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Should You Buy, Sell, or Hold ALAB Stock Before Q4 Earnings Release?
ZACKS· 2026-02-06 16:26
Core Insights - Astera Labs (ALAB) is expected to report fourth-quarter 2025 results on February 10, with projected revenues between $245 million and $253 million, indicating a 6% to 10% increase from the previous quarter [2] - The earnings per share (EPS) is anticipated to be approximately 51 cents, reflecting a 37.84% growth compared to the same quarter last year [3] Revenue and Earnings Expectations - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter 2025 revenues is currently at $249.79 million, which represents a 77.03% increase from the year-ago quarter [2] - ALAB's earnings have consistently exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the past four quarters, with an average earnings surprise of 29.79% [3] Growth Drivers - The revenue growth for Astera Labs in Q4 2025 is likely driven by increasing demand for AI servers and data center infrastructure, particularly across its product lines: Aries, Scorpio, and Taurus [4] - The Aries product line, especially the PCIe Gen 6 smart retimers, is expected to significantly contribute to growth, with over 20% of third-quarter revenues coming from this segment [5] - Scorpio P-Series fabric switches are anticipated to maintain robust demand, contributing to revenue growth, while initial shipments of Scorpio X-Series solutions will also support this growth [6] - Taurus smart cable modules are expected to see strong demand for their 400-Gig designs, which are essential for AI scale-out connectivity [7] Competitive Landscape - Astera Labs faces stiff competition from companies like Credo Technology, Marvell Technology, and Broadcom, which are also expanding their product offerings in the connectivity space [8][16] - Marvell Technology's recent acquisition of Celestial AI enhances its capabilities in scale-up optical connectivity for large-scale AI deployments [17] - Broadcom has reported a 65% year-over-year increase in AI revenue, reaching $20 billion, driven by demand for AI semiconductors and infrastructure software [17] Financial Metrics - Research and development expenses surged by 55.8% year-over-year to $78.9 million in Q3 2025, with non-GAAP operating expenses expected to rise to approximately $85 million to $90 million in Q4 2025 [8][9] - Non-GAAP gross margins are projected to decline to around 75% in Q4 2025, down from 76.4% in Q3, due to a higher mix of lower-margin Taurus hardware modules [9] Stock Performance and Valuation - Astera Labs shares have declined by 19.7% over the past six months, underperforming the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector, which returned 10.6% [10] - The stock is currently trading at a forward Price/Sales ratio of 20.34X, significantly higher than the industry average of 4.04X, indicating a stretched valuation [13]
What's in Store for These 4 Internet Stocks This Earnings Season?
ZACKS· 2026-02-02 17:00
Key Takeaways Internet Software companies saw mixed Q4 2025 revenues as enterprises stayed cautious on IT spending.Cloud adoption, SaaS subscriptions and AI features supported customer engagement and renewals.Software consolidation, pricing pressure and macro headwinds weighed on growth across the industry.Internet Software industry stocks' fourth-quarter 2025 results are anticipated to reflect evolving enterprise software adoption patterns, subscription model resilience and ongoing platform consolidation t ...
The Zacks Analyst Blog Meta, Alphabet, Amazon and Snap
ZACKS· 2026-01-27 08:01
Core Viewpoint - Meta Platforms is expected to report strong fourth-quarter 2025 results driven by advertising revenue growth, despite challenges from rising expenses and losses in its Reality Labs division [2][5][10]. Financial Performance Expectations - Meta anticipates total revenues between $56 billion and $59 billion for Q4 2025, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate of $58.40 billion, reflecting a 20.7% increase year-over-year [2][3]. - The consensus estimate for earnings per share is $8.15, indicating a 1.6% growth from the previous year [3]. Advertising Revenue Growth - The advertising revenue for Q4 2025 is projected at $56.85 billion, suggesting a 21.5% year-over-year growth, driven by increased advertiser spending and improved AI capabilities [5]. - Meta's platforms, including Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, and Threads, reach over three billion users daily, contributing to its significant share of the digital ad market [6]. AI and User Engagement - Meta is leveraging AI to enhance user experience and engagement, with over one billion users currently utilizing Meta AI [7][8]. - The company’s AI-powered ad tools have an annual run rate exceeding $60 billion, indicating strong demand and effectiveness in ad targeting [5]. Financial Challenges - Rising expenses related to AI development and Reality Labs are expected to pressure profit margins, with the operating income for the Family of Apps estimated at $29.78 billion, a 5.1% year-over-year increase [9]. - Reality Labs is projected to incur a loss of $6.31 billion in Q4 2025, wider than the previous year's loss of $4.97 billion [10]. Stock Performance and Valuation - Meta shares have decreased by 0.2% over the past year, underperforming the Zacks Computer & Technology sector, which has appreciated by 28.4% [11]. - The current valuation of Meta is considered stretched, with a forward price/sales ratio of 6.98X, higher than the industry average of 4.58X [12]. Capital Expenditure and Future Outlook - Meta's capital spending for 2025 is expected to be between $70 billion and $72 billion, reflecting increased investment in AI and infrastructure [14]. - Despite the potential long-term benefits of these investments, the company faces challenges from a competitive ad market and regulatory issues [15][16].
