I am a full-time analyst interested in a wide range of stocks. With my unique insights and knowledge, I hope to provide other investors with a contrasting view of my portfolio, given my particular background.If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me via a direct message on Seeking Alpha or leave a comment on one of my articles.Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of AMZN, NVDA, TSM either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this ar ...

Group 1 - The focus is on growth and dividend income as a strategy for retirement planning [1] - The portfolio is structured to generate monthly dividend income that grows through reinvestment and annual increases [1] Group 2 - The article emphasizes the importance of conducting personal research before making investment decisions [2] - It clarifies that the opinions expressed are personal and not professional investment advice [2][3]

Core Insights - Upstart achieved a remarkable Rule of 40 score of 123, surpassing Palantir's score of 94, with 102% revenue growth and a 21% adjusted EBITDA margin [2][3] - Despite strong performance, Upstart's stock fell due to a shrinking take rate, which decreased from 12% to 9% year-over-year [8] Company Performance - Upstart's transaction volume increased by 159%, with 372,599 loans approved and a conversion rate rising to 23.9% from 15.2% [5] - Revenue from fees rose by 84% to $241 million, contributing to total revenue of $257.3 million, exceeding analyst estimates of $225.4 million [6] - The company reported an adjusted EBITDA profit of $53.1 million, a significant turnaround from a loss of $9.3 million, and a GAAP profit of $5.6 million, or $0.40 per share, compared to a loss of $0.17 [6][7] Market Outlook - Upstart raised its full-year forecast and third-quarter projections, indicating strong future performance [7] - The company is expanding into the super prime loan market, which may affect the take rate but could lead to lower risk and default rates [8][9] - Auto loan originations surged over sixfold to $114 million, while home loans increased ninefold to $68 million, suggesting significant growth potential in these markets [9][10] Investment Consideration - The recent sell-off in Upstart's stock may present a buying opportunity due to its rapid growth, improving profitability, and expansion into home and auto loan markets [11]

Core Insights - Palantir Technologies has demonstrated impressive stock performance, with a 28% increase in the last month and nearly 600% over the past year, leading to a market capitalization exceeding $400 billion [2][6] - The company's revenue growth has accelerated significantly, reaching 48% year-over-year last quarter, with an annualized run rate of $4 billion, and profit margins have improved to 27% [5][6] - Palantir's recent success is attributed to its AI-focused software, which has allowed for larger contracts and increased momentum in both commercial and government sectors [5][6] Revenue and Growth - In 2023, Palantir's revenue growth had slowed to around 12% year-over-year, but the introduction of AI technology has revitalized its growth trajectory [4] - The company closed 42 deals worth $10 million or more in the last quarter, indicating strong future revenue potential [6][11] Valuation Context - Palantir's current market cap of $425 billion results in a price-to-sales ratio of 132, significantly higher than other premium software companies like Shopify, which has a P/S ratio of just over 20 [7][8] - This extreme valuation raises concerns about the sustainability of its stock price, as it may require many years of strong double-digit revenue growth to justify its current market cap [9][12] Future Outlook - There is potential for Palantir to maintain approximately 50% revenue growth in the coming years, particularly with a 93% year-over-year growth in U.S. commercial revenue [11] - However, the finite nature of enterprise and government software budgets suggests that growth may eventually slow down, posing a risk to long-term stock performance [12][14]

The company's generative AI platform has enriched customers and investors alike.Palantir Technologies (PLTR 2.53%) stock has been on a tear since last year's U.S. presidential election. Since the election on Nov. 5, the stock is up by about 250%.While that is a considerable return, it is relatively modest compared to how the stock has performed over the last three years, when the market and Palantir were in the middle of a bear market. Amid the rising popularity of AI and its productivity solution, Palantir ...

Core Viewpoint - Amazon is currently experiencing slower growth in its cloud computing division compared to competitors, but it is expected to outperform Nvidia and Palantir by 2030 due to its dual growth engines in cloud computing and e-commerce [2][13]. Cloud Computing Performance - Amazon Web Services (AWS) reported a revenue growth of 17.5% to $30.9 billion in Q2, with an annualized rate of $123.6 billion, which is significantly slower than Microsoft Azure's 34% growth [4][5]. - AWS maintains a strong relationship with Anthropic, which is valued at nearly $200 billion and has committed billions to AWS, potentially accelerating revenue growth for the division [6][7]. - AWS's operating income was $43 billion over the last 12 months and is projected to approach $100 billion by 2030 [7]. E-commerce and Retail Growth - North American e-commerce sales grew by 11% last quarter to $100 billion, totaling $404 billion over the last 12 months, while international sales reached $150 billion [9]. - Advertising services are driving a 22% growth, contributing to margin expansion, with North American retail operating margins at 7% and international at 3.4% [10]. - Future investments in projects like Alexa and Project Kuiper are expected to enhance profit margins, with North American margins projected to reach at least 15% and international margins at 10% by 2030 [11]. Competitive Positioning - Amazon has two significant growth engines: cloud computing and e-commerce, allowing for substantial market expansion despite current revenues exceeding $670 billion [14]. - Amazon is reducing its reliance on Nvidia by increasing the capacity of its own Trainium chip, which is expected to take market share from Nvidia [15]. - Amazon's forward price-to-earnings ratio is 33, significantly lower than Nvidia's 41 and Palantir's 278, making it a more attractive investment option [15][16].

