Group 1 - The partnership between Google and Liberty Global will deploy Gemini AI models and cloud tools across Liberty's European operations, enhancing consumer offerings such as AI-driven search on Horizon TV and automated customer service solutions [1] - The agreement includes the provision of Google products like Pixel phones, watches, and smart-home devices through Liberty's operating units, including Virgin Media O2, Telenet, VodafoneZiggo, and Sunrise [2] - Alphabet Inc. is experiencing a surge in AI-driven usage and advertising demand, which is expected to positively impact revenue and profit, potentially reshaping growth expectations for 2026 [3] Group 2 - Alphabet has expanded its partnership with Nvidia to deploy Blackwell-based AI systems, allowing Google Cloud to offer next-generation GPUs and systems for demanding workloads [4]

Core Viewpoint - Oracle Corporation is focusing on expanding its cloud infrastructure and has a positive outlook with a significant price target set by Piper Sandler, indicating potential growth in its stock value [1][5]. Group 1: Financial Strategies - Oracle plans to raise between $45 billion and $50 billion through a significant bond sale to enhance its cloud services, addressing the growing market demand [2][5]. - The funds will be sourced from a mix of debt and equity sales, indicating a strategic approach to financing its expansion [2]. Group 2: Stock Performance - Oracle's stock price has decreased by 2.70%, or $4.45, bringing it to $160.13, with fluctuations between $160 and $171.20 on the same day [3]. - Over the past year, Oracle's stock has experienced significant volatility, with a high of $345.72 and a low of $118.86 [3][5]. Group 3: Market Position - Oracle's market capitalization is approximately $460.07 billion, reflecting its substantial presence in the tech industry [4]. - The trading volume on the NYSE is 43.25 million shares, indicating active investor interest in the company [4].

Igor Runets, who founded Russia’s largest crypto mining firm BitRiver, is under house arrest on tax evasion charges, Bloomberg reported on Monday. Runets was detained on Friday and is facing three charges for allegedly concealing assets to evade taxes. Runets’ legal team now has a small window to appeal the house arrest before it becomes fully enforceable on Wednesday. If an appeal is unsuccessful or not filed, Runets will remain home‑bound for the entirety of the case, according to RBC. Runets, 39, is ...

Software giant, Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) , has revealed that it is planning to raise between $45 billion and $50 billion in 2026 for the expansion of its cloud infrastructure capacity. • Oracle stock is trading near recent lows. What should traders watch with ORCL?Oracle’s debt insurance cost against default reached a five-year peak in December last year. Since its peak in September, Oracle's stock has plummeted 50% and fallen a further 11% following disappointing quarterly results in December, report ...

Core Insights - Alphabet (GOOGL) is expected to report fourth-quarter 2025 results on February 4, with earnings estimated at $2.58 per share, reflecting a 20% year-over-year growth, and revenues projected at $94.7 billion, indicating a 16.02% increase from the previous year [1][8]. Group 1: Earnings and Revenue Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter 2025 earnings is $2.58 per share, down by a penny over the past 30 days, indicating a 20% year-over-year growth [1]. - The consensus for fourth-quarter revenues is pegged at $94.7 billion, reflecting a 16.02% growth compared to the same quarter last year [1]. - The expected revenue from Search and other services is estimated at $61.27 billion, indicating a 13.39% increase year-over-year [4]. Group 2: AI and Search Business Growth - Alphabet's Search business is benefiting from the integration of AI, enhancing user experience and ad performance [2]. - AI-powered features like AI Overviews and AI Mode are transforming user interactions, with AI Overviews reaching over 2 billion users and AI Mode attracting over 75 million daily active users, doubling queries in the last quarter [3]. - The growth in AI usage is expected to positively impact Alphabet's performance in the upcoming quarter [4]. Group 3: Cloud Computing Performance - Google Cloud is experiencing significant growth, with revenues from generative AI products increasing over 200% year-over-year [6]. - The cloud backlog increased by $49 billion sequentially, reaching $155 billion, indicating strong demand for Google Cloud services [7]. - Google Cloud revenues for the fourth quarter are projected at $16.25 billion, reflecting a 35.9% growth compared to the previous year [9]. Group 4: Competitive Landscape and Challenges - Alphabet faces competition in the cloud and generative AI sectors from Amazon and Microsoft, which are making significant advancements in their respective offerings [20]. - Despite strong demand, Alphabet anticipates challenges in meeting customer demand due to a tight demand-supply environment [9]. - Rising costs and advertising pressures, particularly from the impact of U.S. elections on YouTube's ad performance, may weigh on results [18].

