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Buy, Sell or Hold Astera Labs Stock? Key Tips Ahead of Q2 Earnings
ZACKS· 2025-08-04 16:51
Core Insights - Astera Labs (ALAB) is expected to report Q2 2025 results on August 5, with projected revenues between $170 million and $175 million, indicating a year-over-year increase of 7% to 10% [1][9] - Earnings per share are anticipated to be between 32 cents and 33 cents, reflecting a significant growth of 153.85% compared to the previous year [2][20] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Q2 revenues stands at $172.7 million, representing a 124.7% increase from the same quarter last year [1] Revenue and Earnings Expectations - ALAB's revenue growth is driven by strong demand for Scorpio P-Series switches and Aries 6 retimers, particularly in AI applications [4][5] - The company has consistently beaten earnings estimates in the past four quarters, with an average earnings surprise of 28.41% [3] Product Demand and Market Position - Astera Labs is experiencing robust demand for its Aries and Taurus product families, which are expected to grow sequentially in Q2 2025 [5][9] - The company is diversifying its offerings across GPU and custom ASIC-based systems, which is a key growth catalyst [5] Competitive Landscape - ALAB faces challenges from tariff uncertainties and competition from companies like Broadcom and Credo Technology [6][19] - The company is investing heavily in R&D, with expenses rising 20% year-over-year to $64.6 million in Q1 2025 [6] Stock Performance - Astera Labs shares have underperformed, dropping 1% year-to-date, compared to a 9.1% return for the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector [7][20] - The stock is currently trading at a high valuation, with a forward Price/Sales ratio of 26.26X, significantly above the industry average of 5.65X [14] Strategic Developments - Astera Labs is advancing its product portfolio with next-gen data center connectivity solutions, including PCIe 6.0 and UA Link technologies [16][17] - The company has established partnerships with key players like NVIDIA, enhancing its market position in AI and cloud infrastructure [18] Conclusion - Despite a strong product portfolio and partner base, Astera Labs faces rising competition and valuation concerns ahead of its Q2 2025 results [20]
Dayforce Set to Report Q2 Earnings: What's in Store for the Stock?
ZACKS· 2025-08-04 16:06
Core Insights - Dayforce (DAY) is set to report its second-quarter 2025 results on August 4, with expected revenues between $454 million and $460 million, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 8.3% [1][9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter revenues is $458.2 million, indicating an 8.3% year-over-year increase, with earnings estimated at 52 cents per share, also showing 8.3% growth [2] - Dayforce has consistently beaten the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the past four quarters, with an average surprise of 17.04% [2] Revenue and Customer Growth - The anticipated revenue for the upcoming quarter, excluding float revenues of $46 million, is projected to be between $408 million and $414 million [1] - As of March 31, 2025, Dayforce had 6,929 customers, marking a 5.4% year-over-year increase, and recurring revenue per customer reached $167,600, up 11.5% from the previous year [4] Technological Advancements - Dayforce is enhancing its AI capabilities with tools like Dayforce AI Assistant, which is now available on mobile platforms, and improvements in various workflows, expected to drive platform adoption and revenue growth [5] - The company is also expanding compliance features for global statutory requirements, which is anticipated to attract new clients [6] Market Performance - Since the release of first-quarter 2025 results on May 7, DAY shares have increased by 6.1%, underperforming the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector, which appreciated by 14.2%, and the Zacks Internet Software industry, which returned 17.2% [3]
META Enhances Teen Privacy Measures: Will It Drive Ad Revenue Growth?
