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Sustainability in FinTechs: An Explanation through Business Model Scalability and Market Valuation

Author

Listed:
  • Roberto Moro-Visconti

    (Department of Economics and Business Management Sciences, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Milan, Italy)

  • Salvador Cruz Rambaud

    (Departamento de Economía y Empresa, Universidad de Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain)

  • Joaquín López Pascual

    (Departamento de Economía de la Empresa, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28032 Vicálvaro, Spain)

Abstract

Framework : Financial Technology (FinTech) is an industry composed of diversified firms that combine financial services with innovative technologies. The research question and main goal are attempting to answer whether they are more similar to traditional banks or trendy technological firms deploying their innovativeness to favor financial inclusion and sustainability. Justification : Evaluators may wonder if FinTechs follow the typical evaluation patterns of bank/financial intermediaries or those of technological firms. Preliminary empirical evidence shows that the latter interpretation is the one consistent with the stock-market mood. Objective : This study goes beyond the extant literature, analyzing the differences between FinTechs and traditional banks in market valuation, and showing the potential for digital interaction and cross-pollination of complementary business models. Methodology : The differences will be empirically analyzed with the stock market valuation and the multipliers associated with these firms. Results : The main contribution of this paper is that the appraisal approaches of FinTechs follow those of technological startups, having a revenue model much more scalable than that of a typical bank. FinTechs may so provide a solution for sustainable finance with microfinance and crowdfunding among others. FinTechs and traditional banks may eventually converge towards a common market exploiting co-opetition strategies.

Suggested Citation

  • Roberto Moro-Visconti & Salvador Cruz Rambaud & Joaquín López Pascual, 2020. "Sustainability in FinTechs: An Explanation through Business Model Scalability and Market Valuation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-24, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:24:p:10316-:d:459801
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    3. Arvind Ashta, 2023. "How Can Fintech Companies Get Involved in the Environment?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-18, July.
    4. Barros, Victor & Verga Matos, Pedro & Miranda Sarmento, Joaquim & Rino Vieira, Pedro, 2023. "High-tech firms: Dividend policy in a context of sustainability and technological change," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    5. Sánchez, Marisa A., 2022. "A multi-level perspective on financial technology transitions," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    6. Ibrahim Mutambik, 2023. "Customer Experience in Open Banking and How It Affects Loyalty Intention: A Study from Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-20, July.
    7. Awais, Minahil & Afzal, Ayesha & Firdousi, Saba & Hasnaoui, Amir, 2023. "Is fintech the new path to sustainable resource utilisation and economic development?," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    8. Endah Susilowati & Corina Joseph & Vicky Vendy & Indrawati Yuhertiana, 2022. "Advancing SDG No 16 via Corporate Governance Disclosure: Evidence from Indonesian and Malaysian Fintech Companies’ Websites," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-14, October.
    9. Manaf Al-Okaily & Abdul Rahman Al Natour & Farah Shishan & Ahmed Al-Dmour & Rasha Alghazzawi & Malek Alsharairi, 2021. "Sustainable FinTech Innovation Orientation: A Moderated Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-11, December.
    10. Di Johnson & John Rodwell & Thomas Hendry, 2021. "Analyzing the Impacts of Financial Services Regulation to Make the Case That Buy-Now-Pay-Later Regulation Is Failing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-20, February.
    11. Ruzita Abdul-Rahim & Siti Aisah Bohari & Aini Aman & Zainudin Awang, 2022. "Benefit–Risk Perceptions of FinTech Adoption for Sustainability from Bank Consumers’ Perspective: The Moderating Role of Fear of COVID-19," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-24, July.
    12. Javier Sada Bittini & Salvador Cruz Rambaud & Joaquín López Pascual & Roberto Moro-Visconti, 2022. "Business Models and Sustainability Plans in the FinTech, InsurTech, and PropTech Industry: Evidence from Spain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-21, September.
    13. Luiz Antonio Joia & Rodrigo Proença, 2022. "The social representation of fintech from the perspective of traditional financial sector professionals: evidence from Brazil," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 8(1), pages 1-27, December.
    14. Silvia Bressan & Alex Weissensteiner, 2023. "Option-Implied Skewness and the Value of Financial Intermediaries," Journal of Financial Services Research, Springer;Western Finance Association, vol. 64(2), pages 207-229, October.
    15. Salvador Cruz Rambaud & Joaquín López Pascual, 2023. "Insurtech, Proptech, and Fintech Environment: Sustainability, Global Trends and Opportunities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-3, June.
    16. Nejla Ould Daoud Ellili, 2023. "Is there any association between FinTech and sustainability? Evidence from bibliometric review and content analysis," Journal of Financial Services Marketing, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 28(4), pages 748-762, December.
    17. Merello, Paloma & Barberá, Antonio & la Poza, Elena De, 2022. "Is the sustainability profile of FinTech companies a key driver of their value?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    18. Edgardo Bravo & Jhony Ostos, 2023. "Rational or Emotional User: The Dual Processing Approach to Understanding Continuance Usage," Information Resources Management Journal (IRMJ), IGI Global, vol. 36(1), pages 1-20, January.
    19. Bouchtaoui Mohamed, 2023. "Digital Transformation and Financial Inclusion: A Strategic Imperative for Morocco's Banking Sector [Transformation Digitale et Inclusion Financière :Une Impérative Stratégique pour le Secteur Banc," Post-Print hal-04218990, HAL.
    20. Orkun Bayram & Isilay Talay & Mete Feridun, 2022. "Can Fintech Promote Sustainable Finance? Policy Lessons from the Case of Turkey," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-25, September.

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