Block (NYSE: SQ), formerly known as Square, can certainly seem like a complex financial services business at first glance. There are two successful ecosystems that make up the overall company. Plus, there are some unique aspects to its financial situation. 

The shares are down 80% from their peak, so you might be looking at the fintech business right now as a potential place to allocate some capital. But first, here are five important things the smartest investors know about Block stock. Let's hope this leads to a more informed decision. 

Square is the segment that the company was founded on. It went from selling a simple piece of hardware that allowed anyone to accept card payments with their smartphone to a full-service provider for merchants. Today, Square offers various point-of-sale hardware products, a suite of software tools, and different financial services that make it incredibly easy for a small business to start accepting payments as well as handle a host of other critical tasks. 

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Source Fool.com