Why Nu Holdings Stock Sank 15.6% In February

By Brett Schafer – Mar 9, 2026 at 11:07AM ESTKey PointsNu Holdings released earnings in late February. Its numbers look solid, but its expansion into the United States looks uncertain for investors. Shares of the stock look cheap today for investors with a long-term time horizon. Shares of Nu Holdings (NU +0.34%) sank 15.6% in February and continued to fall in March, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. After reporting earnings late in the month, investors were disappointed about the uncertainty with the banking giant's expansion strategy into the United States, as well as the continued macroeconomic uncertainty that has rattled markets. The stock is still up 43% in the past year. Here's why Nu Holdings stock fell in February, and whether it is a buy for your portfolio right now. ExpandNYSE: NUNu HoldingsToday's Change(0.34%) $0.05Current Price$14.63Key Data PointsMarket Cap$71BDay's Range$14.23 - $14.6652wk Range$9.01 - $18.98Volume788KAvg Vol50M Betting on a new market Nu Holdings operates Nu Bank, a digital banking giant that has taken the Brazilian, Mexican, and Colombian markets by storm. It now has 131 million customers as it looks poised to dominate Latin American consumer banking. Q4 2025 results showed more of the same impressive growth figures. Customers grew 15% year-over-year, while revenue per active customer rose 45% on a constant-currency basis, leading to total revenue growth of 45% in the period (active customers are not the same as total customers). In 2025, Nu Bank generated $16.3 billion in revenue and $2.87 billion in net income. It is still keeping the gas pedal down as it hopes to accelerate growth in its newer markets of Mexico and Colombia, which is eating into its true profit potential. Long-term, the company plans to expand into the United States, replicating its digital banking model to serve Latin American customers living in the country. It recently sponsored Inter Miami, showing its dedication to the country's expansion. There is also room to expand to other Latin American markets such as Argentina, Chile, or Uruguay. So why did the stock fall? Well, it likely had to do with uncertainty about expanding into the United States, where banking competition is much fiercer than in Mexico or Brazil. Investors were likely not pleased with this news, as macroeconomic factors could be hurting its core regions, such as cartel violence in Mexico. Combined with the broad market dip, it is no surprise that Nu Holdings stock has slumped. Image source: Getty Images. Time to buy Nu Holdings stock? After dipping, Nu Holdings' stock is now trading at a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 25. This is expensive for a bank, but investors should remember that Nu Holdings is still heavily reinvesting to expand its presence and product portfolio in its core regions, giving it a huge runway to grow, especially when combined with the new geographies it plans to enter. That could help net income grow at a rapid rate in the years to come, making Nu Holdings stock a buy on any dips. Read NextMar 4, 2026 •By Lawrence NgaNu Holdings' Next Growth Phase Depends on One Thing: Monetization QualityFeb 28, 2026 •By Lawrence NgaThe Biggest Test for Nu Holdings Isn't Growth -- It's the Credit CycleFeb 28, 2026 •By Lawrence NgaNu Holdings' 2025 Review: From Fintech Disruptor to Emerging Banking PowerhouseFeb 27, 2026 •By Josh Kohn-LindquistWhy Nu Stock Plummeted This WeekFeb 26, 2026 •By Josh Kohn-LindquistStock Market Today, Feb. 26: Nu Holdings Drops After Investors React to EarningsFeb 22, 2026 •By Anders BylundWhere Will Nu Holdings Be in 10 Years?About the AuthorBrett Schafer is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst covering consumer goods, financials, technology, and industrials. Brett is a self-taught investor and has hosted the Chit Chat Stocks podcast since 2018. He previously worked as a lab engineer for science laboratories. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering with minors in finance and mathematics from Washington State University. His lab work on Major League Baseball’s juiced ball problem was featured in The Wall Street Journal and other national outlets.TMFBrettSchaferX@CCM_BrettStocks MentionedNu HoldingsNYSE: NU$14.64(+0.38%)+$0.06*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.