Internet Software
Search documents
Can Improving User Engagement Push the Reddit Stock Higher?
ZACKS· 2025-07-14 17:55
Core Insights - Reddit (RDDT) is a community-driven platform focused on real-time discussions across over 100,000 active communities, with advertising as its primary revenue source [1] - The platform's growth is dependent on expanding and retaining a highly engaged user base, which is attractive to marketers seeking high-conversion platforms [1] User Engagement and Revenue - Reddit's Daily Active Uniques (DAUq) and Weekly Active Uniques (WAUq) increased by 31% year over year in Q1, reaching 108.1 million and 401 million, respectively [2] - Average revenue per user (ARPU) rose 23% year over year to $3.63 in the reported quarter, with a Zacks Consensus estimate of $3.85 for Q2 [2][9] - The core ad business grew 61% year over year to $358.6 million in Q1, with a Zacks Consensus estimate of $394.2 million for Q2 [4] Platform Enhancements - A series of platform enhancements, including AI-powered feed ranking and Community Intelligence tools, are expected to improve user engagement and ad targeting [3] - Features like Reddit Answers and guided contribution flows are designed to promote active participation and retention [3] Competitive Landscape - Reddit faces significant competition from Meta Platforms and Nextdoor in scaling ad revenues through user engagement [5] - Meta Platforms leverages its AI-powered ad delivery and extensive user base to drive high ARPU and retention [5] - Nextdoor is enhancing its localized performance ad model, which aligns with Reddit's strategy of converting engagement into monetizable intent [6] Stock Performance and Valuation - Reddit shares have declined 10.9% year to date, contrasting with increases in the broader Zacks Computer & Technology sector and the Internet Software industry [7] - Reddit's stock is trading at a premium, with a forward 12-month Price/Sales ratio of 12.62X compared to the industry's 5.72X [11] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Reddit's 2025 earnings is $1.21 per share, an improvement from a loss of $3.33 per share in 2024 [14]
Astera Labs Drops 33% Year to Date: Buy, Sell or Hold the Stock?
ZACKS· 2025-07-14 16:40
Core Viewpoint - Astera Labs (ALAB) has experienced a significant decline in share price, down 32.8% year to date, underperforming compared to its peers and the broader technology sector [1][8]. Performance Summary - ALAB's shares have underperformed compared to Broadcom (AVGO) and Credo Technology (CRDO), which have seen increases of 17.5% and 43.7% respectively YTD [1][2]. - The company is facing challenges from stiff competition and tariff uncertainties, impacting its performance [2]. Product and Market Position - Astera Labs has a strong portfolio in next-gen data center connectivity, including PCIe 6.0, Ultra Accelerator Link, and CXL 3.0, which is expected to support recovery in stock performance [3][6]. - The demand for the Aries and Taurus product families is anticipated to grow, contributing to revenue guidance of $170 million to $175 million for Q2 2025, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 7% to 10% [8][14]. Financial Outlook - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Q2 2025 revenues is $172.71 million, indicating a substantial year-over-year growth of 124.74% [15]. - Earnings per share are expected to be between 32 cents and 33 cents, with a consensus mark of 33 cents, suggesting a year-over-year growth of 153.85% [16]. Competitive Landscape - Astera Labs is competing with Broadcom's PCIe Gen 6 portfolio and Credo Technology's advancements in the optical segment, which are gaining market share [2][12]. - The company is expanding its partner base and has showcased interoperability with NVIDIA's Blackwell GPU and Micron's NVMe SSD, enhancing its market position [12][13]. Valuation Metrics - ALAB shares are currently trading at a premium, with a forward Price/Sales ratio of 19.49X, significantly higher than the sector average of 6.59X [17][18].
RGTI's High Price/Book Ratio Sparks Debate: Time to Hold or Sell?
