The Zip (ASX:Z1P) share price is down 20% since early July. What's next?

Zip shares have gone backwards over the past 2 months. Why?

| More on:
A wide-eyed man peers out from a small gap in his black zipped jumper conveying fear over the weak Zip share price

Image source: Getty Images

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More

The last two months have been a great time to have been invested in ASX shares. As we covered here on the Fool earlier today, the ASX 200 enjoyed a healthy gain of 2.04% over the month of August and a gain of around 1.1% in July before that.

But one ASX 200 share hasn't been joining in the celebrations. That would be the buy now, pay later (BNPL) company Zip Co Ltd (ASX: Z1P).

The Zip Co share price has not had a good month, or a good two months to be precise. Since hitting $8.78 a share back on 7 July, it has been a slow but steady decline for Zip shares ever since. Today, Zip is trading at $6.89 a share at the time of writing. That's up 0.88% for today, but is also a good 21% down from where Zip was at on 7 July.

So what's gone wrong for Zip over the past two months?

Well, for one, Zip's FY21 earnings report, which the company released a week ago, didn't exactly impress investors. Although Zip reported some arguably strong numbers, including a revenue jump of 150% to $403.2 million and a 247.5% increase in active customers, investors seem to have been expecting a bit more. On the day the report came out, the Zip share price fell 2.6%. And it continued falling for most of last week.

Another factor that might have been an anchor on Zip shares was the blockbuster acquisition of Zip's BNPL arch-rival Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT) by the US payments giant Square Inc (NYSE: SQ).

Now Zip shares actually spiked by almost 10% when this news became public on 2 August. This was presumably due to increased hype over BNPL shares in general, as well as potential hopes that Zip itself would find a rose-laden suitor on its own doorstep. But this optimism seems to have faded in the weeks since.

What's next for the Zip share price?

So what's next for Zip shares? Well, as my Fool colleague James covered yesterday, broker Morgans thinks the current pricing might be a buying opportunity for Zip shares. Morgans reportedly has an 'add' rating on Zip shares, with a newly revised 12 month share price target of $8.87.

That implies a potential upside of almost 28% going forward. Morgans sees "longer term upside if Z1P can execute on its ambitions of becoming a global payments player".

At the current Zip Co share price, the BNPL company has a market capitalisation of $3.9 billion.

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen owns shares of Square. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended AFTERPAY T FPO, Square, and ZIPCOLTD FPO. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended AFTERPAY T FPO. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

More on BNPL shares

a young woman looks happily at her phone in one hand with a selection of shopping bags in her other hand.
BNPL shares

Up 87% since April, why the Zip share price can keep flying higher into 2026

A leading fund manager expects more outsized gains from Zip shares ahead.

Read more »

Woman looks amazed and shocked as she looks at her laptop.
Share Gainers

Guess how much $10,000 invested in Zip shares on 7 April is worth today!

The rebound in the Zip share price since 7 April has been nothing short of remarkable.

Read more »

Frustrated and shocked business woman reading bad news online from phone.
BNPL shares

Why is the Zip share price dropping today?

Let's see how this buy now pay later provider performed in April.

Read more »

A young woman smiles as she rides a zip line high above the trees.
BNPL shares

How Zip shares rebounded 45% from their 7 April lows to beat the ASX 200

Did you catch what happened with Zip shares in April?

Read more »

A young woman in a shop hands her credit card to the cashier.
BNPL shares

Up 41% in 3 weeks, should I buy Zip shares today?

Zip shares have been on a tear in April. Now what?

Read more »

A young woman smiles as she rides a zip line high above the trees.
BNPL shares

Zip share price rockets 15% on record cash earnings!

It’s a great day to own Zip shares today. Here’s why.

Read more »

A young woman in a shop hands her credit card to the cashier.
Share Gainers

Zip share price rockets 20% on $50 million buyback news

Zip shares are surging ahead of the company’s planned $50 million buyback.

Read more »

BNPL written on a smartphone.
BNPL shares

Down almost 40% this year, can Zip shares turn around?

Is it time to buy now or wait until later?

Read more »