All right, so Judge, we all know that AI has been the hot trade, but is it starting to show too many signs of getting maybe too hot. How do you separate some of the hype from the high quality. Joining me now is Dan Ives, the global head of tech research at Wedbush Securities, who recently launched an ETF with his name as the ticker literally on the line.IVES is the ETF name, and it's basically your concentrated picks within artificial intelligence. What is the common denominator or the differentiating facto ...

Lazard (LAZ) 2025 Conference Summary Company Overview - **Company**: Lazard (LAZ) - **Event**: 2025 Conference - **Date**: June 10, 2025 Key Points Industry and Company Strategy - **Lazard 2030 Vision**: The company aims to double revenues and improve returns, with a focus on board engagement and strategic refreshment [6][8] - **Board Composition**: New board members are being added to enhance active engagement and oversight [4][5] - **Cultural Shift**: A commercial and collegial culture is being emphasized, which has positively impacted hiring and productivity [7][8] Financial Advisory Performance - **Productivity Target**: Lazard is ahead of schedule in achieving a productivity target of $8.5 million per managing director (MD) [8] - **Hiring Strategy**: Continued hiring in key sectors such as consumer retail, sports media, healthcare, and private capital is planned for 2024 and 2025 [7][8] - **Geographic Diversification**: The company is benefiting from a diversified geographic presence, particularly in North America and Europe, as global investment sentiment shifts [10][11] Asset Management Insights - **Growth Opportunities**: Both organic and inorganic growth opportunities are being pursued, particularly in active ETFs and global diversification strategies [16][17] - **Investor Sentiment**: There is a noted shift in investor preference towards non-US assets, with 90% of a specific mandate being in strategies outside the US [18][19] - **Performance Metrics**: The asset management business is seeing improved performance compared to the previous year, with a focus on global strategies [20][21] M&A Advisory Environment - **Client Sentiment**: There is an acceleration in discussions around M&A, influenced by recent developments in tariff regulations and a more accommodating regulatory environment [28][29] - **Market Dynamics**: The company is observing a diverse range of activities across geographies, with a notable increase in European deal-making [32][33] - **Regulatory Landscape**: A shift back to a more traditional regulatory perspective is expected, which may facilitate M&A activity [35][37] Private Capital and Restructuring - **Private Capital Activity**: The share of revenue from private capital is around 40%, indicating significant growth potential in this area [39][40] - **Restructuring Services**: Elevated activity in restructuring and liability management is anticipated due to high interest rates and market volatility [41][42] Financial Metrics and Shareholder Returns - **Compensation Ratio**: The current comp ratio is 65.5%, with a goal to reduce it to 60% depending on market conditions [45] - **Total Shareholder Return (TSR)**: Lazard aims for an average TSR of 10-15% per year, with a strong focus on executing their growth plan [50][51] Final Remarks - **Cultural Foundation**: The company emphasizes a strong cultural foundation that combines business insight with geopolitical awareness, positioning Lazard for future growth [54] Additional Insights - **AI Focus**: Lazard is committed to leveraging AI advancements across both financial advisory and asset management sectors [11][54] - **Recruitment Success**: The company is successfully attracting talent, with plans to add 10-15 MDs annually [46][47] This summary encapsulates the key insights and strategic directions discussed during the Lazard 2025 Conference, highlighting the company's focus on growth, diversification, and adapting to market dynamics.

