Streaming category in crypto is about to go absolutely parabolic like podcasts did in 2020.Trend is so clear ...

Days before a new ownership team takes control of the company, Paramount Global reported second-quarter earnings that beat analysts’ estimates, crediting lower costs and growth in streaming profit https://t.co/UkKTzaqSIz ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consolidated revenue increased by 2%, benefiting from core growth drivers in connectivity and content, which collectively represent nearly 60% of total revenue and grew at a high single-digit rate this quarter [19][20] - EBITDA grew by 1% this quarter, adjusted EPS increased by 3% to $1.25, and free cash flow generated was $4.5 billion, with $2.9 billion returned to shareholders, including $1.7 billion in share repurchases [20][17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Broadband subscriber losses totaled 226,000 due to competitive pressures and typical seasonality, but early signs of stabilization in Connect activity and voluntary churn were noted [20][21] - Convergence revenue grew by 3.7%, supported by high teens growth in wireless revenue, with 378,000 new wireless lines added, marking a new high for net additions [21][22] - Parks revenue increased by 19% driven by the successful opening of Epic Universe, while EBITDA growth was limited to 4% due to soft opening costs [26][27] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The competitive landscape for broadband remains intense, with fixed wireless and fiber competitors actively building out their networks [38] - International parks performed strongly, although Hollywood faced pressure, expected to improve in the coming quarters [27] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on a connectivity strategy leveraging its strengths in broadband, WiFi, and convergence, aiming to build a loyal customer base with predictable pricing and improved customer experience [12][21] - The successful opening of Epic Universe reflects the long-term strategy to expand reach and enter new markets, with additional projects in the pipeline [13][14] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the changes made in the broadband business, highlighting early positive customer responses to new pricing strategies and service offerings [10][21] - The company anticipates healthy broadband ARPU growth over the year, despite a potential moderation in the near term due to the rollout of new pricing structures [21][56] Other Important Information - The company expects to benefit from recent tax legislation, estimating an average of $1 billion in annual cash tax benefits for the next several years due to infrastructure investments [33][34] - The media segment is positioned for growth with a strong lineup of content and the upcoming NBA season, which is expected to drive subscriber growth for Peacock [70][72] Q&A Session Summary Question: Details on broadband adjustments and competitive landscape - Management acknowledged the intense competitive landscape but noted early positive reactions to new pricing and customer experience initiatives [38][39] Question: Impact of involuntary disconnects and Project Genesis - Slight uptick in non-pay disconnects was observed, but overall network upgrades are on track and competitive positioning remains strong [45][46] Question: Pricing impact on ARPU growth and seasonal trends - Management indicated that while ARPU growth may moderate in the near term due to new pricing, they expect healthy growth in the long run [52][56] Question: Convergence revenue growth expectations - Convergence revenue growth is expected to face some pressure in the short term but is set up for reacceleration in the future as customer bases are repackaged [60][64] Question: M&A interest and strategic partnerships - The company remains open to considering acquisitions but emphasizes a disciplined approach, focusing on organic growth and strategic partnerships, particularly in business services [90][96]

Do I rip a kick stream during FOMC tomorrow at 2pm?This would be in addition to the daily 8am stream. ...

All right, let's talk media, taxes, tariffs, sports investing, and much more. We've got billionaire and value investor Mario Gabelli with us. He is the chairman and CEO of Gamco Investors. And Mario, it's great to see you here this morning. >> Well, it's indeed a privilege and fun to talk about our favorite subject, which is stocks, and the world of which volatility is part of the daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner for us. >> There has not been a lot of volatility lately. It's been kind of an upward march. ...

Industry Dynamics - Cable, after a decade of share gains, now faces a very competitive and mature market [2] - Telcos are gaining share, especially with less expensive fixed wireless offerings like T-Mobile [3] - Cable companies are responding with price guarantees, which could pressure ARPU (Average Revenue Per User) [4] Company Performance (Charter Communications) - Charter's shares fell more than 18% after reporting unexpected internet customer losses in the second quarter [1] - Challenges for Charter are not going away, and the second half of the year will be difficult [6] - Charter is offering streaming services (Peacock, Max, RML Plus, Disney Plus, etc) for free to Spectrum customers, providing close to $100 in value [4] - Charter has a solid management team, a good product, and a good network [6] Media Landscape & M&A - Expects a lot of M&A activity in the media space, especially with spin-offs from Comcast (Versent) and WBD [7][8] - Warner Brothers Discovery's global networks are expected to be rolled up, and Warner Brothers with HBO Max is unlikely to remain an independent studio long-term [9] - There's bound to be a lot of movement in the media industry in the next one to two years [9]

