loan and finance receivable balance, including
principal and accrued fees/interest outstanding:

Company owned

$

3,742,767

$

3,037,904

$

704,863

Guaranteed by the Company(a)

21,797

16,533

5,264

Ending combined loan and finance receivable balance(b)

$

3,764,564

$

3,054,437

$

710,127

Average combined loan and finance receivable balance, including
principal and accrued fees/interest outstanding:

Company owned(d)

$

3,658,014

$

2,947,494

$

710,520

Guaranteed by the Company(a)(d)

18,999

17,681

1,318

Average combined loan and finance receivable balance(a)(d)

$

3,677,013

$

2,965,175

$

711,838

Installment loans as percentage of average combined loan and finance receivable balance

45.9

%

53.0

%

(7.1)

%

Line of credit accounts as percentage of average combined loan and finance
receivable balance

54.1

%

47.0

%

7.1

%

Revenue

$

680,338

$

543,124

$

137,214

Change in fair value

(287,037)

(229,758)

(57,279)

Net revenue

393,301

313,366

79,935

Net revenue margin

57.8

%

57.7

%

0.1

%

Combined loan and finance receivable originations and purchases

$

1,613,920

$

1,261,186

$

352,734

Delinquencies:

>30 days delinquent

$

293,839

$

242,126

$

51,713

>30 days delinquent as a % of loan and finance receivable balance(c)

7.8

%

7.9

%

(0.1)

%

Charge-offs:

Charge-offs (net of recoveries)

$

309,325

$

277,903

$

31,422

Charge-offs (net of recoveries) as a % of average loan and finance receivable balance(d)

8.4

%

9.4

%

(1.0)

%

(a)

Represents loans originated by third-party lenders through the CSO programs, which are not included in our consolidated balance sheets.

(b)

Non-GAAP measure.

(c)

Determined using period-end balances.

(d)

The average combined loan and finance receivable balance is the average of the month-end balances during the period.

 

ENOVA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

(dollars in thousands, except per share data)

Adjusted Earnings Measures

Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

September 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023

Net income

$

43,414

$

41,285

$

145,753

$

140,353

Adjustments:

Transaction-related costs(a)

—

—

327

—

Lease termination and cease-use costs(b)

—

—

—

1,698

Equity method investment loss(c)

16,552

10

16,552

1,135

Other nonoperating expenses(d)

4,678

25

5,691

279

Intangible asset amortization

2,014

2,014

6,041

6,371

Stock-based compensation expense

8,116

7,075

23,519

19,280

Foreign currency transaction loss (gain)

95

(179)

162

(8)

Cumulative tax effect of adjustments

(6,949)

(2,228)

(12,181)

(7,163)

Adjusted earnings

$

67,920

$

48,002

$

185,864

$

161,945

Diluted earnings per share

$

1.57

$

1.29

$

5.14

$

4.35

Adjusted earnings per share

$

2.45

$

1.50

$

6.55

$

5.02

Adjusted EBITDA

Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

September 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023

Net income

$

43,414

$

41,285

$

145,753

$

140,353

Depreciation and amortization expenses

10,039

9,954

30,011

29,123

Interest expense, net

76,902

48,666

213,453

137,571

Foreign currency transaction loss (gain)

95

(179)

162

(8)

Provision for income taxes

12,073

13,925

47,951

45,266

Stock-based compensation expense

8,116

7,075

23,519

19,280

Adjustments:

Transaction-related costs(a)

—

—

327

—

Equity method investment loss(c)

16,552

10

16,552

1,135

Other nonoperating expenses(d)

4,678

25

5,691

279

Adjusted EBITDA

$

171,869

$

120,761

$

483,419

$

372,999

Adjusted EBITDA margin calculated as follows:

Total Revenue

$

689,924

$

551,360

$

1,928,249

$

1,534,047

Adjusted EBITDA

171,869

120,761

483,419

372,999

Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of total revenue

24.9

%

21.9

%

25.1

%

24.3

%

(a)

In the first quarter of 2024, the Company recorded $0.3 million ($0.2 million net of tax) of costs related to a consent solicitation for the Senior Notes due 2025.