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of conducting thorough due diligence before making investment decisions, highlighting that past performance does not guarantee future results [2][3]. Group 1 - The content is based on personal thoughts and research, indicating that it is not financial or investment advice [2][3]. - There is a clear disclaimer that the author has no financial interest in the companies mentioned, ensuring objectivity in the analysis [1][2]. - The article notes that all investments carry risks, including the potential for total loss [2][3].

Core Insights - Palantir Technologies has demonstrated strong performance, with its stock increasing by 575% over the 12 months ending August 6, 2023, following robust Q2 results [1][2] Revenue Growth - Palantir's revenue growth has accelerated for eight consecutive quarters, with Q2 2023 showing a year-over-year growth of 48%, up from 13% in Q2 2022, and Q2 revenue reaching $1 billion, surpassing management's forecast of $934 million to $938 million [3][4] - U.S. commercial revenue surged 93% to $306 million, with remaining deal value increasing 145% to $2.79 billion, and the customer count rising 64% year over year to 485 [5] - Government revenue also saw significant growth, with total revenue jumping 49% year over year to $553 million, and U.S. government revenue increasing 53% to $426 million [6] International Performance - International government revenue grew 37% to $127 million, achieving the highest-ever bookings quarter in this segment, while international commercial revenue declined 3% to $144 million [7] Customer Metrics - Net dollar retention was reported at 128%, indicating expansion among existing customers, up from 124% in the previous quarter [7] Earnings and Guidance - Adjusted earnings per share rose from $0.09 to $0.16 year over year, exceeding the analyst consensus of $0.14 [8] - For Q3 2023, the company guided revenue between $1.083 billion and $1.087 billion, projecting nearly 50% growth at the midpoint, and raised its full-year revenue guidance to a range of $4.142 billion to $4.150 billion, representing 45% growth [8] Valuation and Future Outlook - Palantir's stock trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio exceeding 110 times 2025 estimates, indicating a high valuation with limited room for error [10] - The acceleration in quarterly revenue growth and the broad applicability of its AI Platform suggest significant future potential for the company [11]

Palantir's Financial Performance - Palantir's Q2 EPS is 16 cents, exceeding the expected 14 cents [1] - Revenue increased by 48% to $1004 billion, surpassing the anticipated $93925 million [1] - Q3 adjusted operating income is projected between $493 million and $497 million, exceeding expectations [2] - Q3 revenue is expected to range from $1083 billion to $1087 billion, also surpassing expectations [2] - Adjusted operating income guidance for the year is raised to between $1912 billion and $192 billion, exceeding expectations [2] - Revenue forecast for the year is now between $4142 billion and $4150 billion, also exceeding expectations [2] Business Segments Performance - US government revenue reached $426 million, exceeding expectations [1] - US commercial revenue reached $306 million, exceeding expectations [1] AI and Competition - Palantir believes America is currently leading in both government and commercial AI sectors, but warns against complacency [5] - Palantir's CEO aims to increase revenue by tenfold in the next 5 years [7] - Snowflake, Oracle, and Microsoft are considered competitors, although Palantir also partners with some of them [16] AMD's Financial Performance - AMD's Q2 adjusted EPS is 48 cents, aligning with expectations [37] - Q2 revenue reached $769 billion, surpassing the anticipated $743 billion [37] - Q3 revenue is projected between $84 billion and $9 billion, exceeding the expected $837 billion [38]

Core Insights - JR Research is recognized as a top analyst in technology, software, and internet sectors, focusing on growth and GARP strategies [1] - The investment approach emphasizes identifying attractive risk/reward opportunities with robust price action to generate alpha above the S&P 500 [1][2] - The investment group Ultimate Growth Investing specializes in high-potential opportunities across various sectors with a focus on strong growth potential and contrarian plays [3] Investment Strategy - The strategy combines sharp price action analysis with fundamentals investing, avoiding overhyped stocks while targeting battered stocks with recovery potential [2] - The investment outlook is typically 18 to 24 months for the thesis to materialize, aiming for robust fundamentals and attractive valuations [3] Target Audience - The group is designed for investors looking to capitalize on growth stocks with strong fundamentals, buying momentum, and turnaround plays [3]