Job Cuts Overview - U.S. employers announced 108,435 job cuts in January, marking a 205% increase from December and a significant rise from 49,795 cuts in January of the previous year [1][2] - This January's layoffs represent the highest monthly total since October 2025, when 153,074 layoffs were recorded [2] Sector-Specific Job Cuts - The transportation sector led with 31,243 job cuts, primarily due to UPS announcing 30,000 cuts as it reduces its operations with Amazon [6] - Technology firms reported 22,291 job cuts, with Amazon alone accounting for 16,000 of these as it reorganizes its management structure [6][11] - Healthcare companies announced 17,107 job cuts, the highest for the sector since April 2020, driven by inflation, high labor costs, and lower reimbursements from Medicaid and Medicare [9] - Chemical manufacturers reported 4,701 cuts, largely influenced by shifts towards AI and automation at companies like Dow [10] Reasons for Layoffs - The primary reasons for layoffs included contract loss (30,784 cuts), adverse market and economic conditions (28,392 cuts), restructuring (20,044 cuts), and closings (12,738 cuts) [13] - AI was cited as a reason for 7,624 job cuts, although its direct impact remains uncertain [14] Hiring Trends - Employers announced only 5,306 hiring plans in January, the lowest for the month since tracking began in 2009, down from 6,089 in January of the previous year and 10,496 in December [14][15]

Market Overview - The S&P 500 dropped to an over two-week low, while the Nasdaq sank to its lowest level in more than two months, driven by renewed pressure on the AI theme following Alphabet's spending plans and Qualcomm's downbeat forecast [1][3] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell nearly 400 points, or 0.8%, to 49,113, with the S&P 500 losing 0.9% and the Nasdaq dropping 230 points, or 1% [1][3] Company-Specific Developments - Alphabet's shares fell over 3% after announcing it would double its capital expenditure this year, indicating an aggressive push in the AI sector [3][8] - Qualcomm's stock slid 8.2% after forecasting second-quarter revenue and profit below estimates, contributing to the overall market decline [3] - Microsoft and Tesla also experienced declines of 3.4% and 3.7%, respectively, as the pressure spread across tech mega-caps [3] Investment Trends - Big Tech is expected to invest more than $500 billion into infrastructure this year, raising concerns about high valuations and the timing of returns [4] - The CBOE volatility index rose 3.8 points to 20.49, reaching an over two-month high, reflecting increased market anxiety [4] Sector Performance - The S&P 500 software and services index fell 3.2%, marking a seventh consecutive session in the red and erasing approximately $830 billion in market value since January 28 [10] - Software and data services stocks, such as ServiceNow and Salesforce, saw declines of 5% and 4%, respectively, as investors reacted to disappointing earnings [6] Market Sentiment - There is a growing sentiment that rapidly improving AI tools may negatively impact demand for traditional software, leading to reduced growth expectations across the sector [7] - Amid risk-off sentiment, silver and gold resumed a decline, with silver plunging almost 13% [10][11] - The market is witnessing a rotation into cheaper, overlooked sectors, with consumer staples being the only sector trading in the green [13]

Group 1: Earnings Expectations - Amazon is expected to report fourth-quarter earnings with an earnings per share of $1.97 and total revenue of $211.33 billion [4] - Analysts anticipate Amazon Web Services (AWS) revenue to reach $34.93 billion and advertising revenue to be $21.16 billion [4] Group 2: Cloud Revenue Growth - Cloud revenue growth is a major focus, with a previous quarter growth of 20.2%, up from 18%, and analysts predicting a 21.4% growth for the fourth quarter [1] Group 3: AI Investments and Cost-Cutting - Amazon plans to increase capital expenditures on artificial intelligence, projected to hit $125 billion in 2025, while also cutting costs by laying off approximately 16,000 employees [2] - The layoffs are part of a strategy to reduce bureaucracy and enhance innovation, aiming to operate like a "world's largest startup" [3]

Banco BPM on Thursday reported a 2025 net profit that beat market expectations, as a surge in fees more then offset the impact of a decline in lending income. ...

