Core Insights - Artisan Mid Cap Fund's fourth-quarter 2025 performance showed a decline in its Investor Class (-0.44%), Advisor Class (-0.37%), and Institutional Class (-0.35%) compared to a -3.70% drop in the Russell Midcap® Growth Index, indicating relative resilience in a challenging market [1] Group 1: Fund Performance - The Fund seeks to invest in companies with franchise characteristics, strong earnings trajectories, and trading at a discount to estimated private market value [1] - Continued strength in information technology and health care sectors contributed positively to the Fund's performance during the quarter [1] Group 2: Roblox Corporation (NYSE:RBLX) - Roblox Corporation is highlighted as a significant detractor in Q4, with shares declining 42% despite a 21% increase for the year, amid concerns about sustaining growth momentum [3] - The company reported exceptional growth in 2025, with revenue and bookings increasing by 48% and 70% year-over-year, respectively, driven by popular games [3] - As of February 20, 2026, Roblox's stock closed at $62.00, with a market capitalization of $43.94 billion, and a one-month return of -16.23% [2] - Roblox is not among the 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds, with 83 hedge fund portfolios holding the stock at the end of Q4, down from 90 in the previous quarter [4]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In 2025, the company exceeded its guidance with a revenue growth of 36% and bookings growth of 55% year-on-year [4] - Q4 revenue was $1.4 billion, up 43% year-on-year, while Q4 bookings reached $2.2 billion, which is up 63% year-on-year [5][6] - The company reported a significant increase in daily active users (DAUs) by 69% year-on-year, reaching 35 billion engagement hours, an increase of over 88% year-on-year [6] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The top 1,000 creators earned an average of $1.3 million, up over 50% compared to the previous year [7] - Developer Exchange (DevEx) in Q4 was $477 million, reflecting a 70% year-on-year increase [6] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The US and Canada market grew by 41% year-on-year, while APAC saw a remarkable growth of 96% year-on-year, with Japan at 160%, India at 110%, and Indonesia over 700% [6] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to capture 10% of the $200 billion global gaming content market, currently at about 3.4% [5] - The focus is on expanding genres and targeting older audiences, with the 18+ demographic growing at over 50% and monetizing 40% higher than younger cohorts [9] - The strategy includes vertical integration from cloud to engine to tooling, enhancing user experience across devices [10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in achieving over 20% growth in 2026, driven by a healthier platform and the potential of AI to expand beyond gaming [19][20] - The company plans to provide detailed guidance for 2026 and shift to quarterly guidance by 2027 [21] Other Important Information - The company is investing in safety marketing to educate users about online safety measures [23] - The age verification rollout has seen strong adoption, with approximately 60% of DAUs age-checked in initial markets [16] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on bookings outlook and content schedules - Management highlighted internal indicators such as content diversity and engagement trends, which support their bookings outlook [28][29] Question: Targeting the 18+ demographic and AI gaming developments - The company is optimistic about the potential of AI to enhance user experiences and expand the definition of gaming [33] Question: Key lessons learned about discovery on the platform - Management emphasized the importance of long-term engagement and health of the platform over short-term gains in discovery optimization [40] Question: Update on gross margins and direct payments - The improvement in gross margins was attributed to better-than-expected bookings growth and a shift towards lower-cost payment platforms [46] Question: Concerns about AI disruption from competitors - Management views AI as an opportunity to expand Roblox's vision beyond gaming, focusing on multiplayer technology and cloud synchronization [48] Question: Age verification rollout and its impact - The rollout has been successful, with age-checking enhancing matchmaking and user engagement [65] Question: Q1 bookings guidance and sequential decline - Management noted that the absence of a new viral hit is expected to result in a sequential decline, but the overall health of the platform remains strong [68]

Core Viewpoint - Roblox Corp (NYSE:RBLX) is experiencing a cautious outlook from Wall Street firms due to declining engagement levels and adjustments in revenue growth expectations, despite its potential for future growth [1][3]. Group 1: Financial Performance and Projections - Piper Sandler has lowered its price target for Roblox Corp from $180 to $125 while maintaining an Overweight rating, citing weaker growth in billings and revenue beyond 2027 [1]. - The firm anticipates Q4 2025 bookings growth of 55-60% year-over-year, reaching approximately $2.11 billion, with daily active users projected at 140 million (up 65%) and EBITDA at $544 million [2]. - JPMorgan has reiterated a Neutral rating with a price target of $100, noting a decline in platform engagement and a drop in peak concurrent users to 23 million from 26 million [3]. Group 2: User Engagement Trends - The decline in peak concurrent users is attributed to slower weekend event activity, while weekday engagement remains strong [4]. - Year-over-year engagement levels have decreased to 71% compared to 74% previously [4]. - Popular games on the platform show mixed performance, with "99 Nights in the Forest" maintaining a steady peak CCU at 6 million, while "Grow a Garden" saw a decline to 433,000 from 464,000 [3][4]. Group 3: Company Overview - Roblox Corp operates an online entertainment platform that allows users to create, share, and play 3D virtual experiences, functioning as a "metaverse" for social connection [5]. - The platform provides tools for developers through Roblox Studio and offers a primarily free-to-play app for accessing content [5].

