We came across a bullish thesis on Snap Inc. on Investment Ideas by Antonio’s Substack by Antonio Linares. In this article, we will summarize the bulls’ thesis on SNAP. Snap Inc.'s share was trading at $8.53 as of September 22nd. SNAP’s forward P/E was 23.70 according to Yahoo Finance. Most Sexually Liberal Cities in the World in 2018 Copyright: william87 / 123RF Stock Photo Snap (SNAP) remains one of the most underappreciated social media platforms, despite boasting 932M monthly active users (MAUs) as ...

Core Insights - Pinterest, Inc. (PINS) is establishing a unique value proposition for advertisers, enhancing its competitive advantage through innovations in its advertising platform [1] - The company is experiencing growth momentum in the retail sector and emerging markets such as financial services, technology, and entertainment [1] Advertising Performance - Pinterest is bridging the gap between upper-funnel storytelling and lower-funnel conversion, improving campaign performance [2] - The integration of AI in the advertising process is enhancing personalization and efficiency, with the AI-powered Pinterest Performance+ suite gaining traction among advertisers [2] - Click-through and conversion rates are increasing, leading to sustained ROI for advertisers [2] Product Innovations - The management's decision to enhance the accessibility of the mobile deep linking (MDL) product has improved shoppability on the platform, significantly boosting shopping ads revenue [3] - The Direct Link product is gaining popularity among advertisers and retailers [3] Financial Metrics - In Q2, Pinterest's ad impressions grew by 55%, while ad pricing declined by 25% due to expansion into lower-priced international markets [4][8] - Pinterest's forward price-to-sales ratio is 5.22, which is below the industry average [9] Competitive Landscape - Pinterest faces competition from Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) and Snap, Inc. (SNAP) in the social commerce space, with both companies enhancing their advertising capabilities through AI [5][6] - Despite efforts to diversify, advertising remains a major revenue source for Snap, which has seen performance improvements in its advertising platform [6] Stock Performance - Pinterest's stock has gained 17.6% over the past year, compared to the industry's growth of 39.6% [7]

Core Viewpoint - Snap is taking strategic steps to recover from a significant stock decline, but these efforts will require time to show results [1][17]. Group 1: Advertising Innovations - Snap is investing in new features to enhance its advertising platform, utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to improve ad performance [5][6]. - The introduction of the Smart Campaign Solutions suite allows businesses to set target costs for actions, with real-time bid adjustments made by Snapchat's AI [6]. - A European sportswear brand experienced a 50% reduction in cost per action and doubled conversions using Smart Bidding, indicating potential effectiveness of Snap's innovations [7]. - The new "Sponsored Snaps" feature allows businesses to reach users in their chat inbox, leading to a conversion increase of up to 22% for those campaigns [8]. Group 2: User Growth and Revenue - Snap reported $1.34 billion in revenue for the second quarter, reflecting a 9% year-over-year increase [9]. - The platform achieved a record 469 million daily active users in the second quarter, marking a 9% increase year over year, which enhances its attractiveness to advertisers [10][12]. Group 3: Financial Position and Valuation - Snap's stock has declined significantly, trading at a price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 2.1, the lowest since its IPO, despite steady revenue growth [13]. - The company has over $3.5 billion in debt, but only $557 million is due before the end of 2027, with $2.8 billion in cash and equivalents available, indicating a manageable financial situation for now [16].

Core Viewpoint - The recent sell-off of Snap's shares, while alarming, does not fully reflect the company's underlying strengths and potential for recovery [1][10]. Financial Performance - Snap reported second-quarter revenue of $1.345 billion, a 9% increase year-over-year [4]. - Daily active users (DAUs) rose 9% to 469 million, and monthly active users (MAUs) increased 7% to 932 million [5]. - Operating cash flow reached $88 million, and free cash flow was positive at $24 million, a significant improvement from the previous year [5]. Challenges and Losses - Despite the positive growth metrics, Snap posted a net loss of $263 million, which is wider than the $249 million loss from the same quarter last year [5]. - An advertising platform glitch early in the quarter negatively impacted performance, but recovery in advertiser activity was noted after the issue was addressed [6]. Growth Drivers - "Other revenue," primarily from subscriptions like Snapchat+, grew 64% year-over-year, with Snapchat+ subscribers increasing by approximately 42% to nearly 16 million [6]. - Sponsored Snaps, a new ad format, showed promising engagement metrics, including a 2x increase in conversion rates and a 5x increase in click-to-convert ratios [7]. Future Outlook - Management has guided for continued top-line growth in Q3, supported by the fast-growing subscription business and recovering advertising revenue trends [8]. Valuation Concerns - Despite positive trends, Snap's valuation remains a concern due to its reliance on equity dilution and high stock-based compensation, projected to exceed $1.1 billion for the full year [9]. - The company executed a $243 million share repurchase, but dilution continues to affect per-share value [9]. Investment Consideration - While the stock may not yet be a bargain, the combination of growing subscription revenue, improved cash flow, and an engaged user base makes Snap an interesting prospect for investors [11].