Group 1: Company Performance - Netflix's Q2 revenue increased by 15.9% year over year to $11.1 billion, surpassing its guidance of $11.0 billion [3] - The company's earnings per share (EPS) of $7.19 exceeded projections of $7.03, reflecting a 47% growth compared to the previous year [3] - Free cash flow surged almost 87% year over year, indicating strong financial health [3] Group 2: Subscriber Growth and Market Position - Despite recent price increases in the U.S. and other markets, Netflix continues to attract new subscribers, demonstrating strong brand loyalty and competitive pricing power [5] - For Q3, Netflix is guiding for year-over-year revenue and EPS growth of 17% and 27%, respectively, with an increased full-year revenue outlook of $44.8 billion to $45.2 billion [6] - The company's ability to grow its subscriber base while raising prices suggests that customers are not highly price sensitive, indicating resilience in tougher economic conditions [9] Group 3: Competitive Advantages - Netflix's extensive ecosystem of viewers allows it to leverage data for content production, enhancing viewer engagement and driving subscriber growth through network effects [7] - The introduction of a low-price, ad-supported tier and scaling of its advertising business demonstrates Netflix's adaptability in a changing streaming landscape [8] - The shift from cable to streaming presents a long-term opportunity for Netflix as the cable market continues to shrink [11] Group 4: Market Valuation - Netflix's forward price-to-earnings ratio is just under 45, significantly higher than the communication services sector average of 19.9, reflecting its market leadership and growth potential [11][12] - Despite potential short-term volatility, the long-term outlook remains positive for investors considering holding Netflix stock for five to ten years [12]

Core Insights - Netflix delivered strong quarterly performance in Q2 2025, exceeding analyst expectations and raising full-year guidance across multiple metrics [1][8] - The company has seen significant shareholder returns in 2025, with shares up approximately 35.7% year to date, outperforming competitors [2][4] Revenue Performance - Q2 2025 revenues reached $11.079 billion, marking a 16% year-over-year growth and surpassing consensus estimates [6] - Full-year 2025 revenue forecast raised to $44.8-$45.2 billion from $43.5-$44.5 billion, indicating anticipated growth of 15%-16% [6][9] - Member growth accelerated, and advertising revenues are expected to roughly double in 2025, aided by favorable currency effects [7][9] Margin Expansion - Full-year operating margin target raised to 29.5% on a currency-neutral basis, translating to approximately 30% reported operating margin for 2025 [11] - Q2 operating margin was 34%, reflecting operational efficiency while investing in content [11][12] - Free cash flow projections increased to $8.0-$8.5 billion, supporting content investment and shareholder returns [13] Content Pipeline - The second half of 2025 features a strong content lineup, including major franchises and diverse genres [14][15] - New content includes anticipated sequels and projects from acclaimed creators, enhancing global appeal [16] - Expansion into live programming with significant sporting events aims to drive subscriber acquisition and enhance engagement [17][18] Investment Considerations - Continued execution across key operational metrics positions the company for sustained growth [20] - Current valuations reflect a premium, with a forward 12-month P/S ratio of 10.81 compared to the industry average of 4.48 [21] - Existing shareholders may consider a hold strategy, while new investors might wait for more attractive entry points [24]

Core Insights - Disney is experiencing significant growth in its direct-to-consumer streaming platforms, particularly with the integration of ESPN into Disney+, which is expected to enhance its competitive position in the streaming market [1][8] - The streaming segment reported an operating income of $336 million in Q2 2025, a substantial increase from $47 million in the same quarter last year, indicating a successful turnaround [1][8] - Profitable streaming operations are allowing Disney to invest in high-profile content, such as Moana 2 and Inside Out 2, which not only boosts streaming engagement but also enhances revenue across merchandise, parks, and cruises [2][8] Streaming Subscriber Growth - In Q2 2025, Disney+ added 1.4 million subscribers, reaching a total of 126 million, while Hulu reached 54.7 million subscribers, bringing Disney's total streaming subscribers to 180.7 million, a 2.5% sequential increase [4][8] - This growth reflects Disney's successful transition from traditional media to streaming, showcasing real momentum in subscriber acquisition [4] Competitive Landscape - Netflix remains a dominant player in the U.S. streaming market, with over $11 billion in revenue in Q2 2025 and a 45% earnings growth, leveraging its scale and exclusive content [4] - Paramount Global, through Paramount+ and Pluto TV, is also competing with Disney+ by utilizing its extensive content library, although it faces profitability challenges due to debt and operating losses [5] Financial Performance and Valuation - Disney's stock has gained 9.1% year-to-date, underperforming compared to the Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector and the Zacks Media Conglomerates industry [6] - The current forward 12-month Price/Earnings ratio for DIS stock is 19.46X, compared to the industry's 21.1X, indicating a relatively favorable valuation [9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Disney's 2025 earnings is $5.78 per share, reflecting a 16.3% increase from the previous year [12]

Alphabet is an eclectic collection of tech-centric businesses. Unfortunately, there isn't one stock to rule them all. The "Magnificent Seven" is a popular tag for the most dominant, high-performing tech companies on the planet. Alphabet (GOOGL 0.78%), (GOOG 0.66%), Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla have delivered market-crushing returns over the past decade, in large part because their businesses are on the forefront of the most disruptive technology macrotrends in modern history. ...