Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE:WH) Q4 2025 Earnings call February 19, 2026 08:00 AM ET Company ParticipantsDavid Katz - Managing DirectorGeoff Ballotti - CEOKurt Albert - Interim CFOMatt Capuzzi - SVP of Investor RelationsMeredith Jensen - US Consumer Equity ResearchPatrick Scholes - Managing Director, Lodging, and Leisure Equity ResearchStephen Grambling - Managing DirectorTrey Bowers - VP and Senior AssociateConference Call ParticipantsBen Chaiken - Equity Research AnalystBrandt Montour - Director and Equ ...

Core Viewpoint - Akamai Technologies is experiencing significant stock price movement and growth opportunities driven by increasing demand for its security solutions and advancements in API security technology [1][2][3]. Group 1: Stock Performance - Akamai's shares rose 10.3% in the last trading session, closing at $104.61, with trading volume significantly higher than normal [1]. - The stock has gained 4.6% over the past four weeks, indicating a positive trend [1]. Group 2: Growth Opportunities - The demand for Akamai's security solutions is expected to grow significantly due to the rapid adoption of cloud computing and increasing security concerns among enterprises [2]. - Large enterprises are anticipated to increase their security budgets to address these concerns effectively [2]. - The deployment of 5G and IoT devices is expected to drive higher demand for Akamai's security offerings related to data computing at the edge [2]. Group 3: API Security Market - The market for API security is projected to grow substantially, and Akamai is actively pursuing this opportunity [3]. - Akamai's acquisitions of Neosec and Noname Security have accelerated the development of its AI-powered API security solution, which analyzes APIs, detects vulnerabilities, and minimizes risks [3]. - The increasing use of APIs among enterprises is expected to boost demand for Akamai's API security solutions [3]. Group 4: Earnings Expectations - Akamai is expected to report quarterly earnings of $1.75 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 5.4%, with revenues projected at $1.08 billion, up 5.6% from the previous year [4]. - The consensus EPS estimate for Akamai has been revised marginally higher over the last 30 days, indicating a positive trend that may lead to price appreciation [5]. Group 5: Industry Context - Akamai Technologies is part of the Zacks Internet - Services industry, where another company, Sprout Social, has seen a decline of 5.6% in its stock price recently [5].

Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) has fundamentally shifted the enterprise software landscape following a historic fourth-quarter earnings report that saw the company nearly double its forward-looking guidance for 2026. This pushed the stock’s growth score to the top decile of Benzinga Edge’s Stock Rankings.Explosive Growth And Market DominanceDriven by an “unprecedented acceleration” in AI adoption, the company also reported a Rule of 40 score of 127, a metric that combines growth and profitability ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Walt Disney Company reported over $6.5 billion in global box office revenue for its film studios in calendar year 2025, marking the third biggest year ever and the ninth consecutive year as the number one at the global box office [5][6] - The company achieved quarterly revenue exceeding $10 billion for its experiences segment for the first time [9] - Streaming revenue growth was driven by pricing, North American and international growth, and successful bundling strategies, resulting in a 13% increase in subscription revenue [18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The entertainment segment saw significant contributions from films like Zootopia 2 and Avatar: Fire and Ash, with Zootopia 2 becoming Hollywood's highest-grossing animated film ever, earning over $1.7 billion [5][6] - ESPN delivered outstanding ratings, with the most-watched college football regular season since 2011 and the second-highest viewership for Monday Night Football in 20 years [9] - The streaming business is on a path to profitability, achieving a 12% revenue growth and over 50% earnings growth in the latest quarter [50] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted strong attendance performance at Walt Disney World, benefiting from a 5% increase in bookings for the full year, particularly in the second half [22] - The Zootopia theme land in Shanghai Disneyland has become a significant driver of attendance, with a high percentage of visitors coming specifically for that attraction [6][17] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on expanding its experiences segment, with ongoing projects at all theme parks and the launch of new attractions like the World of Frozen at Disneyland Paris [10] - The strategy includes enhancing streaming services through technology improvements and local content investments, as well as introducing new features like short-form content on Disney+ [7][40] - The management emphasized the importance of leveraging intellectual property (IP) across various business segments, indicating no immediate need to acquire more IP [15][17] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's growth trajectory, highlighting the successful integration of IP into various business lines and the positive impact on revenue [10][72] - The management acknowledged the competitive landscape and the need for continuous evolution to maintain relevance and drive profitability [29][72] Other Important Information - The company has entered a licensing agreement with OpenAI to create