ZACKS· 2025-07-14 15:56
Core Insights - Rigetti Computing (RGTI) has a price-to-book (P/B) ratio of 17.07X, significantly higher than the Zacks Internet Software industry average of 6.55X, indicating strong investor optimism about its potential in quantum computing [1][9] - The elevated valuation reflects a broader trend of high multiples in the early-stage quantum ecosystem, with peers like IonQ (14.3X) and D-Wave Quantum (20.9X) also trading at high valuations [2][3] - Rigetti's differentiated offerings, such as pulse-level control and proprietary superconducting architecture, attract investors seeking innovation, although current financial metrics show limited revenue and margins [3][6] Valuation and Financial Performance - Rigetti's P/B ratio of 17.07 suggests that investors are betting on future growth, despite only reporting $1.5 million in revenues for Q1 2025 and expecting an 18.6% decline in sales for the year [7][13] - The company's revenue is primarily derived from short-term, project-based contracts, leading to a lack of predictable, recurring income, which raises concerns about future cash flow visibility [11] - Rigetti's shares have underperformed compared to the Zacks Internet Software industry and peers, with a year-to-date loss of 20.2%, while IBM and D-Wave Quantum have gained 29% and 76.3%, respectively [12] Future Outlook - Rigetti's ambitious technical roadmap includes launching a 36-qubit multi-chip module and a 100+ qubit system by the end of 2025, with a long-term goal of a 336-qubit processor by 2026 [5][10] - The company's future success hinges on its ability to translate technical advancements into commercial traction, as current fundamentals do not support the high valuation [10][15] - Investors may consider monitoring Rigetti closely for progress in executing its roadmap and achieving sustained business performance before making investment decisions [4][16]
CRWV Stock Jumps 209% in 3 Months: Hold Steady or Make an Exit?
ZACKS· 2025-07-14 14:16
Core Viewpoint - CoreWeave, Inc. (CRWV) stock has seen a significant appreciation of 208.5% over the past three months, closing at $125.84, which is more than three times its initial opening price of $39 on March 28, 2025 [1][2]. Company Performance - CRWV is strategically positioned to benefit from the AI infrastructure boom with its GPU-based cloud solutions tailored for AI workloads, supported by partnerships with major players like OpenAI and NVIDIA, and a substantial revenue backlog of $259 billion [2]. - Despite the impressive stock performance, CRWV experienced a 21% decline following the announcement of a $9 billion acquisition of Core Scientific on July 7 [5][8]. Financial Metrics - The company anticipates capital expenditures (capex) between $20 billion and $23 billion for 2025, driven by accelerated investments to meet customer demand, which raises concerns about sustaining high capital intensity if revenues do not keep pace [6][10]. - Interest expenses surged to $264 million in the first quarter, exceeding expectations, and are projected to remain elevated between $260 million and $300 million in the current quarter, impacting adjusted net income and free cash flow generation [8][9]. Competitive Landscape - CoreWeave faces intense competition in the AI cloud infrastructure market, dominated by Amazon and Microsoft, with Nebius also emerging as a strong competitor, showcasing a revenue growth of 385% in the last reported quarter [11][12]. - Customer concentration poses a significant risk, with 77% of total revenues in 2024 derived from the top two customers, raising concerns about potential revenue loss if these clients migrate [12]. Valuation Concerns - CoreWeave's valuation appears lofty, with a Price/Book ratio of 31.69X, significantly higher than the Internet Software industry's average of 6.54X, indicating that much of the future growth may already be priced into the stock [14].
Better Artificial Intelligence Stock: SoundHound AI vs. Nvidia
The Motley Fool· 2025-07-13 07:50
Group 1: AI Market Overview - The current AI boom has significantly driven stock market gains, with SoundHound AI and Nvidia being notable beneficiaries [1] - SoundHound's stock has increased by 310% over the past three years, while Nvidia's stock has surged by 910% [1] Group 2: SoundHound AI Analysis - SoundHound is capitalizing on the growing conversational AI market, projected to reach $152 billion by 2033 [5] - The company's revenue rose by 151% in Q1 to $29 million, and it holds $246 million in cash with no debt [6] - However, SoundHound reported a non-GAAP loss of $0.06 per share in Q1, and its gross margins decreased to 51% from 66% year-over-year [7] - The stock is considered expensive with a price-to-sales ratio of 46, compared to the average of 7 for the internet software sector [7] - Year-to-date, SoundHound's shares have fallen by 36% due to concerns over valuation and lack of profitability [8] Group 3: Nvidia Analysis - Nvidia dominates the AI data center processor market, accounting for up to 95% of all processors used [9] - The company experienced a 69% revenue increase to $44 billion in Q1, with earnings per share rising by 33% to $0.81 [10] - Nvidia is expected to continue benefiting from the expanding AI data center market, projected to reach $2 trillion by 2029 [11] - Despite a price-to-earnings ratio of 51, Nvidia's valuation is considered reasonable compared to the semiconductor industry's average of 64 [12] - Nvidia's strong revenue, profitability, and market dominance position it as a favorable long-term investment [13]
GWRE Stock Rises 36% in 6 Months: Stay Invested or Book Profits?