(b)

In the first quarter of 2023, the Company recorded a loss of $1.7 million ($1.3 million net of tax) related to the exit of leased office space.

(c)

In the third quarter of 2024, the Company recorded an equity method investment loss of $16.6 million ($13.3 million net of tax) related to the write-down of its investment in Linear.

(d)

In the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2024, the Company recorded other nonoperating expenses of $4.7 million ($3.5 million net of tax) and $5.7 million ($4.3 million net of tax) related to early extinguishment of debt. In the nine-month period ended September 30, 2023, the Company recorded other nonoperating expenses of $0.3 million ($0.2 million net of tax) related to early extinguishment of debt.

 

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SOURCE Enova International, Inc.

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Graco® SnugRide® Turn & Slide™ Brings Unique Turn-and-Slide Innovation to Families

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Graco’s first-ever rotating infant car seat goes beyond turning alone, sliding baby closer to help make getting in and out of the car easier.

Turn & Slide goes beyond rotation alone, turning 180° toward the caregiver and gliding smoothly on and off the base to bring baby closer.Designed for growing families, the car seat helps reduce reaching, lifting and maneuvering while preserving neighboring seat-space.Available now for $349.99 at GracoBaby.com, Amazon and Babylist.

ATLANTA, Nov. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Graco® today announced the availability of its SnugRide® Turn & Slide Rotating Infant Car Seat, designed to make one of the most repeated parts of caring for a baby easier: getting baby in and out of the car. As Graco’s first-ever rotating infant car seat, Turn & Slide combines a 180° rotation with a unique sliding motion that brings baby closer to the caregiver.

From the first ride home to daycare drop-offs, doctor appointments and family outings, parents are constantly on the move. SnugRide Turn & Slide was designed to make those moments easier, helping reduce the physical effort of the in and out transitions so caregivers can spend more time focused on their baby and the moments that matter.

“At Graco, we’re always looking for ways to make parenting easier,” said Kerry Strzelecki, Vice President of Brand Management at Graco. “Turn & Slide was designed with that goal in mind, going beyond rotation to bring baby closer to the caregiver. We’re proud to offer families an innovation that takes some of the effort out of getting on the go, giving parents more time to focus on the moments that matter.”

Going Beyond Rotation
Beyond its unique turn-and-slide design, SnugRide Turn & Slide is engineered to rotate without blocking the neighboring seat, helping preserve second-row space and support three-across seating in many vehicles. This gives growing families more flexibility, especially when traveling with multiple children.

Additional features include:

Lightweight Portability: The lightweight carrier is designed to make moving baby between the car, stroller and home easier.Simple, Secure Installation: SnugLock® Technology enables installation in less than one minute using the vehicle seat belt or LATCH, while the InRight™ LATCH system provides a one-second, click-secure attachment.Adjusts as Baby Grows: The No-Rethread Simply Safe Adjust™ Harness System allows the headrest and harness to adjust together as baby grows, while the 4-position adjustable base with bubble level helps support proper installation.

Backed by Graco’s Commitment to Safety
For more than 65 years, Graco has been committed to providing families with products built around safety and quality. SnugRide Turn & Slide is Graco® ProtectPlus Engineered™, undergoing rigorous frontal, side, rear and rollover crash testing. The seat also features an integrated Anti-Rebound Bar and PureProtect™ fabrics that are fire-resistant without added chemicals.

Following the voluntary recall of select SnugRide Turn & Slide infant car seats earlier this year, Graco implemented engineering updates and completed additional testing and validation to address the issue before bringing the product to market.

Available Today
The SnugRide Turn & Slide Rotating Infant Car Seat (MSRP $349.99) is available at GracoBaby.com, Amazon and Babylist in Noir, Mulberry and Sandstone colorways.

