Core Insights - Jones Research has maintained a 'Hold' rating for MARA, citing missed earnings expectations due to increased operating costs impacting margins [1] Financial Performance - MARA reported third-quarter revenue of $252.4 million, a 6% increase from the previous quarter, exceeding Jones Research's estimate of $246.1 million [2] - EBITDA for the quarter was $51.0 million, falling short of the projected $83.7 million, attributed to a 17.5% rise in general and administrative and research expenses to $57.9 million [2] - The gross margin was 42.5%, below the estimated 52.7%, due to higher-than-expected hash costs of $0.031 per terahash compared to the forecast of $0.027 [3] - Operating income showed a loss of $158.0 million, wider than the anticipated loss of $111.8 million [3] - Adjusted EBITDA was reported at $395.6 million, primarily due to a $343.1 million unrealized gain on bitcoin holdings [3] Future Projections - Jones Research has revised its 2025 and 2026 EBITDA estimates for MARA to $214 million and $376 million, respectively, down from previous forecasts of $269 million and $407 million [4] - The revision reflects higher operating costs and a lower projected hash price of $0.050 per terahash for the fourth quarter [4] Strategic Initiatives - MARA's acquisition of a 64% stake in French cloud operator Exaion and a partnership with MPLX LP are seen as critical to its new strategy [5] - Exaion is expected to enhance software and compliance capabilities, while the MPLX partnership will provide access to natural gas resources for powering modular data centers in the Delaware Basin, with initial capacity planned at 400 megawatts and potential expansion to 1.5 gigawatts [5] Market Competition - The first power plants under the MPLX partnership are not expected until 2027, with confirmation from MPLX's CEO that the project will not commence before 2026 [6] - The competition in the sovereign and private AI cloud market is intense, with major players like Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure expanding into compliant cloud services, alongside emerging firms like CoreWeave targeting regulated industries [6] Operational Flexibility - Despite the challenges, MARA's ability to transition between bitcoin mining and AI infrastructure, along with the potential to colocate data centers next to owned natural gas plants, offers some operational flexibility in executing its new strategy [7]

