SoundHound's Amelia 7.0 Launch: A Turning Point for Voice AI?
ZACKS· 2025-06-13 15:41
Key Takeaways SOUN launched Amelia 7.0, introducing autonomous AI agents built on its proprietary Agentic framework. Q1 revenue surged 151%, driven by voice commerce gains in restaurants and automotive sectors. SOUN faces stiff competition from MSFT and GOOGL as it aims to scale its agentic voice AI across industries.SoundHound AI’s (SOUN) rollout of Amelia 7.0, unveiled on May 8, marks a significant milestone, shifting its voice AI suite from reactive assistants to fully agentic, voice-enabled AI agents ...
Can BigBear.ai Ride the AI Defense Wave to Profitability?
ZACKS· 2025-06-13 15:41
Key Takeaways BBAI's Q1 revenue of $34.8 million grew 5% year over year, driven by defense and homeland security contracts. A $385 million backlog and $108 million cash position signal growth, despite a $62 million quarterly net loss. Investments in Orion, Pangiam, and veriScan show progress, but profitability remains elusive.BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc. (BBAI) is positioning itself at the intersection of artificial intelligence and national security, an increasingly lucrative niche. In first-quarter 2025, t ...
4 Retail Home Furnishing Stocks to Watch From a Prospering Industry
ZACKS· 2025-06-13 15:41
The Zacks Retail-Home Furnishings industry is showing positive momentum in 2025, supported by stable mortgage rates, improved consumer confidence, and a rebound in housing activity. Digital platforms are driving growth with AR shopping tools, AI-powered personalization, and mobile-first strategies that appeal to Gen Z and millennials. Companies like The Home Depot, Inc. (HD) , Lowe's Companies (LOW) , Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (WSM) and The Lovesac Company (LOVE) have been leveraging product reinvention, effici ...
BRODSKY & SMITH SHAREHOLDER UPDATE: Notifying Investors of the Following Investigations: CureVac N.V. (Nasdaq - CVAC), Know Labs, Inc. (NYSE American - KNW), Volato Group, Inc. (NYSE American - SOAR), Heliogen, Inc. (OTC - HLGN)
GlobeNewswire News Room· 2025-06-13 15:37
Group 1: CureVac N.V. Acquisition - CureVac will be acquired by BioNTech SE, with each CureVac share exchanged for approximately $5.46 in BioNTech ADSs, leading to an implied aggregate equity value of about $1.25 billion [2] - Upon completion of the transaction, CureVac shareholders are expected to own between 4% and 6% of BioNTech [2] - The investigation focuses on whether the CureVac Board breached its fiduciary duties by failing to conduct a fair process and whether the consideration provides fair value to shareholders [2] Group 2: Know Labs, Inc. Acquisition - Know Labs will be acquired by Goldeneye 1995 LLC, with the purchase price determined by dividing the sum of 1,000 Bitcoin and a cash amount for debt retirement and working capital by the per share price of $0.335 [4] - The investigation examines whether the Know Labs Board breached its fiduciary duties by not conducting a fair process and whether the deal offers fair value to shareholders [4] Group 3: Volato Group, Inc. Merger - Volato Group will merge with M2i Global, with M2i Global expected to own approximately 90% of the total shares of Volato post-merger [6] - The investigation is centered on whether the Volato Group Board breached its fiduciary duties by failing to conduct a fair process and the potential dilution of shareholders in the combined company [6] Group 4: Heliogen, Inc. Acquisition - Heliogen will be acquired by Zeo Energy Corp, with securityholders receiving shares valued at approximately $10 million based on a price of $1.5859 per share, subject to adjustments based on net cash at closing [8] - The investigation looks into whether the Heliogen Board breached its fiduciary duties by not conducting a fair process and whether the consideration provides fair value to shareholders [8]