user-generated content for Disney+, which is expected to enhance audience engagement [40] - The reorganization of the company aimed to create accountability in the streaming business, which has shown significant improvement in profitability [48][50] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of Warner Bros. and HBO on Disney's IP Strategy - Management highlighted the value of Disney's assets and IP, emphasizing the successful integration of franchises into various business segments [15] Question: Domestic Park Trends and Bookings - Walt Disney World experienced strong attendance and pricing performance, with bookings up 5% for the full year [22] Question: Future Growth Opportunities for Successor - Management discussed the importance of preparing the company for future growth while maintaining accountability in operations [29] Question: Streaming Business and Bundle Initiatives - Significant progress has been made in the streaming business, with a focus on delivering exceptional content and improving user experience [35] Question: User-Generated Content on Disney+ - Management indicated that user-generated content is expected to be available on Disney+ sometime in fiscal 2026, with a focus on short-form videos [60] Question: International Visitation and Marketing Strategies - Management noted less visibility on international visitation but pivoted marketing efforts to maintain high attendance rates [61] Question: Entertainment Segment Disclosure Changes - The new disclosure aligns with the management's approach to treating the entertainment business as a single entity, reflecting the reality of content distribution [65]

this time its spending plans once again blowing away expectations but the stock is higher. >> Yeah, I mean spending is through the roof. It's it's bonkers how much this company is going to spend uh you know 100 billion plus in 2026 fiscal 2026 and so you know they basically said uh in in the prior quarter we're going to see meaningful uh growth when it comes to spending and they certainly delivered on that. uh they spent 72 billion in the the last year and so that's a pretty huge jump nearly doubling what t ...

Company Performance - Microsoft shares dropped by 10.0 percent, reaching their lowest closing level in nine months due to slowing cloud computing growth and disappointing third quarter operating margin guidance [2][3] - Meta Platforms saw a significant increase of 10.4 percent after reporting better than expected fourth quarter results and forecasting first quarter revenues above analyst estimates [5] - IBM Corp. shares surged after exceeding expectations on both top and bottom lines in its fourth quarter results [5] Sector Performance - The Dow Jones U.S. Software Index fell by 7.7 percent, marking a nine-month closing low, largely influenced by Microsoft’s decline and a 9.9 percent drop in ServiceNow shares despite its better than expected fourth quarter earnings [5][6] - Airline stocks increased significantly, with the NYSE Arca Airline Index rising by 2.3 percent, contributing to the overall market recovery [7] - Gold stocks experienced continued weakness, as indicated by a 3.8 percent slump in the NYSE Arca Gold Bugs Index, despite a recovery in gold prices [6] Market Overview - The major averages showed a recovery attempt after an early nosedive, with the Dow ending up 55.96 points or 0.1 percent at 49,071.56, while the S&P 500 closed down just 9.02 points or 0.1 percent at 6,969.01 [1] - The tech-heavy Nasdaq ended the day down 172.33 points or 0.7 percent at 23,685.12, having previously tumbled by as much as 2.6 percent [2] - Stock markets in the Asia-Pacific region mostly moved higher, with Japan's Nikkei 225 Index closing marginally higher and China's Shanghai Composite Index edging up by 0.2 percent [8] Economic Indicators - The yield on the benchmark ten-year note fell by 2.4 basis points to 4.227 percent, indicating a recovery in the bond market following previous pullbacks [9] - Upcoming earnings news from Apple may influence trading, with the tech giant set to report its fiscal first quarter results [10]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a record net revenue of EUR 32.7 billion for 2025, with a gross margin of 52.8% and a net income of EUR 9.6 billion, resulting in an earnings per share (EPS) of approximately EUR 25 [30][31] - EUV technology was the main driver of growth, with a 39% increase in sales compared to 2024, attributed to higher sales prices and increased productivity of tools [31][32] - The installed base business grew by 26%, indicating strong demand for service and upgrades [34] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - EUV sales significantly contributed to revenue growth, while DUV sales decreased by 6%, primarily due to a decline in the Chinese market [33] - The company saw a 28% increase in applications related to process control at leading nodes, reflecting strong demand for advanced technology [34] - The installed base business reached EUR 8.2 billion, showcasing rapid growth and resilience [37] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Chinese market's contribution to total sales decreased from 33% to 29%, with expectations for further decline to around 20% in 2026 [36][82] - Memory accounted for 34% of sales, while logic represented 66%, with a projected shift towards memory becoming more significant in 2026 [35] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims for long-term revenue between EUR 44 billion and EUR 60 billion by 2030, with a focus on innovation and engineering to maintain leadership in the semiconductor industry [11][27] - The company