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Blackbaud Launches Intelligent AI Innovations for Social Impact
ZACKS· 2025-10-09 15:06
Core Insights - Blackbaud, Inc. has concluded its annual technology conference, bbcon 2025, focusing on the role of AI in enhancing social impact through a vast network of organizations and causes [1] Group 1: Innovations and AI Developments - Blackbaud introduced two major innovations: transforming Blackbaud AI into a system of intelligent action and launching Blackbaud Agents for Good, which are proactive virtual team members [2][3] - New AI-driven features include donor stewardship reports, Recognition Programs, and hyper-personalized donor journeys aimed at enhancing engagement and loyalty [2][9] - Over 70 sector-specific AI capabilities were showcased, including the Development Agent for managing donor portfolios and Prospect Insights Pro for predictive analytics [4] Group 2: Financial Projections - For the full year 2025, Blackbaud projects GAAP revenues between $1.120 billion and $1.130 billion, indicating approximately 5% organic growth at the midpoint [7] - Non-GAAP EPS is anticipated to be between $4.30 and $4.50, an increase from earlier expectations of $4.16-$4.35 [7] Group 3: Company Strategy and Focus - Blackbaud is concentrating on cloud software solutions and data-driven decisions, leveraging AI, machine learning, and predictive analytics [6] - The company is committed to margin expansion opportunities while investing in innovation, AI, and cybersecurity [6] Group 4: Stock Performance - Blackbaud currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), with shares declining 23.5% over the past year, contrasting with a 22.9% growth in the Computer – Software industry [8]
CRM's AI and Data Cloud ARR Surges 120%: Can the Momentum Continue?
ZACKS· 2025-09-23 14:21
Core Insights - Salesforce, Inc. reported strong performance in its AI and Data Cloud segments, with Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) from these areas reaching $1.2 billion, reflecting a 120% increase year-over-year [1][9] - The Data Cloud business has grown to a $7 billion segment, with a 140% increase in customer base and a 326% rise in data usage during the second quarter [2][9] - The Agentforce AI platform has signed over 6,000 paid deals, with 60% of customers transitioning from pilot projects to full production [3][9] Data Cloud Performance - Data Cloud is now a $7 billion business, with customer growth of 140% year-over-year and data usage increasing by 326% in the second quarter [2][9] - More than half of Fortune 500 companies are utilizing Data Cloud, indicating strong market penetration [2] Agentforce Growth - Agentforce has signed more than 6,000 paid deals, with 40% of bookings coming from existing customers expanding their usage [3] - The introduction of a new pricing model, flex credits, is contributing to 80% of Agentforce bookings, which may enhance recurring revenue over time [3] Future Growth Potential - The combination of Data Cloud and Agentforce is foundational for the Agentic Enterprise, which leverages accurate data to enhance AI agent performance [4] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate predicts revenue growth of 8.8% and 9.1% for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, respectively [4] Competitive Landscape - Competitors like Microsoft and ServiceNow are also advancing AI automation in the enterprise sector, with Microsoft integrating AI features into its Dynamics 365 platform and ServiceNow deploying industry-specific AI tools [5][6] Valuation Metrics - Salesforce shares have decreased by 25.4% year-to-date, contrasting with a 22% growth in the Zacks Computer – Software industry [7] - The company trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 20.48, significantly lower than the industry average of 33.89 [11] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Salesforce's earnings indicates a year-over-year increase of approximately 11.2% for fiscal 2026 and 11.7% for fiscal 2027, with upward revisions in estimates over the past 30 days [14]
Microsoft's Intelligent Cloud Expands Rapidly: Can the Upside Persist?
ZACKS· 2025-09-16 18:11
Core Insights - Microsoft's Intelligent Cloud segment is experiencing significant growth, with Q4 fiscal 2025 revenues reaching $29.9 billion, a 26% increase year over year, and Azure services growing by 39% [1][10] - The company is enhancing its AI capabilities with innovations such as the rollout of GPT-5 and the opening of a new datacenter in Austria, which positions it to capture rising AI demand [2] - AI is identified as the primary growth driver, with strong demand for AI infrastructure and increased adoption of tools like GitHub Copilot and Microsoft 365 Copilot [3] Financial Performance - Management has guided Intelligent Cloud revenues for Q1 fiscal 2026 to be between $30.1 billion and $30.4 billion, indicating continued strength [4] - The Zacks model projects Intelligent Cloud revenues to grow by 20.7% in fiscal 2026 and 21.2% in fiscal 2027, supporting a positive long-term outlook [4] Capital Expenditure and Investment - Microsoft has recorded a capital expenditure of $24.2 billion, with plans to increase this to $30 billion in Q1 fiscal 2026 to expand AI infrastructure and data centers [5] Competitive Landscape - Amazon Web Services (AWS) leads the cloud market with a 30-32% share, but Microsoft Azure is gaining traction in enterprise and hybrid adoption [6] - Google Cloud is also rapidly growing, achieving 32% annual growth and $13.6 billion in quarterly revenues, positioning itself as a strong competitor to both Microsoft Azure and AWS [7] Share Price and Valuation - Microsoft shares have appreciated by 22.2% year-to-date, outperforming the Zacks Computer – Software industry and the broader Computer and Technology sector [8] - The company trades at a forward Price/Sales ratio of 11.45X, higher than the industry average of 8.55X, indicating a premium valuation [12] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Microsoft's fiscal 2026 earnings is $15.35 per share, reflecting a 12.54% year-over-year growth [15]
Salesforce's Data Cloud Adoption Jumps 140%: Will It Aid Sales Growth?