ZACKS· 2025-07-28 17:40
Group 1: Core Initiatives and User Engagement - Meta Platforms is enhancing privacy features across its Family of Apps, including Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp, to build trust among users, particularly younger ones, which is expected to drive traffic and boost advertising revenues [1] - Enhanced account protections for teen users have been rolled out, including new safety notices, a combined block-and-report button, and nudity protection by default, extending these safeguards to adult-managed accounts featuring children [2] - The removal of 135,000 harmful accounts and 500,000 linked accounts aims to ensure a safer ecosystem for teenagers, resulting in stronger user confidence and more opportunities for advertisers through higher engagement [3] Group 2: Advertising Revenue Growth - Meta Platforms expects its second-quarter 2025 advertising revenues to grow 12% year over year to $42.9 billion, driven by improved safety and privacy measures [4] - The company's advertising revenues contributed 98.8% to the Family of Apps revenues in the first quarter of 2025, indicating a strong reliance on this revenue stream [1] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Meta Platforms faces stiff competition in the advertising space from Amazon and Microsoft, both of which have robust advertising businesses leveraging customer data and advanced technologies [5] - Amazon's advertising business benefits from access to customer purchase data and has introduced an AI-powered video generator to enhance advertising opportunities [6] - Microsoft's advertising business, powered by LinkedIn, delivers highly personalized ad experiences and has launched new ad formats aimed at improving campaign performance [7] Group 4: Stock Performance and Valuation - Meta Platforms shares have appreciated 21.7% year-to-date, outperforming the broader Zacks Computer & Technology sector's return of 10.9% and the Zacks Internet Software industry's rise of 17.4% [8] - The stock is trading at a premium with a forward 12-month Price/Sales ratio of 8.87X compared to the industry's 5.82X, indicating a higher valuation [11] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 earnings is pegged at $25.71 per share, reflecting a 7.75% year-over-year growth [13]
5 Must-Buy AI-Powered Internet Software Stocks to Power Your Portfolio
ZACKS· 2025-07-28 12:36
Industry Overview - The Internet Software and Services sector is experiencing growth due to increased IT spending on solutions that support hybrid operating environments [1] - The penetration of mobile devices among users is driving businesses to invest in web-based infrastructure, applications, and security software [1] - The Internet Software industry is currently ranked in the top 32% of Zacks Industry Rank, indicating an expectation to outperform the market in the next three to six months [2] Company Summaries UiPath Inc. (PATH) - UiPath offers an end-to-end automation platform with a range of robotic process automation solutions, primarily in the US and Europe [6] - The platform incorporates AI, ML, and NLP capabilities to enhance decision-making and information processing, with new generative AI features introduced [7] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 8.5% and 5.7%, respectively, with a 7.7% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings over the last 60 days [8] Calix Inc. (CALX) - Calix provides cloud and software platforms for broadband service providers across various regions [9] - The Calix Cloud platform includes configurable solutions for revenue-generating services and applications [10] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for 2025 are 15.3% and over 100%, respectively, with a 25.6% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings over the last seven days [11] Arista Networks Inc. (ANET) - Arista Networks is positioned for cloud and AI networking with a focus on proactive products and zero-touch automation [12] - The EOS Smart AI Suite and Arista AVA enhance AI job monitoring and network security [13] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 19.3% and 13.7%, respectively, with a 0.4% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings over the last 30 days [14] HubSpot Inc. (HUBS) - HubSpot provides a cloud-based CRM platform and is seeing multi-hub adoption from enterprise customers [15] - The integration of HubSpot AI features is adding value for customers, with a pricing model that lowers barriers for new users [16] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 15.4% and 15.2%, respectively, with a 2.3% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings over the last 90 days [17] NICE Ltd. (NICE) - NICE is benefiting from its cloud business and the adoption of AI-powered solutions to enhance customer experience [18] - Investments in automation and analytics are strengthening its competitive edge [19] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 7% and 11.2%, respectively, with a 1.6% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings over the last 90 days [19]
Should Meta Platforms Stock Be in Your Portfolio Pre-Q2 Earnings?