Core Viewpoint - Snap's recent Q2 results have led to a significant drop in stock price, but there are underlying factors that may present investment opportunities despite the disappointing performance [1][2][7]. Company Performance - Snap reported Q2 revenue of $1.34 billion, a 9% year-over-year increase, driven by a 9% rise in daily users (469 million) and a 7% increase in monthly users (932 million) [5]. - The company experienced a net loss of $262.6 million, or $0.16 per share, but free cash flow improved from a negative $73.4 million to a positive $23.8 million [5]. - Analysts had expected revenue of $1.35 billion and a per-share loss of $0.15, indicating a slight miss on revenue expectations [6]. Advertising and User Growth - Snap's core business model relies on advertising, and user growth is crucial for monetization [4]. - User growth has stalled in North America and Europe, where average per-user revenue is highest, raising concerns about Snap's ability to compete with larger platforms [9]. - An issue with Snap's ad platform led to underpricing of ad inventory, impacting both revenue and net loss [6]. Long-term Potential - Despite current challenges, Snap is seen as having a long growth path ahead, particularly with its focus on authenticity in advertising, which resonates with Gen Z users [11][12]. - The company is investing in augmented reality technology and AI-powered tools to enhance its advertising offerings, which could improve future performance [10][11]. - The market may not fully recognize Snap's potential yet, suggesting that now could be an opportune time for investors to consider entering a position [17].

Core Insights - Snap (SNAP) reported a second-quarter 2025 loss of a penny per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings of a penny, while revenues rose 8.7% year over year to $1.35 billion, beating estimates by 0.66% [2][9] Revenue Breakdown - Revenues from North America, which account for 61% of total revenues, increased 6.9% year over year to $820.6 million [3] - Revenues from Europe, making up 19.7% of revenues, surged 15.4% to $265.34 million [3] - Revenues from the Rest of the World (ROW) reached $258.99 million, up 8.2% year over year [3] - The average revenue per user (ARPU) rose 0.3% year over year to $2.87, with North America and Europe seeing ARPU increases of 8.6% and 12.3%, respectively, while ROW's ARPU declined by 5.9% [3] User Engagement - Snap's global community reached 469 million daily active users (DAU) in Q2, marking an 8.6% year-over-year increase, with a quarter-over-quarter addition of 9 million DAU [4] - North America's DAU was 98 million, down 2% year over year, while Europe's DAU was 100 million, up 3.1% year over year; ROW's DAU was 271 million, up 15.3% year over year [5] Subscription Growth - Snapchat+ approached 16 million subscribers in Q2, driving a 64% year-over-year surge in other revenue, reaching an annualized run rate of nearly $700 million [6] Advertising Performance - Snap's advertising platform showed significant improvements, with purchase volume for commerce advertisers increasing 39% year over year and total purchase-related advertising revenues growing over 25% [7][9] - The Sponsored Snaps format generated up to 22% higher conversion rates when integrated into broader advertising campaigns [7] Operating Expenses - Adjusted cost of revenues rose 11% year over year to $650.1 million, while adjusted operating expenses increased 2.2% to $631.1 million [8] - Sales and marketing expenses decreased by 2% to $202.2 million, and general and administrative expenses fell 10.5% to $183.8 million; however, research and development expenses rose 18.9% to $245.1 million [8] Financial Metrics - Adjusted EBITDA was $41.3 million, down 24.9% from the previous year, reflecting revenue growth deceleration and increased investment spending [10] - As of June 30, 2025, cash and cash equivalents, and marketable securities totaled $2.9 billion, down from $3.2 billion as of March 31, 2025 [11] Future Guidance - Snap expects third-quarter DAU to reach 476 million and projects revenues between $1.48 billion and $1.51 billion [12] - The company maintained its full-year guidance for infrastructure costs per DAU at 82-87 cents per quarter and anticipates operating in the top half of this range for Q3 [12] - EBITDA is projected to be between $110 million and $135 million in Q3 [12]

