Core Viewpoint - Twilio Inc. is viewed as a strong software infrastructure stock by hedge funds, despite a recent downgrade by Piper Sandler from Overweight to Neutral, with a slight increase in price target to $148 from $145 [1][2]. Group 1: Downgrade and Valuation - The downgrade by Piper Sandler is primarily due to expectations that Twilio's growth re-acceleration may slow down in 2026, along with limited potential for further increases in free cash flow estimates [2]. - Piper Sandler believes Twilio has met its capital-return expectations and is currently trading at a "relatively fair valuation" [2]. Group 2: Strategic Positioning and Growth Potential - Despite the cautious rating, Piper Sandler maintains a positive outlook on Twilio, considering it the "best house in this neighbourhood" within the communications software sector [3]. - The firm highlights the Voice AI infrastructure as a small but rapidly growing segment that could contribute to future growth [3]. Group 3: Future Catalysts - Piper Sandler suggests that a more positive stance on Twilio could emerge if the stock price decreases, with the upcoming fourth-quarter results and initial 2026 guidance being potential catalysts for reassessment [4]. Group 4: Analyst Perspectives - Analysts from RBC Capital and Citizens JMP have raised their price targets for Twilio, with Citizens JMP's analyst setting a target of $185, which is below the consensus high of $200, driven by strong trends in the AI voice business [5].

Braze, Inc. (NASDAQ:BRZE) is one of the Stocks That Could Mint Millionaires in 2026. Braze (BRZE): Analyst Lauds Continued Margin Expansion Stocks On December 17, BTIG assumed coverage of Braze, Inc. (NASDAQ:BRZE) stock with a Buy rating and $45 price target. The analyst told investors in a research note that Q3 marked another quarter of growth reacceleration, improvements in in-period dollar-based net retention rate, heightened sales productivity, and continued margin expansion for the firm. On Decem ...

Group 1 - Arab Financial Services (AFS) has signed a memorandum of understanding with RestHero to enhance digital capabilities for restaurants and food and beverage merchants in the Middle East and Africa [1] - The partnership aims to reduce reliance on third-party aggregators and provide a unified platform for F&B businesses to manage online channels and customer interactions [2][4] - The integration of AFS's payment infrastructure with RestHero's systems is expected to automate restaurant processes and support a consistent customer experience across digital channels [3][4] Group 2 - RestHero's CEO emphasized that the partnership represents a transformative endorsement of their technology, unlocking unique value for F&B merchants [2] - AFS's CEO highlighted that this strategic investment is a significant step towards building the future of regional F&B by combining digital ordering and social commerce tools with a secure payment network [5] - The collaboration is designed to enable merchant partners to capture higher revenue and minimize operational friction in a digital consumer landscape [6]

Core Insights - Braze Inc. is recognized as a top enterprise software stock, with Goldman Sachs raising its price target to $52 from $50 after strong earnings [1][3] - The company reported $180 million in revenue for FQ2 2026, reflecting a 24% year-over-year growth [1][3] - Braze's committed Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) has exceeded $700 million, indicating strong demand for its customer engagement platform [2] Financial Performance - The company achieved its third consecutive quarter of positive non-GAAP operating income and free cash flow [2] - Despite the positive financial metrics, there are concerns regarding limited expansionary investments from customers and ongoing deal cycle challenges [3] Strategic Developments - The integration of the OfferFit acquisition, an AI decisioning platform, has contributed to new business wins across major geographic regions [2] - Although the OfferFit acquisition is strategically beneficial, it initially negatively impacted operating income, and the company is working on achieving synergies for successful integration [3]