ZACKS· 2025-07-25 17:31
Core Insights - Meta Platforms (META) is expected to report second-quarter 2025 results on July 30, with projected revenues between $42.5 billion and $45.5 billion, indicating a year-over-year increase of 14.77% [1][9]. Revenue and Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter revenues is $44.84 billion, reflecting a 14.77% increase from the previous year [2]. - The consensus estimate for earnings per share stands at $5.83, suggesting a growth of 12.98% year-over-year [2]. Advertising Revenue Growth - Strong advertising revenue growth is anticipated, with second-quarter advertising revenues estimated at $43.94 billion, representing a 14.6% year-over-year increase [4]. - Meta's platforms, including WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, and Facebook, reach over three billion users daily, enhancing its position in the digital ad market [5]. AI and Engagement - META is leveraging AI and machine learning to enhance user engagement across its platforms, with AI-driven feed recommendations being a significant factor [6][17]. - The company has introduced new features in Ads Manager to optimize advertising strategies across its platforms, further attracting advertisers [18]. Financial Performance and Challenges - The Family of Apps' operating income is estimated at $22.38 billion, indicating a 15.7% year-over-year growth [7]. - However, Reality Labs is projected to incur a loss of $5.35 billion, wider than the previous year's loss, which may pressure overall margins [8]. Stock Performance - META shares have increased by 22.3% year-to-date, outperforming the Zacks Computer & Technology sector and the Zacks Internet Software Industry [9]. - The stock is currently trading at a forward Price/Sales ratio of 8.96X, higher than the sector average of 6.7X, indicating a stretched valuation [13]. Future Prospects - META's initiatives, such as Business AI for personalized recommendations and enhanced customer interactions via WhatsApp, are expected to strengthen its market position [19]. - The company's favorable Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) and Growth Score of A suggest a strong investment opportunity [20].
CoreWeave Bets Big on AI: Can Soaring Debt Pose a Financial Risk?
ZACKS· 2025-07-24 16:10
Core Insights - CoreWeave, Inc. (CRWV) forecasts a global economic impact of artificial intelligence (AI) to reach $20 trillion by 2030, with a total addressable market (TAM) expected to grow to $400 billion by 2028 [1] - The company's Q1 2025 results show a significant revenue increase of 420% year-over-year, totaling approximately $981.6 million, alongside a backlog of $25.9 billion, which includes an $11.2 billion deal with OpenAI [1][11] - CoreWeave has established partnerships with IBM and other AI labs, indicating strong demand for its services [1] Financial Performance - Despite the impressive revenue growth, CoreWeave remains unprofitable, carrying total liabilities of about $18.8 billion, with $8.7 billion classified as debt [3][11] - The interest expense for Q1 was approximately $264 million, attributed to changes in vendor payment terms, and is expected to remain elevated between $260 million and $300 million for the current quarter [3][6] - The company plans to issue $1.75 billion in senior notes due 2031, an increase from an initial $1.5 billion offering, to finance general corporate purposes, including debt repayment [4][5] Capital Expenditure and Strategy - CoreWeave anticipates capital expenditures (capex) between $20 billion and $23 billion for 2025, driven by accelerated investments to meet customer demand [6][11] - The company employs a success-based model for capex, entering programs only after securing multi-year customer contracts that cover investment costs, which helps manage its debt structure [6] Market Position and Competitors - CoreWeave's stock has increased by 210.3% over the past six months, significantly outperforming the Internet Software industry, which grew by 9.7% [12] - In comparison, competitors like Nebius Group N.V. have no outstanding debt and are pursuing aggressive capital expenditure plans, while Microsoft Corporation maintains a strong balance sheet with manageable debt levels [8][9]
Expanding Clientele Aids Snowflake's Prospects: What's the Path Ahead?