Core Insights - Oracle has launched Oracle Multicloud Universal Credits, a new licensing option that simplifies the procurement of Oracle AI Database and OCI services across multiple cloud platforms including AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure [1][2][3] - This initiative aims to streamline procurement processes, offering flexible terms and consistent contracts, which could enhance the adoption of Oracle's multicloud services [2][3] Unified Cross-Cloud Experience - The new Multicloud Universal Credits will allow customers to operate Oracle databases in their preferred regions while benefiting from a unified consumption model across different cloud providers [1][3] - Oracle's multicloud solution is designed to accelerate application modernization and cloud migrations, providing customers with more choices and flexibility [3] Additional Resources - Oracle's distributed cloud offers a single consumption model for seamless administration and governance across multiple clouds, enabling customers to deploy Oracle AI Database workloads in various regions [4] - The company provides options for hybrid cloud deployments, allowing customers to run OCI services in their own data centers and manage deployments globally [5][6] About Oracle - Oracle offers integrated applications and autonomous infrastructure in the Oracle Cloud, focusing on delivering innovative solutions to enhance cloud and AI capabilities [7]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The combined market is up 18% year to date, with as-a-service up 29% and managed services only up 1.5% [6][7][31] - Managed services in the Americas grew 15% year to date, while EMEA and Asia showed declines [4][7][32] - The BPO segment generated about $1.8 billion in ACV, down 16% year on year, with a year-to-date decline of 22% [18][19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The ITO segment was down 2% year on year but up 5% year to date, with the Americas accounting for all growth [14] - Engineering services saw a significant increase, up nearly 60% year over year and 36% year to date [15] - The BPO segment has seen a long-term decline, with nine of the past 11 quarters showing year-on-year declines [18][19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The as-a-service market, which includes SaaS, is now over 65% of the total volume [6][7] - The Americas managed services segment was up 22% year over year, while EMEA was down 25% [31][32] - Asia-Pacific managed services generated $2.5 billion of ACV, down 26% year to date [33] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company emphasizes a shift towards cloud-first platforms and AI-driven solutions, indicating a fundamental replatforming rather than just hype [3][5] - There is a focus on automation and local hiring due to new H-1B visa policies, which are expected to reshape labor delivery models [5][10] - The company is adapting to a market that is increasingly integrating technology-led solutions into BPO services [20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that while the macro environment remains uncertain, tech services spending in the U.S. is stabilizing and even expanding in some areas [31] - The outlook for managed services remains at 1.3% for the full year, while the forecast for as-a-service has been raised from 21% to 25% [57][58] - There are mixed signals in sectors like retail and automotive, with expectations of continued pressure on discretionary spending [61][64] Other Important Information - The company is seeing a significant shift in hiring patterns within BPO, focusing on specialized skills such as AI and data science [20][21] - Pricing pressures are evident across both BPO and ITO due to intense competition and the impact of AI [22] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the demand outlook for tariff-hit sectors like retail and autos? - Management indicated that while retail is under pressure, there are signs of increased deal activity focused on cost optimization, but bookings have not yet reflected this [61][62] Question: Will the increase in as-a-service outlook help revive demand for system integrators around SaaS implementation? - Management believes that the SaaS market is driving demand for system integrators, particularly as organizations rationalize their infrastructure to be AI-ready [60] Question: Are there delays in decision-making due to the H-1B visa fee hike? - Management noted that while there was initial concern, clarity from the administration helped calm the market, and clients have not significantly slowed down their decision-making [65]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The combined market is up 18% year to date, with as-a-service up 29% and managed services only up 1.5% [6][7] - Managed services in the Americas grew 15% year to date, while EMEA and Asia showed declines [4][7] - The BPO segment generated about $1.8 billion in ACV, down 16% year on year, with a year-to-date decline of 22% [18][19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The ITO segment was down 2% year on year but up 5% year to date, with the Americas accounting for all growth [14] - Engineering services saw a significant increase, up nearly 60% year over year and 36% year to date [15] - The BPO segment has seen nine of the past eleven quarters with year-on-year declines, indicating a long-term decline [18][19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The as-a-service market, which includes SaaS, is now over 65% of the total volume [6][7] - The Americas managed services segment was up 22% year over year, while EMEA was down 25% [31][32] - Asia-Pacific managed services generated $2.5 billion of ACV, down 26% versus 2024 [33] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on cloud-first platforms and AI-driven solutions, indicating a shift towards automation and local hiring due to new visa policies [5][10] - There is a notable shift towards technology-led solutions in BPO, blurring lines with ITO services [20] - The company anticipates a continued evolution in pricing models, particularly with the introduction of autonomous level pricing [27][30] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the macroeconomic environment remains uncertain, particularly in EMEA, but sees pockets of growth in the Americas [31][32] - The company expects continued strong demand for SaaS and hyperscalers, raising the forecast for as-a-service growth to 25% [58] - There is a recognition of the pressure on consumers and sectors like retail and automotive, which may impact discretionary spending [61][64] Other Important Information - The introduction of a $100,000 visa fee for H-1B visas is reshaping labor delivery strategies, leading to increased costs and complexity [5][10] - The engineering services segment is seeing larger deal sizes, with a 26% increase in average contract value year to date [16] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the demand outlook for tariff-hit sectors like retail and autos? - Management indicated that while retail is under pressure, there are mixed signals regarding discretionary spending, particularly in cost optimization areas [61][62] Question: Will the increase in as-a-service outlook to 25% help revive demand for system integrators around SaaS implementation? - Management believes that the SaaS market is driving up demand for system integrators, particularly as organizations rationalize their infrastructure to be AI-ready [60] Question: Are there delays in decision-making due to the H-1B visa fee hike? - Management noted that while there was initial concern, clarity from the administration helped calm markets, and clients have not significantly slowed down [65]

