Company Overview - GoDaddy Inc. assists millions of entrepreneurs worldwide in starting, growing, and scaling their businesses [2] - The company provides services such as domain naming, website building, logo creation, product sales, and payment acceptance [2] - GoDaddy Airo®, an AI-powered experience, facilitates faster business growth by helping users get online quickly, drive traffic, and increase sales [2] Upcoming Events - GoDaddy's Chief Financial Officer, Mark McCaffrey, will present at the 53rd Annual J.P. Morgan Global Technology, Media and Communications Conference on May 13, 2025, at 10:10 a.m. ET [1] - A live audio webcast and post-presentation audio replay will be accessible on GoDaddy's investor relations website [1]

Core Insights - The WeChat team reported a significant increase in both outbound tourism and foreign visitors to China during the May Day holiday, indicating a robust recovery in travel and consumer spending [1] Group 1: Outbound Tourism - Outbound tourism from mainland residents saw a 37% year-on-year increase in WeChat payment transaction volume during the holiday [1] - The trend of "dual outbound travel" emerged as a new highlight for this year's May Day holiday [1] Group 2: Inbound Tourism - Foreign visitors to China experienced a nearly twofold increase in both transaction volume and amount spent via WeChat payments during the first three days of the holiday [1] - Hong Kong residents traveling to mainland China also doubled their transaction volume and spending compared to the same holiday period last year [1] Group 3: Overall Consumer Trends - WeChat payment transaction volume increased by over 10% during the holiday, with high-speed rail travel, public transportation, and dining showing the highest growth rates [1] - Cities such as Dongguan, Suzhou, and Foshan entered the top 10 for national consumption heat, alongside Chengdu, Chongqing, and Hangzhou [1]

Core Viewpoint - Alphabet reported strong first-quarter 2025 earnings, with a 5% dividend increase, but the stock remains down year-to-date, underperforming the Nasdaq Composite and other megacap growth stocks [1][3]. Group 1: Financial Performance - Revenue increased by 12%, operating income grew by 20%, and diluted EPS surged by 49% [3]. - The services segment generated $77.26 billion in revenue, with Google Search contributing $50.7 billion and an operating income of $32.68 billion, resulting in a 42.3% operating margin [5]. - Google Cloud revenue reached $12.26 billion, a 28% year-over-year increase, but with a lower operating income of $2.18 billion and a 17.8% operating margin due to ongoing expansion efforts [6]. Group 2: Capital Expenditures and Shareholder Returns - Capital expenditures in the recent quarter were $17.2 billion, a 43% increase compared to Q1 2024, which Alphabet can currently absorb due to strong revenue growth [8]. - Alphabet's capital return program totaled $17.5 billion, including $15.07 billion in buybacks and $2.43 billion in dividends, with a projected annual run rate of about $70 billion [11][12]. - Over the past five years, Alphabet has reduced its share count by 10.9%, contributing to faster EPS growth compared to net income [13]. Group 3: Valuation and Market Position - Alphabet has the lowest P/E ratio among the "Magnificent Seven" at 17.7, indicating a cheap valuation relative to its growth prospects [14]. - The P/E ratio of 17.7 is considered a bargain for a high-margin company with strong growth, especially when compared to Procter & Gamble's P/E ratio over 25 [15]. - The current pricing suggests skepticism about Alphabet's ability to maintain margins and market share, despite strong financial results [17].

Market Overview - The market has experienced a significant decline in recent weeks, followed by a rebound driven by optimism regarding trade deals and potential interest rate cuts [1] Investment Strategy - The investment strategy focuses on strategic buying opportunities, particularly in dividend and value stocks, which has led to a high rating on Tipranks.com and a substantial following on Seeking Alpha [1]

Core Viewpoint - The US government is demanding the breakup of Google's ad technology business due to a judge's ruling that the company holds an illegal monopoly in the ad market [3][4]. Group 1: Legal Proceedings - A federal court in Virginia is hearing the case, with a trial phase scheduled for September 22 to discuss remedies for the ad market [5]. - The US government has previously argued that Google controls the market for publishing banner ads, affecting many small news providers and creators [5][6]. - The judge, Leonie Brinkema, agreed that Google has built an illegal monopoly over ad software but partially dismissed claims regarding tools used by advertisers [6]. Group 2: Government's Position - The US government is advocating for Google to divest its ad publisher and exchange operations, citing a lack of trust in Google's ability to change its monopolistic behavior [7]. - Government lawyer Julia Tarver Wood emphasized that behavioral remedies are insufficient to prevent Google from re-establishing dominance [8]. Group 3: Google's Defense - Google has proposed a binding commitment to share information with advertisers and publishers on its ad tech platforms, acknowledging trust issues raised in the case [8]. - The company argues that breaking up its ad platforms could pose data security risks for publishers and advertisers [9]. - Google contends that calls for divestment are inappropriate, a stance that the judge has rejected [9]. Group 4: Financial Implications - The ad technology business is a significant part of Google's overall online advertising revenue, which funds its free services like Maps, Gmail, and search [10]. - The revenue generated also supports Google's investments in artificial intelligence initiatives [10].

