If you enjoyed this, consider Ian's Insider Corner to enjoy access to similar initiation reports for all the new stocks that we buy. Membership also includes an active chat room, weekly updates, and my responses to your questions.I was looking through a list of the biggest losing stocks in recent months, and Duolingo, Inc. ( DUOL ) stood out to me.Ian Bezek is a former hedge fund analyst at Kerrisdale Capital. He has spent the decade living in Latin America, doing the boots-on-the ground research for invest ...

Company Overview - Duolingo (DUOL) is a global mobile learning platform offering instruction in 40 languages and a digital language proficiency testing service, operating in markets such as the United States, China, and the United Kingdom [1] - BitMine Immersion (BMNR) is focused on Bitcoin and Ethereum, positioning itself as a long-term digital asset holder rather than a traditional operating business [2] Duolingo's Strengths - Duolingo leverages artificial intelligence (AI) and proprietary learner data to enhance personalization and user engagement, making AI a core product feature and a contributor to financial growth [4][5] - The company launched 148 new language courses in April, marking its largest expansion in history, showcasing its scalability in content creation [6] - Duolingo's current ratio is 2.82, indicating strong liquidity and the ability to meet short-term liabilities [8] - The company has surpassed earnings estimates in three of the past four quarters, with an average beat of 24.5% [9] BitMine's Strategic Positioning - BitMine has acquired over 4.1 million ETH and aims to hold 5% of the total Ethereum supply, currently controlling 3.43% [11][17] - The company transitioned from Bitcoin mining to building the largest Ethereum treasury globally, led by experienced executives [12][13] - BitMine's total crypto and cash assets exceed $14 billion, reflecting strong conviction in Ethereum's long-term value [16] - The company declared an annual dividend of $0.01 per share, becoming the first large-cap crypto-focused company to do so [18] Performance Comparison - BitMine's shares have increased over 298% since going public in June 2025, while Duolingo's shares have declined significantly [19] - The Wall Street average target price for BMNR stock suggests an upside of more than 61% from current trading levels [22] - BitMine is better positioned than Duolingo, which has a Zacks Rank 4 (Sell), while BitMine carries a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) [25]

Core Insights - The CFO of Duolingo, Matt Skarupa, will step down after nearly six years, marking the exit of a key executive who played a significant role in the company's IPO [1][3] - Under Skarupa's leadership, Duolingo experienced steady revenue growth and improved profitability, successfully converting high user engagement into paid subscription revenue while enhancing the use of AI technology for personalized courses [1][3] - Jillian Manson will succeed Skarupa as CFO; she has been a board member since 2019 and has held senior financial positions at various tech companies [1][3] Financial Performance - Duolingo reported preliminary performance data for the December quarter, indicating a growth of approximately 30% in daily active users, which aligns with market expectations [1][3] - The order amount for the quarter is projected to be between $329.5 million and $335.5 million, slightly below the market estimate of $334.2 million [2][4] - The CEO, Luis von Ahn, stated that the company will continue to focus on monetization while gradually shifting its development focus towards improving teaching quality [2][4]

Core Insights - Duolingo announced the resignation of Chief Financial Officer Matt Skaruppa after nearly six years, indicating a significant leadership change within the company [1] Company Summary - The departure of Skaruppa is notable as he played a crucial role in the growth and development of the language-learning app [1]

Compensation and Benefits - Duolingo, Inc. offers a base salary of $800,000 annually for the Chief Financial Officer position[1] - The CFO will receive restricted stock units (RSUs) valued at $14 million, with vesting starting at 25% on February 15, 2027[1] - Annual equity awards for the CFO are expected to be approximately $4 million, contingent on continued employment[1] - The CFO will be eligible for standard employee benefits, including medical insurance and retirement plans[2] - The Company will cover healthcare premiums for the Executive and dependents for up to twelve months following termination under certain conditions[14] - Executive's benefits are limited to accrued but unpaid salary, bonus, and expense reimbursement, with healthcare coverage options under COBRA[16] Employment Terms - The employment is "at will," allowing either party to terminate the relationship at any time[2] - The Company emphasizes that the employment relationship is at-will, allowing for termination without cause or notice[9] - The Agreement includes provisions for the Executive to resign from all offices and directorships upon termination[15] Confidentiality and Intellectual Property - The CFO must sign a Proprietary Information and Invention Assignment Agreement to protect the company's confidential information[5] - The agreement includes provisions for the assignment of all inventions conceived during employment to the company[6] - The CFO is required to maintain records of all employment inventions, which remain the company's property[6] - Confidentiality and non-disparagement clauses are included, prohibiting both parties from disparaging each other publicly or privately[18] Severance and Change in Control - The Company has established a Change in Control and Severance Agreement to provide financial security and incentives for executives during potential acquisition scenarios[13] - In the event of a Covered Termination, the Executive is entitled to a severance payment equal to twelve months of base salary, payable in a cash lump sum[14] - If a Covered Termination occurs during a Change in Control Period, the Executive will receive a severance payment that includes a pro-rated portion of the target annual bonus[15] - All unvested equity awards will automatically vest upon a Covered Termination during a Change in Control Period[15] - The Company may reduce severance benefits by any other severance payments or benefits payable to the Executive upon termination[15] - "Constructive Termination" allows for resignation under certain conditions, including a material reduction in compensation or job responsibilities[17] - The Company must assume obligations under the agreement in the event of a successor entity following a change in control[17] Legal and Dispute Resolution - The agreement is governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, ensuring legal compliance[9] - The agreement represents the entire understanding between the parties, superseding any prior agreements regarding severance or change in control benefits[20] - Disputes arising from the agreement will be resolved through binding arbitration in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania[18] - Payments deemed deferred compensation will not be made until a "separation from service" occurs, with specific timing for installment payments[19] - The agreement may be executed in counterparts, each considered an original document[20] Goodwill and Company Strategy - The Company acknowledges the importance of maintaining goodwill with business partners and employees as part of its competitive strategy[6]

