SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Elastic (NYSE: ESTC), the Search AI Company, today announced a new integration with Azure AI Foundry, delivering observability for agentic AI applications and large language models (LLMs). The integration provides site reliability engineers (SREs) and developers with real-time insights into LLMs, generative AI and agentic AI workloads, enabling them to build, monitor, and optimize intelligent agents on Azure AI Foundry with greater reliability and efficiency whil. ...

Core Insights - Forrester Research and Carahsoft Technology have formed a partnership to enhance access to Forrester's research and consulting services for Public Sector and Government organizations [1][2] Group 1: Partnership Details - Carahsoft will act as Forrester's Master Government Aggregator, facilitating access through various reseller partners and government procurement contracts [1][3] - The partnership aims to empower Public Sector leaders with industry research and insights to address complex challenges and improve decision-making speed and confidence [2][3] Group 2: Service Offerings - Forrester's solutions for Government include research, expert advisory, and a generative AI tool named Izola, aimed at helping organizations understand industry trends and implement effective strategies [2] - The services provided will assist in areas such as digital transformation, operational excellence, and Zero Trust security frameworks [2] Group 3: Market Positioning - Carahsoft emphasizes the importance of data-driven insights for Public Sector leaders, aiming to accelerate mission success through trusted research and emerging technologies [3][5] - Forrester is recognized as a leading research and advisory firm, supporting various functions including technology, customer experience, and digital marketing [4]

Core Insights - Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited reported a second-quarter 2025 adjusted net profit of 201.6 billion Japanese yen (approximately $1.31 billion), with earnings per American Depositary Share (EPADS) of 43 cents, missing analyst expectations of 44 cents [1][2] - Total sales for the quarter were $7.52 billion (1.18 trillion yen), falling short of consensus estimates of $8.08 billion [1][3] Financial Performance - First half 2025 sales decreased by 6.9% (-3.9% at constant currency) to 2.22 trillion yen, while core operating profit dropped 11.2% to 639.2 billion yen [3] - Neuroscience revenue significantly impacted the decline, with second quarter Neuroscience sales falling 33% to 97.5 billion yen [3] - Vaccine sales decreased by 21.1% to 20.2 billion yen, while cancer drug sales increased by 4.3% to 149.1 billion yen [3] Segment Performance - Gastrointestinal sales rose by 2% to 353.5 billion yen, while revenue from rare diseases fell by 2.7% to 184.1 billion yen [4] Outlook - Takeda updated its full-year 2025 outlook, revising core revenue guidance from 4.53 trillion yen to 4.50 trillion yen [5] - The company expects core operating profit of 1.13 trillion yen, down from prior guidance of 1.14 trillion yen, and core earnings of 479 yen, reduced from previous guidance of 485 yen [5] Stock Performance - Following the earnings report, TAK stock was trading 2.25% lower at $13.46 in premarket trading [6]

Core Industry Trends - Software stocks are benefiting from the digitalization wave and strong adoption of AI, including generative AI and Agentic AI [1] - The proliferation of SaaS, migration to cloud platforms, and demand for hybrid work solutions are major tailwinds for software companies [1] - Increased customer-centric approaches and subscription-based models are driving recurring revenues and affordability for small and medium-sized businesses [5] Factors Supporting Software Stocks - The rise of AI-powered applications in various sectors, including voice recognition and telemedicine, is positively impacting software companies [2] - The adoption of cloud-based services, IoT, AR/VR devices, and 5G deployment is aiding software stock performance [3] - Rising cyber threats are prompting enterprises to invest more in cloud-based security solutions, shifting preference towards software-defined models [4] Company-Specific Insights - CoreWeave is expected to report revenues between $1.26 billion and $1.3 billion, with a year-over-year revenue increase of 207% and a backlog of $30.1 billion [8][9] - BILL Holdings anticipates first-quarter revenues of $390.6 million, reflecting a 9% year-over-year increase, while earnings are projected to decline by 19.1% [11] - Affirm Holdings expects first-quarter revenues of $885 million, indicating a 26.7% year-over-year growth, with earnings per share improving from a loss of 31 cents to a profit of 11 cents [14][15] - Unity Software forecasts revenues of $447.6 million for the third quarter, with a slight year-over-year growth of 0.2% and an expected earnings per share improvement from a loss of 31 cents [17] Strategic Developments - CoreWeave is capitalizing on the generative AI boom, focusing on scaling capacity and enhancing services to drive strong momentum [10] - BILL is leveraging AI to enhance its solutions for SMBs and is integrating generative AI to improve customer experience [12][13] - Affirm is expanding its partnerships and entering new markets, including the U.K. and Western Europe, to drive growth [16] - Unity Software is transitioning its product mix towards the AI-powered Unity Vector platform, which is expected to deliver long-term value despite short-term revenue friction [18][19]