Core Viewpoint - Amazon's stock has been trading sideways, down 3% in 2026 and 6% over the last year, with a 13% decline from its all-time high in November [1] Earnings Expectations - Earnings per share (EPS) is expected to be $1.98, a 5% increase year-over-year, and about three cents better than the previous quarter [3] - Revenue is projected at $211.46 billion, reflecting a 13% year-over-year increase [4] - Amazon Web Services (AWS) revenue is anticipated to reach $34.9 billion, a 21% increase from the same quarter last year [4] - Online store sales are expected to hit $82.3 billion, up approximately 9% [4] - Advertising revenue is forecasted to be $21.2 billion, showing significant growth from $17.3 billion in Q4 of 2024 [4] Capital Expenditure (Capex) Insights - Capex is expected to be a key focus, with projections of $34.9 billion for the quarter, up from $34.2 billion in the previous quarter [5][6] - The CFO indicated plans to spend $125 billion in 2025, with continued increases in 2026 to meet AI demand [6] Restructuring and Layoffs - Amazon announced the layoff of 16,000 employees and the closure of Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go stores, indicating potential restructuring [7] Market Sentiment and Volatility - The market is anticipating a 7% move in Amazon's stock following the earnings report, with increased volatility expected [14] - A cautious approach is being taken by investors, with some looking to buy on dips [9][13]

Market Overview - Global markets experienced a significant downturn, with major indices in the US suffering substantial losses. The Dow Jones dropped approximately 600 points, while the Nasdaq fell nearly 2% [1][2]. Stock Performance - Major technology stocks faced considerable declines, including Qualcomm (-7.58%), Oracle (-4.55%), Google (-4.51%), Amazon (-4.38%), and Tesla (-3.66%) [3]. - Alphabet, the parent company of Google, saw its stock decrease by 4% following its announcement of expected capital expenditures related to artificial intelligence, which could reach up to $185 billion by 2026 [7][8]. Commodities and Cryptocurrencies - Precious metals experienced sharp declines, with silver prices plummeting over 16% [3]. - Oil prices also fell significantly during this period [4]. - Bitcoin dropped below the $70,000 mark, settling at $67,000, indicating a loss of interest from traditional investors and a growing pessimism regarding cryptocurrencies [5]. Economic Indicators - Concerns about the labor market intensified, with US employers announcing 108,435 layoffs in January, the highest number for that month since the global financial crisis [8]. - Initial jobless claims for the week ending January 31 exceeded expectations, further contributing to a negative market sentiment [8]. - The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that job vacancies fell to their lowest level since September 2020 by December 2025 [9].