Group 1 - Snap shares fell 17% after market close due to slower revenue growth in Q2, partly caused by a pricing mistake for advertisers [1] - Q2 revenue grew 39% year-over-year to $1.34 billion, with advertising revenue of $1.174 billion rising 4% [3] - Daily active users increased by 9% year-over-year to 469 million [2] Group 2 - The timing of Ramadan affected advertising revenue comparisons, as the holiday occurred earlier in Q1 this year [3] - The company expects Q3 revenue to be between $1.475 billion and $1.505 billion, with daily active users projected at 476 million [4] - Snap delivered adjusted EBITDA of $41 million and $24 million in free cash flow [4] Group 3 - Time spent on Spotlight grew 23% year-over-year in Q2, now accounting for over 40% of total content viewing time [5] - Snapchat+ subscribers approached 16 million in Q2 [5] - Snap plans to launch standalone lightweight AR glasses in 2026, aiming to enhance its position in augmented reality [5] Group 4 - Sponsored Snaps initiative has shown effectiveness, delivering up to a 22% increase in conversions when included in campaigns [6] - Snapchat introduced Sponsored Snaps from creators, allowing advertisers to send messages directly from creators to users [6]

Financial Performance - Revenue for Q2 2025 was $1,345 million, a 9% increase compared to $1,237 million in the prior year[8, 15] - Average revenue per user (ARPU) was $2.87, slightly up from $2.86 in the prior year[8] - Net loss was $263 million, compared to $249 million in the prior year, with a net loss margin of (20)%[8] - Adjusted EBITDA was $41 million, down from $55 million in the prior year, resulting in an Adjusted EBITDA Margin of 3%, compared to 4%[8, 13, 14] - Operating cash flow was $88 million, a significant improvement from $(21) million in the prior year, and free cash flow was $24 million, compared to $(73) million[16] User Engagement - Global monthly active users (MAU) reached 932 million in Q2, an increase of 64 million, or 7%, year-over-year[17, 32] - Daily active users (DAU) were 469 million in Q2 2025, an increase of 37 million, or 9%, year-over-year[20, 38] - Spotlight reached more than 550 million monthly active users on average in Q2, with time spent growing 23% year-over-year, contributing over 40% of total content time spent[20] Augmented Reality - The community uses AR Lenses in the Snapchat camera 8 billion times per day[23] - Lens Games engagement has continued to grow, now reaching more than 175 million monthly active users, up over 40% year-over-year[24]

Financial Performance - Snap reported second-quarter revenue of $1.345 billion, reflecting a 9% year-over-year increase, surpassing the Street consensus estimate of $1.344 billion [1] - The company incurred a loss of 16 cents per share, which aligned with analyst expectations [1] User Growth - Snap ended the quarter with 932 million monthly active users, marking a 7% increase year-over-year [2] - The number of daily active users reached 469 million, up 9% year-over-year [2] Product and Feature Development - CEO Evan Spiegel highlighted the growth in the global community and emphasized investments in AI and augmented reality [3] - Spotlight achieved over 550 million monthly active users on average, with time spent on Spotlight increasing by 23% year-over-year, now accounting for over 40% of total content time spent [3] - Snap Map also grew to more than 400 million monthly active users during the quarter [4] Future Outlook - The company is focusing on diversifying revenue growth through improvements in its ad platform, aided by advancements in AI [5] - Snap plans to launch its first consumer-ready Specs AR glasses in 2026, which is seen as a significant milestone for the company [5] Stock Performance - Following the earnings report, Snap's stock declined by 14.48% to $8.03 in after-hours trading, within a 52-week trading range of $7.08 to $13.28 [6]

Core Viewpoint - Snap is expected to report its second-quarter 2025 results on August 5, with revenues estimated at $1.34 billion, reflecting an 8.03% increase year-over-year, while earnings are projected to decrease by 50% to 1 cent per share [2][10]. Financial Performance - The Zacks Consensus Estimate indicates that Snap has consistently surpassed earnings expectations in the past four quarters, with an average positive surprise of 18.57% [3]. - The anticipated revenue growth is supported by Snap's Direct Response ad business, which constituted 75% of total ad revenues in the first quarter, alongside strong demand from small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) [7][10]. Cost and Investment Factors - Snap is likely to experience pressure on profitability due to ongoing investments in its advertising platform and content infrastructure, as well as increased spending on AI and machine learning [4][10]. - Selective hiring in engineering and go-to-market roles to support SMB clients may have further constrained margin expansion, despite a lowered full-year cost guidance by $50 million [5][10]. User Growth and Engagement - Daily active users (DAUs) are projected to rise from 460 million to 468 million, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for total global DAUs at 467.95 million for the second quarter, driven by growth in emerging markets [8][10]. - Snap's expanding global reach, with monthly active users surpassing 900 million in April, is expected to enhance engagement and contribute to top-line growth [8][10]. Earnings Expectations - Snap currently has an Earnings ESP of -100.00% and a Zacks Rank of 2, indicating a challenging outlook for an earnings beat in the upcoming report [11].