ZACKS· 2025-09-15 16:20
Core Insights - Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) reported a 10% year-over-year revenue increase to $10.25 billion in Q2 of fiscal 2026, driven by significant growth in its Data Cloud business, which saw a 140% increase in customer count year-over-year [1][10] - The Data Cloud platform is central to Salesforce's growth strategy, integrating customer data from various sources and enhancing usability across Salesforce products, with over half of the Fortune 500 already utilizing it [2] - Integration of Data Cloud with tools like Agentforce, Tableau, and Slack is expected to enhance data activation and AI application across enterprises, potentially leading to higher contract values and stronger customer relationships [3] Financial Performance - Salesforce's data-related business is estimated to generate around $7 billion annually, with a consumption-based pricing model indicating significant revenue growth potential for the Data Cloud platform [4] - Despite the robust performance of the Data Cloud, overall revenue growth for Salesforce has shown signs of deceleration, with Q1 and Q2 revenues increasing by 8% and 10% year-over-year, respectively, and high single-digit growth expected for fiscal 2026 and 2027 [5] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate projects a year-over-year earnings increase of approximately 11.2% for fiscal 2026 and 11.7% for fiscal 2027, with upward revisions in estimates over the past 30 days [13] Competitive Landscape - Salesforce faces increased competition in the data cloud space from Microsoft and Snowflake, with Microsoft leveraging its Azure Data platform and integrating it with productivity tools to enhance user experience [6][7] - Snowflake focuses solely on data services, providing powerful cloud-based data warehousing capabilities, which allows for easy storage, processing, and sharing of large data volumes [8] Valuation Metrics - Salesforce shares have declined by 27% year-to-date, contrasting with the Zacks Computer – Software industry's growth of 18.7% [9] - The company trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 19.96, significantly below the industry average of 33.11 [11]
Oracle's Monster Rally Puts These ETFs in Focus
ZACKS· 2025-09-11 11:41
Core Insights - Oracle's stock surged approximately 36% on September 10, 2025, following the announcement of significant cloud demand numbers, marking its best day since 1992 [1] - The company reported $455 billion in remaining performance obligations (RPO), reflecting a 359% increase year-over-year [1][2] Financial Performance - Oracle's quarterly adjusted earnings were $1.47 per share, consistent with Zacks Consensus Estimate, compared to $1.39 per share a year prior [5] - The company reported revenues of $14.93 billion for the quarter, slightly missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.59%, compared to $13.31 billion in the previous year [5] Cloud Infrastructure Growth - Oracle anticipates a 77% increase in cloud infrastructure revenues for the fiscal year, projecting $18 billion, up from $10 billion last year [3] - By fiscal 2027, cloud infrastructure revenues are expected to reach $32 billion, with projections of $73 billion, $114 billion, and $144 billion in the following three years [3][4] - Overall, cloud infrastructure revenues are projected to increase by 1298% from 2025 to 2030, with most of this revenue already reflected in the reported RPO [4] AI Developments - During the quarter, Oracle announced the deployment of OpenAI GPT-5 across its database portfolio and SaaS applications [6] - The company expanded its partnership with Google Cloud to provide access to advanced AI models via OCI Generative AI service [6] Valuation Metrics - As of September 5, 2025, Oracle's stock had a forward P/E multiple of 29.88, lower than the Computer – Software industry average of 33.34 and the S&P 500's P/E of 22.1 [7] - Over the past five years, Oracle's stock has traded between a high of 35.93 and a low of 14.17, with a five-year median of 20.88 [8] - The stock has increased by 119.1% over the trailing 12-month period, including the significant gains on September 10, 2025 [8] Market Position and Future Outlook - Analysts from Bank of America noted Oracle's "exceptional backlog," positioning it as a key player in the AI infrastructure market [9] - There is an expectation of stock upgrades from analysts in the near future, despite concerns regarding profitability in the AI segment [9]
Salesforce's Agentforce Bookings Surge: Will Adoption Drive Revenues?