Core Viewpoint - Oracle's stock has surged 94% since the start of 2025, driven by optimistic forecasts for its cloud infrastructure business despite first-quarter results falling short of expectations [3][5]. Financial Performance - First quarter 2026 revenue was $14.9 billion, which was $100 million below analyst expectations [7]. - Adjusted earnings per share for Q1 2026 were $1.47, a penny below consensus [7]. - Remaining performance obligations (RPO) reached $455 billion, up 359% [7]. - The FY 2026 cloud infrastructure revenue forecast is $18 billion, reflecting a 77% increase [7]. - Capital expenditures for FY 2026 are projected at $35 billion, a 40% increase from previous forecasts [7]. Growth Forecast - Oracle anticipates cloud infrastructure revenue to grow to $32 billion in FY 2027, $73 billion in FY 2028, $114 billion in FY 2029, and $144 billion in FY 2030, averaging a 68% annual growth rate [8]. - The company signed four multibillion-dollar contracts in Q1, indicating strong demand and a growing backlog [9][10]. AI Market Position - Oracle is targeting AI markets related to training large language models and inference, with significant contracts signed with major AI players [11][10]. - The company’s databases provide a unique advantage for AI inference, allowing businesses to query private data effectively [12]. - Oracle is also developing AI agents to assist users in achieving specific goals, enhancing its service offerings [13]. Competitive Landscape - Oracle differentiates itself from competitors by focusing on unique technology and networking rather than owning physical data centers [14]. - Analysts express caution regarding Oracle's growth, noting that much of the business may come from competitors offloading capacity rather than organic growth [21]. Analyst Sentiment - Analysts are generally optimistic about Oracle's prospects, with a price target of $263.93 indicating the stock is overvalued by more than 21% [22]. - Positive remarks from analysts highlight Oracle's positioning in the AI race and the impressive RPO figures [23].

Core Insights - NVIDIA announced the expansion of its DGX Cloud Lepton, an AI platform that connects developers with a global compute marketplace for building AI applications [1][5] - The platform now includes contributions from various cloud providers, enhancing access to high-performance computing resources [2][8] - Hugging Face introduced Training Cluster as a Service, integrating with DGX Cloud Lepton to facilitate AI model training for researchers [3][10] Company Developments - NVIDIA collaborates with European venture capital firms to provide marketplace credits to startups, promoting regional development in AI [4][11] - The DGX Cloud Lepton platform simplifies access to GPU resources, supporting data governance and sovereign AI requirements [5][6] - The platform integrates with NVIDIA's software suite, streamlining AI application development and deployment [6][7] Industry Impact - The DGX Cloud Lepton marketplace aims to meet the growing demand for AI compute resources, with major cloud providers like AWS and Microsoft Azure participating [2][8] - Early-access customers include various AI companies leveraging the platform for strategic initiatives [8][9] - The integration with Hugging Face allows for scalable AI training, enhancing the capabilities of researchers in various scientific fields [10][11]

Group 1: Job Cuts and Restructuring - IBM is expected to cut approximately 9,000 jobs in the U.S. this year as part of a strategy to reduce operating costs, with many positions being shifted to India [1] - Confirmed job cuts are occurring in locations such as Raleigh, NC, New York City, NY, Dallas, TX, and California, affecting various teams including consulting and cloud infrastructure [2] - The restructuring is aimed at improving margins by shifting to lower-cost operating countries like India, despite facing competition from Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure [6] Group 2: Business Strategy and Growth - IBM is focusing on hybrid cloud and AI solutions, with growth driven by analytics, cloud computing, and security [3] - The watsonx platform is central to IBM's AI capabilities, offering tools for enterprises to enhance productivity through foundational models [4] - The company aims to leverage the trend of businesses adopting cloud-agnostic approaches to secure multi-cloud management, which is expected to enhance profitability [5] Group 3: Market Position and Competition - Despite solid demand for hybrid cloud and AI, IBM faces significant competition, leading to pricing pressures that have eroded margins over the years [6] - The corporate restructuring is seen as necessary to adapt to the competitive landscape and improve profitability [6]

图片来源： Ampere 软银集团 3 月 19 日宣布，将通过一笔全现金交易，以 65 亿美元收购由前英特尔高管 Renee James 创立的芯片设计公司 Ampere Computing ， 此举旨在扩大其在人工智能基础设施领域的投资。交易 完成后， Ampere 将作为软银的全资子公司运营，预计交易将在 2025 年下半年完成。 凯雷集团和甲骨文公司，作为 Ampere 的主要投资者，将出售他们在加州圣克拉拉这家初创公司的股 份。 根据软银的声明，凯雷持有 59.65% 的股份，而甲骨文持有 32.27% 。 这家初创公司雇佣了 1000 名 半导体工程师。 据彭博社报道， 2021 年，软银曾考虑收购 Ampere 的少数股权，当时其估值达 80 亿美元。 软银是 Arm Holdings 的最大股东，而 Ampere 基于 ARM 计算平台开发了服务器芯片，这使两家公司 成为强有力的合作伙伴。 图片来源：软银 软银于 2016 年以 320 亿美元收购了英国芯片设计公司 Arm ，该公司于 2023 年上市。 Ampere 的客 户包括 Google Cloud 、 Microsoft Azure ...