Investment Rating - The industry view is rated as Attractive [2] Core Insights - Internet names were flat last week, with notable performances: AMZN increased by 1% due to Prime Day, while GOOGL and META remained flat [2][10] - The report highlights the upcoming 2Q EPS, indicating a cautious market sentiment [2] - AMZN, GOOGL, and META are trading at 29X, 18X, and 26X their 2026 EPS estimates, reflecting changes of -6%, -2%, and +16% compared to the trailing twelve months average [2] Summary by Sections Market Performance - The overall market performance for the Internet sector was flat, with SPX and NDX showing no significant movement [10] - Specific companies showed varied performance: U increased by 11%, while LYFT and CHWY decreased by 8% each [2] Valuation Metrics - The report provides valuation metrics for major companies, with AMZN, GOOGL, and META trading at 3.4X, 5.4X, and 9.7X EV/Revenue for 2025 estimates [4] - The NTM EV/EBITDA for AMZN, GOOGL, and META is 13.8X, 11.5X, and 14.7X, respectively, compared to their historical averages [8] Company-Specific Insights - AMZN's market cap is $2,428,641 million, with a 1-week performance of +0.7% [5] - GOOGL's market cap stands at $2,214,715 million, with a slight increase of 0.4% [5] - META's market cap is $1,858,351 million, showing a minor decline of -0.2% [5] Sector Analysis - The digital ads sector saw a market-cap weighted average performance of 0.0%, while e-commerce had a 0.7% increase [5] - The travel sector's market-cap weighted average performance was 0.1%, indicating stability [5]

Company Overview - TikTok Shop officially launched in Japan on June 30, 2025, providing access to 33 million monthly active TikTok users in Japan, marking a significant step in TikTok's global e-commerce strategy [1][6] - The company has an existing Content Commerce strategy through its media brand Gizmodo Japan, leveraging its audience to sell advertising and sponsored content [3] Industry Insights - Content Commerce combines traditional e-commerce with engaging digital content, resulting in higher conversion rates and becoming a focal point for advertisers as shopping shifts to digital channels [2] - The total transaction volume for TikTok Shop is projected to reach billions of dollars in the United States alone, indicating the potential growth of this e-commerce model [2] Strategic Initiatives - The launch of TikTok Shop in Japan is seen as a game-changing moment for the creator economy, allowing the company to pioneer a new business model that integrates media influence with direct commerce [4] - The company's commerce business, including 7NaNatural, operates within its Technology business unit, which contributed $14.2 million to FY2024 consolidated revenue, growing at a rate of 34% [5]

Event Overview - TechGALA Japan 2026 is scheduled to take place in Nagoya City from January 27 to 29, 2026, focusing on emerging technologies and established fields [1][6] - The event will feature keynote speeches, conferences, business "Speed Dating", exhibitions, networking initiatives, and side events over three days [1] Location and Significance - Nagoya City and Aichi Prefecture are recognized as an innovation hub and industrial capital in Japan, hosting a cluster of global companies in automotive, aerospace, and robotics sectors [2] - The event aims to explore how advanced technologies can address global challenges and drive societal and industrial transformation [2] Participation and Impact - TechGALA Japan 2025 attracted over 5,000 participants, 140+ exhibiting companies, and 400+ speakers from more than 20 countries, indicating a strong international presence [3] - Infobahn, a leading content marketing and communication company, played a central role in organizing the event and has been selected as a lead partner for TechGALA Japan 2026 [3][5] Company Performance - Infobahn's Digital Studio business unit contributed approximately $20.5 million to FY2024 consolidated revenue, representing a growth rate of 33% and accounting for about 42% of total revenue [4] - The company's strong FY2024 performance included consolidated revenue of $48.5 million and gross profit of $17.7 million [4]