ZACKS· 2025-07-22 16:35
Core Insights - Snowflake (SNOW) is enhancing its position in enterprise data infrastructure, driven by increasing demand for AI-led analytics and scalable computing solutions [1] - The company's usage-based model allows for flexible expansion across various workloads, with long-term performance reliant on sustained customer commitments and multi-year contracts [1] Customer Growth - As of the end of the first quarter, Snowflake had 11,578 total customers, with 606 generating over $1 million in trailing 12-month product revenue [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for customers in the second quarter is projected at 634, reflecting a 24% year-on-year increase, indicating strong traction among large enterprise accounts [2] Remaining Performance Obligations (RPO) - RPO increased by 34% year-on-year to $6.7 billion in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, serving as a key indicator of future revenue visibility [3] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter RPO is $6.84 billion, representing a 31% increase from the previous year [3] Product Development and Strategic Partnerships - Snowflake is expanding its product suite and strategic integrations, including AI-native capabilities through various new products and partnerships [4] - The acquisition of Crunchy Data enhances its Postgres offerings, while the partnership with Acxiom is expected to scale AI-driven marketing use cases [4] - The company is gaining traction with large enterprise clients such as Siemens, AstraZeneca, and Samsung Ads, which is anticipated to deepen platform adoption over time [4] Competitive Landscape - Snowflake faces increasing competition from Microsoft and ServiceNow, both of which are expanding their enterprise-grade AI workflows [6] - Microsoft is enhancing its Azure Synapse and Fabric offerings, integrating OpenAI, which positions it as a strong competitor in data-driven AI deployments [6] - ServiceNow is embedding generative AI into various workflows, which may challenge Snowflake's market position [7] Stock Performance and Valuation - Snowflake's shares have risen by 36.9% year-to-date, outperforming the broader Zacks Computer & Technology sector's return of 9.5% and the Zacks Internet Software industry's increase of 15.9% [8] - The stock is trading at a premium, with a forward 12-month Price/Sales ratio of 14.43X compared to the industry's 5.79X [11] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SNOW's fiscal 2026 earnings is $1.06 per share, indicating a year-on-year increase of 27.71% [14]
Toast Stock Up 22% YTD: Does the Rally Have More Room to Run?
ZACKS· 2025-07-16 16:05
Core Insights - Toast, Inc. (TOST) shares have increased by 21.6% year to date, outperforming the Internet Software market and the Zacks Computer & Technology sector, which grew by 14.6% and 8.4% respectively, while the S&P 500 returned 5.6% in the same period [1] Company Performance - TOST closed at $44.34, down 0.3% recently, and is near its 52-week high of $46.57 [4] - The company registered over 6,000 net locations in Q1 2025, totaling approximately 140,000 customer locations globally, reflecting a 25% year-over-year growth [7] - Toast achieved an adjusted EBITDA margin of 32%, exceeding its medium-term target of 30-35%, attributed to disciplined expense management [8] - Free cash flow turned positive at $69 million, compared to a $33 million loss a year ago [9] Growth Opportunities - Toast is expanding in the U.S. SMB restaurant market, with significant wins like Applebee's and Topgolf, and has only 10% penetration in its total addressable market of 1.4 million locations, indicating substantial long-term growth potential [5] - The company is targeting to exceed 10,000 locations by the end of 2025 across new growth areas: enterprise, international, and food & beverage retail [6] - Toast projects a 26% growth in fintech and subscription gross profit for 2025, with an estimated adjusted EBITDA of $550 million and a 31% margin, up five percentage points from 2024 [10] Challenges - The decline in Gross Payment Volume (GPV) per location poses a challenge, with GPV per location down 3% year-over-year, despite overall GPV increasing by 22% to $42 billion in Q1 [12] - The restaurant industry remains sensitive to consumer spending, labor inflation, and supply-chain volatility, which could impact TOST's performance [11] - TOST's stock is considered expensive, trading at a price/book multiple of 13.20X compared to the industry's 6.57X, indicating a stretched valuation [16] Investment Outlook - Despite headwinds, Toast's focus on expanding its addressable market and strategic investments in AI support long-term upside [17] - The company is currently rated Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), suggesting long-term investors should maintain their positions while new entrants may benefit from waiting for a more favorable entry point [18]
Reddit Facing Challenges in Ad Market: Hold or Fold the Stock?