Turn & Slide will also be available as part of a travel system with the Modes™ Nest Stroller beginning in December 2026 for an MSRP of $674.99.

For more information about Graco and the SnugRide Turn & Slide Rotating Infant Car Seat, visit www.gracobaby.com and follow along on social at: @graco on Instagram and Facebook, and @gracochildrensproducts on TikTok.

About Graco
Graco is one of the most recognized children’s products brands that provides innovative and reliable solutions to help parents make smart choices while taking care of their little ones. For more than 65 years, Graco has built high-quality products that parents can trust, including car seats, strollers, travel systems, swings, highchairs, playards and nursery care essentials. Graco is part of Newell Brands Inc., a leading global consumer products company, with its products available globally through a variety of retail partners.

About Newell Brands
Newell Brands (NASDAQ: NWL) is a leading global consumer goods company with a strong portfolio of well-known brands, including Rubbermaid, Sharpie®, Graco®, Coleman®, Rubbermaid Commercial Products®, Yankee Candle®, Paper Mate®, FoodSaver®, Dymo®, EXPO®, Elmer’s®, Oster®, NUK®, Spontex® and Campingaz®. Newell Brands is focused on delighting consumers by lighting up everyday moments.

This press release and additional information about Newell Brands are available on the company’s website, www.newellbrands.com.

*Based on 2024 Baby Gear Brand Health Tracker Data

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SOURCE Newell Brands

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AI Search Is Killing the Click. Breaker Says B2B Growth Must Move Beyond Traffic

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As AI summaries reduce referral search clicks and automated traffic clouds website metrics, Breaker says B2B marketers need to turn increasingly valuable visits into identifiable, ongoing audience relationships.

AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Artificial intelligence is weakening a metric B2B marketers have long treated as evidence that content is working: the website visit. Pew Research Center found users clicked traditional search results in 8% of visits containing a Google AI summary, compared with 15% of visits without one. Links inside the AI summaries received clicks in only 1% of visits.

A company can now appear in an AI-generated answer without receiving a visit. Even when someone does click through, the visit alone may reveal little about the visitor’s identity or potential fit as a buyer. “Clicks and traffic that aren’t identifiable to a human are a poor signal,” said Ben Billups, founder and CEO of Breaker.

AI Visibility Does Not Guarantee Demand

Large language models (LLM) are already changing how people discover online content. The Interactive Advertising Bureau found that 95% of publishers it surveyed reported moderate or significant effects from LLM-driven discovery. For marketers, that changes what visibility can tell them. Billups said businesses still need to make themselves discoverable to AI systems, but appearing in an answer does not mean the system is recommending them.

An AI response may mention several companies, compare pricing or social proof, or surface an advantage held by a competitor. That makes the value of an AI-driven referral difficult to interpret. “We don’t have visibility into the chat that led to the traffic, so there’s no way to know definitively what context AI is putting your company into,” Billups said.

AI discovery can also be less predictable than traditional search. “As AI becomes more dominant, it’s more important to be discoverable and to have positive sentiment online, but reach is less deterministic,” Billups said. “What AI thinks is relevant to one user, it may not think is relevant for another.”

Anonymous Traffic Is a Weaker Signal

Traffic volume presents a separate measurement problem because a growing share of web activity is automated. Statista reported that bots generated 53% of global web traffic in 2025. For marketers, that makes a visit less useful as a signal unless they can determine who or what produced it.

For B2B companies, actions that help establish visitor identity can provide more information about actual buyer interest. Newsletter subscriptions, resource downloads, forms, and demo requests can help marketers distinguish potential buyers from bots and determine whether a contact matches the company’s ideal customer profile (ICP).

Billups uses a hypothetical example to illustrate the difference. “Let’s say that 50% of your traffic is bots, 50% is human, and 20% of the human traffic is actually in your ICP,” he said. “Versus with a newsletter, you can know in advance that 100% of the traffic is in your ICP and human.”