SNOW Expands Cloud Infrastructure Reach: A Sign for More Upside?
ZACKS· 2026-01-22 18:45
Core Insights - Snowflake (SNOW) is experiencing significant growth due to its expansion in cloud infrastructure and focus on AI capabilities, with product revenue increasing by 29% year-over-year to $1.16 billion in Q3 FY26 [1][10] - The company has remaining performance obligations of $7.88 billion, reflecting a 37% year-over-year growth [1][10] Growth Drivers - Collaboration with major cloud providers like AWS and Google Cloud has been pivotal, with Snowflake surpassing $2 billion in sales through AWS Marketplace in a single calendar year and receiving 14 AWS Partner awards [2] - The partnership with Google Cloud to integrate Gemini models into Snowflake's AI offerings enhances customer access to advanced AI capabilities [2] AI Focus - Snowflake achieved a $100 million AI revenue run rate one quarter earlier than expected, driven by the adoption of Snowflake Intelligence and Cortex AI [3] - AI is influencing 50% of bookings signed in Q3 FY26, with 28% of all deployed use cases incorporating AI, solidifying Snowflake's position in enterprise AI [3] Future Projections - For Q4 FY26, Snowflake expects product revenues to be in the range of $1.195 billion to $1.2 billion, indicating a year-over-year growth of 27% [4] Competitive Landscape - Snowflake faces competition from Alphabet (GOOGL) and MongoDB (MDB), both expanding in the cloud analytics space [5] - Google Cloud's revenues increased by 33.5% year-over-year to $15.16 billion in Q3 FY25, indicating strong growth in the cloud market [6] - MongoDB's Atlas platform has shown a year-over-year growth of 30% in Q3 FY26, now representing 75% of its total revenue [7] Stock Performance and Valuation - Snowflake shares have decreased by 2.7% over the past 12 months, underperforming the Zacks Computer & Technology sector's return of 13.6% [8] - The stock is trading at a forward Price/Sales ratio of 12.42X, significantly higher than the Internet Software industry's 4.34X [11] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SNOW's fiscal 2026 earnings is $1.20 per share, indicating a 44.58% year-over-year increase [13]
QBTS Soars 332% in a Year: Quantum Revenue Growth to Continue in 2026?
ZACKS· 2026-01-22 18:05
Core Insights - D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) has transitioned from research-focused results to generating measurable revenue, with a significant revenue increase of 509% year-over-year in Q1 2025 due to the sale of an Advantage2 quantum system [1] - The company continued to show revenue growth in subsequent quarters, with a 100% year-over-year increase in Q3 2025, while maintaining high R&D investments [2] - D-Wave confirmed strong commercial momentum with €10 million in bookings for an Advantage2 system in Italy, indicating future revenue potential [3] Revenue and Earnings Growth - For Q4 2025, earnings are expected to grow by 86.5% on a revenue increase of 79.1%, while in 2026, earnings growth is projected at 7% with revenue growth of 61.1% [4] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate indicates a current quarter EPS of -0.05 and a next year EPS of -0.19, reflecting significant year-over-year growth estimates [5] Competitive Landscape - IonQ reported $39.9 million in revenues for Q3 2025, exceeding guidance and raising its full-year outlook, showcasing strong commercial and technical momentum [6] - Rigetti has shown modest revenue growth due to contract timing but is advancing its technology roadmap, while D-Wave has shifted focus to revenue generation [7] Stock Performance - QBTS shares have increased by 331.9% over the past year, significantly outperforming the broader Internet Software industry and the S&P 500 [9] - The current forward Price-to-Sales (P/S) ratio for QBTS is 208.34X, compared to the industry average of 4.34X, indicating a high valuation [12]
Can CoreWeave Convert Its $55B Backlog Into Profitable Growth?