ZACKS· 2025-07-10 15:25
Core Viewpoint - Guidewire Software (GWRE) has seen a stock appreciation of 36.4% over the past six months, outperforming the Zacks Internet Software industry's growth of 17.3% [1] Group 1: Company Performance - GWRE closed at $231.25, which is 12.1% lower than its 52-week high of $263.20 [2] - The company reported 17 deal wins in the fiscal third quarter of 2025, including 14 for various InsuranceSuite Cloud applications and three InsuranceNow deals [3] - Non-GAAP gross margin improved to 65.5% from 62.6% year-over-year, with the subscription and support segment's gross margin increasing to 70.6% from 65.6% [6] Group 2: Financial Outlook - For the fiscal fourth quarter, non-GAAP operating income is estimated to be between $52 million and $60 million, with fiscal 2025 non-GAAP operating income expected between $187 million and $195 million [9] - Guidewire expects total revenues for fiscal 2025 to be between $1.178 billion and $1.186 billion, an increase from earlier guidance of $1.164 billion to $1.174 billion [11] - The company generated $32.4 million in cash from operations in the last quarter, with free cash flow nearly at $27.8 million [10] Group 3: Market Position and Challenges - Guidewire's focus on enhancing its cloud platform with new capabilities is expected to boost long-term sales of subscription-based solutions [4] - The company is expanding its global footprint, with new customers from diverse markets, which presents forex and integration risks [14] - GWRE's stock is trading at a premium valuation, with a forward 12-month price/sales ratio of 14.58X compared to the industry's 5.88X [15]
Will CRWV's Core Scientific Buyout Unleash Financial & AI Synergies?
ZACKS· 2025-07-10 14:00
Core Acquisition Overview - CoreWeave, Inc. has agreed to acquire Core Scientific, Inc. in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $9 billion, aimed at modernizing AI and high-performance computing infrastructure [1][8] - The acquisition is part of CoreWeave's strategy to deepen vertical integration, accelerate growth, enhance operational efficiency, and achieve long-term market leadership [1] Transaction Details - CoreWeave will issue 0.1235 shares of its Class A common stock for each share of Core Scientific, valuing Core Scientific at $20.40 per share, which is a 66% premium over its unaffected closing price as of June 25, 2025 [2] - The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025, with Core Scientific shareholders owning less than 10% of the combined company post-acquisition [2] Infrastructure and Financial Impact - CoreWeave will gain Core Scientific's 1.3 GW power infrastructure, with an additional 1 GW expansion potential, providing significant growth opportunities for AI infrastructure [2] - The acquisition will allow CoreWeave to eliminate $10 billion in lease obligations, leading to projected annual cost savings of $500 million by the end of 2027 [3][8] - The combination of Core Scientific's capabilities in data center construction and power procurement with CoreWeave's expertise in AI and HPC cloud workloads will create a more vertically integrated company [3] Strategic Acquisitions - CoreWeave is focused on acquisitions to enhance AI advancements across industries, strengthen existing infrastructure, and improve customer engagement, which is expected to lead to higher revenues and shareholder value [4] Competitive Landscape - CoreWeave faces competition from Nebius Group N.V., which is building its AI infrastructure business through organic growth and has raised $72 million for its ventures [5] - Microsoft is a major player in AI infrastructure, investing $16.7 billion in cloud and AI infrastructure in the third quarter of fiscal 2025, further solidifying its position in the market [6] Stock Performance - CoreWeave's shares have gained 282.6% year to date, significantly outperforming the Internet Software industry's growth of 17.7% [7]
QUBT Stock Surges 3427% in a Year: Correction in Store or More Upside?