Industry Overview - The Internet Software industry is expected to show evolving enterprise software adoption patterns, resilience in subscription models, and ongoing platform consolidation trends in Q4 2025 [1] - There is selective demand for specialized software solutions, continued preference for cloud-based deployments, and cautious IT spending optimization [1] Company Performance Insights - Leading players like 8x8, Intapp, Match Group, and Digital Turbine are anticipated to benefit from subscription renewals and vertical-specific solution demand, with SaaS spending maintaining growth momentum due to cloud adoption and digital transformation initiatives [2] - AI-enhanced workflow automation and analytics capabilities are driving operational efficiency and productivity gains, with generative AI integration gaining traction [3] Market Challenges - The industry's performance may be affected by macroeconomic headwinds and changing spending priorities, with enterprises focusing on software consolidation and strategic portfolio management [4] - Mixed revenue growth is expected for the Internet Software industry in Q4 2025, with companies demonstrating strong customer retention and differentiated solutions likely performing better [4] Company-Specific Developments - Match Group is expected to have momentum from product innovations at Tinder and Hinge, with new features enhancing user engagement and international expansion supporting subscriber growth [6] - However, user experience testing at Tinder may have created near-term revenue headwinds, alongside weaker trends at Evergreen and Emerging brands [7] - 8x8 is anticipated to benefit from usage-based revenue offerings and strong adoption of CPaaS communication APIs, although a shift toward lower-margin revenues may pressure gross margins [10][11] - Intapp is expected to leverage its cloud migration and AI integration initiatives, with a focus on vertical AI strategies driving customer engagement [13] - Digital Turbine is likely to see growth from its On Device Solutions and App Growth Platform segments, although macroeconomic uncertainties may pose challenges [16][17]

Core Insights - CDW Corporation is set to release its fourth-quarter 2025 results on February 4, 2026, with revenue expectations of $5.3 billion, reflecting a 1.6% growth year-over-year [1] - The earnings consensus estimate is $2.44 per share, indicating a slight 1.6% decline from the previous year, attributed to weak demand in government and education sectors, potential healthcare funding gaps, and economic uncertainty [2][7] Financial Performance - CDW has consistently beaten earnings estimates in the last four quarters, with an average surprise of 6% [3] - The company anticipates low- to mid-single-digit gross profit growth year-over-year, with a sequential decline due to seasonality [5][7] - Operating expenses are expected to decrease modestly quarter-over-quarter, but with some reinvestment leading to higher non-GAAP SG&A as a percentage of gross profit [5] Revenue Breakdown - Estimated revenues for the fourth quarter from various sectors include: Small Business at $350.8 million, Government at $653.5 million, Education at $613.8 million, Healthcare at $609.3 million, and Corporate at $2.4 billion, which is a 1% increase [8] Strategic Initiatives - CDW is focusing on high-growth areas such as cloud, cybersecurity, and AI, with strong demand for services contributing significantly to profit growth [9] - The company plans to increase its annual dividend to $2.52, maintain a solid balance sheet, and prioritize mergers and acquisitions along with share buybacks [6] Market Conditions - Despite mixed performance in recent quarters, CDW's diversified customer base across the U.S., U.K., and Canada supports its growth, driven by technology investments in small businesses and healthcare [7] - Ongoing macroeconomic challenges, including trade wars and geopolitical tensions, are impacting the technology supply chain and customer spending [10]

