Key Takeaways Duolingo lags peers as Coursera and Chegg climb, underscoring shifting sentiment in online learning.AI cut costs and sped up product rollouts, including 148 new courses launched in April.Management guides FY25 revenues near $1.019B with EBITDA margins approaching 29%.Duolingo, Inc. (DUOL) has been facing heavy selling pressure, sliding 35% over the past three months. This sharp decline stands out when compared to the broader industry, which climbed 26% in the same period, and the Zacks S&P 500 ...

Momentum investing is essentially the opposite of the tried-and-tested Wall Street adage -- "buy low and sell high." Investors following this investing style typically avoid betting on cheap stocks and waiting long for them to recover. They believe instead that one could make far more money in lesser time by "buying high and selling higher."Who doesn't like betting on fast-moving trending stocks? But determining the right entry point isn't easy. Often, these stocks lose momentum once their valuation moves a ...

Market Overview - The second quarter saw significant volatility for small and mid-cap (SMID) stocks, with the Russell 2500 Index returning 8.6%, while the Russell 2000 Index matched this but lagged behind the Russell 1000 Index's return of 11.1% [2] - The Russell 2500 Growth Index outperformed the Value Index, returning 11.3%, indicating a preference for growth stocks during this period [2] Economic and Market Sentiment - Recent months have been characterized by reversals in trade policy and legislative priorities, with the market adapting to trade threats and pricing in more favorable outcomes [3] - Macroeconomic indicators such as unemployment, inflation, and spending trends remain stable, suggesting manageable operating conditions for businesses and consumers [4] Sector Performance - The ClearBridge SMID Growth Strategy outperformed its benchmark due to strong contributions from the health care and consumer staples sectors [5] - In health care, companies like Insmed saw stock price increases due to positive clinical results and improved earnings estimates [5] - Insulet, a medical device company, also performed well, driven by strong earnings and product launches [6] - Consumer staples companies like e.l.f. Beauty and Casey's General Stores benefited from strategic acquisitions and reinvestments, respectively [7] Detractors and Challenges - The information technology sector was a significant detractor, with companies like Wix.com and Globant facing challenges due to uneven demand [8] - The exit from Ashland was due to persistent headwinds and management turnover, impacting long-term confidence [11] Portfolio Positioning and Transactions - New positions were initiated in Ryan Specialty Holdings and Duolingo, both showing strong growth potential in their respective markets [9][10] - The portfolio also saw exits from several positions, including Ashland and Tradeweb Markets, reflecting a strategic shift in response to market conditions [11][19] Outlook - Despite recent market performance, there remains uncertainty regarding macroeconomic policies and geopolitical factors, with a focus on companies with unique growth drivers [12] - The potential for faster earnings growth in SMID stocks is highlighted, suggesting a favorable outlook for this segment [12]

Duolingo, Inc. (NASDAQ:DUOL) is among the best education stocks to buy right now. Vikram Kesavabhotla, an analyst at Baird, has initiated coverage on Duolingo, Inc. (NASDAQ:DUOL) with a ‘Neutral’ rating and a price target of $280, implying a surge of about 3.3% from the current level. While the analyst affirmed the company’s effective product development and positioning in the language learning market, Duolingo, Inc. (NASDAQ:DUOL) still has some competitive risks that make the investors considerably cauti ...

Earnings Supplement Q2 FY2026 September 9, 2025 1 Cautionary Notes Regarding Forward Looking Statements This document includes statements that are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. For all such statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements provided by such sections and the Private Securities Litigation Ref ...

Core Viewpoint - Youdao, Inc. reported its first-ever profitable second quarter, driven by strong execution of its AI Native Strategy and the launch of new AI products, including the Large Language Model Confucius 3 and AI Essay Grading function [3][5][18]. Financial Highlights - Net revenues for Q2 2025 were RMB 1.4 billion (US$ 197.9 million), a 7.2% increase from RMB 1.3 billion in Q2 2024 [5][18]. - Revenues from learning services were RMB 657.8 million (US$ 91.8 million), up 2.2% from RMB 643.8 million in Q2 2024 [5][18]. - Revenues from smart devices decreased by 23.9% to RMB 126.8 million (US$ 17.7 million) due to declining consumer electronics demand [6][18]. - Revenues from online marketing services increased by 23.8% to RMB 632.9 million (US$ 88.3 million), driven by demand from the gaming industry and overseas markets [7][18]. Profitability Metrics - Gross profit for Q2 2025 was RMB 609.4 million (US$ 85.1 million), a 4.3% decrease from RMB 636.8 million in Q2 2024, with a gross margin of 43.0% compared to 48.2% in the same period last year [8][18]. - The gross margin for learning services remained stable at 59.8%, while the gross margin for smart devices improved to 41.5% from 30.3% in Q2 2024 [9][10][18]. - The gross margin for online marketing services decreased to 25.8% from 39.1% in Q2 2024 due to strategic expansion efforts [10][18]. Operating Expenses - Total operating expenses for Q2 2025 were RMB 580.6 million (US$ 81.0 million), down from RMB 709.3 million in Q2 2024 [11][18]. - Sales and marketing expenses decreased by 22.1% to RMB 401.8 million (US$ 56.1 million) due to reduced marketing expenditures [11][18]. - Research and development expenses decreased by 16.1% to RMB 128.3 million (US$ 17.9 million) due to a reduction in headcount [12][18]. Income and Loss Metrics - Income from operations for Q2 2025 was RMB 28.8 million (US$ 4.0 million), compared to a loss of RMB 72.6 million in Q2 2024, resulting in a margin of 2.0% [14][18]. - Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders was RMB 17.8 million (US$ 2.5 million), significantly improved from a loss of RMB 99.5 million in the same period last year [16][18]. - Non-GAAP net income attributable to ordinary shareholders was RMB 12.5 million (US$ 1.7 million), compared to a non-GAAP net loss of RMB 96.0 million in Q2 2024 [16][18]. Cash and Financial Support - As of June 30, 2025, Youdao's cash and short-term investments totaled RMB 617.0 million (US$ 86.1 million), down from RMB 662.6 million at the end of 2024 [19][18]. - Net cash provided by operating activities for Q2 2025 was RMB 185.0 million (US$ 25.8 million) [19][18]. - NetEase Group has agreed to provide financial support, including RMB 878.0 million in short-term loans and US$ 130.7 million in long-term loans [19][18]. Share Repurchase Program - The company has repurchased approximately 7.5 million ADSs for a total consideration of approximately US$ 33.8 million under its share repurchase program [21][18].

