Core Insights - Snap (SNAP) reported a Q3 2025 loss of 6 cents per share, meeting the Zacks Consensus Estimate, compared to a loss of 9 cents per share in the same period last year [1][10] - Revenues increased by 10% year-over-year to $1.51 billion, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1% [1][10] Revenue Breakdown - North America, accounting for 60% of total revenues, saw a 5% year-over-year increase to $898 million [2] - Europe, representing 20% of revenues, experienced a 20% rise to $298 million [2] - Revenues from the Rest of World (ROW), making up 21% of revenues, reached $311 million, up 17% year-over-year [2] User Engagement and Growth - Snap's global daily active users (DAU) reached 477 million, an 8% increase year-over-year, with an addition of 8 million DAU quarter-over-quarter [4][10] - North America's DAU was 98 million, down 3% year-over-year, while Europe's DAU was 100 million, up 1% year-over-year; ROW's DAU was 280 million, up 15% year-over-year [5][10] - Monthly active users reached 943 million, reflecting a 7% year-over-year growth [5] Subscription and Other Revenues - Other revenues, primarily from Snapchat+ subscriptions, surged 54% year-over-year to $190 million, with an annualized run rate exceeding $750 million [3] - Snapchat+ subscribers approached 17 million, marking a 35% year-over-year growth [3][6] Advertising Performance - Direct response advertising revenue increased by 8% year-over-year, driven by strong demand from small and medium-sized business advertisers [8] - Purchase-related ad revenue grew over 30% year-over-year, aided by improved campaign performance [8] - Sponsored Snaps platform showed significant effectiveness, achieving up to 22% higher conversions and 19% lower cost per action [9][11] Financial Metrics - Adjusted cost of revenues rose 5% year-over-year to $671 million, while adjusted operating expenses increased by 8% to $654 million [12] - Adjusted EBITDA was $182 million, up 38% from the previous year, with an adjusted EBITDA margin expanding by 2 percentage points to 12% [13] Cash Flow and Balance Sheet - As of September 30, 2025, cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities totaled $3 billion, up from $2.9 billion as of June 30, 2025 [14] - Operating cash flow was $146.49 million, compared to $115.87 million in the prior year, while free cash flow increased to $93 million from $72 million [14] Guidance - Snap anticipates a decline in daily active users in Q4, with projected revenues between $1.68 billion and $1.71 billion, indicating 8-10% year-over-year growth [15] - Adjusted EBITDA is expected to range between $280 million and $310 million, reflecting improved cost discipline [15][16]

Core Insights - Snap Inc. has announced a partnership with Perplexity AI Inc. valued at up to $400 million, integrating AI-driven search capabilities into Snapchat, which is expected to create a new growth avenue for the company [1][2] - Following the announcement and a better-than-expected earnings report, Snap's stock surged over 25% in after-hours trading [1][2] Financial Performance - Snap reported Q3 revenue of approximately $1.51 billion, reflecting a year-over-year growth of about 10%, slightly above Wall Street's expectations of around $1.49 billion [2] - The company anticipates Q4 revenue to be between $1.68 billion and $1.71 billion, aligning with analyst expectations of approximately $1.69 billion [2] User Growth and Engagement - Snapchat's daily active users reached 477 million in Q3, representing an 8% year-over-year increase, while monthly active users approached 943 million [3] - The company aims to reach a target of 1 billion monthly active users [3] Advertising Business - Snap's advertising revenue for Q3 was $1.32 billion, showing a year-over-year increase of about 5%, despite previous challenges [3] - The company is focusing on small to medium-sized advertisers and has introduced new ad formats to drive growth [4] Subscription Services - Snap's subscription service, Snapchat+, has nearly 17 million paying users, contributing significantly to the company's revenue diversification [5] - The "Other Revenue" category, which includes Snapchat+, generated approximately $190 million in Q3, marking a substantial year-over-year growth of 54% [6] Regulatory Challenges - Snap has warned that user engagement may decline due to regulatory changes, such as the upcoming social media age restrictions in Australia [6]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue increased by 10% year-over-year to $1.51 billion, driven by improved advertising demand and the expansion of direct revenue streams [5][30] - Advertising revenue reached $1.32 billion, up 5% year-over-year, with direct response advertising revenue increasing by 8% year-over-year [30][31] - Net loss reduced by more than 30% year-over-year to $104 million, reflecting progress toward sustained profitability [7][36] - Adjusted EBITDA