Core Insights - Backblaze (BLZE) is experiencing growth driven by increasing demand for artificial intelligence and data-heavy workloads, necessitating scalable and cost-efficient storage solutions [1][3] - The B2 Cloud Storage platform is pivotal to this growth, with a significant rise in data stored by AI customers and an increase in AI-focused clients [2][7] - Backblaze's competitive positioning is challenged by companies like Dropbox and Datadog, which are enhancing their AI-enabled cloud infrastructure offerings [4] Company Performance - In Q2 2025, data stored by AI customers increased 40 times year over year, and the number of AI-focused clients grew by 70% [2] - Backblaze anticipates Q3 2025 revenues between $36.7 million and $37.1 million, reflecting approximately 29% year-over-year growth [2] - Year-to-date, Backblaze shares have risen by 51.7%, outperforming the Zacks Internet-Software industry and the Computer and Technology sector [5] Valuation Metrics - Backblaze's forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio stands at 3.16, which is lower than the industry average of 5.45 [9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Q3 2025 indicates a loss of one cent per share, representing a 90% improvement year over year [11]

Core Insights - Block has announced a strategic partnership with Grubhub to enhance the food ordering ecosystem, allowing restaurants to manage Grubhub orders through Block Square's POS system and enabling Grubhub customers to pay using Cash App Pay [1][7] Group 1: Partnership Details - The partnership introduces two major features: restaurants can manage all Grubhub orders directly through Block Square's POS system, reducing operational complexity [1][7] - Grubhub customers gain payment flexibility by using Cash App Pay for their orders, which broadens access for restaurants to millions of potential customers [2][7] Group 2: Ecosystem Strength - This collaboration showcases Block's ecosystem strength in addressing challenges faced by both restaurants and customers, while also emphasizing the commitment of both Grubhub and Block to innovation [2][3] - By combining Square's operational capabilities with Cash App's flexible payment technology, Block is forming a commerce ecosystem that serves both restaurants and customers [3] Group 3: Recent Developments - Block is aggressively investing in expanding its partner base to drive sustainable growth, with notable recent partnerships in the Cash App and Square businesses [3] - In August 2025, Square was selected as the technology partner for Purdys Chocolatier, managing POS and business operations across over 80 retail locations in Canada [4]

Key Takeaways BLZE is benefiting from AI-related demand and new cybersecurity features in its cloud platform.BLZE expects B2 Cloud Storage revenues to grow 28-30% in the third quarter of 2025.Valuation appears stretched with a 3.27X forward price-to-sales ratio and a Value Score of F.Backblaze (BLZE) has experienced a remarkable 56.8% surge year to date (YTD), outperforming the Zacks Internet-Software industry and Zacks Computer and Technology sector's return of 16.7% and 19.6%, respectively. This impressiv ...

Core Insights - Backblaze's strategic shift towards cybersecurity innovations positions the company for sustained growth, capitalizing on the increasing demand for data protection and artificial intelligence solutions [1][4] - The company has reported a 16% year-over-year revenue increase in Q2 2025, with B2 Cloud Storage revenue rising by 29%, and expects Q3 revenue to be between $36.7 million and $37.1 million, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 28-30% [3][4] Company Developments - Backblaze is enhancing its enterprise security architecture with tools like AI-powered Anomaly Alerts and the Enterprise Web Console, which improve threat detection and data visibility [2][8] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Q3 2025 B2 Cloud Storage revenues is projected at $20.88 million, indicating a 29.05% year-over-year increase, showcasing confidence in the company's growth trajectory [4][8] Competitive Landscape - Backblaze faces competition from Dropbox and Datadog, both of which are intensifying their focus on cybersecurity innovations, integrating AI-based analytics for enhanced data visibility [5] - The competitive environment is becoming increasingly challenging as these companies enhance their threat detection and security monitoring capabilities [5] Financial Performance - Backblaze's shares have increased by 66% year-to-date, outperforming the Zacks Internet-Software industry and the Computer and Technology sector, which returned 19.7% and 24.4% respectively [6] - The company is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio of 3.47X, which is lower than the industry's 5.57X, indicating a potentially favorable valuation [10] Earnings Outlook - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Backblaze's Q3 2025 loss is projected at a penny per share, reflecting a 90% improvement year-over-year [12]