AI Adoption and Infrastructure - User adoption of AI is experiencing exponential growth, similar to early internet adoption [1] - The infrastructure investment in AI, including capex from hyperscalers like Tesla, Meta, and OpenAI, is unprecedented, estimated at a $225 billion annual run rate [1] - Token costs (the cost to create a piece of data by AI) have collapsed, reflecting the deflationary nature of the technology [1] Enterprise AI and Open Source - Enterprise AI revenue growth is defying traditional SaaS gravity, with examples like Cursor growing from $1 million to $300 million in ARR in 25 months [1] - Open source AI models are exploding, with significant growth in platforms like Metlam and Hugging Face [1] Physical AI and Automation - Physical AI, particularly robotics, holds immense potential, with synthetic data being used to train robots, potentially including hundreds of millions of humanoid robots [1] - AI-powered systems are being used for large-scale automation, such as weeding 230,000 acres with drones and AI-powered lasers [1] Job Market and Monetization - AI job postings are up 448%, while traditional IT jobs are falling, indicating a significant shift in the job market [1] - Monetization models for AI are still broken, with companies like OpenAI having a $13 billion annual burn rate [1] AI's Transformative Potential - The next 26 billion internet users will be AI-first [1] - The AI revolution is compared to the impact of James Clerk Maxwell's discoveries in electromagnetism, suggesting a seismic transformation for science, technology, and economics [2]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenues reached BRL 231 million, up 7% year over year, primarily driven by strong volume growth in CPaaS, offsetting declines in SaaS revenues [15][18] - Adjusted gross profit declined 60% to BRL 49 million, with gross margin decreasing to 21% due to a higher mix from lower-margin CPaaS growth and a one-time SMS cost adjustment of BRL 27.8 million [15][16] - EBITDA, excluding certain expenses, closed the quarter at BRL 35 million, a 6% decline from BRL 37 million in Q4 2023 [17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Customer Cloud generated revenues of approximately BRL 180 million in 2024, with nearly 6,000 companies using the platform, 20% of which were international [13] - CPaaS market grew 25% year over year, while SaaS grew at high single digits, indicating a more dynamic CPaaS environment compared to previous years [18][19] - SaaS margins declined due to tighter profitability from enterprise clients and higher costs related to the launch of Customer Cloud [17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The CPaaS market is expected to continue growing at a strong double-digit pace in the coming years, with the company anticipating a 25% to 30% growth in Customer Cloud for 2025 [14][18] - International expansion, particularly in Argentina and Mexico, is performing well and contributing positively to Customer Cloud's success [10][11] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company has entered its fourth strategic cycle focused on accelerating growth in its newly defined core business, the Zenvia Customer Cloud [7][11] - A shift to a volume-based pricing model is being implemented, allowing clients to pay based on interactions rather than a per-seat model, enhancing operational efficiency [10][41] - The company is committed to streamlining operations further with AI playing a key role, while also evaluating opportunities for divestment to optimize capital structure [25][51] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the early improvements seen in Q1 2025, with expectations of revenue growth picking up and SaaS margin recovery [26][58] - The company is focused on leveraging its unified platform and market opportunities to drive organic growth while reducing leverage to strengthen its financial foundation [11][25] Other Important Information - The company has successfully reduced G&A expenses by 33 million BRL over the past two years, improving productivity and profitability [21] - A headcount reduction is projected to generate additional cost savings of 30 to 35 million BRL in 2025 [21] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you provide clarity on Zenvia's full year 2025 revenue outlook? - The Customer Cloud segment is projected to grow by 25% to 30%, while traditional SaaS and CPaaS business lines are expected to see flattish to 5% growth [31][32] Question: What is the current status of your plan for divestments? - The company is evaluating divestment alternatives opportunistically to improve capital structure and deleverage the balance sheet [35][36] Question: What new trends are emerging with AI integration? - The company is seeing the adoption of more interconnected use cases that combine customer data to create sophisticated customer journeys [38] Question: Can you elaborate on the shift to charging per interaction? - The company has transitioned to a usage-based pricing model, which encourages deeper software adoption and operational efficiency for clients [40][41] Question: Will gross margins for both SaaS and CPaaS return to previous levels? - SaaS gross margins are expected to return to around 45-50%, while CPaaS margins should normalize closer to 25% [49][50] Question: What are the main goals for 2025? - The primary goals include leveraging the balance sheet and improving EBITDA compared to 2024 [51][52]

Core Viewpoint - The recent U.S.-China trade agreement has significantly improved the outlook for technology companies, alleviating concerns over tariffs that could have negatively impacted demand and costs [2][5][8]. Group 1: Trade Agreement Impact - The U.S. and China reached an initial trade agreement that includes a 10% import tax on the U.S. and a total tariff of 30% on China, which is a reduction from previous levels [5]. - The agreement is expected to last for 90 days while further discussions continue, providing a reason for optimism in the tech sector [5]. - The manageable tariff levels for electronics will allow tech companies to maintain their manufacturing operations abroad without significant cost increases [6][8]. Group 2: Company-Specific Implications - Apple may slow down its planned shift of iPhone production to India, which is beneficial as it currently produces about 90% of its iPhones in China [7]. - The trade deal is viewed as a "game changer" for the tech industry, allowing companies like Palantir and Microsoft to continue benefiting from ongoing demand without facing extreme cost pressures [8]. - Companies that manufacture in China will not see significant increases in import prices, which is positive for consumer spending and overall demand for tech products [8][9]. Group 3: Financial Performance and Growth Potential - Palantir reported a double-digit revenue increase, indicating strong demand, while Microsoft also posted double-digit gains in revenue, operating income, and net income, driven by AI customer demand [10]. - Despite higher valuations compared to a few weeks ago, companies like Apple, Palantir, and Microsoft are still considered solid investment opportunities due to their potential for revenue growth and strong positioning in the AI sector [12][13]. - The financial strength and innovative capabilities of these companies suggest they are well-equipped for long-term growth, making them attractive for investors [13].