ZACKS· 2025-07-08 20:01
Core Insights - Quantum Computing Inc. (QUBT) is transitioning from deep-tech R&D to a commercially focused quantum-photonics player, leading to a significant increase in share prices in 2025 [1] - Key growth drivers include the launch of an entangled photon source for quantum communication, operational rollout of the TFLN chip foundry, and rising adoption of the Dirac-3 optimization machine across various sectors [1] Stock Performance - QUBT shares have experienced a remarkable 3427% increase over the past 12 months, significantly outperforming the broader Internet Software industry, which grew by 35.5%, and the S&P 500 index, which rose by 13.8% [3] - Despite this rally, QUBT stock is still trading 27.8% below its 52-week high, indicating potential for further upside as the company expands into high-value markets [4] Growth Drivers - The U.S.-based Quantum Photonic Chip Foundry in Tempe, AZ, is fully operational, enabling in-house production of thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) photonic integrated circuits (PICs), with initial purchase orders already received [5] - The Dirac-3 optimization machine is being utilized by institutions like NASA and Memorial Sloan Kettering for advanced applications, showcasing its real-world deployment and effectiveness [6][9] Financial Strength - Quantum Computing raised a total of $185.7 million in two quarters, enhancing its financial position with cash and cash equivalents reaching $166.4 million as of March 2025 [10] - The company reported a net income of $17 million in the first quarter of 2025, indicating improved financial stability [10] Index Inclusion - In May 2025, QUBT was included in both the Russell 3000 and Russell 2000 Indexes, which enhances its visibility among institutional investors and may lead to increased liquidity and capital inflows [11] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Quantum Computing's 2025 earnings suggests a 90.4% year-over-year improvement [12] Price Target Analysis - QUBT is currently trading 12.45% above its average Zacks price target, indicating limited near-term upside potential [14]
Snowflake Stock Rides on Cortex AI Adoption: Can the Growth Continue?
ZACKS· 2025-07-08 16:35
Core Insights - Snowflake's Cortex platform is experiencing significant growth as enterprises increase investments in AI-native applications, contributing to a 26% year-over-year rise in product revenues to $996.8 million in Q1 of fiscal 2026, surpassing estimates by 6.71% [1][10] Group 1: Cortex Platform Features and Adoption - Cortex is designed to facilitate both internal workflows and customer-facing applications, allowing users to create AI tools using plain language and automate responses to queries within Snowflake's secure environment [2] - Enhancements like Cortex AISQL and Knowledge Extensions are enabling users to query data using natural language and ground large language models in company-specific contexts, enhancing the platform's utility [3] - The platform has surpassed 5,200 weekly active accounts, indicating growing enterprise usage and demand for in-platform AI assistants, as seen with companies like Kraft Heinz and Luminate Data leveraging Cortex for various applications [4][10] Group 2: Competitive Landscape - Snowflake's Cortex platform faces increasing competition from C3.ai and ServiceNow, both of which are expanding their offerings in the enterprise AI assistant market [5] - C3.ai is enhancing its Generative AI Suite with industry-specific tools, focusing on enterprise-grade AI applications, which positions it as a direct competitor to Cortex [6] - ServiceNow is embedding generative AI across various sectors through its Now Assist platform, which overlaps with Snowflake's vision for enterprise productivity [7] Group 3: Financial Performance and Valuation - Snowflake's stock has appreciated 46.2% year-to-date, significantly outperforming the broader Zacks Computer & Technology sector and the Zacks Internet Software industry [8] - The company's forward 12-month Price/Sales ratio stands at 15.22X, indicating a premium valuation compared to the industry average of 5.85X [12] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Snowflake's fiscal 2026 earnings is $1.06 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 27.71% [15]
FSLY Expands Security Offerings: Will This Move Pay Off for the Stock?
ZACKS· 2025-07-04 17:16
Core Insights - Fastly's Security segment is becoming a significant contributor to its edge platform strategy, with Q1 2025 revenues of $26.4 million, reflecting a 7% year-over-year increase and accounting for 18% of total revenues [1][10] Group 1: Security Segment Performance - The Security portfolio is designed for low-latency, automated protection across web and API environments, including solutions like Client-Side Protection, API shielding, DDoS detection, and bot mitigation [2] - Ongoing product additions and upgrades are driving momentum in the Security portfolio, with features like Client-Side Protection for unauthorized activity detection and Attack Insights for real-time DDoS traffic visibility [3][4] Group 2: Competitive Landscape - Fastly's Security stack faces competition from Fortinet and Cloudflare, both enhancing their solutions for secure digital infrastructure [5] - Fortinet is gaining traction with advanced capabilities in bot protection and API security, making it a strong competitor in Fastly's core markets [6] - Cloudflare is expanding its security platform with advanced DDoS protection and bot management, positioning it as a direct competitor to Fastly [7] Group 3: Financial Performance and Valuation - Fastly's shares have declined 25.5% year-to-date, contrasting with a 7% increase in the broader Zacks Computer & Technology sector and a 14.4% appreciation in the Zacks Internet Software industry [8] - Fastly's forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio is 1.63X, significantly lower than the industry's 5.74X, indicating a potential undervaluation [11] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Fastly's second-quarter loss is 5 cents per share, reflecting a 28.57% improvement year-over-year, while the 2025 loss estimate is 9 cents per share, indicating a 25% year-over-year improvement [14]