Core Insights - The earnings reports from Microsoft and Meta have elicited mixed market reactions, highlighting contrasting investor sentiments towards their AI investments [2][4][13] Microsoft - Microsoft continues to invest aggressively in AI, but faces concerns regarding its dependency on OpenAI and the potential return on investment (ROI) from these expenditures [3][6] - Azure's growth is projected to remain stable, with a growth rate above 35% considered impressive, yet the market reacted negatively to Microsoft's latest report [3][4] - The company is also grappling with broader disruptions in the software market due to AI, which may affect its revenue model and sales processes [5][6] Meta - Meta's aggressive investment in AI has yielded positive results, particularly in ad revenue growth, which has been significantly enhanced by AI-generated content [4][9] - The company reported a capital expenditure (capex) of up to $135 billion, which investors reacted positively to, contrasting with previous reports [7][12] - Despite the positive revenue growth, concerns remain about Meta's lack of business diversification compared to competitors like Google, as it primarily relies on ad revenue [10][11] Financial Performance - Meta's projected free cash flow for the year is expected to be around $12-13 billion, a significant decrease from nearly $50 billion in the previous year [12] - The company is also increasing its debt levels, raising questions about the sustainability of its aggressive AI investment strategy [12][13]

Global Research ab 26 January 2026 First Read China Internet Sector China ad pulse check: 2026 outlook and impacts from new ad tax policy Growth: 2026E stable; bottom-up bright spots to offset soft macro Growth: We expect overall China ad growth to remain stable at 9.5% in 2026E (2025E's 9.6%), based on takeaways from our recent channel checks with leading ad agencies in China and catch-ups with major listcos. We expect ad growth to still outperform underlying consumption growth (UBSe 4.8/4.4% in 2025/26E r ...

Group 1 - Taboola will release its fourth quarter and full year 2025 financial results on February 25, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. ET [1] - A conference call and webcast will be hosted by Taboola's senior management team to discuss the financial results [1] - The webcast will be available for replay for one year, until February 25, 2027 [1] Group 2 - Taboola provides performance advertising technology that extends beyond search and social media, delivering measurable outcomes at scale [2] - The company collaborates with thousands of businesses, reaching approximately 600 million daily active users through its ad platform, Realize [3] - Major publishers like NBC News and Yahoo, as well as OEMs such as Samsung and Xiaomi, utilize Taboola's technology to enhance audience growth and revenue [3]

Core Viewpoint - Youdao, Inc. will report its fourth quarter and fiscal year 2025 financial results on February 11, 2026, before the U.S. markets open [1] Group 1: Financial Results Announcement - The earnings teleconference call will occur at 5:00 a.m. Eastern Time on February 11, 2026, with management discussing quarterly results and answering questions [2] - Dial-in details for the earnings conference call include toll-free numbers for the United States, Mainland China, and Hong Kong, as well as an international number [2] - A live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Company's investor relations website [2] Group 2: Company Overview - Youdao, Inc. is an AI-powered solutions provider specializing in artificial intelligence applications for learning and advertising [4] - The company offers learning services, online marketing services, and smart devices, all powered by advanced technologies [4] - Youdao was founded in 2006 as part of NetEase, Inc., a leading internet technology company in China [4]

Group 1 - Needham upgraded AppLovin from Hold to Buy and set a price target of $700, reflecting increased confidence in the company's e-commerce revenue trajectory for 2026 [1] - Shares of AppLovin rose more than 5% intra-day on the day of the upgrade [1] - Needham raised its 2026 e-commerce revenue estimate to $1.45 billion from $1.05 billion, indicating expectations for sequential growth in the first quarter [2] Group 2 - The firm anticipates that advertiser growth from AppLovin's self-service platform launch and higher spending levels will offset typical first-quarter seasonality [2] - There remains potential upside to estimates under a bullish scenario, where AppLovin's e-commerce business could follow a revenue trajectory similar to TikTok [3] - The upgrade was influenced by the stock's recent pullback from highs reached about one month earlier, improving the entry point for investors [3]

Core Insights - The emergence of AI chatbots like ChatGPT is expected to significantly impact the advertising industry, potentially changing the dynamics of how consumers interact with brands and advertisements [1][2]. Advertising Model Changes - The advertising landscape is shifting from a Meta and Alphabet duopoly to a more diversified model influenced by AI chatbots, which can guide consumers through the entire purchasing funnel [2][3]. - AI chatbots may adopt a programmatic advertising model, allowing brands to bid for ad placements based on impressions, rather than relying on traditional ad sales methods [6]. Consumer Engagement Strategies - Brands are advised to implement Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), which focuses on creating content that aligns with AI chatbot recommendations, rather than traditional paid advertising [8]. - The transition from interruptive advertising to a more assistive model is emphasized, where effective ads feel like recommendations rather than promotions [9]. Consumer Expectations - Consumers are likely to appreciate a personalized experience from AI chatbots, as long as advertising does not detract from the utility of the service [11]. - The current user base of paid subscribers for AI chatbots may mitigate the risk of prioritizing advertising revenue over user experience [12].

SUNNYVALE, Calif. & SINGAPORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--KNOREX Ltd. (NYSE American: KNRX) ("KNOREX†or the "Company†), a leading provider of AI-driven programmatic online advertising products and solutions, today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Ning (Michael) Sun as Chief Financial Officer ("CFO†), effective January 22, 2026. The appointment strengthens the Company's executive leadership team as KNOREX builds internal infrastructure to support its next phase of accelerated growth as a public ...

Core Insights - The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD) launched Kokai in 2023, a next-generation platform utilizing Koa AI to enhance programmatic advertising through advanced analytics and integrations, potentially reshaping TTD's revenue and competitive position [2][4] Group 1: Kokai Platform Features and Adoption - Kokai employs a distributed AI architecture with specialized models for various functions, improving efficiency and reliability in ad performance [3] - Nearly all TTD clients have tested Kokai, with 85% adopting it as their default platform, leading to significant performance improvements: 26% better cost per acquisition, 58% better cost per unique reach, and a 94% higher click-through rate [4][10] - Successful case studies include Specsavers reducing appointment booking costs by 43% and Danone increasing conversion rates by one-third for its Actimel brand [5] Group 2: Market Position and Competitive Landscape - TTD is well-positioned for market share growth in 2026, supported by Kokai's adoption, growth in connected TV (CTV) and retail media, and strong client retention, despite competition from Magnite, Inc. and Taboola.com Inc. [6] - Magnite reported a strong third quarter with 18% CTV growth, driven by its SpringServe ad server, while Taboola's new platform, Realize, enhances performance advertising capabilities across the open web [7][8] Group 3: Financial Performance and Valuation - TTD shares have declined by 71.7% over the past year, contrasting with the 61.6% growth of the Zacks Internet – Services industry [11] - TTD's forward price/earnings ratio stands at 26.86X, lower than the industry average of 29.52X [12] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TTD's earnings for 2025 has remained stable over the past 60 days [13]

While ChatGPT's entry into the ad market marks a pivotal moment for the company, analysts argue Google and Meta face little immediate threat to their advertising empires. ...

Core Insights - The article does not provide specific insights or analysis regarding any companies or industries, focusing instead on disclosures and disclaimers related to investment positions and opinions [1][2]. Group 1 - There is no stock, option, or similar derivative position held by the analyst in any mentioned companies, nor are there plans to initiate such positions in the near future [1]. - The article expresses personal opinions of the author and does not reflect the views of Seeking Alpha as a whole [2]. - The content does not provide any investment recommendations or advice regarding suitability for particular investors [2].