ZACKS· 2026-01-21 15:50
Key Takeaways CRWV's revenue backlog hit $55.6B by Q3 2025, nearly doubling sequentially on major AI cloud contracts.CRWV added over $25B of backlog in Q3 as supply woes pushed customers into long-term, take-or-pay deals.CRWV diversified its backlog, lifted capacity to 590 MW active and preserved contract value.CoreWeave, Inc. (CRWV) reported exceptional momentum in building its revenue backlog, underscoring the strength of demand for its AI-focused cloud platform. The rapid expansion of backlog is occurrin ...
Box Down 19% in a Year: Can a Strong Portfolio Help the Stock Recover?
ZACKS· 2026-01-20 17:11
Core Insights - Box (BOX) shares have declined 18.9% over the past 12 months, underperforming the Zacks Internet Software industry's decline of 2.3% and the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector's return of 24.7% [1] - The decline is attributed to a challenging macroeconomic environment and increased expenses related to cloud infrastructure, sales and marketing, and administration, negatively impacting profitability [1] Financial Performance - For the nine-month period ending October 31, 2025, Box's gross margin remained flat year over year at 81.2% [2] - Operating expenses rose by 9.7% year over year to $635.6 million, driven by a 11.2% increase in research and development, a 7.4% increase in sales and marketing, and a 13% rise in general and administrative expenses [2] - Operating margin contracted by 50 basis points year over year, with expectations of a gross margin of 81% for fiscal 2026, indicating a 20-bps contraction from fiscal 2025 [2] Customer and Partner Dynamics - Box has a strong portfolio and a rich partner base, including OpenAI, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google, Anthropic, and IBM, which helps maintain its clientele [3] - The company has over 2,000 customers paying at least $100K annually, reflecting a 7% year-over-year increase [3] - The net retention rate for the third quarter of fiscal 2026 was 104%, exceeding management's expectation of 103% [3] Product Innovations - Box is expected to benefit from strong customer demand for Box AI and the growing adoption of its Enterprise Advanced suite [4] - The Box AI platform connects AI models and agents, ensuring data governance and compliance while preventing content sprawl and security risks [4] - Box Extract, a new data extraction solution powered by generative AI, allows enterprises to automate workflows and make quicker decisions using analytical information [5] Strategic Partnerships - Box has entered a multi-year strategic collaboration agreement with AWS to enhance AI capabilities for customers [6] - The partnership focuses on creating new Box AI agents using AWS's advanced AI services [6] - Box has also partnered with Tata Consultancy Services to deliver AI-powered content management solutions [6] Revenue and Earnings Guidance - Box expects fourth-quarter revenues to be approximately $304 million, indicating a 9% year-over-year growth [7] - Fiscal 2026 revenue is projected to be around $1.175 billion, reflecting an 8% year-over-year growth [10] - Non-GAAP earnings for fiscal 2026 are expected to be $1.28 per share, indicating a decrease of 25.2% from fiscal 2025 [11]
Guidewire Slips 12% in a Year: How to Approach the Stock Now?
ZACKS· 2026-01-20 16:30
Core Insights - Guidewire Software (GWRE) stock has decreased by 12.4% over the past year, contrasting with a 2.3% decline in the Zacks Internet Software industry and a 24.7% increase in the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector [1] - The stock recently closed at $158.99, marking a 4.3% drop and reaching a 52-week low of $158.80, indicating bearish sentiment among investors [4] Company Overview - Guidewire, based in San Mateo, CA, provides software solutions for property and casualty insurers, integrating core operations, digital engagement, analytics, machine learning, and AI [5] - The company's core offerings include InsuranceSuite Cloud, InsuranceNow, and InsuranceSuite for self-managed installations, with the InsuranceSuite Cloud comprising PolicyCenter Cloud, BillingCenter Cloud, and ClaimCenter Cloud [5] Cloud Transition and Growth - A significant driver of Guidewire's investment thesis is its transition to a cloud-based subscription model, with a 22% year-over-year growth in annual recurring revenues (ARR), reaching $1.063 billion [6][7] - In the last reported quarter, Guidewire signed eight new cloud deals, five of which were with major North American insurers, reflecting strong adoption of its cloud solutions [6] International Expansion and Product Development - Guidewire has expanded its cloud ecosystem to over 26,000 specialized practitioners across 38 system integrators, enhancing its cloud platform with new capabilities [8] - The company secured three international cloud deals, including partnerships with a U.K. mutual insurer, a major Australian carrier, and a large Japanese insurer, further strengthening its global presence [9] - Recent product launches, including PricingCenter and UnderwritingCenter, aim to address inefficiencies in insurers' processes, potentially improving profitability [10] Strategic Acquisitions - The acquisition of ProNavigator, an AI-powered knowledge management platform, is expected to contribute approximately $4 million in ARR and $2 million in revenues in fiscal 2026, bolstering Guidewire's AI strategy [11] Revenue Projections - Guidewire anticipates total revenues for fiscal 2026 to be between $1.403 billion and $1.419 billion, an increase from $1.202 billion in fiscal 2025 [12] Challenges and Market Position - The company faces challenges from complex enterprise sales cycles, particularly among large insurers, which could impact ARR growth [13] - Rising operating costs, which increased by 17.1% year over year to $191 million in the fiscal first quarter, pose a risk to profitability [14] - Guidewire's stock is currently trading at a premium valuation, with a forward price/sales ratio of 8.92X compared to the industry's 4.46X, indicating a stretched valuation [16]
SNOW Expands Portfolio on Acquisitions: What's Ahead for the Stock?
