Core Viewpoint - S&P Dow Jones Indices did not make any changes to the S&P 500 index, marking the first quarterly rebalance without any stock changes since March 2022 [1] Group 1 - Robinhood (HOOD) and AppLovin (APP) were not added to the S&P 500 index despite analysts' expectations [1] - The decision reflects a continuation of the current index composition without any additions or deletions [1]

Market Overview & Investment Strategy - The podcast focuses on growth stocks, noting a potential breakout in the S&P 500 in the summer of 2025 following a trade war selloff [1] - Zacks' premium screens, which utilize the Zacks Rank, are highlighted as a tool for identifying promising growth stocks [3][4] - The podcast aims to explore growth stocks using Zacks' screening tools, offering insights into both basic and premium screening options [2][3] Featured Stocks & Analysis - **Apploving (AP)**: A technology platform in the advertising sector with a market cap of $136 billion, showing strong earnings growth and positive analyst revisions [22][37][43] - **Anglo Gold Ashanti (AU)**: A gold mining company with a market cap of $19.9 billion, benefiting from rising gold prices and showing significant earnings growth [23][49] - **Birkenstock (BIRK)**: A shoe manufacturer with a market cap of $10 billion, demonstrating strong sales and earnings growth despite potential tariff concerns [23][57] - **Cyber Arc Software (CYBR)**: A cyber security company with a market cap of $19.5 billion, experiencing robust growth in a booming industry [25][63] - **European Wax Center (EWCZ)**: A personal care franchise with a smaller market cap of $284 million, showing potential for growth and value combination [26][67] - **NB Bankore (NBBK)**: A regional bank with a market cap of $676 million, exhibiting growth in earnings and revenue, and considered undervalued with a low price-to-book ratio [28][73] Key Metrics & Financial Highlights - Apploving's sales are expected to grow by 243% in 2025, with earnings up by 852% [43] - Anglo Gold Ashanti's 2025 estimates show a 95% increase, driven by rising gold prices [50] - Birkenstock's PEG ratio is 11%, indicating reasonable growth at 28 times earnings [57] - Cyber Arc Software's earnings growth is projected at 170% for 2025, with sales also in double digits [63] - European Wax Center's forward PE is 84%, with a PEG of 46, indicating a value PEG [71] - NB Bankore has a price-to-book ratio of 094, suggesting it is undervalued [77]

Group 1 - The article discusses the initiation of coverage on AppLovin Corporation (NASDAQ: APP) stock with a "Hold" rating, despite the stock's growth [1] - The analyst expresses a belief that the stock should either fall or grow out, indicating a cautious outlook on its future performance [1] - The analyst, Daniel Sereda, is noted for his expertise in filtering vast amounts of information to extract critical investment ideas [1] Group 2 - The investing group "Beyond the Wall Investing" is mentioned as a platform providing access to high-quality analysis and insights similar to those prioritized by institutional market participants [1]

Core Insights - The latest corporate software spending survey by Bank of America indicates a slight downward adjustment in expected growth for enterprise software spending to approximately 9.9% for 2025, influenced by global tariff policies, yet AI-related software spending remains a top priority in corporate budgets [1][8][14] - The demand for AI applications is expected to drive significant growth in enterprise AI software budgets, with projections showing that AI-related spending will account for 27.7% of software budgets in 2025 and increase to 31.6% in 2026 [14][18] - Companies like Palantir, Nvidia, and AMD are positioned to benefit from the robust demand for AI infrastructure, with Palantir's stock surging over 65% since April, reflecting strong performance in the AI and data analytics sector [3][5][26] Group 1: AI Software Spending Trends - The survey reveals that AI software spending is becoming the fastest-growing investment direction for enterprises, with a focus on enhancing operational efficiency and reducing costs [7][18] - Companies are increasingly prioritizing AI investments in cloud infrastructure and back-office operations, with 60% of respondents indicating plans to invest in cloud AI software [23][25] - The shift in AI spending focus from front-end applications to back-office operations highlights a growing trend towards improving internal efficiencies [23][26] Group 2: Market Performance and Projections - The stock performance of AI-focused companies has been robust, with Nvidia and Broadcom seeing significant price increases, indicating strong market confidence in AI infrastructure [3][5] - The strong earnings reports and optimistic outlooks from AI application software providers like C3.ai and Palantir are driving investor interest and stock price increases [5][6] - Anthropic, a notable player in the AI space, has reported a substantial increase in annual revenue, showcasing the growing demand for generative AI applications in the business world [5][6]

Group 1 - The "index effect" can temporarily boost a stock's price, as seen with AppLovin's shares rising nearly 5% amid speculation of its potential inclusion in the S&P 500 [1][4] - The S&P 500 index is scheduled for a regular adjustment on June 6, which typically involves swapping out several stocks [2] - Bank of America analysts consider AppLovin a strong candidate for inclusion in the S&P 500, although it is not their top pick [4][5] Group 2 - Bank of America identifies Robinhood Markets as the prime candidate for S&P 500 inclusion, with other stocks like Carvana and Interactive Brokers Group also mentioned as having better chances [5] - The speculation regarding AppLovin's potential index inclusion should not be the sole basis for trading decisions; focus on the company's fundamentals is advised [6]

Core Viewpoint - AppLovin's stock experienced significant gains due to strong first-quarter earnings, a recovery in the market, and a positive investor sentiment despite previous concerns about tariffs and economic slowdown [1][3]. Financial Performance - AppLovin reported a 71% increase in advertising revenue, reaching $1.16 billion, and overall revenue rose 40% to $1.48 billion, surpassing the consensus estimate of $1.38 billion [5]. - Adjusted EBITDA increased by 83% to $1 billion, while GAAP earnings per share rose from $0.67 to $1.67 [5]. Market Reaction - The stock surged 46% in May, benefiting from a strong earnings report from Meta Platforms and a favorable unemployment rate [1][4]. - Following the announcement of reduced tariff rates between the U.S. and China, AppLovin's stock saw further increases [6]. Future Outlook - For the second quarter, AppLovin anticipates advertising revenue between $1.195 billion and $1.215 billion and plans to complete the sale of its mobile gaming business for $400 million [8]. - The company is expanding into e-commerce and connected TV, indicating potential for future growth [8]. Stock Performance Context - Despite recent gains, AppLovin's stock remains over 20% lower than its peak, suggesting room for recovery if economic conditions remain stable [9].