Back in 2009, Nvidia Corp NVDA was a modest $5 billion chipmaker, overshadowed by Intel Corp's INTC $90 billion dominance.Fast forward 16 years and Nvidia's market cap has skyrocketed to $3.3 trillion – making it 35 times more valuable than Intel's $95 billion. This extraordinary surge reflects Nvidia's transformation from a niche graphics card producer to the beating heart of the AI revolution.Its GPUs now power everything from data centers to autonomous vehicles, fueling investor enthusiasm and a massive ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue increased by 14% to $67 million compared to the previous year [6][14] - Customer base grew by 19% year over year to over 5,700 ARR customers [6] - Non-GAAP operating loss was reported at 2% due to increased investments in sales and R&D [15][16] - Generated $5 million of normalized free cash flow, marking the sixth consecutive quarter of positive free cash flow [16] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The growth in revenue was driven by a 19% increase in customers, particularly in the below $100,000 ARR cohort [14] - NRR for customers over $100,000 increased by 400 basis points year over year to 111% [14] - 52% of ARR is now contracted under multiyear contracts, up from 42% last year [15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Remaining performance obligations (RPO) totaled $253 million at the end of Q1, an 18% increase year over year [15] - The company continues to monitor global macroeconomic developments, with no material impact from tariffs observed so far [17] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on becoming an AI-first organization, with new product launches indicating positive returns on investments made in sales and R&D [10][13] - The launch of App Intelligence allows the company to provide data on over 4 million mobile apps, enhancing its digital visibility offerings [9] - The company aims to drive enterprise motion and expand its offerings to existing customers, leveraging its diverse product portfolio [73] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in achieving profit and cash flow targets, citing improved operating margins over the past three years [16] - For the full year 2025, the company maintains its revenue guidance of $285 million to $288 million, representing a 15% year-over-year growth at the midpoint [17] - Management is optimistic about the commercial pipeline for new AI products and the overall demand for digital data [11][12] Other Important Information - The company completed an accelerated recruitment of new salespeople, with expectations for improved productivity by Q3 [8] - The integration of AI chatbot traffic data into the platform has generated strong customer interest and engagement [22][24] Q&A Session Summary Question: Quality of new hires and productivity ramp - Management is pleased with the quality of new hires and has established metrics to track their productivity [20][21] Question: Customer interest in AI chatbot data - Customers have shown excitement about the new AI chatbot data, which provides unique insights into traffic generated by chatbots [22][24] Question: Visibility on revenue growth in the second half - Management indicated that the ramp-up of new sales hires varies by role, with inside sales showing quicker productivity [28] Question: Impact of SearchMonitor acquisition - The acquisition is not expected to materially impact revenue but is seen as a strategic addition to enhance product offerings [30] Question: Trends among larger clients - Management noted a slight decline in NRR due to tougher comps from previous upsells but remains optimistic about ongoing demand [35][36] Question: Changes in guidance philosophy - Management confirmed that there have been no significant changes to guidance philosophy despite market uncertainties [32][33] Question: Expansion activity and customer growth - Management reported healthy pipeline activity and noted that expansion with existing customers remains strong [87][89] Question: AI product sales strategy - The company is targeting a broader audience for AI products, with excitement across various customer roles [47] Question: Timeline for new sales hires to show results - New sales hires are expected to ramp up productivity by Q3, with management prepared to adjust if necessary [66][68]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue increased by 14% to $67 million, exceeding expectations [5][13] - Customer base grew by 19% year-over-year to over 5,700 ARR customers [5] - Non-GAAP operating loss was 2% due to increased investments in sales and R&D [14] - Generated $5 million of normalized free cash flow, marking the sixth consecutive quarter of positive free cash flow [15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The growth in revenue was driven by a 19% increase in customers, particularly in the below $100,000 ARR cohort [13] - NRR for over $100,000 customers increased by 400 basis points year-over-year to 111% [13] - 52% of ARR is contracted under multiyear contracts, up from 42% last year, indicating improved customer retention [14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Remaining performance obligations (RPO) totaled $253 million at the end of Q1, up 18% year-over-year [14] - The company continues to monitor global macroeconomic developments, with no material impact from tariffs observed so far [16] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on becoming an AI-first organization, with new product