ZACKS· 2025-07-15 16:05
Core Insights - Reddit (RDDT) operates a community-driven social media platform with over 100,000 active subreddits, generating more than 90% of its revenue from digital advertising, reporting first-quarter revenues of $392 million, reflecting a 61% year-over-year growth [1] - The company faces significant competition in the digital advertising space, primarily from established players like Meta Platforms and Alphabet, which have advanced advertising infrastructures and extensive advertiser relationships [5][7] - Reddit shares have declined 10.3% year-to-date due to rising competitive pressures and a challenging macroeconomic environment, underperforming compared to the broader Zacks Computer & Technology sector and the Zacks Internet Software industry [2] Financial Performance - For 2025, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Reddit's revenues is $1.85 billion, indicating a year-over-year growth of 42.07%, with earnings estimated at $1.21 per share, an improvement from a loss of $3.33 per share in 2024 [12] - Daily Active and Weekly Active Unique users increased by 31% year-over-year, reaching 108.1 million and 401 million, respectively, in the reported quarter [15] Competitive Landscape - Reddit's advertising technology is less sophisticated than that of Meta Platforms and Alphabet, with weaker targeting and measurement tools, which may hinder its ability to compete for advertising budgets [8][9] - Reddit trades at a forward price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 12.67X, significantly higher than the industry average of 5.71X and competitors like Meta and Alphabet, which trade at P/S ratios of 9.1 and 6.36, respectively [9] Product Development and User Engagement - Reddit has been expanding its platform with tools like Reddit Answers, which reached one million weekly users, and Reddit Community Intelligence, aimed at generating marketing insights [13][14] - The company is enhancing user engagement through AI-powered features, which are expected to improve the value of its advertising inventory [8][14] Conclusion - While Reddit's growing product suite and user engagement show long-term potential, the current premium valuations, intense competition, and macroeconomic uncertainties suggest limited near-term gains [17][18] - The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank 4 (Sell), indicating that investors should avoid the stock at current levels [19]
FSLY Stock is Slipping: Can a Steady Enterprise Base Hold the Stock?
ZACKS· 2025-07-14 18:16
Core Insights - Fastly (FSLY) provides edge cloud infrastructure aimed at enhancing digital experiences, with over 90% of its revenue coming from enterprise customers, making customer engagement and platform adoption critical for future growth [1][9] Enterprise Metrics - Fastly's enterprise customer count is projected to increase to 600 in Q2 from 595 in the previous quarter, with enterprise revenues estimated at $135 million, reflecting an 11.6% year-over-year growth. However, net retention is expected to drop to 100.46% from 109.6% in the same quarter last year [2] Product Development and Partnerships - The company is expanding its product suite with AI-driven features such as bot detection and real-time cache APIs, which are designed to enhance secure, high-speed delivery for performance-sensitive workloads. Partnerships with major companies like Alphabet, VMware, Shopify, Azure, and AWS are expected to bolster long-term customer engagement [3] Revenue Guidance - Fastly has guided Q2 revenues to be between $143 million and $147 million, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate at $145.07 million, indicating a 9.59% year-over-year growth [4][9] Competitive Landscape - Fastly faces significant competition from Cloudflare and Akamai, both of which offer similar edge delivery and web security solutions. Cloudflare is enhancing its programmable edge platform, while Akamai is focusing on cloud security and enterprise solutions [5][6] Stock Performance and Valuation - FSLY shares have decreased by 28.9% year-to-date, contrasting with a 7.5% increase in the broader Zacks Computer & Technology sector and a 14.1% rise in the Zacks Internet Software industry. The current forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio for FSLY is 1.58X, significantly lower than the industry's 5.72X [7][10] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FSLY's loss in 2025 is projected at 9 cents per share, unchanged over the past month. The company reported a loss of 12 cents per share in the same quarter last year [13]