Core Insights - The explosive growth of enterprise data presents significant opportunities for cloud infrastructure providers, specifically Backblaze (BLZE) and Snowflake (SNOW), which cater to different segments of the market [1][2] Market Overview - The global cloud analytics market was valued at $35.39 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $130.63 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 25.5%, benefiting both BLZE and SNOW as organizations modernize their data architecture [2] Backblaze (BLZE) Analysis - Backblaze has transitioned from a consumer backup provider to an enterprise-focused cloud storage company, with its B2 Cloud Storage business targeting developers and mid-sized enterprises [3] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BLZE's Q3 2025 revenues is $36.9 million, indicating a 17% year-over-year growth, while the loss per share is expected to improve by 90% year-over-year [4] - Backblaze faces competitive pressure from major players like AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure, while balancing its legacy Computer Backup business with its growing enterprise cloud segment [5] Snowflake (SNOW) Analysis - Snowflake has become integral to enterprise data strategy, enabling organizations to analyze large datasets through its AI-native cloud platform [6] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Snowflake's Q3 2025 revenues is $1.18 billion, reflecting a 25.39% year-over-year growth, with EPS projected to increase by 55% year-over-year [8] - Snowflake's AI-driven innovations, such as Snowflake Intelligence and Cortex AI, enhance customer engagement and platform adoption [7] Performance Comparison - Year-to-date, BLZE shares have risen 78% due to optimism around its cloud storage turnaround, while SNOW shares have increased 73% supported by consistent revenue growth and AI integration [9][12] - Snowflake's forward price-to-sales ratio is 16.89x, significantly higher than Backblaze's 3.7x, indicating stronger investor confidence in Snowflake's scale and profitability [10] Conclusion - Both companies are well-positioned to benefit from the growing demand for cloud data infrastructure and AI analytics, but Snowflake's scale, profitability, and consistent execution provide a competitive advantage over Backblaze [15]

Core Insights - Backblaze is committed to the open cloud movement and will participate as a Silver sponsor at KubeCon + CloudNativeCon North America in Atlanta from November 10-13 [1][2] - The conference is expected to attract over 9,000 attendees and focuses on cloud-native developments, particularly in AI applications, allowing Backblaze to showcase its high-throughput cloud object storage [2][4] Company Highlights - Backblaze provides a modern alternative to traditional cloud providers, emphasizing fast, affordable, and independent cloud storage solutions [3] - The company serves over 500,000 customers across 175 countries, offering high-performance, secure cloud object storage for various applications including AI workflows and media management [4] Industry Context - Kubernetes is utilized by 70% of enterprise companies operating in the cloud, highlighting the significance of cloud-native technologies in the current market [2] - The conference will feature a dedicated learning track on AI and machine learning advancements in cloud-native settings, indicating a growing trend in the integration of AI with cloud infrastructure [4]

Core Insights - Backblaze (BLZE) is experiencing growth driven by increasing demand for artificial intelligence and data-heavy workloads, necessitating scalable and cost-efficient storage solutions [1][3] - The B2 Cloud Storage platform is pivotal to this growth, with a significant rise in data stored by AI customers and an increase in AI-focused clients [2][7] - Backblaze's competitive positioning is challenged by companies like Dropbox and Datadog, which are enhancing their AI-enabled cloud infrastructure offerings [4] Company Performance - In Q2 2025, data stored by AI customers increased 40 times year over year, and the number of AI-focused clients grew by 70% [2] - Backblaze anticipates Q3 2025 revenues between $36.7 million and $37.1 million, reflecting approximately 29% year-over-year growth [2] - Year-to-date, Backblaze shares have risen by 51.7%, outperforming the Zacks Internet-Software industry and the Computer and Technology sector [5] Valuation Metrics - Backblaze's forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio stands at 3.16, which is lower than the industry average of 5.45 [9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Q3 2025 indicates a loss of one cent per share, representing a 90% improvement year over year [11]