was $182 million, with adjusted EBITDA margins expanding to 12% [7][35] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Other revenue, including Snapchat Plus subscription revenue, increased by 54% year-over-year to $190 million [5][30] - Direct response advertising revenue growth was driven by strong demand for pixel purchase and app purchase optimizations, particularly from small and medium-sized business clients [30][31] - The North America large client solutions business experienced a modest decline, while the SMB advertising business grew over 25% [31][64] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Advertising revenue growth accelerated in Europe and the rest of the world, with Europe growing by 12% and the rest of the world by 13% year-over-year [31][32] - North America accounted for approximately 43% of total global revenue, decreasing as a share of total revenue by roughly 10 percentage points over the past two years [32] - Global impression volume grew approximately 22% year-over-year, although total eCPMs decreased by about 13% due to increased inventory from Sponsored Snaps [33] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to reach 1 billion monthly active users globally, with a focus on enhancing user engagement through new features and conversation starters [4][15] - Investments in augmented reality and generative AI are central to the company's long-term strategy, with significant user engagement in AR experiences [15][16] - The company is recalibrating investments in community growth and cost structures to improve financial efficiency [12][13] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management anticipates potential declines in daily active users in Q4 due to internal and external factors, including regulatory changes and age verification initiatives [15][56] - The company remains committed to improving monetization efficiency and ensuring compliance with evolving regulations [15][56] - Management expressed confidence in the long-term growth potential, supported by a robust balance sheet and cash flow generation [37] Other Important Information - The company has authorized a new share repurchase program of $500 million to manage share count for long-term shareholders [40] - A partnership with Perplexity AI will integrate conversational search into Snapchat, expected to enhance user experience and generate revenue starting in 2026 [29][44] Q&A Session Summary Question: On the Perplexity partnership, is the cash stock split already determined? - Management indicated that the cash and stock split for the Perplexity partnership is not finalized and will depend on future developments [42][44] Question: How do you see Snap's role evolving as a distribution channel? - Management highlighted the opportunity to distribute AI agents through the chat interface and Sponsored Snaps, enhancing customer experiences [50][52] Question: Can you provide an update on direct response advertising growth? - Direct response revenue grew by 8% year-over-year, with strong performance in Europe and the rest of the world, while North America lagged [60][63] Question: What is the conviction level on keeping infrastructure costs flat next year? - Management expressed confidence in maintaining flat infrastructure costs through improved capacity utilization and cost structure optimization [66][67] Question: What is the latest thinking on Spectacles and potential financial partners? - Management did not provide specific updates on financial partnerships but emphasized the advanced AR software stack and its potential [69]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q3 2025, total revenue increased by 10% year-over-year to $1.51 billion, driven by improved advertising demand and the expansion of direct revenue streams [5][29] - Advertising revenue reached $1.32 billion, up 5% year-over-year, primarily due to growth in direct response advertising revenue, which increased by 8% year-over-year [29][30] - Adjusted EBITDA was $182 million, an improvement of $50 million compared to the prior year, with a net loss reduced by over 30% year-over-year to $104 million [6][36] - Free cash flow was $93 million in Q3, with a total of $414 million over the trailing 12 months [6][37] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Direct response advertising revenue increased by 8% year-over-year, with strong demand from small and medium-sized business customers [5][29] - Other revenue, including Snapchat Plus subscription revenue, surged by 54% year-over-year to $190 million [5][29] - The community reached 477 million daily active users, an increase of 34 million or 8% year-over-year [4] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Advertising revenue growth in Europe accelerated to 12% year-over-year, while the rest of the world saw a 13% increase [30] - North America advertising revenue grew only 1% year-over-year, with the SMB segment