Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Transcript Industry Overview - The focus of the conference call is on the cloud computing industry, particularly the earnings season for major players including Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft, Oracle, Alibaba, and Baidu [1][6][9]. Capital Expenditure (Capex) - Capex guidance has been consistently increasing, with Microsoft raising its expectations to over USD 30 billion for Q1, up from USD 24 billion. Amazon's Q2 capex was 25% ahead of consensus, and Alphabet raised its FY25 guidance to USD 85 billion from USD 75 billion [2][6]. - There are upside risks for further capex increases due to the demand for computing power [2]. Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) - Alphabet is noted as the only Western cloud service provider to have successfully deployed its latest chips, which has strengthened its partnership with Anthropic. There is potential for further upside from these Ironwood chips [3]. - Commentary is anticipated regarding Microsoft's project Braga/Normandy and Amazon's Trainium3 chips, particularly concerning the supply of Trainium2 [3]. EBIT Margins - Margin outlooks are a key focus, with Oracle's strategy under scrutiny. Alibaba aims to maintain steady cloud operating margins while reinvesting gains into growth and AI deployment. For Western companies, margin accretion is expected, but concerns about price wars persist [4]. Bottlenecks in Supply - Demand for cloud resources continues to exceed supply, with companies indicating they would increase capex if possible. Potential bottlenecks are expected to arise from regulations, power demand, chip efficiency, and transitioning clients from legacy systems [5]. Company-Specific Insights - **Alphabet**: Anticipated to report Q3 results on October 29, with expectations of revenue growth and margin improvements in Google Cloud. The company has seen significant growth in enterprise deals and customer adoption of its Gemini platform [28][30]. - **Amazon**: Reported a 13.3% year-over-year increase in net sales for Q2, driven by North America and International divisions. However, AWS operating income missed consensus expectations. Guidance for Q3 indicates cautious growth expectations [43][44]. - **Alibaba**: Expected to report a 3% year-over-year revenue growth for Q2, with cloud revenue projected to grow 29% year-over-year. The company aims to maintain stable margins while investing in AI and cloud infrastructure [17][19]. - **Oracle**: Focus on margin strategies and potential impacts from increased capex commitments [4][6]. Financial Metrics and Valuations - **Alphabet**: Expected group revenues of USD 101.7 billion and EBIT of USD 33.2 billion for Q3, with a target price of USD 295.00 [31][37]. - **Amazon**: Target price set at USD 260.00, with expectations of strong performance in e-commerce and AWS [45][46]. - **Alibaba**: Target price maintained at USD 205.00, with a focus on cloud growth and margin stability [18][22]. Conclusion - The conference call highlighted the ongoing growth and investment in the cloud computing sector, with significant focus on capex, ASIC developments, margin strategies, and potential supply bottlenecks. Key players are expected to report strong earnings, although caution remains regarding market competition and regulatory challenges [1][9].

30 October 2025 Want to find out more about our themes? Subscribe to this periodical here. You can also read our Guide to HSBC Global Investment Research. Why are VC investors still so bullish on tech? Our proprietary survey looks at headwinds and tailwinds in private markets. Read: HSBC Funding the Future Survey Nine Themes Talking Points Multi-Asset Tech disruptors – what's driving change? Welcome to Talking Points, Global Investment Research's monthly look at the key reports covering our nine themes and ...