DOCU Shares Fall 18.2% Despite Q1 Earnings & Revenue Beat
ZACKS· 2025-06-13 15:36
Core Insights - DocuSign, Inc. (DOCU) reported strong first-quarter fiscal 2026 results with earnings per share (EPS) and revenues exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate, yet the stock declined by 18.2% post-results [1][4] Financial Performance - EPS for the quarter was $0.90, surpassing estimates by 11.1% and increasing 9.8% year-over-year [2][4] - Total revenues reached $763.7 million, beating the consensus by 2.2% and rising 7.6% from the same quarter last year [2][4] - Subscription revenues grew by 8% to $746.2 million, exceeding expectations, while professional services and other revenues fell by 4% to $17.5 million [6][4] - Billings amounted to $739.6 million, a 4% increase year-over-year, but fell short of the anticipated $748.7 million [4][6] Margins and Profitability - Non-GAAP gross margin was 82.3%, exceeding the estimate of 81.4%, with non-GAAP gross profit of $628.7 million, an 8% year-over-year increase [7] - Non-GAAP operating margin improved to 29.5%, up 100 basis points from the previous year, surpassing the estimate of 27.6% [7] Balance Sheet and Cash Flow - At the end of Q1 fiscal 2026, cash and cash equivalents stood at $657.4 million, down from $817.4 million a year earlier [8] - Net cash generated from operating activities was $251.4 million, with free cash flow of $227.8 million for the quarter [8] Guidance - For Q2 fiscal 2026, the company expects revenues between $777 million and $781 million, with subscription revenues projected between $760 million and $764 million [9] - For the full fiscal 2026, revenues are anticipated to be between $3.15 billion and $3.16 billion, aligning with the Zacks Consensus Estimate [10]
EQT Beats Industry While Trading Cheaply: What Investors Should Know
ZACKS· 2025-06-13 15:36
Group 1: Stock Performance - EQT Corporation's shares have increased by 24.6% over the past six months, outperforming the oil-energy sector's decline of 15.6% and the Zacks S&P 500 composite's decline of 0.9% [1][5] - The company has a market capitalization of $32.3 billion [1] Group 2: Earnings and Revenue Growth - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for EQT's 2025 earnings per share indicates a year-over-year increase of 116.2%, with revenues expected to reach $8.1 billion, suggesting a 32.4% year-over-year improvement [2][5] - Long-term earnings growth is projected at 46.3%, significantly higher than the industry average of 16.9% [2] Group 3: Valuation Metrics - The average price target for EQT shares, based on 21 analysts, is $60.14, indicating an 11.4% upside from the last closing price [3] - EQT's price-to-book ratio stands at 1.36X, which is a deep discount compared to the industry average of 3.28X [5][7] Group 4: Operational Strengths - EQT is the largest natural gas producer in the U.S., focusing on the Appalachian Basin and employing advanced technologies like horizontal drilling [8] - The company has untapped premium oil and natural gas drilling locations, contributing to a positive production outlook [8] Group 5: Acquisition and Financial Performance - EQT's $1.8 billion acquisition of Olympus Energy is expected to yield a 15% unlevered free cash flow yield and a 3.4X adjusted EBITDA multiple over 2025-2027 [9] - In Q1 2025, EQT generated over $1.04 billion in free cash flow, nearly double that of its closest peer, showcasing its strong cost structure and operational efficiency [12] Group 6: Credit Ratings and Debt Management - EQT holds investment-grade credit ratings from S&P and Fitch with a stable outlook [13] - The company is actively working to reduce its debt burden, targeting a long-term debt range of $5-7 billion [13]
CVNA vs. AN: Which Auto Retail Stock Should Growth Investors Buy?