ZACKS· 2025-09-10 15:30
Core Insights - Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) reported strong second-quarter fiscal 2026 results with revenues increasing by 10% and non-GAAP EPS rising by 13.7% year-over-year, driven by the adoption of its AI-driven platform, Agentforce [1][10] Group 1: Agentforce Performance - Agentforce has achieved over 6,000 paid deals since its launch three quarters ago, indicating robust demand for AI tools that enhance enterprise workflows [2][10] - 40% of new Agentforce bookings in the second quarter originated from existing Salesforce customers expanding their usage, showcasing strong early adoption [2][3] - There was a 60% increase in customers scaling Agentforce use quarter over quarter, reflecting confidence in the platform's value [3] Group 2: Revenue Growth Potential - The consumption-based model, along with flexible payment options like Flex Credits, is driving demand for Agentforce, which could lead to recurring revenue growth over time [4] - Annualized recurring revenues from AI and Data Cloud have reached $1.2 billion, positioning Salesforce for significant growth if Agentforce adoption continues at the current pace [5] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) and ServiceNow, Inc. (NOW) are also advancing AI automation in the enterprise market, with Microsoft integrating AI features into its Dynamics 365 platform and ServiceNow rolling out industry-specific AI tools [6][7] Group 4: Valuation and Estimates - Salesforce shares have declined by 24.6% year-to-date, contrasting with the Zacks Computer – Software industry's growth of 15.3% [8] - The forward price-to-earnings ratio for Salesforce is 20.81, significantly below the industry average of 32.22, indicating potential undervaluation [11] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 and 2027 earnings suggests year-over-year increases of approximately 11.2% and 11.7%, respectively, with recent upward revisions in estimates [14]
Is INTU Stock a Buy, Hold or Sell After Its 12.8% Plunge in 3 Months?
ZACKS· 2025-09-04 16:46
Core Insights - Intuit Inc. has reported strong fiscal fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results, yet its shares have declined by 12.8% over the past three months, underperforming the broader market and peers [1][2]. Financial Performance - Full-year revenues for fiscal 2025 increased by 16% to $18.8 billion, with fourth-quarter revenues surging by 20% to $3.8 billion [5][9]. - GAAP operating income grew by 36% to $4.9 billion, and non-GAAP EPS advanced by 19% to $20.15 [5]. Growth Drivers - The launch of a virtual team of AI agents is expected to drive significant growth across QuickBooks, TurboTax, and the broader ecosystem, with early adoption rates exceeding expectations [6]. - Intuit is making strides in the $89 billion mid-market total addressable market (TAM) through its Intuit Enterprise Suite and QuickBooks Online Advanced, with fourth-quarter billed customers nearly doubling compared to the third quarter [7]. Segment Performance - TurboTax Live revenues increased by 47% for the full fiscal year, with customer growth of 24%, while Credit Karma revenues rose by 32% [7][10]. - The Consumer Group's performance is enhancing year-round engagement and monetization opportunities beyond the tax season [10]. Challenges - Mailchimp is a drag on performance, with expectations for it to return to double-digit growth only by the end of fiscal year 2026 [12]. - International growth has lagged, limiting diversification, and Intuit's performance is tied to small-business health and consumer spending dynamics [12]. Valuation and Market Position - Intuit currently trades at a forward Price/Sales (P/S) ratio of 8.75X, which is above the industry average of 8.33X [13]. - Compared to peers, Intuit trades at a discount to Autodesk but at a premium to Commvault Systems [13]. Strategic Outlook - Intuit is positioned well for sustained growth due to its durable moats in tax, accounting, and consumer finance, alongside solid cash flow and manageable debt [14]. - Despite the recent pullback improving entry points, the stock's valuation premium and macro risks temper near-term upside, suggesting a prudent hold strategy until more favorable conditions arise [15].
MSFT Challenges GPT-5 With New AI Models: What's Next for Investors?