Core Viewpoint - Backblaze, Inc. is set to report its financial results for the third quarter ending September 30, 2025, on November 6, 2025, before the market opens [1] Financial Results Announcement - The financial results will be released before market open on November 6, 2025 [1] - Following the results release, Backblaze will host a conference call and webcast at 5:00 a.m. PT (8:00 a.m. ET) on the same day to discuss the results [1] - The webcast can be attended via the provided link [1]

Core Insights - Backblaze will showcase new research on cloud storage costs affecting media workflows at NAB Show New York on October 22-23, 2025 [2][8] - The research indicates that 93% of media organizations face unexpected cloud storage fees, with nearly half experiencing these fees monthly [3][4] Cloud Storage Costs Impact - Rising egress fees and unpredictable billing models are forcing media and entertainment companies to make compromises that affect content availability and production strategies [3][4] - 61% of organizations reduce dataset sizes to manage costs, limiting access to valuable content archives [6] - 49% shorten retention policies, risking the loss of media that could be repurposed [6] - 41% curtail usage of existing libraries, reducing monetization opportunities [6] - 29% cut staff allocation tied to content workflows [6] Barriers to Switching Providers - 50% of media leaders cite egress and data movement costs as the biggest barrier to switching providers [7] - 34% are contract-locked, while 42% mention technical complexity as another major barrier [7] - Despite these challenges, 64% are at least slightly likely to consider switching providers in the next year, indicating a rising demand for transparent options [7] Industry Preferences - 67% of media and entertainment organizations prefer best-of-breed technology approaches over one-stop-shop solutions, reflecting frustration with restrictive ecosystems [8] - Key attributes valued in storage providers include compliance (50%), ease of use (42%), customer support (37%), and high throughput (31%) [5]

Core Insights - Backblaze (BLZE) has seen a significant year-to-date (YTD) increase of 56.8%, outperforming the Zacks Internet-Software industry and Zacks Computer and Technology sector, which returned 16.7% and 19.6% respectively [1] - The company is capitalizing on the AI revolution and executing its growth strategy effectively, leading to a critical decision for investors regarding holding positions or seeking better entry points [1] B2 Cloud Storage Growth - Backblaze's B2 Cloud Storage business is the main driver of its expansion, benefiting from increased enterprise adoption and demand for scalable, cost-efficient infrastructure for AI, media, and cybersecurity workloads [4][6] - The company anticipates B2 Cloud Storage revenue growth of 28% to 30% for Q3 2025, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate of $20.88 million, indicating a 29% year-over-year increase [5][8] - The focus on enterprise scale, predictable pricing, and AI-aligned product innovation strengthens B2 Cloud Storage as a durable and profitable growth engine [6] AI and Cybersecurity Integration - Backblaze is enhancing its market position by integrating AI and cybersecurity features into its cloud storage platform, capitalizing on the rising demand for scalable and secure infrastructure [7][9] - AI-related customers are increasingly contributing to enterprise revenues, diversifying growth and improving visibility across data-intensive use cases [9] - New cybersecurity features such as Anomaly Alerts and Enterprise Web Console enhance threat detection and compliance capabilities for enterprises [9] Competitive Landscape - Backblaze faces competition from Dropbox, Datadog, and Amazon, which are targeting overlapping enterprise workloads and expanding their service offerings [12] - Despite its transparent pricing and open-cloud design, competition from larger rivals may limit near-term market share gains [13] Valuation and Market Position - Backblaze's forward price-to-sales ratio stands at 3.27X, compared to 3.12X for Dropbox and 3.06X for Amazon, indicating a relatively high valuation [14] - The company holds a Zacks Value Score of F, suggesting that the stock may be overvalued following its substantial rally [14] - Continued growth in B2 Cloud Storage and strong demand for AI-related services could justify the current valuation, but investors may prefer to hold existing positions while waiting for more attractive entry points [14][16]

Market Overview - The current stock market environment is challenging, with the S&P 500 showing signs of weakness and potential for decline with negative news [1] Investment Strategy - The suggested strategy involves a rotation out of certain sectors, reflecting a cautious approach to current market conditions [1] Analyst Background - Gary Alexander has extensive experience in technology sectors, having worked on Wall Street and in Silicon Valley, and has been advising seed-round startups [1]