Core Insights - Roblox Corp. aims to capture 10% of the $180 billion video game market by leveraging increased user engagement, popular games like "Grow a Garden," and investments in safety and AI [1] Group 1: Analyst Coverage and Valuation - B. Riley Securities analyst Drew Crum initiated coverage on Roblox with a Buy rating and a price target of $125, suggesting a potential rise of over 30% from the December 4 close [2] - Crum highlighted Roblox's position as a leading next-generation entertainment platform, drawing parallels to Alphabet Inc.'s YouTube ecosystem due to its social and content network effects [2] - The analyst expects Roblox to sustain a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 20% in bookings, with recent bookings exceeding $4 billion and a large user base still unmonetized [4] Group 2: Content and User Engagement - The platform's large developer community and easy onboarding process have led to increased content quality and velocity, with seven titles achieving over 10 million daily active users in Q3 2025 [4] - The viral success of games like "Grow a Garden" demonstrates Roblox's ability to deliver mass-appeal experiences regularly [3] Group 3: Investment Strategy and Future Outlook - Crum acknowledged near-term margin pressure due to increased investments in trust & safety, AI, and infrastructure, viewing these as strategic for future growth [6] - The analyst projected fourth-quarter revenue of $2.04 billion and adjusted EBITDA of $546.4 million, indicating a positive outlook for the company's financial performance [7]

Core Insights - Sands Capital Select Growth Strategy reported a portfolio return of 6.3% in Q3 2025, underperforming the benchmark's 10.5% gain, driven by strong corporate earnings and AI enthusiasm [1] Company Overview: Roblox Corporation (NYSE:RBLX) - Roblox Corporation is recognized as a leading gaming development and distribution platform, with a notable viral game, "Grow a Garden," achieving over 20 million concurrent users, significantly higher than the average of 1 million for other popular experiences [3] - The company experienced a 48% year-on-year revenue growth in Q3 2025, reaching $1.36 billion, indicating strong market performance [4] - Despite a one-month return of -30.66%, Roblox's shares gained 87.83% over the last 52 weeks, closing at $92.73 with a market capitalization of $65.09 billion on November 26, 2025 [2][4] Market Trends and Performance - The surge in daily active users and total hours on the platform rose by 41%, contributing to a 51% year-over-year acceleration in second-quarter bookings [3] - The shift towards new user-generated content experiences is seen as a healthier trend compared to the past reliance on a few mainstay franchises, showcasing Roblox's strength in global distribution [3] Hedge Fund Interest - As of the end of Q2 2025, 75 hedge fund portfolios held shares of Roblox Corporation, an increase from 68 in the previous quarter, indicating growing interest among institutional investors [4]

Core Insights - Roblox has experienced significant growth, with shares more than doubling year to date, driven by a 41% year-over-year increase in daily users in Q2 [1][2] - The viral success of the game "Grow a Garden" has been a key factor in this growth, achieving over 20 million concurrent players and contributing to a total of 27.4 billion hours spent on the platform, a 58% increase year-over-year [1][3] Growth Strategy - The company is focusing on building a growth flywheel, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to automate content creation, which accelerates the release of new experiences [4][6] - A 52% year-over-year increase in developer exchange fees indicates that Roblox is incentivizing quality content creation, which is essential for sustaining growth [4][6] User Engagement - The success of "Grow a Garden" has led to increased user engagement, with over 75% of players also engaging with other experiences on the platform [7] - This heightened engagement resulted in a 51% year-over-year increase in bookings for the last quarter, suggesting that the strategy of releasing viral content is effective and intentional [8]

