Philippe Laffont, Coatue founder and portfolio manager, joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss the latest market trends, state of the 'Magnificent Seven', future of tech investing, his thoughts on bitcoin, state of the economy, impact of AI technology, who'll come on top in the AI arms race, the Fed's interest rate policy, future of TikTok, the NYC mayoral race, and more. ...

Company Overview - Wendy's shares increased by 6% to close at $12.01, supported by higher trading volume compared to normal sessions, following a 1.5% loss over the past four weeks [1] - The stock's recent rally is attributed to investor optimism regarding Wendy's innovation-led growth strategy and digital upgrades, including the "100 Days of Summer" campaign and AI technology expansion [2] Financial Performance - Wendy's is expected to report quarterly earnings of $0.26 per share, reflecting a year-over-year decline of 3.7%, with revenues projected at $557.59 million, down 2.3% from the previous year [3] - The consensus EPS estimate for Wendy's has remained unchanged over the last 30 days, indicating that stock price movements may not sustain without trends in earnings estimate revisions [4] Industry Context - Wendy's holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), similar to Cheesecake Factory, which closed 1.8% higher at $59.99 and has returned 12.6% over the past month [5] - Cheesecake Factory's consensus EPS estimate has decreased by 0.9% over the past month to $1.05, also reflecting a year-over-year decline of 3.7% [6]

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Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For Q3, total revenue was $821.1 million, up 0.5% from the prior year quarter [21] - Restaurant revenue increased by 1.2% to $679.3 million, while retail revenue decreased by 2.7% to $141.8 million [22] - Comparable store restaurant sales grew by 1%, while comparable store retail sales decreased by 3.8% [22] - Adjusted EBITDA was $48.1 million, or 5.9% of total revenue, compared to $47.9 million, or 5.9% of total revenue in the prior year [28] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Restaurant cost of goods sold was 26.2% of restaurant sales, up from 25.9% in the prior year, primarily due to menu mix and commodity inflation [23] - Retail cost of goods sold was 48.9% of retail sales, down from 49% in the prior year, driven by higher vendor allowances [24] - Labor and related expenses were 37.1% of revenue, down from 37.8% in the prior year, due to improved productivity [25] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Off-premise sales accounted for 19.1% of restaurant sales, compared to 18.9% in the prior year [22] - Pricing for the quarter was approximately 4.9%, consisting of 1.5% carry forward pricing from fiscal 2024 and 3.4% new pricing from fiscal 2025 [22] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on brand refinement and enhancing guest engagement through various initiatives, including partnerships and promotions [11][12] - The transformation plan is aimed at driving relevancy, delivering food and experiences guests love, and growing profitability [19] - The company is leveraging AI technology to improve efficiency and effectiveness across various operations [15][16] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged challenges in the macroeconomic environment but expressed confidence in executing the business and transforming for the future [18] - The company raised its guidance for total revenue and adjusted EBITDA for fiscal 2025, reflecting positive trends and strong start to Q4 [30][31] Other Important Information - The company is actively working to mitigate tariff impacts, with approximately one-third of retail products sourced from China [17] - The board declared a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share payable on August 13, 2025 [29] Q&A Session Summary Question: What does a strong start to Q4 mean in the context of the 1% restaurant same-store sales number reported in Q3? - Management noted improving trends from Q3 into Q4, particularly pleased with the Campfire promotion resonating with guests [33][34] Question: Can you provide more detail on managing expenses in Q3? - Management indicated that they adjusted discretionary expenses and G&A to align with the challenges faced in Q3 [35][36] Question: How do you view G&A as a percent of sales for the upcoming year? - Management stated that fiscal 2025 is an investment year, and G&A will return to historical levels as the transformation plan progresses [38] Question: Can you share average check size and mix benefits for Q3? - The average check was up 6.6% for the quarter, with 4.9% from pricing and 1.7% from mix [40][41] Question: What is the anticipated impact of tariffs on Q4? - Management expects a $5 million net tariff impact on Q4 EBITDA, with ongoing efforts to mitigate this through vendor negotiations and alternate sourcing [30][51] Question: Can you elaborate on the back of house optimization initiative? - The initiative aims to improve food quality and ease of operations, with expectations for benefits to flow through in Q4 and into fiscal 2026 [61][65] Question: What have you learned from the remodeling initiatives? - Management indicated that they will provide more insights in September regarding the impact of remodels and future plans [70]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For Q3 2025, total revenue was $821.1 million, up 0.5% from the prior year quarter [20] - Restaurant revenue increased by 1.2% to $679.3 million, while retail revenue decreased by 2.7% to $141.8 million [21] - Adjusted EBITDA was $48.1 million, maintaining 5.9% of total revenue, compared to $47.9 million in the prior year [26] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Comparable store restaurant sales grew by 1%, while comparable store retail sales decreased by 3.8% [21] - Off-premise sales accounted for 19.1% of restaurant sales, compared to 18.9% in the prior year [21] - Labor and related expenses were 37.1% of revenue, down from 37.8% in the prior year, primarily due to improved productivity [24] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Pricing for the quarter was approximately 4.9%, consisting of 1.5% carry forward pricing from fiscal 2024 and 3.4% new pricing from fiscal 2025 [21] - Commodity inflation was approximately 2.9%, driven mainly by higher beef, egg, and pork prices [22] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on brand refinement and enhancing guest engagement through partnerships, such as with Speedway Motorsports for the Cracker Barrel 400 NASCAR race [10][11] - The transformation plan aims to improve operational efficiency and profitability, with initiatives like back of house optimization and menu innovation [8][9] - The company is leveraging AI for traffic forecasting and guest relations to improve efficiency [14] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged challenges in the macroeconomic environment but expressed confidence in the ongoing transformation and positive trends in guest engagement [17][18] - The company raised its guidance for total revenue and adjusted EBITDA for fiscal 2025, reflecting strong performance and positive momentum [29][30] Other Important Information - The company is actively managing tariff impacts, with approximately one-third of retail products sourced from China, and is implementing strategies to mitigate these effects [15][16] - The board declared a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share, payable on August 13, 2025 [28] Q&A Session Summary Question: What does a strong start to Q4 mean in the context of the 1% restaurant same-store sales in Q3? - Management noted improvements in trends from Q3 into Q4, particularly pleased with the Campfire promotion's resonance with guests [32][33] Question: Can you provide more detail on managing expenses in Q3? - Management indicated that they adjusted discretionary expenses and expect G&A levels in Q4 to align more closely with Q1 and Q2 [34][35] Question: How do you view G&A as a percent of sales moving forward? - Management stated that G&A will return to historical levels as the transformation plan progresses, with more details to be provided in September [37] Question: What was the average check size and mix benefit in Q3? - The average check was up 6.6%, with 4.9% from pricing and 1.7% from mix, indicating a successful pricing strategy [39][40] Question: How is the $5 million tariff impact factored into your guidance? - Management explained that improvements in labor and menu mix are helping offset the tariff impact, with ongoing adjustments being made [46][48] Question: What are the expected benefits from the back of house optimization initiative? - Management anticipates more benefits in Q4 and into 2026, with a focus on improving food quality and operational efficiency [60][64] Question: Can you discuss the remodeling initiative and what has been learned? - Management indicated that they will provide more insights in September regarding the remodeling efforts and their impact on the business [66][68]

