Spotify Set to Report Q2 Earnings: Buy, Sell or Hold the Stock?

Core Insights - Spotify Technology S.A. is set to report its second-quarter 2025 results on July 29, with revenue expectations of $4.9 million, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 20.3% and earnings per share (EPS) estimated at $2.19, indicating a 53.2% increase from the previous year [1][8] Financial Performance - The consensus estimate for total monthly active users (MAU) is projected at 736.8 million, representing a 50.7% increase year-over-year. Premium subscribers are expected to reach 288.5 million, indicating a 40.7% growth, while ad-supported MAUs are estimated at 465 million, suggesting a 57.6% rise [5][8] - Spotify's stock has increased by 100.4% over the past year, outperforming the industry average of 50.8% and the S&P 500's 16.5% rise [6][8] Earnings Expectations - The current Earnings ESP for Spotify is -9.14%, with a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), indicating lower chances of an earnings beat this quarter [4][8] - Historical performance shows that Spotify has missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three out of the last four quarters, with an average negative surprise of 7.4% [2][3] Growth Drivers - The growth in MAUs has been attributed to AI-led innovations, with a 16.9% increase in MAUs from Q1 to Q4 of 2023 and a 10% growth year-over-year by the end of Q4 2024 [12][13] - The company aims to reach a billion users globally by 2030, supported by its ability to diversify geographically [13] Competitive Landscape - Spotify faces significant competition from Apple Music and Amazon Music, which may impact its market share despite its superior recommendation algorithms [14] - The competitive nature of the audio streaming industry poses challenges to Spotify's growth potential [16]