is investing in AI and 3D integration technologies, as well as expanding its footprint to support customer service and manufacturing needs [24][27] - A significant reorganization is underway to streamline operations, reducing leadership positions while increasing engineering roles to enhance innovation [50][51] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the sustainability of AI demand, which is expected to drive significant growth in advanced logic and memory segments [8][12] - The company anticipates a strong year for EUV in 2026, with increased shipments and productivity improvements [16][42] - Management acknowledged the need for capacity expansion among customers, particularly in the memory sector, which is seen as critical for market share [63][64] Other Important Information - The company is committed to community engagement, including investments in mobility, affordable housing, and cultural initiatives in Eindhoven [24][25][26] - A new share buyback program of EUR 12 billion over three years was announced, with a proposed dividend of EUR 7.50 per share for the year [39][40] Q&A Session Questions and Answers Question: What kind of restructuring costs or charges can be expected from the job cuts? - Management indicated that the costs would not be considered material in the grand scheme of ASML's finances [60] Question: How much of the capacity expansion announcements from customers is related to real capacity versus CapEx inflation? - Management clarified that capacity expansion translates directly into the need for more tools, with recent customer announcements indicating a strong commitment to new systems [61][62] Question: How is the AI memory shortage driving business, and how aggressive are customers in capacity expansion compared to logic? - Management noted that memory, particularly high-bandwidth memory for AI, is currently the bottleneck, leading to aggressive capacity expansion among memory customers [63][64] Question: How does the stabilizing AI market influence job growth in Eindhoven? - Management affirmed that long-term growth remains a priority, with ongoing job additions in manufacturing and customer service despite the restructuring in the technology team [67][68] Question: What changes will occur within the internal structure regarding D&E or R&D due to the reorganization? - Management confirmed that the transformation will primarily focus on D&E, aiming to improve interfaces and responsiveness within the organization [71][72] Question: Is the supply chain prepared for the new demand in machines? - Management stated that long lead time items have been secured, and the supply chain is aligned to increase capacity gradually based on strong customer signals [75]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a record net revenue of EUR 32.7 billion for 2025, with a gross margin of 52.8% and a net income of EUR 9.6 billion, resulting in an earnings per share (EPS) of approximately EUR 25 [30][31] - EUV technology was the main driver of growth, with a 39% increase in sales compared to 2024, attributed to higher sales prices and increased productivity of tools [31][32] - DUV sales decreased by 6%, primarily due to a decline in the Chinese market [33] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The installed base business saw a 26% increase, driven by service revenue from EUV and upgrades [34] - Memory accounted for 34% of sales, while logic represented 66%, with expectations for memory to become more significant in 2026 [35] - The metrology and inspection business grew by almost 30%, reflecting increased demand for process control [20][21] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Chinese market's contribution to total sales decreased from 33% to 20%, indicating a significant decline in system sales from China [36][82] - The company expects the memory market to tighten significantly in 2026, with customers aggressively expanding capacity [63][64] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to grow revenue to between EUR 44 billion and EUR 60 billion by 2030, maintaining a gross margin of 56%-60% [11] - The focus on AI is expected to drive demand for advanced technology, particularly EUV, with significant growth anticipated in 2026 [10][16] - The company is restructuring its technology team to enhance agility and innovation, reducing leadership positions while increasing engineering roles [50][51] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the sustainability of AI demand, which is expected to drive capacity investments from customers [8][9] - The company noted that the last three months have clarified the outlook for 2026, with customers increasingly committed to expanding capacity [5][6] - The management acknowledged the need for organizational simplification to improve responsiveness and innovation [49][52] Other Important Information - The company announced a new share buyback program of EUR 12 billion over three years, with a proposed dividend of EUR 7.50 per share for the year [39][40] - The company is committed to community engagement, including investments in mobility, affordable housing, and cultural initiatives [24][25][26] Q&A Session Questions and Answers Question: What kind of restructuring costs or charges can be expected from the job cuts? - Management indicated that the costs would not be considered material in the grand scheme of ASML's finances [60] Question: How much of the capacity expansion announcements from customers is related to real capacity versus CapEx inflation? - Management clarified that capacity expansion translates directly into the need for more tools, with