Fintech, or financial technology, is transforming the way the world handles money. It is making financial services faster, more accessible, affordable, and user-friendly. The fintech sector is experiencing rapid growth driven by several key trends. These trends include the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and the rise of e-commerce. These factors are driving growth and supporting the demand for innovative payment solutions, embedded finance, and secure transaction technologies. Embedded finance, which involves integrating financial services into everyday digital experience, is becoming essential for businesses to stay competitive and apart from e-commerce, it is becoming especially important for sectors like healthcare, education, and real estate.
According to a report by IMARC Group, the global fintech market was valued at $218.8 billion in 2024. The market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.82% during 2025-2033 to reach a value of $828.4 billion by the end of the forecast period. In 2024, North America dominated the fintech market, accounting for more than 35.8% of the market share.
From digital payments and fraud prevention to AI-powered insurance and blockchain technology, fintech continues to revolutionize traditional finance. With new and innovative solutions that fintech offers, it is no surprise that fintech is becoming increasingly popular, especially among younger generations who prefer using smartphones or laptops for tasks like making payments, investing, or even seeking financial advice.
Traditional financial institutions are also investing heavily in fintech products to stay relevant. This has made fintech a high-growth industry, which presents a significant opportunity for investors to invest in companies that are leading financial innovation.
Methodology
To compile our list of the 10 best-performing fintech stocks to buy according to analysts, we looked for the biggest fintech companies. We reviewed our own rankings, financial media reports, ETFs, and various online resources to compile a list of the best fintech stocks. Then we looked for the best-performing stocks in the fintech sector and narrowed down our list to stocks that have gained at least 8% year-to-date as of February 26, 2025. Next, we focused on the top fintech stocks that analysts believe have the most potential for growth. Finally, we ranked the 10 best-performing fintech stocks to buy based on their average price target upside potential according to analysts as of February 26, 2025.
Additionally, we mentioned the hedge fund sentiment surrounding each stock, which was taken from Insider Monkey’s Q4 2024 database of more than 1,000 elite hedge funds.
Why do we care about what hedge funds do? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter's strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).
Is Visa Inc. (V) The Best Performing Fintech Stock to Buy According to Analysts?
A close-up of a modern payments terminal with a pile of credit cards on the side.
Average Price Target Upside Potential According to Analysts: 11.23%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 181
Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) is a global digital payments company that ranks among the best-performing fintech stocks to buy according to analysts. The company offers a variety of payment products, including credit cards, debit cards, and payment processing to facilitate digital payments across more than 200 countries and territories. Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) serves consumers, merchants, financial institutions, businesses, strategic partners and government entities. The company’s products and services are available on cards, mobile devices, laptops, tablets, and more.
As the leading global digital payment technology company, Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) is well-positioned to benefit from the rise of fintech. Aoris Investment Management, a specialist international equity manager, noted in its Q4 2024 investor letter that Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) is the largest payment services company in the world. The investment management firm has a positive outlook on the company. The investor letter highlighted that it is impressive how Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) has made consumer payments easier, faster, and safer over time. The company’s innovations, such as enabling payments through smartphones or smartwatches, make everyday transactions like buying coffee or commuting quick and frictionless. Aoris Investment Management expects that Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) will continue to benefit from the growing usage of its payment network for years to come by making consumer and business payments easier, faster, and more secure.
Overall, V ranks 10th on our list of the best-performing fintech stocks to buy according to analysts. While we acknowledge the potential of V as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than V but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