Core Viewpoint - Alphabet's first-quarter earnings report revealed better-than-expected results, providing a positive outlook for the remainder of the year despite concerns over tariffs [1][5]. Group 1: Financial Performance - The company announced a $70 billion share repurchase authorization, which is significant and will differ from previous repurchase plans due to current market conditions [2]. - Alphabet's stock is currently priced at 17.9 times trailing earnings and 16.8 times forward earnings, making it attractive compared to the S&P 500's 22.1 times trailing and 20.5 times forward earnings [9]. Group 2: Advertising Revenue Concerns - Alphabet's primary revenue source is advertising, which is vulnerable during economic downturns, leading to investor pessimism [3][10]. - There are concerns regarding the impact of tariffs on Alphabet's business, particularly with discount Chinese retailers, although management indicated it would only be a "slight" headwind [4]. Group 3: Market Sentiment and Stock Dynamics - Following the earnings release, the stock initially rose but then experienced a slight decline, indicating mixed market sentiment regarding Alphabet's future performance [5]. - The $70 billion share repurchase program is seen as a potential catalyst for stock price improvement, especially given the current low stock price [6][11]. Group 4: Legal Challenges - Ongoing legal challenges from the Department of Justice regarding an alleged illegal monopoly could impact investor sentiment and stock performance, with potential resolutions still years away [10][11]. - The legal situation contributes to the current low stock price, which may enhance the effectiveness of the share repurchase program [11]. Group 5: Future Outlook - Despite potential headwinds, the market has already priced in significant pessimism, suggesting that now may be a strong buying opportunity for long-term investors willing to endure short-term volatility [12][13].

Core Insights - GoDaddy reported revenue of $1.19 billion for the quarter ended March 2025, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 7.7% and a surprise of +0.60% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate [1] - The company's EPS for the quarter was $1.27, compared to $1.08 in the same quarter last year, although it fell short of the consensus estimate of $1.35 by -5.93% [1] Financial Performance Metrics - Total bookings reached $1.42 billion, exceeding the seven-analyst average estimate of $1.40 billion [4] - The total number of customers at the end of the period was 20.48 million, slightly below the five-analyst average estimate of 20.74 million [4] - Revenue from Applications & Commerce was $446.40 million, surpassing the average estimate of $441.26 million and representing a year-over-year increase of +16.5% [4] - Revenue from the Core Platform was $747.90 million, slightly above the average estimate of $745.99 million, with a year-over-year change of +3.1% [4] - Segment EBITDA for the Core Platform was $235.30 million, compared to the average estimate of $233.35 million [4] - Segment EBITDA for Applications & Commerce was $196.90 million, exceeding the average estimate of $185.34 million [4] Stock Performance - GoDaddy's shares have returned +4.3% over the past month, contrasting with a -0.7% change in the Zacks S&P 500 composite [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 4 (Sell), indicating potential underperformance relative to the broader market in the near term [3]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q1 2025, the company achieved 8% bookings growth and expanded normalized EBITDA margin to 31%, resulting in a 26% increase in free cash flow [5][14][17] - Total revenue grew 8% year-over-year to $1.2 billion, with annual recurring revenue increasing by 7% to $4.1 billion [14][15] - Free cash flow reached $411 million, reflecting a 26% growth [17][19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The ANC segment saw a revenue growth of 17% to $446 million, with bookings increasing by 14% [14][15] - The core platform segment delivered a revenue growth of 3% to $748 million, with bookings growing by 5% [15][16] - The average revenue per user (ARPU) grew by 9% to $225 on a trailing twelve-month basis [17][110] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - International revenue grew by 10%, exceeding prior expectations due to strong aftermarket sales [15] - Customer retention rates improved to above 85% for customers on the GoDaddy platform [17] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on attracting high-intent customers and creating long-term shareholder value through disciplined innovation and execution of its strategy [5][6] - Pricing and bundling initiatives are being tested across customer cohorts, with positive results encouraging further development [8][59] - The company aims to maximize free cash flow over the long term and has reaffirmed its full-year guidance for 2025 [20][21] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted some pressure in customer sentiment but emphasized resilience among small businesses [26][30] - The company remains confident in its full-year guidance and Investor Day targets, citing strong customer performance and the value of its products [14][20] - The management highlighted the importance of their tools in helping customers navigate a complex economic landscape [13][81] Other Important Information - The company completed its $4 billion share repurchase authorization, reducing fully diluted shares outstanding by over 25% since the program's inception [19] - The company is targeting a net leverage ratio of under three times moving forward [19] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you provide insights on macro changes and small business sentiment? - Management acknowledged some pressure in customer sentiment but noted that customers remain generally positive about their business performance [26][30] Question: What are the early signs from the Arrow Plus SKU? - Management reported early positive engagement with Arrow Plus, although it is still in the testing phase [32][33] Question: Can you quantify average order size changes? - Management indicated that average order size is increasing, with strong attachment rates for additional products [38][39] Question: What is the outlook for customer growth? - Management stated that customer growth is not the primary focus, but they expect to return to positive customer growth later in the year [64][65] Question: What is driving gross margin expansion? - Management attributed gross margin expansion to favorable product mix rather than specific cost savings [66] Question: How is the agency announcement impacting the addressable opportunity? - Management noted that it is still early in the agency space, but they are optimistic about the potential for their products [120]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q1 2025, GoDaddy achieved 8% bookings growth and expanded normalized EBITDA margin to 31%, resulting in a 26% increase in free cash flow [4][13][15] - Total revenue grew 8% year-over-year to $1.2 billion, with annual recurring revenue increasing by 7% to $4.1 billion [13][14] - Free cash flow reached $411 million, reflecting a 26% growth [16][18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The ANC segment saw a revenue growth of 17% to $446 million, with bookings increasing by 14% [13][14] - The core platform segment delivered a revenue growth of 3% to $748 million, with bookings growing by 5% [14][15] - Average order size increased, and ARPU grew by 9% to $225 on a trailing twelve-month basis [16][114] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - International revenue grew by 10%, exceeding prior expectations due to strong aftermarket sales [13][14] - Customer retention rates improved, with retention above 85% for customers on the GoDaddy platform [16] Company Strategy and Development Direction - GoDaddy's strategy focuses on attracting high-intent customers, creating customer value, and transforming that value into long-term shareholder value [5][10] - The company is committed to a disciplined capital allocation framework, including a new share repurchase authorization of up to $3 billion through 2027 [18][20] - The company aims to achieve $4.5 billion in cumulative free cash flow generation by 2026, with annual revenue growth of 6% to 8% [21] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted some pressure in small business sentiment but emphasized the resilience of their customer base [27][30] - The company reaffirmed its full-year 2025 guidance, expecting total revenue growth of 7% at the midpoint [19][20] - Management expressed confidence in the durability of their business model and the importance of their products to micro businesses [80][82] Other Important Information - GoDaddy's Aero initiative is showing positive results, with improvements in customer behavior and engagement [9][10] - The company is leveraging generative AI to enhance customer experiences and automate tasks [10][58] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on macroeconomic changes and small business sentiment - Management observed some pressure in customer sentiment but noted that customers remain resilient and optimistic about their own business performance [27][30] Question: Early signs from the Arrow Plus SKU - Management indicated that Arrow continues to perform well, with improvements in order size and customer engagement [33][34] Question: Customer count expectations and impact of marketing campaigns - Management confirmed stability in customer count and noted that the Super Bowl ad campaign has increased awareness of GoDaddy's offerings [45][47] Question: Drivers of gross margin expansion - Management attributed gross margin expansion to favorable product mix and operational efficiencies [66][68] Question: Differentiation between Arrow and Arrow Plus - Arrow provides basic functionality for free, while Arrow Plus offers a higher-end SKU for engaged customers [72][73] Question: Update on Gabby and AI initiatives - Gabby is evolving to take on more tasks, with potential for future external use [115] Question: Addressable opportunity in the agency space - Management acknowledged that the agency space is still early for GoDaddy but sees it as a long-term opportunity [126][127]