Core Insights - Square has enhanced its AI capabilities with the introduction of Square AI and launched Square Bitcoin, aiming to support local businesses and improve their operational efficiency [1][7]. Group 1: Square AI Enhancements - Square AI now provides access to local data such as weather, events, news, and reviews, offering neighborhood-specific insights for sellers [2]. - The tool allows sellers to save data visualizations on their Square Dashboard for quick access to important updates and maintains a history of past conversations for detailed answers over time [3][4]. - Square AI is now available on mobile through the Square Dashboard App, enabling voice control capabilities for busy sellers [3][4]. Group 2: Launch of Square Bitcoin - Square Bitcoin is the first integrated bitcoin payment and wallet solution designed for local businesses, allowing sellers to accept bitcoin payments with no processing fees and convert card sales to bitcoin [5][6]. - Bitcoin Conversions is currently available to eligible U.S.-based sellers, while Bitcoin Payments will be launched on November 10, 2025 [6]. Group 3: Market Position and Performance - The enhancements in Square AI and the launch of Square Bitcoin are expected to attract more sellers, improve customer experiences, and streamline operations, positioning Square to drive transaction volume [7]. - Over the past three months, Square's shares have increased by 17.9%, outperforming the industry growth of 3.8% [7].

Core Insights - BlackBerry Limited reported a non-GAAP EPS of 4 cents for Q2 fiscal 2026, exceeding its breakeven estimate and last year's breakeven result [1][9] - Total revenues reached $129.6 million, surpassing guidance and reflecting a 3% year-over-year increase, driven by strong performance in the QNX and Secure Communications divisions [2][9] Financial Performance - QNX revenues totaled $63.1 million, exceeding guidance and showing a 15.4% year-over-year growth [5] - Secure Communications revenues declined 9.9% year over year to $59.9 million but beat guidance due to reduced customer churn [6][7] - Licensing revenues increased to $6.6 million from $5 million in the previous year, surpassing guidance [10] Margin and EBITDA - Adjusted gross margin improved to 75% from 70.7% year over year, with QNX maintaining a gross margin of 83% [11] - Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $25.9 million, up from $15.1 million in the prior year, with QNX and Secure Communications both exceeding expectations [12] Cash Flow and Liquidity - The company generated $3.4 million in net cash from operating activities, a significant improvement from cash used in the prior year [13] - As of August 31, BlackBerry had $290.5 million in cash and investments, down from $381.9 million, and returned $20 million to shareholders through buybacks [14] Future Guidance - For Q3 fiscal 2026, BlackBerry anticipates revenues between $132 million and $140 million, with adjusted EBITDA projected at $13 million to $17 million for QNX and $12 million to $16 million for Secure Communications [15][16]

Core Insights - StoneCo and UiPath are highlighted as affordable tech stocks under $20, both benefiting from positive earnings estimate revisions and strong industry rankings [1][11] Company Overview - StoneCo specializes in financial technology solutions for e-commerce in Brazil, while UiPath focuses on Robotic Process Automation for digital business operations [2] Sales Growth - StoneCo's annual sales surged from $644 million in 2020 to over $2.4 billion in the last year, with expectations of a 7% increase in fiscal 2025 and a further 5% rise in FY26 to $2.78 billion [3] - UiPath's sales are projected to grow by 10% in fiscal 2026 and by another 8% in FY27, reaching $1.7 billion [4] Earnings Estimates - StoneCo's EPS estimates for FY25 and FY26 have increased by over 7% in the last 60 days, indicating strong growth potential [8] - UiPath's EPS revisions for FY26 and FY27 have risen over 14% in the past two months, suggesting a potential rebound [9] Valuation and Market Position - Both companies are trading under 20X forward earnings, making them attractive investment opportunities despite not being classified as "cheap" [11]