Core Insights - The Invesco NASDAQ Next Gen 100 ETF (QQQJ) is highlighted as a notable option for investors seeking exposure to promising tech stocks, despite the common focus on larger ETFs like QQQ and QQQM [1] - QQQJ, with a market capitalization of $883.64 million, primarily includes mid-cap and smaller large-cap stocks, featuring an average market cap of $23.88 billion across its 107 holdings [1] Group 1: ETF Overview - QQQJ has been operational for five years and serves as a proving ground for stocks aspiring to enter the Nasdaq-100 Index [1] - The ETF's holdings include companies that Morningstar identifies as top tech names, such as Fiserv and Akamai Technologies [1] Group 2: Notable Holdings - Fiserv (FISV), a key holding in QQQJ, is recognized for its core processing and complementary services for US banks, with shares considered 47% undervalued relative to a fair value estimate of $126 [1] - Akamai Technologies (AKAM) is another significant holding, noted for its investments in cloud computing and edge computing, with a strong network presence that positions it well against major competitors [1]

Industry Overview - Software stocks are experiencing strong demand driven by digital transformation and the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), including generative AI and Agentic AI moving into real business applications [1] - Key growth drivers include software-as-a-service models, cloud migration, hybrid work models, and increased usage of online payment platforms [1] Factors Favoring Software Stocks - The proliferation of AI-powered applications in various sectors such as voice recognition, telemedicine, and business management software is benefiting industry players [2] - The adoption of cloud-based services, IoT, AR/VR devices, and accelerated 5G deployment are enhancing software stock performance [3] - Rising cyberattacks are prompting enterprises to invest more in cloud-based security solutions, shifting preference towards software-defined models for agility [4] Customer-Centric Trends - A customer-centric approach allows users to perform actions with minimal provider intervention, while pay-as-you-go models enable scalability for different user needs [5] - Subscription-based business models ensure recurring revenues, with the affordability of SaaS models particularly benefiting small and medium-sized businesses [5] Company Highlights Snowflake - Expected to report fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 results on February 25, with a Zacks Rank 3 and an Earnings ESP of +8.08% [8] - Consensus estimate for revenues is $1.25 billion, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 26.9%, while earnings are expected to be 27 cents per share, down 10% from the previous year [9] - Strong customer growth driven by AI capabilities and partnerships with industry leaders like SAP and Google Cloud [10][11] Match Group - Scheduled to report fourth-quarter 2025 results on February 3, with a Zacks Rank 3 and an Earnings ESP of +3.38% [12] - Revenue consensus is $871.6 million, indicating a year-over-year increase of 1.3%, with earnings expected at $1.01 per share, up 23.2% [12] - Benefits from a first-mover advantage in online dating, with Tinder as a key growth driver supported by innovative features and international expansion [13] Synopsys - Set to report first-quarter fiscal 2026 results on February 25, with a Zacks Rank 3 and an Earnings ESP of +0.38% [14] - Revenue consensus is $2.39 billion, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 64.3%, with earnings expected at $3.57 per share, up 17.8% [14] - Growth driven by demand for advanced technology and design solutions, with strong traction for its Fusion Compiler product [15] Cloudflare - Expected to report fourth-quarter 2025 results on February 10, with an Earnings ESP of +0.20% and a Zacks Rank 3 [16] - Revenue consensus is $590.17 million, indicating a year-over-year growth of 28.3%, with earnings per share expected at 27 cents, suggesting a 42.1% increase [16] - Benefits from a growing customer base and robust security solutions, with a dollar-based net retention rate of 119% in Q3 2025 [17]

Quick Read Oracle (ORCL) plans to raise $40B to $50B to expand cloud infrastructure for major AI customers including Meta, Nvidia and OpenAI. Oracle’s remaining performance obligations surged to $523B. This represents roughly 8.5 times annual revenue. Oracle’s trailing free cash flow turned negative at $13B as capital expenditures soared past operating cash flow. Investors rethink 'hands off' investing and decide to start making real money Oracle (NYSE:ORCL) announced on Friday that it expects to r ...