ZACKS· 2026-01-14 18:31
Core Insights - Snowflake (SNOW) is enhancing its portfolio through strategic acquisitions, positioning itself as a leader in the data and AI sectors [1] Acquisitions and Innovations - The acquisition of Datometry is significant for expanding Snowflake's capabilities, allowing customers to migrate from older data warehouses to Snowflake with lower costs and less disruption [2] - Snowflake's agreement to acquire Observe aims to provide AI-powered observability, enhancing operational resilience and analytics within the Snowflake AI Data Cloud [3] - The company is focused on innovation and expansion through acquisitions to maintain its central role in enterprise AI [4] Financial Performance and Projections - In fiscal Q3 2026, AI influenced 50% of bookings, with 28% of deployed use cases incorporating AI, indicating strong demand for AI-driven data solutions [4] - For Q4 of fiscal 2026, Snowflake expects product revenues between $1.195 billion and $1.2 billion, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 27% [4] Competitive Landscape - Snowflake faces significant competition from major players like Amazon and Oracle, both of which are expanding their AI capabilities [5] - Amazon's collaboration with Infosys aims to accelerate enterprise adoption of generative AI, enhancing software development and operations [6] - Oracle has launched the Autonomous AI Lakehouse and introduced new AI-powered capabilities to improve business data analysis [7] Stock Performance and Valuation - Snowflake shares have decreased by 1.9% over the past six months, underperforming the Zacks Computer & Technology sector's return of 20.1% but outperforming the Zacks Internet Software industry's decline of 9.2% [8] - The stock is trading at a premium with a forward 12-month Price/Sales ratio of 12.64X compared to the industry's 7.46X, and it has a Value Score of F [11] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 earnings is $1.20 per share, indicating a 44.58% year-over-year increase [13]
META Taps Nuclear Energy to Fuel AI Expansion: Buy or Hold the Stock?
ZACKS· 2026-01-14 15:35
Core Insights - Meta Platforms (META) is significantly investing in AI infrastructure, including nuclear energy agreements to secure up to 6.6 gigawatts (GWs) of power by 2035, enhancing its ESG profile and addressing energy needs for AI systems [1][2][8] Group 1: Energy Strategy - META has signed long-term nuclear power agreements with Vistra, TerraPower, and Oklo, making it a major corporate buyer of clean energy [2] - The nuclear energy deals are expected to provide reliable electricity, reducing risks associated with energy price volatility and shortages [2][8] - META is backing the development of advanced nuclear technology, including Natrium units capable of generating up to 690 MW, with delivery expected as early as 2032 [3] Group 2: Financial Outlook - META's capital expenditure is projected to be between $70 billion and $72 billion in 2025, with a combined expected spending of $380 billion on AI infrastructure by major tech companies [4] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 earnings is $23.04 per share, reflecting a 4.3% decline from previous estimates, while revenues are expected to grow by 21.3% [13] - For 2026, earnings are estimated at $30.17 per share, indicating a 30.94% growth from 2025, with revenues projected to reach $235.17 billion [14] Group 3: Market Performance - META shares have underperformed, returning only 2.3% over the past 12 months compared to a 27.6% increase in the broader sector [5] - The stock is considered overvalued, trading at a forward price/sales ratio of 6.72X, higher than the industry average of 4.66X [10] - Despite challenges, META's growing popularity among young adults and improved AI recommendations are expected to drive top-line growth [10]