ZACKS· 2025-09-01 16:31
Core Insights - Microsoft has introduced its first proprietary AI models, MAI-Voice-1 and MAI-1-preview, marking a strategic shift to reduce reliance on external AI providers like OpenAI's GPT-5 [1][11] - The launch of these models positions Microsoft as a direct competitor in the AI model space, rather than just a distributor [1] AI Model Performance - MAI-Voice-1 can generate one minute of audio content in under one second using a single GPU, which could significantly lower operational costs for AI services [2] - MAI-1-preview is a mixture-of-experts model trained on approximately 15,000 NVIDIA H100 GPUs, entering public testing on LMArena, indicating Microsoft's confidence in competing with established players [3] Capital Expenditure and Strategic Positioning - Capital Expenditure (CapEx) reached $24.2 billion in the fiscal fourth quarter and is projected to hit a record $30 billion in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, primarily for AI infrastructure [4] - This investment aims to establish Microsoft as a key player in the global AI market, which is expected to grow into trillions over the next decade [4] Competitive Landscape - The timing of the AI model releases coincides with increasing competition in the AI model market, where control over foundational technology is crucial for market positioning [5] - Microsoft's investment in training infrastructure, including operational GB200 clusters, reflects its commitment to this strategic pivot [5] Future Growth Projections - Success in developing proprietary AI models could enhance Microsoft's competitive advantage in the AI services market and improve unit economics across its AI product portfolio [6] - Zacks forecasts a 14% annual revenue growth for Microsoft in 2026 and 14.4% in 2027, highlighting the potential impact of AI-driven CapEx on future success [6] Comparison with Rivals - Meta Platforms is pursuing a similar strategy with its LLaMA family of models, investing in custom silicon and training infrastructure to reduce external dependencies [7] - Alphabet's Google is also focusing on internal AI development through its Gemini models, with a planned increase in spending to $85 billion by 2025 to support proprietary research [8] Share Price Performance - Microsoft shares have appreciated 20.2% year-to-date, outperforming the Zacks Computer – Software industry growth of 15.8% and the Zacks Computer and Technology sector's growth of 12.9% [9]
MSFT Rides on AI Strategy: Can Rising CapEx Drive Future Growth?
ZACKS· 2025-08-25 17:11
Core Insights - Microsoft's aggressive AI strategy is central to its long-term growth vision, with significant capital expenditures driving this approach [1][3] - The demand for AI-powered solutions is increasing, with tools like Azure OpenAI and Microsoft 365 Copilot becoming essential for enterprises [2] - Heavy investments in data centers and AI infrastructure are expected to position Microsoft as a leader in global AI adoption [3] Financial Performance - In Q4 of fiscal 2025, Microsoft reported Azure cloud revenues up 27% year-over-year, contributing to overall cloud sales of $46.7 billion [1][9] - Capital expenditures reached $24.2 billion in Q4 and are projected to hit $30 billion in Q1 2026, primarily for AI infrastructure [3][9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 earnings is $15.35 per share, indicating a 12.54% year-over-year growth [12] Competitive Landscape - Meta is increasing its AI capital expenditures, projecting $66-$72 billion in 2025, focusing on advertising efficiency [5] - Alphabet plans to spend $85 billion in 2025 to enhance its cloud and data infrastructure, leveraging its strengths in search and digital ads [6] - Microsoft leads in enterprise-cloud integration, while Alphabet maintains a competitive edge in search and AI-driven monetization [6] Stock Performance - Microsoft's shares have appreciated 20.3% year-to-date, outperforming the Zacks Computer – Software industry and the broader technology sector [7]
Intuit Q4 Earnings Preview: Should You Buy the Stock Now or Wait?
ZACKS· 2025-08-20 16:46
Core Insights - Intuit Inc. is expected to report strong fourth-quarter results for fiscal 2025, with projected revenues between $3.72 billion and $3.76 billion, indicating growth of 17-18% [1][7] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter revenues is $3.74 billion, reflecting a 17.6% increase year-over-year, while the earnings per share (EPS) consensus stands at $2.65, a rise of 33.2% from the previous year [2] - For the full fiscal year 2025, management anticipates revenues between $18.72 billion and $18.76 billion, suggesting approximately 15% growth, with non-GAAP EPS projected between $20.07 and $20.12, indicating growth of 18-19% [3] Revenue and Earnings Projections - The company expects Q4 revenues of $3.72 billion to $3.76 billion and EPS of $2.63 to $2.68, driven by AI integration across its platforms [7][8] - For fiscal 2025, the Global Business Solutions segment is projected to grow revenues by 16%, while Credit Karma revenues are expected to surge by 28% [11] AI Integration and User Engagement - Intuit's AI integration across its product suite has enhanced customer retention and engagement, leading to increased monetization opportunities [8] - TurboTax Live is projected to see a 24% increase in customer numbers and a 47% rise in revenues this fiscal year [9] Subscription Revenue Model - Subscription services account for 77% of total revenues, providing a stable revenue stream that supports long-term reinvestment [10] - The company's predictable revenue model underpins its growth and allows for sustained earnings growth [10] Market Performance and Valuation - Intuit shares have risen 11.5% year-to-date, compared to the Zacks Computer – Software industry's 19.1% appreciation [12] - The company is currently trading at a forward Price/Sales ratio of 9.28X, which is above the industry average of 8.66X, reflecting a premium valuation supported by its subscription-driven revenue [13][15] Growth Potential and Strategic Positioning - Intuit's evolution into an AI-powered financial operating platform positions it for durable long-term growth, serving 100 million users across various segments [16][17] - The strong performance in TurboTax, Credit Karma, and QuickBooks, along with accelerating AI adoption, makes Intuit a compelling choice for investors [17]