Core Insights - Jeremy Szafron has joined Kitco News as an anchor and producer, bringing a wealth of experience in journalism, particularly in finance and current affairs [1][5] Background and Career Development - Jeremy began his journalism career in 2006 at CTV, initially focusing on entertainment before transitioning to business reporting, particularly in mining and small-cap sectors [2] - He gained recognition for his macro-financial and market trends analysis, becoming a sought-after commentator on CTV Morning Live and CTV News Network [2] - A significant highlight of his career was covering the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games, which led to the development of an online video news program for PressReader, a digital newsstand with 8,000 editions in 60 languages [3] Digital Media and Industry Engagement - In 2012, Jeremy launched The Green Scene Podcast, which quickly attracted over 400,000 subscribers, establishing him as a prominent voice in the cannabis industry [4] - Following this success, he created Investor Scene and Initiate Research, platforms that provide exclusive market insights and deal-flow opportunities in mining and Canadian small-cap markets [4] Professional Expertise - Jeremy has experience as a market strategist and investor relations consultant for various publicly traded companies across mining, energy, consumer packaged goods (CPG), and technology sectors [5] - He holds a BA in Journalism from Concordia University, which has supported his diverse career trajectory [5]

Core Insights - TNL Mediagene has received research coverage from Sidoti & Company, following a similar initiation by The Benchmark Company, indicating growing interest from analysts in the company's performance and potential [1][2][7] Company Overview - TNL Mediagene is a Tokyo-based digital media and data group formed in May 2023 through the merger of The News Lens Co. and Mediagene Inc., focusing on original and licensed media brands across multiple languages and content categories [7][8] - The company operates in three main areas: Media & Branded Content, Technology, and Digital Studio, leveraging AI-driven data analytics and advertising technology [4][8] Financial Performance - For FY2024, TNL Mediagene reported consolidated revenue of $48.5 million, reflecting a 35% year-over-year growth, with a gross profit of $17.7 million and near break-even Adjusted EBITDA [4][10] - The company has a significant digital presence, attracting over 45 million monthly unique users and generating 189 million monthly digital footprints, which enhances its advertising revenue potential from a diverse client base of over 850 clients [4][5]

Core Viewpoint - VS MEDIA Holdings Limited has regained compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(b) following successful public offerings that strengthened its financial position [1][2][3] Group 1: Compliance with Nasdaq - The company received formal notification from Nasdaq on July 2, 2025, confirming compliance with the stockholders' equity requirement [1] - Compliance was achieved by meeting the minimum stockholders' equity requirement of at least $2.5 million through recent public offerings [2] Group 2: Financial Performance - The recent public offerings, announced on May 30, 2025, and June 6, 2025, generated total gross proceeds of $9,176,100 [2] - The company expressed optimism about its financial outlook, citing a highly scalable business model and strong momentum in 2025 [3] Group 3: Company Overview - VS MEDIA Holdings Limited operates a network of over 1,500 digital creators and partners with over 1,000 brands across Asia Pacific [4] - The company focuses on content-driven social commerce and effective marketing services, expanding internationally in regions such as Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, and Singapore [4]

Core Insights - TNL Mediagene has appointed Chiemi Sasaki and Kate Lin as Editors-in-Chief for Roomie Japan and Roomie International respectively, aiming to enhance the lifestyle content platform's reach and influence in the market [1][6][8] Group 1: Company Overview - TNL Mediagene is a Tokyo-based digital media and data group formed through the merger of Taiwan's The News Lens Co. and Japan's Mediagene Inc., focusing on original and licensed media brands across multiple languages [14] - The Roomie media property includes Roomie Japan, launched in 2012, and Roomie International, which targets the global Mandarin language market [2][13] - Roomie Japan has achieved over 16 million average monthly views, while Roomie International has surpassed 1 million page views per month in its first year [1][3] Group 2: Financial Performance - Roomie Japan's sales grew by 145% year-on-year in the first five months of the current year, contributing approximately $13.7 million to FY2024 consolidated revenue, which represents a growth rate of 41% [3][10] - The Company's total FY2024 consolidated revenue reached $48.5 million, with a gross profit of $17.7 million [10] Group 3: Strategic Direction - The Roomie media properties emphasize thoughtful living and aesthetics, covering lifestyle products, interior inspiration, and home habits, resonating with modern living trends [2][5] - Future plans include expanding brand experiences through video content and collaborating with Roomie International to offer global lifestyle proposals [5][7]