Core Insights - AppLovin Corporation (APP) has established itself as a leading player in the mobile advertising sector, driven by the success of its AI engine, Axon 2 [1] Group 1: Axon 2 and Its Impact - Launched in Q2 2023, Axon 2 has transformed AppLovin's ad platform, resulting in a fourfold increase in advertising spend, with gaming client ad spend reaching an estimated $10 billion annual run rate [2][8] - Axon 2 has played a crucial role in revitalizing mobile gaming growth in a challenging post-IDFA environment, with MAX publishers expanding at rates significantly higher than the mid-single-digit annual growth of in-app purchase revenues [3][4][8] - The financial performance reflects Axon 2's effectiveness, with Q1 2025 revenue increasing by 40% year over year, adjusted EBITDA rising by 83%, and net income soaring by 144% [4][8] Group 2: Competitive Landscape and Valuation - While major tech companies like Alphabet, Microsoft, and Salesforce focus on AI for enterprise productivity, AppLovin differentiates itself by leveraging AI for direct monetization in mobile advertising [5][6] - AppLovin's stock has increased by 23% year to date, outperforming the industry's 5% growth [7] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AppLovin's earnings has been rising, with the stock currently trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 40.31, significantly above the industry's 24.17 [10][12]

Market Reactions - Markets are showing resilience to tariff news, indicating a shift in investor sentiment compared to previous months when volatility was high at the slightest hint of trade tensions [2][3] - The current market behavior suggests an expectation for a quicker resolution to tariff issues and trade wars, alongside a belief that inflation remains under control, which could lead to rate cuts by the Federal Reserve [4] Federal Reserve Insights - The Fed's preferred inflation gauge, the core PCE index, rose 2.5% annually in April, down from 2.7% in March, indicating tame inflation despite tariffs [5] - The Consumer Price Index (CPI) report for April showed a 2.3% increase in consumer prices year-over-year, below the expected 2.4%, marking the lowest annual increase since February 2021 [6] - Some Fed officials express skepticism about the transitory nature of inflation caused by tariffs, with ongoing debates about the impact on employment and price stability [7][8] Stock Performance - AppLovin (APP) is experiencing strong performance, surpassing earnings estimates for eight consecutive quarters, with a projected full-year EPS of $8.39, reflecting an 85.2% growth rate year-over-year [12][15] - Sea Limited (SE) is also outperforming, with analysts raising fiscal 2025 EPS estimates by 1.44%, projecting a total revenue of over $22.37 billion this year, a 32% increase from 2024 [17] Market Outlook - The decline in volatility surrounding tariffs and stable inflation trends suggest potential for further market gains, with expectations of two rate cuts by the Fed this year [19]

Market Overview - After months of volatility due to geopolitical uncertainty and tariff policies, the market is experiencing a bullish momentum as tariff policies moderate and economic growth forecasts rebound [1] - Investors are embracing risk again, driven by AI-driven productivity gains [1] Company Highlights AppLovin (APP) - AppLovin has emerged as a top-ranked stock with strong performance, driven by consistent earnings growth and attractive valuation [3] - Consensus estimates for FY25 have increased by 22%, and FY26 estimates have risen by 26.4%, reflecting renewed confidence in long-term profit growth [4] - The stock is showing technical momentum, currently consolidating below a key resistance level at $400, with potential for a breakout to new all-time highs [5] Hims & Hers Health (HIMS) - Hims & Hers Health has rapidly grown in the digital health sector, particularly in telemedicine and wellness products, with significant expansion into the weight-loss treatment market [7] - The company is projected to grow earnings at a compound annual rate of 36.5% over the next three to five years, with current-quarter EPS estimates up by 21.4% [8] - The stock is in breakout mode, having recently surpassed key resistance levels, indicating potential for further upside [9] Meta Platforms (META) - Meta Platforms continues to innovate while maintaining its dominance in the digital platform space, with over 3 billion daily active users [12] - The stock recently broke out following positive AI news, including the launch of an AI-powered advertising platform that automates campaign management [13] - Despite a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), Meta is projected to grow earnings at a robust annual rate of 16.1% over the next three to five years [14] Investment Considerations - Meta, AppLovin, and Hims & Hers Health present a compelling mix of strong fundamentals, breakout technical setups, and exposure to long-term themes such as AI, digital advertising, and telemedicine [15]

Core Insights - The article discusses the author's investment perspective, focusing on a diverse range of stocks and aiming to provide contrasting views on their portfolio [1] Group 1 - The author holds a long position in shares of AMZN and GOOG, indicating a bullish outlook on these companies [2] - The analysis is intended for informational purposes and emphasizes the importance of conducting personal research before making investment decisions [3] - The article does not provide professional investment advice and highlights the risks associated with trading, including potential capital loss [3]