Core Insights - Backblaze's strategic shift towards cybersecurity innovations positions the company for sustained growth, capitalizing on the increasing demand for data protection and artificial intelligence solutions [1][4] - The company has reported a 16% year-over-year revenue increase in Q2 2025, with B2 Cloud Storage revenue rising by 29%, and expects Q3 revenue to be between $36.7 million and $37.1 million, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 28-30% [3][4] Company Developments - Backblaze is enhancing its enterprise security architecture with tools like AI-powered Anomaly Alerts and the Enterprise Web Console, which improve threat detection and data visibility [2][8] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Q3 2025 B2 Cloud Storage revenues is projected at $20.88 million, indicating a 29.05% year-over-year increase, showcasing confidence in the company's growth trajectory [4][8] Competitive Landscape - Backblaze faces competition from Dropbox and Datadog, both of which are intensifying their focus on cybersecurity innovations, integrating AI-based analytics for enhanced data visibility [5] - The competitive environment is becoming increasingly challenging as these companies enhance their threat detection and security monitoring capabilities [5] Financial Performance - Backblaze's shares have increased by 66% year-to-date, outperforming the Zacks Internet-Software industry and the Computer and Technology sector, which returned 19.7% and 24.4% respectively [6] - The company is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio of 3.47X, which is lower than the industry's 5.57X, indicating a potentially favorable valuation [10] Earnings Outlook - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Backblaze's Q3 2025 loss is projected at a penny per share, reflecting a 90% improvement year-over-year [12]

Company Overview - Backblaze, Inc. (BLZE) shares increased by 7.6% to $10.75 in the last trading session, with a notable trading volume and a 21.5% gain over the past four weeks [1] - The company is experiencing accelerated B2 revenue growth, AI-driven opportunities, and innovative product offerings such as B2 Overdrive and enhanced security features [1] Financial Expectations - Backblaze is projected to report a quarterly loss of $0.01 per share, reflecting a year-over-year improvement of +90% [2] - Expected revenues for the upcoming quarter are $36.95 million, which is a 13.4% increase compared to the same quarter last year [2] Earnings Estimates and Stock Performance - The consensus EPS estimate for Backblaze has remained unchanged over the last 30 days, indicating that stock price movements may not continue without trends in earnings estimate revisions [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), suggesting positive sentiment in the market [3] Industry Comparison - Backblaze operates within the Zacks Internet - Software industry, where Reddit Inc. (RDDT) also competes, having closed 2.6% lower at $257.56 in the last trading session [3] - Reddit Inc. has seen a +212.5% change in its EPS estimate year-over-year, with a current Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) [4]

Core Viewpoint - Momentum investing focuses on following a stock's recent price trends, aiming to buy high and sell even higher, with the expectation that established trends will continue [1] Company Overview: Backblaze, Inc. (BLZE) - Backblaze, Inc. currently holds a Momentum Style Score of B and a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating strong potential for outperformance [2][3] - The stock has seen significant price increases, with a 48.31% rise over the past quarter and a 36.66% increase over the last year, compared to the S&P 500's 9.8% and 15.8% respectively [6] Price Performance - Over the past week, BLZE shares increased by 1.58%, while the Zacks Internet - Software industry rose by 0.24% [5] - The monthly price change for BLZE is 61.51%, significantly outperforming the industry's 0.52% [5] Trading Volume - BLZE has an average 20-day trading volume of 737,278 shares, which is a useful indicator of market interest and can signal bullish or bearish trends [7] Earnings Outlook - In the past two months, four earnings estimates for BLZE have been revised upwards, with the consensus estimate improving from -$0.13 to -$0.03 [9] - For the next fiscal year, three estimates have also moved upwards, indicating positive sentiment regarding future earnings [9] Conclusion - Given the strong momentum indicators and positive earnings revisions, BLZE is positioned as a promising investment opportunity [11]