7 August 2025 | 7:45AM EDT Duolingo Inc. (DUOL) Q2'25 Earnings Review: Bookings Growth Continues to Demonstrate Platform Scaling; Debates Around User Growth Focus of Earnings Report | DUOL | | --- | | 12m Price Target: $425.00 | | Price: $343.61 | | Upside: 23.7% | +1(917)343-8683 | eric.sheridan@gs.com Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC Julia Fein-Ashley +1(212)902-5070 | julia.fein-ashley@gs.com Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC Aarshiya Sachdeva +1(212)855-6184 | aarshiya.sachdeva@gs.com Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC Key Data ____ ...

Financial Performance - Talent Development Solutions (TDS) revenue grew by 1% to $99.1 million compared to the prior year[27] - Global Knowledge (GK) revenue declined by 16% in Q1 FY2026[31] - Total revenue decreased by 3% year-over-year to $124.2 million in Q1 FY2026[30, 31] - Adjusted EBITDA increased by $3 million, or 17%, year-over-year to $22.1 million in Q1 FY2026[34] - Adjusted EBITDA margin improved by 300 basis points year-over-year to 18% in Q1 FY2026[27, 34] - Free cash flow increased by $15.7 million year-over-year to $26.2 million in Q1 FY2026, driven by working capital timing[33, 34] Business Highlights and Strategy - The company reaffirms its fiscal year 2026 outlook, projecting both revenue and Adjusted EBITDA growth[14] - TDS segment has achieved three consecutive quarters of revenue growth[18] - The company is executing a transformation plan focused on expense reduction, margin expansion, and a return to topline growth[20] - The company estimates a $400 billion market opportunity in talent development, with a shift towards a talent development lifecycle approach[22]

Financial Performance (Q3 FY25) - Revenues for the third quarter of FY 2025 were RMB 5707 million (US$786 million), a decrease of 396% year-over-year[6,46] - Adjusted net income for the third quarter of FY 2025 was RMB 378 million (US$52 million), an increase of 185% year-over-year[6,48] - Gross billings of individual online learning services were RMB 5156 million, a decrease of 475% year-over-year[6] - Total registered users reached approximately 1450 million as of March 31, 2025, representing a 199% increase year-over-year[6,44] - Cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, and short-term investments amounted to RMB 11349 million[6] Silver Economy Opportunity - China's population aged 65 and above reached 500 million in 2024[9] - China's 60+ population is projected to exceed 650 million by 2028[9] - China's senior interest education sector had 178 million users in 2023 with a 245% penetration rate and a 147% CAGR from 2019-2023[12] - The market value of China's goods and services catering to senior citizens is expected to reach RMB 30 trillion by 2035[11] Pop Toy Industry - The global toy market is expected to reach RMB 9937 billion in 2028, growing at a CAGR of 51% from 2019[19] - China's pop toy market is projected to reach nearly RMB 90 billion in 2024, with a CAGR of 12% from 2019 to 2024[19] - China's blind box market is projected to reach RMB 58 billion by 2025, accounting for 65% of the global share[20]

Market Performance - U.S. stocks closed higher on Friday, with the S&P 500 achieving its longest winning streak since November 2004, marking nine consecutive days of gains [1] - The S&P 500 increased by 2.9% for the week, while the Dow gained 3% and the Nasdaq rose by 3.4% [1] Analyst Insights - Wall Street analysts frequently update stock picks, but their track records can vary significantly, leading to confusion among investors [2] - Benzinga's Analyst Ratings API compiles high-quality stock ratings from major sell-side banks, providing insights that can serve as effective trading indicators [3] Top Analyst Picks - Benzinga offers access to the latest analyst ratings, allowing traders to sort by analyst accuracy [4] - Notable analysts and their recent ratings include: - Zachary Fadem from Wedbush with an 86% accuracy, maintaining an Outperform rating on Beazer Homes USA, Inc. with a price target cut from $45 to $41, indicating a 93% upside [5] - An analyst from JP Morgan with 85% accuracy, maintaining an Overweight rating on Amazon.com, Inc. and raising the price target from $220 to $225, suggesting a 20% surge potential [5] - An analyst from UBS with 85% accuracy, maintaining a Buy rating on Meta Platforms, Inc. and increasing the price target from $650 to $683, indicating a 16% upside [5] - An analyst from Cantor Fitzgerald with 84% accuracy, maintaining an Overweight rating on Udemy, Inc. and lowering the price target from $11 to $9, suggesting a 40% upside [5] - An analyst from Wells Fargo with 84% accuracy, maintaining an Overweight rating on Wingstop Inc. and raising the price target from $270 to $300, indicating an 11% upside [6]