Klarna IPO Debut: A Milestone For BNPL and Fintech

Swedish fintech Klarna has officially gone public, making its long-anticipated debut on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker KLAR. The company priced its IPO at $40 per share, raising $1.37 billion and giving it an initial valuation of roughly $15.1 billion.

The offering included over 34 million shares, with about 5 million sold directly by Klarna and the remainder by existing shareholders. Strong investor demand allowed the pricing to come in above the original expected range of $35–$37.

Market Reaction And Trading Performance

Klarna’s stock opened trading at $52, reflecting significant investor enthusiasm. Shares climbed as high as $57.20 during the day before closing the first session at $45.82 – a 14% gain over the IPO price.

Currently, the stock is trading around $43, which still represents a solid premium over the offering price. At this level, Klarna is valued at approximately $17 billion.

Why It Matters

The IPO marks a major milestone for the buy now, pay later (BNPL) sector, which has seen both rapid adoption and increasing regulatory scrutiny. Klarna is one of the pioneers of BNPL and serves over 150 million consumers globally.

While the debut signals investor confidence, Klarna still faces challenges. The company’s profitability remains under pressure, and regulators are closely monitoring BNPL providers to ensure responsible lending practices. Klarna’s valuation, though well below its $45.6 billion peak in 2021, shows that investors still see significant growth potential in flexible payment solutions.

Outlook For Klarna

The debut demonstrates strong demand for fintech listings, but the company will be under pressure to deliver sustainable growth. Upcoming earnings reports will be closely watched for signs of improving margins and credit risk management.

For now, Klarna’s IPO is seen as a success – a confident return to public markets that positions the company as one of the most closely followed fintech players globally.