Core Insights - GoDaddy reported strong first quarter results for 2025, with total revenue of $1.194 billion, representing an 8% year-over-year increase [5][6] - The company completed its 2022 share repurchase program, retiring over 25% of its fully diluted shares, and announced a new $3 billion multi-year repurchase authorization through 2027 [2][10] - GoDaddy's business model is described as durable, with a focus on delivering measurable outcomes for customers, positioning the company for long-term success [2] Financial Performance - Total revenue for Q1 2025 was $1,194.3 million, up from $1,108.5 million in Q1 2024, marking a 7.7% increase [5][6] - Applications and Commerce revenue grew by 16.5% year-over-year to $446.4 million, while Core platform revenue increased by 3.1% to $747.9 million [5][6] - Operating income rose significantly by 40.6% to $247.3 million, with an operating income margin of 20.7% [5][6] Cash Flow and Share Repurchases - Net cash provided by operating activities was $404.7 million, a 36.2% increase from $297.2 million in the previous year [6][11] - Free cash flow reached $411.3 million, up 26% year-over-year [6][11] - GoDaddy repurchased 4.4 million shares in April 2025 at an average price of $176.02, fully utilizing the remaining $767.4 million under the previous repurchase authorization [9][10] Business Outlook - For Q2 2025, GoDaddy expects total revenue between $1.195 billion and $1.215 billion, indicating a year-over-year growth of approximately 7% [12] - The company reaffirms its full-year 2025 revenue guidance of $4.860 billion to $4.940 billion, also reflecting a 7% growth at the midpoint [12] - GoDaddy anticipates NEBITDA margin to be around 31% for Q2 2025, with an expected margin expansion of approximately 100 basis points for the full year [13] Balance Sheet - As of March 31, 2025, GoDaddy reported total cash and cash equivalents of $719.4 million and total debt of $3.8 billion, resulting in net debt of $3.1 billion [11][34] - The total assets of the company were $7.839 billion, down from $8.235 billion at the end of 2024 [34]