Company Overview - Health In Tech (Nasdaq: HIT) is an Insurtech platform company utilizing third-party AI technology to enhance healthcare processes through vertical integration, process simplification, and automation [3][4] - The company aims to streamline the underwriting, sales, and service processes for insurance companies, licensed brokers, and third-party administrators (TPAs) [3] Key Collaborations - Health In Tech collaborates with Hilb Group and Baily Insurance to innovate self-funded healthcare solutions, focusing on transparency and trust [3][6] - Hilb Group is a prominent insurance brokerage firm with over 190 acquisitions and more than 125 offices across 31 states, recognized as one of the fastest-growing brokers [4] - Baily Insurance, a family-owned agency since 1880, provides tailored insurance solutions and co-founded Fusion Health Plans, which leverages Health In Tech's solutions to save clients millions [5][6] Upcoming Media Exposure - Chief Growth Officer Dustin Plantholt will be featured in an interview on "New to The Street," filmed live at the New York Stock Exchange on June 3, 2025 [1] - The interview will be broadcast on Bloomberg TV and highlighted on the Nasdaq MarketSite billboard in Times Square, increasing visibility to a global audience [2]

Core Viewpoint - Nvidia's upcoming earnings report for Q1 of fiscal year 2026 is highly anticipated, particularly regarding the impact of U.S. chip export controls on its international business and future guidance, although some analysts believe the focus should be on the rollout of the new GB200 NVL72 hardware [1][2]. Group 1: GB200 NVL72 Hardware - The GB200 NVL72 machines, which include 72 GPUs and cost approximately $3 million, are a significant focus for shareholders, especially as this is the first quarter the company has shipped the machine [3]. - Analysts have reduced their delivery estimates for the GB200 NVL72 due to chaos surrounding DeepSeek in late January, despite strong demand and high expectations [3]. - If Nvidia announces a delivery of 10,000 units in Q2, it could represent $30 billion in revenue, but estimates suggest they may deliver less than 5,000 units [4]. Group 2: Market Reactions and Stock Performance - Immediate effects on Nvidia's stock are expected based on comments regarding U.S. export controls, but long-term valuation may be more influenced by demand for the GB200 NVL72 [7]. - Nvidia's stock has shown resilience, recovering quickly from short-term market reactions, indicating a strong competitive position [8]. - The company continues to find customers outside of China, maintaining strong demand for its AI chips, with new projects like Stargate in the Middle East likely contributing positively [9]. Group 3: Enterprise Demand for AI Technology - The results from the GB200 NVL72 shipments will provide insights into enterprise appetite for the latest AI technology, raising questions about whether companies will consistently upgrade their AI hardware [4]. - The demand for GB200 NVL72 units will be a key indicator for Nvidia's performance, overshadowing fluctuations in quarterly revenue [9].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q1 2025, total revenue increased by 10.9% year over year to RMB 32.6 billion, with adjusted net profit reaching RMB 4.6 billion, representing an adjusted net margin of 14% [6][37][41] - Gross profit margin approached 55%, with gross profit growing by 10.4% year on year to RMB 17.8 billion [7][41] - Cost of revenue increased by 11.5% year on year to RMB 14.8 billion, accounting for 45.4% of total revenue [41] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue from online marketing services grew by 8% year on year to RMB 18 billion, driven by AI technology integration [16][38] - E-commerce GMV grew by 15.4% year on year, with the number of monthly average active paying users reaching 135 million [20][24] - Live streaming revenue increased by 14.4% year on year to RMB 9.8 billion, marking a return to positive growth [27][40] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Average daily active users (DAUs) on the Kuaishou app reached a record high of 408 million, with average daily time spent per DAU at 133.8 minutes [12][14] - The overseas business achieved a revenue increase of 32.7% to RMB 1.32 billion, marking its first-ever quarter of operating profit [30][37] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on integrating AI technology across its business lines to enhance user experience and operational efficiency [6][10] - Clean AI is positioned as a foundational infrastructure