Shopify: Buy The Affirm Australia Expansion, But Do Not Chase Blindly

Sharon McArd 1.11K Followers Follow Summary Shopify Inc. earns a buy rating, balancing premium valuation with robust growth and improving free cash flow. Q2 FY2026 delivered 34% revenue growth, strong GMV, and free cash flow of $654 million, exceeding expectations. Expansion of Shop Pay Installments into Australia and aggressive AI commerce initiatives strengthen SHOP’s merchant ecosystem and future optionality. SHOP's stock valuation remains elevated at ~11x sales and ~60x earnings; position-building should be patient given high expectations and potential volatility. Iryna Tolmachova/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Shopify Inc. ( SHOP ) isn't the cheapest software stock in town, and I'm not going to pretend it is. But I also don’t think this is the kind of name investors should ignore just because This article was written by Sharon McArd 1.11K Followers Follow I’m a retail investor based in Sydney with three years of experience focusing on achieving financial independence through strategic investments in AI-driven companies. Although I don’t come from a traditional finance background, I’ve developed a strong passion for understanding how artificial intelligence is transforming the global economy. Over the past few years, I’ve become increasingly fascinated by the possibilities of AI—how it’s reshaping industries, driving innovation, and creating new investment frontiers. My portfolio is primarily centered around leading AI-related companies such as NVIDIA and others at the forefront of this technological revolution. I believe we’re only in the early stages of AI’s impact, and the coming decade will present remarkable opportunities for both retail and institutional investors. My goal is to continue learning, sharing insights, and building long-term wealth by investing in the technologies shaping our future. Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, but may initiate a beneficial Short position through short-selling of the stock, or purchase of put options or similar derivatives in SHOP over the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.