Core Viewpoint - Apple Inc. is experiencing a strong consumer response to the iPhone 17, but concerns about its long-term stock performance arise due to the company's challenges in the AI sector and the extended iPhone upgrade cycle [2]. Group 1: Analyst Insights - Jason Snipe from Odyssey Capital Advisors suggests selling Apple shares, citing the stock's 20% increase since August and the potential for a strong demand for the iPhone 17, but he believes the real opportunity lies in future developments, particularly with Siri and Apple Intelligence [1]. - The iPhone upgrade cycle in the U.S. has reached 35 months, with 63% of iPhone users keeping their devices for over two years, indicating a slowing replacement trend [2]. - Apple is losing its pricing advantage as it faces competition from companies like Samsung and Xiaomi, which can offer advanced features at competitive prices [2]. Group 2: Market Reactions - In Q3 2025, Apple shares rebounded as concerns over tariffs and the early adoption of its generative AI product eased, with positive sentiment stemming from the resolution of Alphabet's DOJ trial and healthy demand for the iPhone 17 [3].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For Q3 2025, net sales from continuing operations were $2 billion, a decline of 5% year-over-year, primarily due to store optimization activities completed in Q1 [25] - Comparable sales grew by 3% during the quarter, with positive weekly performance throughout [25] - Adjusted operating income from continuing operations was $90 million, or 4.4% of net sales, marking a year-over-year operating margin expansion of 370 basis points, the strongest in over two years [30][31] - Adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations was $0.92, compared to a loss of $0.05 last year [31] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Pro channel comparable sales grew by over 4%, marking its fifth consecutive quarter of positive performance [27] - DIY channel delivered positive low single-digit comps and improved sequentially on a two-year basis [27] - Adjusted gross profit from continuing operations was $913 million, or 44.8% of net sales, resulting in gross margin expansion of 260 basis points year-over-year [28] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Same SKU inflation was approximately 3% in Q3, up from about 2% in the previous quarter [26] - The company expects Q4 same SKU inflation to rise to around 4% [66] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on a turnaround strategy built on three pillars aimed at delivering profitable growth [9] - Initiatives include enhancing vendor relationships, improving hard parts availability, and implementing AI-driven pricing strategies [10][13] - The company plans to open 60 market hubs by mid-2027, with 14 expected to open in 2025 [19] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted potential temporary volatility in sales trends as consumers adjust their budgets in an inflationary environment [5] - The long-term drivers of the industry remain healthy, with over 90% of sales driven by maintenance and repair [6] - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to navigate the current economic landscape and achieve long-term growth [6][42] Other Important Information - The company raised nearly $2 billion in cash to enhance liquidity and support its turnaround efforts [5] - A non-cash charge of $28 million was recorded in Q3 due to a supplier's bankruptcy, but this is not expected to impact adjusted results or full-year guidance [39] Q&A Session Summary Question: Elasticity of demand and consumer health - Management noted that consumers are adjusting their budgets in response to inflation, impacting spending on maintenance [46][47] - The company is focusing on improving customer service in stores to enhance transaction conversion rates [49] Question: Inventory levels and future investments - Management indicated that they are investing in inventory to ensure product availability, particularly in a tariff environment [55][56] Question: Inflation outlook - Q3 inflation was just under 3%, with expectations for Q4 to be around 4% [65] Question: Path to operating margin goals - Management described the turnaround as nonlinear, with 2025 and 2026 seen as building block years [68] Question: Impact of trading margin for sales - The company is committed to maintaining competitive pricing without sacrificing margin unnecessarily [99][100]