growing over 25% [30][31] - Global impression volume grew approximately 22% year-over-year, although total eCPMs decreased by about 13% due to increased inventory [32] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to reach 1 billion monthly active users globally and is focusing on enhancing user engagement through new features and conversation starters [4][7] - Investments in augmented reality and AI are prioritized, with plans to introduce new monetization tools and premium offerings [5][20] - The strategy includes recalibrating investments in community growth and optimizing cost structures to improve financial efficiency [11][12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management anticipates potential declines in daily active users in Q4 due to regulatory changes and internal initiatives [13] - The company remains committed to long-term growth despite short-term engagement headwinds, focusing on monetization efficiency and compliance with regulations [12][13] - Future revenue guidance for Q4 is set between $1.68 billion and $1.71 billion, implying year-over-year growth of 8%-10% [37] Other Important Information - The company has approximately $3 billion in cash and marketable securities, providing financial flexibility for future investments [6][37] - A new share repurchase program of $500 million has been authorized to manage share count for long-term shareholders [39] Q&A Session Questions and Answers Question: On the Perplexity partnership, is the cash stock split already determined? - Management expressed excitement about the Perplexity partnership, emphasizing its potential to enhance Snapchat's role as a messaging service and the unique opportunity to distribute AI agents through the chat interface [41][43] Question: Should we presume that the reason for the leverage in cost of revenue is due to not paying out to content owners? - Management clarified that the improvement in gross margins is attributed to a mix shift towards higher-margin ad formats like Sponsored Snaps and Spotlight, which have lower associated costs [42][46] Question: How do you see Snap's role evolving as a distribution channel? - Management highlighted the opportunity to open up the chat interface to more AI agents and conversational commerce experiences, indicating a strategic focus on enhancing customer engagement through these channels [47][49] Question: Could you talk about your conviction level on keeping infrastructure costs flat next year? - Management indicated a strong focus on improving capacity utilization and efficiency in infrastructure costs, aiming to maintain flat costs into 2026 [60][61] Question: What is the latest thinking on Spectacles and potential financial partners? - Management is preparing for the public release of Spectacles and is considering various options to accelerate technical leadership in the AR space, including establishing a standalone subsidiary for better flexibility [63]

Core Thesis - Snap Inc. is viewed as an underappreciated social media platform with significant growth potential, particularly in augmented reality (AR) and monetization strategies [2][3][6] User Engagement - As of Q2 2025, Snap has 932 million monthly active users (MAUs) and over 350 million daily augmented reality (AR) users, indicating strong user engagement [2] - Snapchat+ subscribers increased from 15 million to 16 million quarter-over-quarter, while games engagement rose 40% year-over-year to 175 million MAUs [2] - Spotlight usage surged 23% year-over-year, accounting for nearly half of all time spent on the platform, and video chat time increased by 30% year-over-year [2] Financial Performance - Free cash flow per share has risen sharply, with an annual revenue run-rate from Snapchat+ reaching $700 million [3] - Snap is trading at just over 2 times sales, suggesting that the market has undervalued the company, creating an asymmetric investment opportunity [3] Augmented Reality Strategy - Snap's long-term strategy is centered around its AR-first philosophy, with over $3 billion invested in building a vertically integrated AR platform [4] - The company offers unique developer tools such as Easy Lens, real-time transcription APIs, and 3D object generation to enhance its AR capabilities [4] Advertising and Monetization - Early monetization improvements are evident with Sponsored Snaps, which have shown stronger engagement and conversion rates compared to traditional ad formats [5] - A Q2 2025 ad platform error caused a temporary 25% stock drop, but the issue has been resolved, and fundamentals are strengthening [6] Market Sentiment - Despite mixed perceptions of leadership, Snap's fundamentals are improving, with resilient engagement and rising monetization [6] - The stock price has appreciated approximately 8.9% since previous bullish coverage, reinforcing the positive outlook on Snap's fundamentals [7]

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]