Leadership Transition - Gillian Munson has been appointed as the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Duolingo, effective February 23, 2026, succeeding Matt Skaruppa, who will remain in an advisory role during the transition [1] - Matt Skaruppa has been with Duolingo for nearly six years, during which he led the company through a successful initial public offering and achieved six consecutive years of disciplined financial growth [2][3] Gillian Munson's Background - Munson has served on Duolingo's Board of Directors since 2019 and has extensive experience in financial leadership, having previously held CFO positions at Vimeo, Iora Health, and XO Group, among others [3][4] - She expressed enthusiasm for stepping into the CFO role, citing her respect for Duolingo's culture and commitment to education [4] Financial Performance Update - Duolingo reported a preliminary update for the fourth quarter of 2025, indicating a year-over-year growth of approximately 30% in Daily Active Users (DAU) and bookings expected to be at or slightly above the high end of the guidance range of $329.5 million to $335.5 million [5] - CEO Luis von Ahn emphasized the company's focus on improving teaching and user growth, indicating a commitment to invest in product development despite potential short-term trade-offs [6] Company Overview - Duolingo is recognized as the leading mobile learning platform globally, with its app being the most popular way to learn languages and the top-grossing app in the Education category on both Google Play and the Apple App Store [9] - The company is dedicated to providing an engaging and effective learning experience while striving to make quality education universally accessible [9]

Group 1 - The S&P 500 index is near an all-time high, largely driven by significant gains in major AI stocks, yet there are still attractive investment opportunities in the AI sector for those willing to explore beyond mainstream options [1] - Duolingo, the largest digital language-education platform, is leveraging AI to enhance its learning experience, which is creating new revenue opportunities [2][8] - Duolingo's stock has decreased by 67% from its peak, making it one of the cheapest stocks since its IPO in 2021, with analysts predicting a positive outlook for the stock [3] Group 2 - Duolingo's mobile-first approach and gamified learning experience have contributed to a 20% increase in monthly active users, reaching 135.3 million in Q3 2025 [5] - The company generates revenue through ads for free users and paid subscriptions, with a 34% year-over-year increase in paying subscribers, totaling 11.5 million [6] - The Max subscription tier offers advanced AI features, including Roleplay for conversational practice and Explain My Answer for personalized feedback [7]

Duolingo - Duolingo is a leading mobile language-learning app with over 50 million daily active users and 135 million monthly active users, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 36% and 20% respectively [9] - The company generated $271.7 million in revenue during 3Q25, a 41% increase year-over-year, exceeding forecasts by $11.36 million [10] - Duolingo's stock has faced recent declines due to weaker Q4 guidance and a strategic shift towards long-term growth [11] - The company has launched over 140 new language courses in the past year, utilizing Generative AI for content generation, which supports its competitive advantage [12] - Analyst Ramnani has a Buy rating on Duolingo with a price target of $245, indicating a potential upside of 41% [12] Lemonade - Lemonade is an insurance company leveraging AI to automate key processes such as underwriting and claims processing, aiming for a 'zero paperwork' model [14] - The company reported 2,869,900 total customers, a 24% increase year-over-year, and $194.5 million in revenue for 3Q25, up 42% year-over-year [16] - Lemonade's AI-driven model has reduced loss adjustment expenses from 13% to 7% over three years, with over 55% of claims processed instantly [17] - Analyst Ramnani has a Buy rating on Lemonade with a price target of $98, suggesting a potential gain of 22% [17] - The stock currently has a Hold consensus rating, with a potential downside of 4% based on the average target price [18]

Core Insights - Duolingo (DUOL) is a consumer subscription business that successfully meets the Rule of 40, combining growth and profitability [1] - The company boasts hundreds of millions of users and maintains an adjusted EBITDA margin of approximately 30%, with a year-over-year growth rate of 40% [1] Company Performance - Duolingo's user base is in the hundreds of millions, indicating strong market penetration and consumer interest [1] - The adjusted EBITDA margin of around 30% reflects the company's operational efficiency and profitability [1] - The year-over-year growth rate of 40% highlights Duolingo's robust expansion and potential for future growth [1]

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article is that the education sector has a promising outlook driven by innovations in AI technology and defensive growth [1] - The report highlights that Duolingo and New Oriental are the top picks, maintaining "buy" ratings with target prices of $347 and $70 respectively [1] - The article emphasizes that the continuous innovation of AI in education is leading to a differentiated competitive landscape among market participants [1] Group 2 - The comprehensive development of model capabilities, systematic content, emotional support, and generalized learning scenarios is identified as a future trend in the education industry [1]