ZACKS· 2025-06-13 15:36
Core Insights - Carvana and AutoNation represent two distinct business models in U.S. auto retail, with Carvana focusing on a fully digital platform for used vehicles and AutoNation maintaining a network of physical dealerships while expanding its digital presence [1][2] Carvana Overview - Carvana has become the second-largest used car retailer in the U.S., utilizing a digital-first model that simplifies the car-buying process [3] - The company has exceeded earnings expectations for four consecutive quarters, selling over 100,000 retail units per quarter, with a nearly 46% year-over-year increase in retail unit sales [4] - Operational efficiency improvements have led to a record adjusted EBITDA of $488 million and an adjusted EBITDA margin of 11.5%, significantly above industry norms [5] - Tariff-related uncertainties may benefit Carvana as consumers shift towards used cars due to rising new vehicle prices [6] - As of March 31, 2025, Carvana had $5.26 billion in long-term debt and a debt-to-capital ratio of 0.75, indicating higher financial leverage risk [7] - The company aims to scale to 3 million units sold annually with EBITDA margins of 13.5% within the next 5 to 10 years [8] AutoNation Overview - AutoNation combines a broad physical dealership network with digital initiatives, selling both new and used vehicles while generating income from higher-margin services [10] - The finance arm has become a significant contributor to profitability, with low delinquency rates and improved loan penetration across franchise locations [11] - However, AutoNation faces challenges with approximately 50% of revenues tied to new vehicle sales, making it vulnerable to tariff-related cost pressures [12] - Profitability is under pressure, with EBITDA margins below 6% and rising SG&A costs as a percentage of gross profit [13] - AutoNation has been active in returning capital to shareholders, repurchasing 2.9 million shares for $460 million in 2024 and an additional $254 million in early 2025 [14] Price Performance and Valuation - Over the past year, Carvana shares have increased by more than 200%, while AutoNation stock has gained 17% [16] - Carvana is trading at a forward sales multiple of 3.41, significantly above its five-year median of 1.95, while AutoNation's forward sales multiple is at 0.26, close to its median of 0.25 [18] - Carvana's valuations reflect high growth expectations and improving profitability, making it an attractive option for growth-oriented investors [20] Conclusion - Carvana is positioned as a stronger investment choice due to its digital-first approach and solid growth momentum, while AutoNation's diversified model provides stability but faces challenges from rising tariffs and shrinking margins [21][22] - Carvana's strong earnings growth expectations and solid price momentum contribute to its Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) and Growth Score of A, making it appealing for growth-oriented investors [23]
Nvidia to exclude China from its revenue and profit forecasts
TechCrunch· 2025-06-13 15:34
Core Viewpoint - Nvidia does not expect the U.S. to reverse its chip export restrictions to China in the near future, leading the company to exclude the Chinese market from its revenue and profit forecasts [1][2]. Group 1: Export Restrictions Impact - The Trump administration implemented licensing requirements for Nvidia's H20 chips, the most advanced AI chip available for sale to China, in April [2]. - Nvidia anticipates an $8 billion revenue impact in the second quarter due to these export restrictions [2]. Group 2: Company Outlook - CEO Jensen Huang stated that any reversal of the export controls by the Trump administration would be considered a "bonus" for the company [1].
Abbott Declares 406th Consecutive Quarterly Dividend
Prnewswire· 2025-06-13 15:34
Dividend Declaration - Abbott's board of directors declared a quarterly common dividend of 59 cents per share, marking the 406th consecutive quarterly dividend since 1924 [1] - The cash dividend is payable on August 15, 2025, to shareholders of record at the close of business on July 15, 2025 [1] Dividend Growth - Abbott has increased its dividend payout for 53 consecutive years and is a member of the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index, which tracks companies that have increased dividends annually for at least 25 consecutive years [2] Company Overview - Abbott is a global healthcare leader with a portfolio that includes diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals, and branded generic medicines, serving people in over 160 countries with 114,000 employees [3]
Invesco Commercial Real Estate Finance Trust, Inc. ("INCREF") Provides $354.6M To Refinance Industrial Portfolio
Prnewswire· 2025-06-13 15:34
Core Insights - Invesco Commercial Real Estate Finance Trust, Inc. (INCREF) has provided $354.6 million in financing to Bridge Logistics Properties (BLP) for refinancing an industrial assets portfolio [1][3] - The portfolio consists of 24 properties totaling 2,454,761 square feet located in key states including California, Washington, Texas, New Jersey, New York, and Florida [2] - This financing aligns with INCREF's strategy of originating high-quality, income-generating loans secured by institutional quality assets in liquid markets across the US and Europe [3] Company Overview - INCREF is a perpetual life real estate investment trust focused on private credit secured by real estate, managed by Invesco Advisers, Inc. [4] - Invesco Real Estate, a global leader in real estate investment management, manages $85 billion in real estate assets and has a workforce of 605 employees across 21 regional offices [5] - Bridge Logistics Properties is a vertically integrated logistics real estate investment manager founded in 2021, led by experienced professionals from notable firms [7][8] Financial Strategy - The loan provided to BLP is characterized as a sub-70% loan-to-value loan secured by a diversified portfolio of well-leased, cash-flowing industrial properties [3] - With this financing, INCREF's portfolio now totals 61 loans representing over $3.6 billion in loan commitments across the US and Europe [3] Market Position - BLP focuses on value-driven investment strategies and collaborates closely with institutional capital partners, targeting coastal and gateway markets in the US [8] - Bridge Investment Group, the parent company of BLP, manages approximately $49 billion in assets and operates across various specialized asset classes [10]