launches aimed at maximizing ROI for customers [12][10] - Investments in sales and R&D are expected to yield higher margins and faster growth moving forward [12] - The launch of App Intelligence and AI Chatbots traffic intelligence is part of the strategy to provide comprehensive digital visibility [7][8] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the ability to achieve profit and cash flow targets, despite current investments [15] - The company maintains its revenue guidance for 2025, expecting total revenue in the range of $285 million to $288 million, representing 15% year-over-year growth [16] - Management is optimistic about the commercial pipeline for new AI products and the overall customer reaction to recent launches [10][12] Other Important Information - The company has completed an accelerated recruitment of new salespeople, with over 80% expected to be fully ramped by Q3 [6] - The integration of AI chatbot traffic data into the platform has generated strong customer interest and engagement [22][24] Q&A Session Summary Question: Inquiry about the quality of new hires and productivity ramp - Management expressed satisfaction with the quality of new hires and outlined metrics for measuring productivity [20][21] Question: Early indications of customer interest in AI chatbot traffic data - Customers have shown excitement and engagement with the new AI chatbot traffic data, indicating a strong demand for insights [22][24] Question: Visibility on deals supporting revenue reacceleration - Management discussed the diverse roles within the sales team and the varying sales cycles for different customer segments [29][30] Question: Impact of SearchMonitor acquisition on guidance - The acquisition is not expected to materially impact guidance, as it is a small business [31] Question: Trends in larger clients and NRR - A slight decline in NRR was attributed to last year's significant upsell activity, with ongoing engagement from large clients [36][38] Question: Changes in guidance philosophy - Management confirmed that there have been no significant changes to guidance philosophy despite market uncertainties [33] Question: Execution priorities for the year - The focus is on driving enterprise motion and expanding existing customer relationships [73] Question: Engagement and pipeline for AI chatbot traffic product - The product is currently in beta, with positive customer engagement and plans for monetization in the near future [83]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The first quarter of 2025 was a record quarter for the company, achieving record quarterly revenue, adjusted net income, and operating margin [5] - Total revenue increased to a record $140 million, up 10% year over year [13] - Adjusted net income increased 285% to a record $34 million, up from $9 million in the prior year [15] - Adjusted earnings per share grew significantly to $0.38 from $0.10 last year [15] - The annualized net charge off rate improved to 35% from 48% [9][15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net originations grew 16% to $189 million, with retained net originations increasing 11% to $169 million [13] - The auto approval rate improved to 79% in Q1 2025, up from 73% in Q1 2024 [9] - Model six continued to perform well, improving risk identification and facilitating optimized targeting for new approvals [7][9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted a significant imbalance between supply and demand for working capital among small businesses, particularly in the Biddy segment [10] - The company is actively monitoring macroeconomic factors, including tariffs and their impact on small businesses [24] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to become a leading tech-enabled digital finance platform, collaborating with banks to offer financial products and services [11] - The focus remains on profitable growth, operational efficiencies, and exploring inorganic growth opportunities [26][28] - The company is committed to maintaining a disciplined approach to growth and not loosening the credit box despite improved repayment rates [34] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in continued strong revenue momentum and profitable growth throughout 2025 and into 2026 [11] - The company anticipates that operational improvements and investments will continue to generate strong results [12] - Management noted stability in consumer behavior and a solid economic environment, with no significant changes in customer patterns observed [41] Other Important Information - The company paid off its corporate debt in Q1 2025 and maintained a strong balance sheet with $91 million in cash and cash equivalents [6][15] - A special dividend of $21.7 million was paid in Q2, reflecting the company's financial strength [7] Q&A Session Summary Question: What changed regarding adjusted net income from the previous guidance? - Management indicated that operational efficiencies and strong repayment rates contributed to better-than-expected results [20][22] Question: Are there any hesitations regarding investments in the small business side with Biddy? - Management confirmed that they are actively assessing underwriting and potential impacts from tariffs but remain optimistic about Biddy's growth [24] Question: What is the thought process behind moving towards a more regular quarterly dividend? - Management emphasized the importance of preserving flexibility for capital deployment while rewarding shareholders [26] Question: What criteria is the company looking for in inorganic opportunities? - Management highlighted interest in the SMB space and consumer POS space, focusing on synergies and cross-sell opportunities [27][28] Question: How is the company managing its credit box amid macro trends? - Management stated that they are maintaining a disciplined approach and not loosening the credit box despite improved repayment rates [34] Question: What are the customer patterns observed in light of macro events? - Management reported stability in consumer behavior and no significant changes in borrowing activities [41] Question: How many more levers does the company have for cost discipline? - Management indicated that continuous improvement and operational efficiency are ingrained in the company culture, with ongoing efforts to enhance auto approval rates [45][46] Question: How is the outlook for Q2 tracking so far? - Management expressed positive momentum for growth and confidence in achieving significant growth this year [52]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The first quarter of 2025 was a record quarter for the company, achieving record quarterly revenue, adjusted net income, and operating margin [5][11] - Total revenue increased to $140 million, up 10% year over year, while adjusted net income surged 285% to a record $34 million, up from $9 million [13][15] - Adjusted earnings per share grew significantly to $0.38 from $0.10 last year [15] - The annualized net charge off rate improved to 35% from 48%, and total expenses before interest expense declined to $38 million, an 18% decrease [8][15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net originations grew 16% to $189 million, with retained net originations increasing 11% to $169 million [13] - The auto approval rate improved to 79% in Q1 2025, up from 73% in Q1 2024, contributing to a 44% increase in net revenue to $91 million [8][14] - The company’s investment in Biddy continued to drive profitability and cash flow, indicating strong performance in the small business financing sector [10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted a significant imbalance between supply and demand for working capital among small businesses, highlighting growth opportunities in this market [10] - The credit quality of the customer base improved, resulting in a 15% decrease in gross charge offs to $59 million and a 25% increase in recoveries to $11 million [13] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on becoming a leading tech-enabled digital finance platform, collaborating with banks to offer financial products and services to everyday Americans [11] - The strategy includes exploring new direct response initiatives and expanding marketing channel partners to sustain growth [6] - The company is actively looking for inorganic growth opportunities, particularly in the small business and consumer POS spaces [28] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in continued strong revenue momentum and profitable growth throughout 2025 and into 2026 [11] - The company anticipates that operational improvements and investments will continue to generate strong results for the foreseeable future [12] - Management noted stability in consumer behavior despite macroeconomic uncertainties, with no significant changes observed in customer patterns [42] Other Important Information - The company paid off its corporate debt in Q1 2025 and maintained a strong balance sheet with $91 million in cash and cash equivalents [6][15] - A special dividend of $21.7 million was paid, reflecting the company's financial strength and commitment to rewarding shareholders [7][25] Q&A Session Summary Question: What changed regarding the adjusted net income beat from the previous guidance? - Management indicated that operational efficiencies and strong repayment rates contributed to better-than-expected results [20][22] Question: Are there any hesitations in investing in small businesses due to macro uncertainty? - Management confirmed that they are actively assessing underwriting and believe Biddy's short-duration products position them well to navigate uncertainties [23][24] Question: What is the thought process behind moving towards regular dividends? - Management emphasized the importance of preserving flexibility for capital deployment while rewarding shareholders [26][27] Question: What are the criteria for potential inorganic opportunities? - Management is focused on the small business space and consumer POS, looking for synergies with current offerings [28] Question: How is the yield and credit box performing amid macro trends? - Management stated they have maintained discipline in their credit box, leading to improved yields due to better repayment rates [34] Question: Are there plans for share repurchases? - Management is considering share repurchases but is weighing it against other attractive capital options [36] Question: What are the current customer patterns in light of macro events? - Management reported stable customer behavior and no significant changes in borrowing activities [41][42] Question: How many more levers are available for cost discipline? - Management highlighted continuous improvement in operational efficiency as a core focus, with ongoing efforts to enhance auto approval rates [45][46] Question: What is the outlook for Q2 and the remainder of the year? - Management expressed optimism about growth momentum and the execution of their larger vision for the business [50][52]