By Brazil Stock Guide – StoneCo Ltd. (Nasdaq: STNE) closed the third quarter with another set of solid results, showing that its recovery phase has turned into steady growth. The company reported an adjusted profit of R$641 million, up 13% from a year earlier, while earnings per share (EPS) jumped 31% to R$2.57. Revenues rose to R$3.6 billion, and profitability remained high, with a return on equity of 24%, compared with 16% a year ago.
Strong momentum among small businesses
The company’s main engine — micro, small and medium-sized businesses — kept expanding. The SME client base grew 17% to 4.7 million, and total payment volume (TPV) in this group increased 11% to R$126 billion. Transactions through PIX QR Code — Brazil’s instant-payment system — rose nearly 50%, showing how quickly digital tools are spreading among merchants.
More clients, more credit, stable quality
Stone’s digital banking platform also gained traction, with 3.5 million active clients, up 22%. The company’s loan book reached R$2.3 billion, growing 27% over the previous quarter. Despite the expansion, default levels stayed in check, with non-performing loans around 5%, reflecting a cautious approach to credit.
Paying back investors
Stone has already gone beyond its 2025 profitability targets. In the first nine months of the year, it delivered R$4.7 billion in adjusted gross profit and R$6.9 in EPS — both above the pace projected in its annual guidance. Over the last 12 months, the company returned R$2.8 billion to shareholders through share buybacks, equivalent to a 10% yield.
CEO Pedro Zinner said the company is keeping its focus on sustainable growth.
“We achieved solid profitability with a 24% ROE and returned R$2.8 billion to shareholders. Our goal is to keep growing efficiently while helping Brazilian entrepreneurs thrive.”