Core Insights - The company has launched several AI-based initiatives aimed at enhancing productivity and efficiency, including the "AI Audience + AI Creative" product and AI-driven display ad optimization [1][2][6] - A significant reduction in human capital intensity by 5% has been achieved through AI-driven cost reduction initiatives [1][7] - The proprietary AI-powered content management system has improved editorial efficiency and content exposure for media brands [1] AI Agent Product Launch - The subsidiary Ad2iction has introduced the "AI Audience + AI Creative" solution, which automates marketing processes by up to 70% through the integration of language models and generative technologies [2] AI Audience Features - The AI Audience connects five intelligent modules, including consumer insights from over 18 million data points and real-time decision-support reports, enhancing marketing precision [3] AI Creative Capabilities - The AI Creative tool produces animated ads quickly and cost-effectively, increasing content flexibility and improving marketing outcomes with fewer resources [4] Multilingualization Strategies - The proprietary AI-powered content translation system has processed over 5,000 articles, with more than 1,200 articles published in the last quarter, requiring less than one hour of human editing on average [5] Display Ad Optimization - The introduction of an AI-driven display ad optimization platform has led to a significant increase in Revenue Per Mille (RPM) for display ads, a key revenue source for the Media & Branded Content business unit [6] Cost Optimization through AI - Integration of Google Gemini into Google Workspace has enhanced productivity, resulting in a 5% reduction in group-level human capital intensity compared to the same month last year [7] Community Engagement - The company co-hosted the 2025 Generative AI Conference, attracting around 1,000 industry professionals, and held events to foster a community focused on AI's positive impact on society [9] Strategic Focus on AI - The company aims to leverage AI for both revenue growth and cost efficiency, with plans for active M&A in the AI space to enhance its capabilities [9][10]

Group 1 - The "AI Super Individual Era Content Creator Conference" was held in Jiangbei New District, showcasing the transformative impact of AI technology on the content industry and individual creativity [1] - Beidou Zhiying launched significant technological advancements and ecological agreements, marking the beginning of a new era for globalized intelligent content creation in China [1] - Jiangbei New District is leveraging digital economy as a driving force, establishing a "policy + technology + finance" empowerment system to support creators with substantial funding and services [1] Group 2 - The newly released AI product, Qixing Agent, aims to empower the entire process of short drama promotion and provides a one-stop AI creative solution for content creators and enterprises [2] - Qixing Agent integrates multimodal understanding capabilities, enabling precise analysis of various media formats and significantly improving content understanding efficiency and accuracy [2] - The "one-click hosting" feature of Qixing Agent enhances the entire creative process, achieving over 20 times improvement in creative efficiency compared to traditional methods [2]

Core Insights - Vertiqal Studios has expanded its North American sales leadership by hiring two industry veterans, Pano Rongakos and Sotero Bernardo, to enhance its senior sales team [1][5] - The new structure aims to provide comprehensive regional coverage across North America, combining local market understanding with high-level media sales expertise [2][3] Company Strategy - The sales strategy is designed to meet clients' needs both geographically and strategically, allowing for tailored media plans and national campaigns [3] - Chief Revenue Officer Pamela Glassman leads the strategy, leveraging her extensive experience in branded content and digital publishing to build a results-oriented sales team [4][9] Team Composition - The senior sales team now includes: - Pamela Glassman as Chief Revenue Officer - Saad Hussaini as Head of Brand Partnerships for the East Coast - Pano Rongakos as Head of Brand Partnerships for the West Coast - Sotero Bernardo as Head of Brand Partnerships for Canada [8] - Each member brings significant experience from various sectors, enhancing Vertiqal's ability to serve diverse brand categories [5][6] Market Position - Vertiqal Studios is recognized as a leading digital media company, specializing in creating and distributing viral content for brands targeting Gen Z and Millennials [10] - The company manages over 130 channels across platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat, producing more than 100 pieces of content daily for an audience exceeding 52 million followers [10]