DOW vs AFRM Comparison

Dow is one of the largest plastics and chemicals producers in the world, ranking in the top five for upstream plastics production, such as polyethylene, or PE, and polypropylene, or PP. It has three reportable segments: packaging and specialty plastics (P&SP), industrial intermediates and infrastructure (II&I), and performance materials and coatings (PM&C). The company traces its roots to 1897 with the founding of the Dow Chemical Company. After a long history of chemical production, Dow strategically merged with DuPont in 2017. In 2019, Dow, DuPont, and Corteva were split to enhance operational focus on the assets of the chemical conglomerate.

Founded in 2012, Affirm is a market leader in the buy now, pay later space with around $36 billion in transaction volume in fiscal 2025. Affirm offers both zero-interest financing, which is merchant-subsidized, and interest-bearing loans, which function as personal loans that are approved on a per-transaction basis. Over 70% of Affirm's transaction volume comes from its interest-bearing loans, which also constitute the majority of its revenue. Affirm primarily operates in the United States, which accounted for more than 95% of its revenue in 2025, but it has also expanded to Canada and the United Kingdom.