Core Insights - Roblox Corporation (RBLX) and Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (TTWO) represent different strategies in the gaming industry, with Roblox focusing on user-generated content and Take-Two relying on established franchises [1][2] Summary of Roblox (RBLX) - Roblox has shown significant growth, with a 41% year-over-year increase in daily active users (DAUs) to 111.8 million and a 58% rise in engagement hours to 27.4 billion [2][3] - Financially, Roblox's bookings increased by 51% year-over-year to $1.4 billion, with notable growth in the APAC region at 75% [3] - The platform has a record 23.4 million monthly unique payers, up 42% year-over-year, indicating strong monetization potential [3] - Roblox is innovating with AI-driven tools and expanding into various game genres, creating a robust ecosystem for creators [4] - Despite its growth, Roblox reported a loss per share of 41 cents in Q2 2025, highlighting ongoing profitability challenges [5] Summary of Take-Two Interactive (TTWO) - Take-Two started fiscal 2026 strong, with first-quarter net bookings of $1.42 billion, leading to an increased full-year outlook of up to $6.15 billion [6][7] - Key franchises like NBA 2K and Grand Theft Auto continue to drive revenue, with NBA 2K25 selling over 11.5 million units and recurrent spending rising by 48% [8] - Take-Two's release pipeline includes ambitious titles such as Mafia: The Old Country and NBA 2K26, positioning the company for potential record net bookings in fiscal 2027 [9] - The company benefits from a diversified revenue stream through both console and mobile games, enhancing its growth potential [6][8] Market Performance - RBLX stock surged 198.9% over the past year, significantly outperforming the industry growth of 29.3%, while TTWO shares rose 60.2% in the same period [7][16] - RBLX is trading at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 12.42X, above its median of 7.65X, while TTWO's ratio is 5.91X, above its median of 4.71X [19] Comparative Analysis - While Roblox excels in user growth and a unique ecosystem, it faces profitability and volatility challenges [22] - Take-Two's balanced strategy with proven franchises and a strong release slate provides a more stable growth trajectory and visibility [22]

Group 1 - Roblox Corporation (NYSE:RBLX) is included in the Renaissance Technologies Portfolio as one of the 10 biggest stocks [1] - JPMorgan raised the price target for Roblox Corporation to $160 from $150, maintaining an Overweight rating [2] - The increase in engagement on Roblox's platform during Q2 was driven by the game "Grow a Garden," with expectations for continued momentum in Q3 due to upcoming games [2][3] Group 2 - Concurrent users on Roblox reached 43 million in late August, surpassing the previous record of 32 million [3] - JPMorgan anticipates that the strong platform engagement will lead to a 'healthy upside' to management's guidance for Q3 [3] - The stock has gained 130% year-to-date as of September 23, 2025 [4]

Core Insights - Roblox Corporation (RBLX) highlighted the effectiveness of its discovery engine, which significantly contributed to record engagement levels in Q2 2025, with 111.8 million daily active users, a 41% year-over-year increase, and 27.4 billion engagement hours, up 58% from the previous year [1][8] Engagement and Monetization - The discovery system has been crucial for driving cross-experience engagement, with over 75% of players of the viral game "Grow a Garden" engaging with at least one additional Roblox title on the same day, and more than half of the quarter's spending growth coming from experiences outside the top 10 rankings [2] - The company is refining discovery signals to enhance transparency for developers, focusing on maximizing long-term user value and supporting a healthier ecosystem through initiatives like sponsored tiles and the Creator Rewards program [3] Safety and Trust - Roblox is advancing its safety agenda with the rollout of RoGuard 1.0, an open-source toolkit for establishing guardrails around large language models, along with new privacy and screen-time controls, reflecting a commitment to maintaining trust while scaling engagement [4] Market Aspirations - Roblox aims to capture 10% of the $180 billion global gaming content market, positioning its discovery engine as a structural growth lever that extends engagement beyond a few viral titles and enables smaller developers to gain traction [5] Stock Performance and Valuation - Roblox shares have increased by 30.6% over the past three months, outperforming the industry average rise of 12.8%, while other industry players like Boyd Gaming, DraftKings, and Monarch Casino have seen gains of 7%, 2.4%, and 19.7%, respectively [6] - The stock is currently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-sales (P/S) multiple of 12.89X, significantly above the industry average of 3.28X, with competitors like Boyd Gaming, DraftKings, and Monarch Casino having P/S ratios of 1.85X, 3.04X, and 3.33X, respectively [9] Earnings Outlook - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Roblox's 2025 loss per share has widened from $1.36 to $1.71, indicating increased caution among analysts regarding the company's near-term earnings profile, with projections suggesting an 18.8% decline in 2025 earnings [11]

Group 1: Roblox Performance - Roblox is experiencing significant growth with player counts showing triple-digit year-over-year growth rates, despite August typically being a slow month for the gaming industry [1][2] - The platform is benefiting from several "megascale experiences" that consistently attract millions of players, including titles like "Grow a Garden," "Steal a Brainrot," and "99 Nights in the Forest" [2] - Roblox stock is rated as outperform with a price target of 130, and it rose nearly 2% to 135.18 in midday trades [2] Group 2: Electronic Arts Performance - Electronic Arts (EA) is receiving positive feedback for its upcoming game "Battlefield 6," which is set to release on October 10, and is anticipated to be a major title for the industry [3] - EA's "Madden NFL 26" has also garnered positive feedback since its release on August 14 [4] - EA stock ranks third out of 25 stocks in the Computer Software-Gaming industry group, with an IBD Composite Rating of 77 out of 99, while Roblox ranks fourth with a Composite Rating of 75 [5]