Post-Search Growth Starts With What Happens Next

Clicks still matter, but Billups says marketers should pay closer attention to what visitors encounter after arriving. What matters next is if that visit gives the business a way to identify a potential buyer and continue the conversation. “We still need clicks, but particularly in B2B, it’s the messaging that tells someone if they’re a good fit for your product,” Billups said.

Once someone subscribes to a newsletter, however, the interaction is longer than the visit. Once someone subscribes, the company can identify them, continue communicating over time, and nurture if they fit its ICP. That continuity is key in B2B, where a purchase decision may be months away. “Relationships are built on time, trust, and communication,” Billups said. “Simply knowing about a business or product is not enough.”

About Breaker    
Breaker is the only email platform that sends your newsletter and grows your list with high-value B2B prospects—on autopilot. Powered by advanced targeting, AI enrichment, and proprietary deliverability systems, Breaker ensures every email reaches the inbox while generating verified, sales-ready subscribers for as little as $1.50 each. Seamless CRM integrations, white-glove migration, and built-in analytics make it easy for marketers to scale outreach and convert engagement into pipeline. Built by marketers, for marketers. For more information, visit joinbreaker.ai.

References 

Gaudiaut, T. (2026, May 26). Bad bots are taking over the web. Statista. statista.com/chart/35950/share-of-global-web-traffic-generated-by-humans-and-bots-since-2018/Interactive Advertising Bureau. (2026, July 16). The AI discovery shift: How publishers are navigating the new search and discovery landscape. iab.com/insights/ai-insights-engine-july-2026/Chapekis, A., & Lieb, A. (2025, July 22). Google users are less likely to click on links when an AI summary appears in the results. Pew Research Center. pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/07/22/google-users-are-less-likely-to-click-on-links-when-an-ai-summary-appears-in-the-results/

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Byzfunder to Participate Alongside Leading Fintech Executives and Investors at Exclusive 2026 KBW Fintech Ecosystem Conference

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The invitation-only gathering brings together influential voices shaping the future of financial services.

NEW YORK, Nov. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Byzfunder, a leading technology-driven provider of small business financing, today announced its participation in the 2026 KBW Fintech Ecosystem Conference, taking place November 10–12 at Convene 30 Hudson Yards in New York City.

The conference will feature executives from Visa, Mastercard, American Express, PayPal and Capital One, alongside participants from across the financial technology and investment communities.

Byzfunder’s participation underscores the company’s expanding presence within the financial technology industry and its continued investment in artificial intelligence, proprietary underwriting technology, risk analytics, and scalable financing infrastructure.

Led by CEO Ilya Fridman, Byzfunder has developed an integrated technology platform designed to transform small business financing through intelligent automation, advanced credit decisioning, and data-driven risk management.

“The financial services industry is undergoing a fundamental transformation, driven by artificial intelligence, automation, and increasingly sophisticated data analytics,” said Ilya Fridman, Chief Executive Officer of Byzfunder. “The KBW Fintech Ecosystem Conference brings together an exceptional group of industry leaders and institutional investors who are helping shape that transformation. We look forward to exchanging ideas and exploring opportunities as we continue building the next generation of technology-driven small business financing.”

Byzfunder’s ongoing investment in financial technology and institutional-grade risk management reflects its long-term strategy of combining innovation with disciplined, scalable growth.

About Byzfunder

Byzfunder is a leading financial technology company providing innovative working capital solutions to small and medium-sized businesses nationwide. Combining approximately two decades of industry experience with proprietary technology, artificial intelligence, advanced risk analytics, and automated underwriting capabilities, Byzfunder has developed a scalable financing platform designed to deliver efficient access to capital.

For more information, visit byzfunder.com.

Media Contact

Xin Hamilton, CMO

press@byzfunder.com

byzfunder.com

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