Group 1 - The current investment levels in technology companies are comparable to peak spending in previous cycles, indicating that the spending is not an outlier [1] - Companies like Google and Microsoft have shown accelerated revenue growth and improved margins, suggesting a positive return on investment despite initial uncertainties [2][3] - The focus of major corporate boards globally has shifted to technology investments, making it a top priority [4] Group 2 - There is a growing concern about the impact of technology on job markets, particularly for new graduates, as companies are hiring fewer employees [5][6] - The software industry is experiencing significant challenges, with companies like Workday laying off employees, which is viewed negatively by the market [7] - There is a high level of skepticism and negativity surrounding the tech sector, with many investors focusing on a few major platforms like Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta as potential beneficiaries [8][9]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For the full year 2025, total revenue was $834 million, the second highest in the company's history, with a year-over-year increase of approximately 2 times compared to 2021 levels of $425 million [16][17] - Adjusted EBITDA reached a record high of $589 million for 2025, nearly 3 times the 2021 level of $208 million [17] - Non-GAAP EPS for 2025 was $15.31 per share, more than 4 times the $3.73 per share reported in 2021 [17] - In Q4 2025, total revenue was $158 million, exceeding the high end of the outlook of $144-$148 million [15] - Q4 adjusted EBITDA was $88 million, exceeding the high end of the outlook of $68-$76 million, resulting in an adjusted EBITDA margin of 56% [15][16] - Non-GAAP EPS for Q4 was $2.12, exceeding the high end of the outlook of $1.38-$1.63 [16] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Smartphone revenue for 2025 was just below $680 million, up 14% year-over-year, marking an all-time high [7] - The company licensed 8 of the top 10 largest smartphone manufacturers, covering about 85% of the overall market [6] - In the CE and IoT program, a new agreement was signed with HP, covering about half of the global PC market [7] - The company has now licensed over 50 agreements with a total contract value of more than $4.6 billion since 2021 [8] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company has renewed licenses with major smartphone vendors, including Xiaomi and LG Electronics, which are expected to contribute to recurring revenue [7][8] - The enforcement campaign against major streaming services like Disney+ and Amazon is ongoing, with positive preliminary results in Brazil and Germany [9][27] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to grow its annualized recurring revenue and margin expansion, focusing on AI research and the development of 6G and next-generation video codecs [4][5] - The acquisition of AI startup Deep Render is part of the strategy to strengthen AI research capabilities [11] - The company is actively contributing to 6G standards development, which is expected to be the first native AI wireless standard [12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's position to drive shareholder value in 2026, with expectations for total revenue in the range of $675 million-$775 million [18] - The company anticipates a step down in annualized recurring revenue (ARR) due to expirations but expects to renew about two-thirds of the $92 million that expired at the end of 2025 [19] - Management emphasized the importance of their patent portfolio and ongoing litigation efforts to ensure fair compensation for their innovations [36][37] Other Important Information - The company received recognition from multiple third parties, including being named one of America's greatest companies by Newsweek and the number one most successful mid-cap company in America for 2026 by Forbes [13] - The company will showcase its technology at the Mobile Congress in Barcelona, highlighting innovations in 6G and AI [14] Q&A Session Summary Question: Guidance for Q1 revenue and recurring fees - Management confirmed that the guidance for Q1 includes $55-$60 million of catch-up sales, indicating a decrease in recurring revenue due to expirations [24][25] Question: Timeline for litigation with Disney and Amazon - Management provided updates on the positive outcomes in Brazil and Germany for the Disney case, with further developments expected in the U.S. later in the year [26][27] Question: Details on the consumer electronic device agreement - The agreement with the social media company is a device agreement that licenses radio assets and Wi-Fi, but is not expected to be a high-volume agreement [33] Question: Threats on the litigation front - Management acknowledged the inherent risks in litigation but expressed confidence in the quality of their patent portfolio and the strategy to enforce their rights [36][37] Question: M&A as part of R&D efforts - The company is open to M&A opportunities to enhance its research capabilities and fill gaps in its portfolio [41] Question: Differences in litigation for streaming services - Management noted that the streaming industry is relatively new for the company, requiring more time to establish the strength of their portfolio compared to established relationships in the smartphone industry [42]

Group 1 - The U.S. stock market opened lower, with the Nasdaq index falling by 1.6%, and major tech stocks like Google, Amazon, and Tesla experiencing declines of over 4% [1] - The VIX index surged by 22%, reaching its highest level since December of the previous year, indicating increased market volatility [1] - Job vacancies in the U.S. unexpectedly dropped to the lowest level since 2020, with December vacancies falling from a revised 6.93 million in November to 6.54 million, below market expectations [1] Group 2 - The narrative of a "Software-mageddon" is gaining traction, with hedge funds increasing their short positions in software stocks, contributing to significant sell-offs in the sector [2] - Hedge funds have reportedly made $24 billion in profits from shorting software stocks since 2026, while the total market capitalization of the U.S. software industry has decreased by $1 trillion during the same period [2]

Core Insights - Oppenheimer analyst Jason Helfstein raised Amazon's price target to $315 from $305, maintaining an Outperform rating, reflecting increased confidence in Amazon Web Services (AWS) and forecasting FY26 AWS revenue growth of 24% compared to the Street's 21% expectation [1] - Amazon is viewed as a top mega-cap opportunity, supported by improving fundamentals in both its cloud and core commerce businesses, with significant margin expansion in its e-commerce segment due to automation investments [1][4] - Saks Global plans to end its e-commerce partnership with Amazon and close the Saks on Amazon storefront, a decision driven by Saks' focus on segments with greater long-term growth potential, not indicating a broader strategic shift at Amazon [3] Company Overview - Amazon.com, Inc. is a global technology leader founded in 1994, with operations in e-commerce, cloud computing through AWS, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence [4] - The company is well-positioned for earnings and cash flow growth, with accelerating AWS growth, visible margin expansion from automation, and long-term cost efficiency opportunities [4]