Core Insights - Guidewire Software, Inc. (GWRE) is expected to report fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 results on September 4, with revenue guidance between $332 million and $340 million, reflecting a 15.7% increase year-over-year [1][2] - The consensus estimate for the fiscal year total revenues is between $1.178 billion and $1.186 billion, with an average surprise of 38% in earnings over the last four quarters [2] Revenue and Earnings Expectations - For fiscal 2025, subscription revenues are projected at $660 million, with annual recurring revenue (ARR) expected between $1.012 billion and $1.022 billion [8][9] - Non-GAAP operating income for the fiscal year is anticipated to be in the range of $187 million to $195 million, representing an 88.4% year-over-year increase [10] Market Performance - GWRE shares have increased by 48.5% over the past year, outperforming the Internet-Software industry, which grew by 42.9% [3] Growth Drivers - The company is experiencing strong momentum in its cloud business as insurers transition from legacy systems, with solid deal volume particularly among Tier 1 insurers [4][5] - The introduction of the Guidewire Industry Intelligence solution is expected to drive growth, enhancing data-driven claims decisions for insurers [6] Challenges - Increasing investments in product enhancements and global macroeconomic conditions may pose challenges, particularly affecting license revenues due to the migration of on-premise customers to the cloud [11]

Core Insights - Toast, Inc. is enhancing its profitability through new product launches and expansion efforts, including the Toast Go 3 handheld device and the AI-powered ToastIQ [1][10] - The company has raised its full-year outlook for gross profit and adjusted EBITDA, indicating strong performance expectations [5] Product Innovations - The Toast Go 3 handheld features built-in cellular connectivity and a 24-hour battery life, facilitating easier order taking and payment processing for restaurant staff [1][10] - ToastIQ, launched in May 2025, automates workflows and personalizes experiences using restaurant data, with features like Menu Upsells and AI-Marketing Assistant [2][3] Financial Performance - Toast expects non-GAAP subscription services and financial technology solutions gross profit to be between $1.815 billion and $1.835 billion, reflecting a growth of 28–29% over 2024 [5] - Adjusted EBITDA guidance has been increased to $565 million–$585 million from a previous range of $540 million–$560 million [5] Cost Challenges - Operating expenses rose 18% year over year in Q2, with sales and marketing expenses increasing by 28%, raising concerns about profitability [6] - Management anticipates lower margins in Q4 due to seasonal payment volume slowdowns and higher tariff expenses [6][7] Market Dynamics - Gross Payment Volume (GPV) per location declined by 1%, despite a 23% year-over-year increase in overall GPV, indicating potential challenges in transaction volumes [7] - The competitive landscape is intensifying with rivals like Block and Lightspeed, which are also innovating aggressively in the cloud-based POS and payments solutions space [8][9][12] Stock Performance - TOST shares have increased by 80.9% over the past year, outperforming the Internet-Software industry's growth of 36% [13] - The price/book ratio for TOST is currently at 11.67X, significantly higher than the industry average of 6.07 [14]

Core Insights - Toast, Inc. (TOST) achieved significant customer growth, adding 8,500 net new locations in Q2 2025, totaling 148,000 locations, representing a 24% year-over-year increase. This growth is central to TOST's investment narrative as it enhances operational footprint and recurring revenue base [1][9] - Management anticipates record net additions in the current quarter, with 2025 expected to exceed the full-year net additions of 2024 [1][9] - The company is focusing on deepening its presence in the U.S. SMB restaurant market, successfully increasing market share across various SMB markets, even in areas with over 30% penetration [1] Growth Drivers - New product features and international expansion are expected to contribute to net new location growth, with TOST surpassing 10,000 live locations across various segments in Q2 [2] - The company is on track to achieve over $100 million in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) by year-end, with notable wins among large Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) brands like Firehouse Subs [2] - TOST has entered Australia, marking its fourth international market after the UK, Ireland, and Canada, which is anticipated to further drive growth [2] Challenges and Risks - Expanding beyond the U.S. market presents regional complexities and execution risks, particularly amid macroeconomic uncertainties such as trade tensions and potential consumer slowdowns [3] - The competitive landscape poses additional risks, with rivals like Block's Square and Lightspeed enhancing their offerings and focusing on client acquisition, which may lead to slower net additions or increased acquisition costs for TOST [4] Competitive Landscape - Block's Square offers a comprehensive commerce ecosystem, including Square for Restaurants, which competes directly with TOST's platform, featuring various management tools for restaurants [5] - Block has launched Square AI, providing sellers with data-driven insights to enhance business operations, showcasing its commitment to innovation [6] - Lightspeed is focusing on North America's Retail and Europe's Hospitality sectors, reporting a 5% year-over-year increase in customer locations, and is investing heavily in platform innovation [7][8]