for video creation, with plans for continuous technological iteration and product innovation [48][50] - The company aims to leverage its omni-domain operations to enhance e-commerce capabilities and support merchants through AI-driven tools [20][76] Management Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in maintaining growth despite a complex global macro environment, emphasizing the importance of AI in driving operational efficiency [6][44] - The company anticipates a year-over-year rise in AI-related expenditures, particularly in R&D, but expects this to have a manageable impact on overall profitability [80] Other Important Information - The company repurchased approximately HKD 1.42 billion worth of shares, accounting for about 0.68% of total shares outstanding [43] - The company plans to continue enhancing its content and business ecosystems while focusing on long-term technology investments [44] Q&A Session Summary Question: Update on Clean AI's commercialization and growth strategy - Clean AI's revenue reached RMB 150 million in Q1, with paid subscriptions accounting for nearly 70% of revenue, and plans for further product iterations and global outreach [48][50] Question: How AI is empowering existing businesses - AI has significantly improved marketing material production and customer service, leading to increased conversion rates and operational efficiencies [56][59] Question: Recent trends in online marketing services and key growth strategies - The company expects double-digit growth in online marketing services in Q2, driven by improvements in content consumption and local services sectors [63][68] Question: Strategy for the six eighteen shopping festival - The company will provide substantial traffic resources and subsidies, focusing on user engagement and tailored support for merchants and KOLs [71][74] Question: Investment plan on AI and its impact on profitability - AI investments are expected to increase, particularly in R&D, but the overall impact on profit margins is projected to be manageable, with AI seen as a potential second growth curve [80]

Core Viewpoint - Microsoft has faced internal protests regarding its technology supply to the Israeli military during the ongoing conflict in Gaza, leading to employee terminations and disruptions at a major company event [1][3][10]. Group 1: Employee Protests - Software engineer Joe Lopez interrupted CEO Satya Nadella's speech at the annual Build developer conference to protest Microsoft's involvement with the Israeli military [2][5]. - Lopez's protest was part of a series of pro-Palestinian disruptions at the conference, which included interruptions of executive talks and external protests [3][10]. - The advocacy group No Azure for Apartheid claims that Lopez was terminated following his protest and alleges that Microsoft has blocked internal emails containing terms like "Palestine" and "Gaza" [10]. Group 2: Company Response - Microsoft acknowledged providing AI services to the Israeli military but stated that there is no evidence that its Azure platform was used to target or harm individuals in Gaza [4]. - The company has a history of terminating employees who protest its operations related to Israel, including incidents at its 50th anniversary event [3][7].

Company Overview - Health In Tech (Nasdaq: HIT) is an Insurtech platform company that leverages third-party AI technology to enhance processes in the healthcare industry through vertical integration, process simplification, and automation [4]. - The company aims to streamline the underwriting, sales, and service processes for insurance companies, licensed brokers, and third-party administrators (TPAs) [4]. Event Participation - Health In Tech will participate as a Gold Sponsor at the American Trust Investment Services National Conference 2025, scheduled for June 16–18, 2025, in San Diego, California [1][2]. - The conference will focus on business growth, collaboration, and innovation in financial services, bringing together registered representatives, advisors, and preferred sponsors [2]. Strategic Vision - CEO Tim Johnson expressed excitement about the conference, highlighting it as an opportunity to connect with influential advisors and showcase how the company's platform enhances transparency, efficiency, and affordability in healthcare benefits [3]. - Health In Tech plans to engage in one-on-one meetings, interact with attendees in the vendor room, and present its strategic vision to raise awareness of its platform and its role in driving innovation in the healthcare industry [3].