significant customer commitments observed recently [61][62] Question: How is the AI memory shortage driving business, and how aggressive are customers in capacity expansion compared to logic? - Management noted that memory, particularly high-bandwidth memory for AI, is currently the bottleneck, leading to aggressive capacity expansion from memory customers [63][64] Question: How does the stabilizing AI market influence job growth in Eindhoven? - Management affirmed that long-term growth remains a priority, with job additions planned in manufacturing and customer service despite the restructuring in the technology team [67][68] Question: Does the reorganization affect the internal structure regarding D&E or R&D? - Management confirmed that the transformation will primarily focus on D&E, aiming to improve interfaces and responsiveness [71][72] Question: Is the supply chain prepared for the new demand in machines? - Management stated that they have been working with the supply chain to ensure readiness for increased capacity, with long lead time items already in place [73][75] Question: Is the decline in the Chinese market in absolute numbers? - Management confirmed that the Chinese market is indeed declining in absolute numbers, normalizing after a backlog built during the COVID period [82][84]

Core Insights - ASML reported total net sales of €32.7 billion and net income of €9.6 billion for the year 2025, with a gross margin of 52.8% [1][5][6] - The company anticipates total net sales for 2026 to be between €34 billion and €39 billion, maintaining a gross margin between 51% and 53% [1][9] Financial Performance - Q4 2025 total net sales reached €9.7 billion, with a gross margin of 52.2% and net income of €2.8 billion [6] - For the full year 2025, total net sales were €32.7 billion, with a gross profit of €17.3 billion and a gross margin of 52.8% [2][5] - The company sold 300 new lithography systems in 2025, a decrease from 380 units sold in 2024, while used lithography systems sold increased to 27 units from 38 units in 2024 [2] Order and Backlog - Q4 2025 net bookings amounted to €13.2 billion, with €7.4 billion attributed to EUV systems [6] - The backlog at the end of 2025 was €38.8 billion, indicating strong future demand [6] Shareholder Returns - ASML plans to declare a total dividend of €7.50 per ordinary share for 2025, reflecting a 17% increase compared to 2024 [10] - A new share buyback program has been announced, allowing for the repurchase of up to €12 billion in shares by December 31, 2028 [12][13] Strategic Focus - The company aims to enhance its focus on engineering and innovation by streamlining its Technology and IT organizations to better position itself for future growth [14] - ASML is responding to positive market assessments from customers regarding AI-related demand, which is expected to drive growth in 2026 [7][8]

Summary of Pony AI (PONY.O/2026.HK) Conference Call Company Overview - **Company Name**: Pony AI Inc. - **Founded**: 2016 - **Industry**: Autonomous Mobility - **Key Operations**: Operates robotaxi services in four tier-1 cities in China (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen) leveraging vehicle-agnostic Virtual Driver technology and full-stack autonomous driving technology [13][18] Key Events and Catalysts 1. **4Q25 Results**: Expected to be decent with a one-off gain from Moore Threads investment, estimated at a ~100x return, which will be reflected in the 4Q25 P&L [2][11] 2. **Waymo Financing Round**: Waymo is reportedly valued at 280x 2025 P/S, which may lead to a re-rating of Pony AI's valuation currently at 87x 2025 P/S. This financing round could occur in 1Q26 [3][11] 3. **Southbound Stock Connect Entry**: Anticipated entry into Southbound stock connect around June 5, 2026, which may improve investor sentiment. Feedback indicates a potential shift in fund flow towards undervalued tech-AI names [4][11] 4. **US-China Competition**: Increased competition may prompt China to adopt a more aggressive policy on ADAS/Robotaxi, potentially increasing domestic development spending [7][8][11] 5. **New Generation Robotaxi**: Expected to reduce Autonomous Driving Kit (ADK) costs by 20% starting April 2026, with current BOM costs estimated at Rmb130k [9][11] 6. **Asset-Light Business Model**: Development is progressing well, with a target to exceed 3,000 Robotaxi units by the end of 2026, up from 1,159 units at the end of 2025 [10][11] Financial Metrics - **Current Price**: US$16.09 (Market Cap: US$5.636 billion) [11] - **Target Price**: US$24.50 (derived from DCF with a 17.1% WACC) [15][20] - **Valuation Multiples**: Target price translates to 2030E P/S and P/E multiples of 2.9x and 28.0x [15][20] Investment Strategy - **Rating**: Buy/High Risk - **Advantages**: - Regulatory advantages as an early mover in the domestic market - Focus on L4 advanced autonomous driving technology - Cost advantages with a vehicle cost of US$38k, significantly lower than competitors [14][19] Risks - **High Risk Rating**: Due to loss-making status and uncertainties in robotaxi development - **Key Risks**: - Technological and commercialization challenges - Business model uncertainties - Safety and reliability concerns - Intense competition and regulatory risks [16][21] Additional Insights - **Investor Sentiment**: Positive sentiment is building around Pony AI's potential market entry and upcoming financial results, which could drive stock performance in the near term [4][11] - **Market Dynamics**: The evolving landscape of US-China tech competition may create opportunities for accelerated growth in the autonomous vehicle sector [7][8][11]