Oct 30, 2025 8:46 AM Eastern Daylight Time DISCO Study Highlights Rapid Pace of Legal Generative AI Adoption, Key Barriers for Lawyers Share Data shows 72 percent expect to incorporate GenAI tools in the next 12 months or sooner AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Generative AI is rapidly reshaping the legal technology landscape – particularly in eDiscovery – and law firms and corporations are feeling increasing pressure to consider Gen AI solutions as workloads and litigation complexity increases. That's accor ...

Core Insights - Generative AI is rapidly transforming the legal technology landscape, particularly in eDiscovery, with 72% of legal professionals expecting to incorporate GenAI tools within the next 12 months or sooner [1][4][12] Industry Trends - The legal profession is experiencing a swift evolution driven by technological innovation, creating urgency among legal teams to adapt and enhance their performance [2][3] - The pressure to adopt AI solutions is increasing, with 43% of law firm participants and 64% of corporate legal departments feeling pressure from leadership to integrate AI [5][12] Adoption Challenges - Despite the growing comfort with AI capabilities, security concerns remain the primary barrier to adoption, with 68% of in-house participants and 70% of law firm participants citing data security and privacy as key concerns [7][12] - The sheer volume of data and its complexity are extending the litigation lifecycle, necessitating additional technology to manage these challenges [6][12] Future Outlook - The study indicates that most legal teams plan to incorporate generative AI into their routine processes within the next year, with 35% already having done so and 13% expecting to finish integration in six months [4][12] - The combination of human oversight with AI tools is seen as essential for maximizing the effectiveness of generative AI in legal practices [8][12]

Core Insights - RADCOM Ltd. announced the appointment of Hod Cohen as Chief Financial Officer, effective January 11, 2026, succeeding Hadar Rahav, who will remain in an advisory role through Q1 2026 [1][3] Company Overview - RADCOM is a leading provider of cloud-native service assurance solutions, focusing on advanced, intelligent assurance solutions with integrated AI Operations (AIOps) capabilities [4][5] - The company's flagship platform, RADCOM ACE, utilizes AI-driven analytics and generative AI to enhance customer experiences and offers end-to-end network observability, particularly in 5G [4][5] Leadership Transition - Hod Cohen brings two decades of financial leadership experience, having previously served as Head of the Global Business Finance Group at Amdocs Limited, where he contributed to strategic planning and M&A execution [2][3] - The CEO, Benny Eppstein, emphasized that Cohen's financial expertise will be crucial for advancing RADCOM's growth plans and building long-term shareholder value [3] Strategic Focus - The appointment of Cohen reflects RADCOM's commitment to winning new customers and strategically expanding its business [3] - The company aims to enhance financial performance and support its next phase of expansion through effective leadership and strategic execution [3]

Group 1 - The Nvidia story exemplifies the potential for significant returns in AI investing, highlighted by its market value exceeding $5 trillion [1] - Semiconductors serve as essential components in the AI landscape, but selecting individual AI securities remains challenging; ETFs like the Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF (NASDAQ: AIQ) offer efficient access [2] - The Global X ETF, with a market capitalization of $6.68 billion, has consistently outperformed broader benchmarks since its inception on May 11, 2018, indicating its strong track record [4] Group 2 - The evolution of AI is still in its early stages, suggesting that the Global X ETF could be a long-term winner in the market [5] - Morgan Stanley estimates that full AI adoption by S&P 500 firms could generate annual financial benefits of $920 billion, potentially increasing the market capitalization of the index by $13 trillion to $16 trillion [7] - As of June, only 9.2% of businesses were utilizing AI, with projections indicating growth to 11.6% in the next six months, highlighting significant room for expansion [8] Group 3 - The growth of agentic AI, which allows autonomous systems to perform tasks with minimal human intervention, could further enhance the ETF's prospects; Morgan Stanley estimates that $490 billion of the projected $920 billion in annual benefits would stem from agentic AI [9]