YouTube ad revenue increased by double digits in the second quarter, helping parent Alphabet beat Wall Street estimates. Total revenue for the period ended June 30 climbed 14% over the year-ago quarter to reach $96.4 billion, while diluted earnings per share also rose to $2.31. Both metrics exceeded Wall Street analysts’ consensus forecasts. Advertising on YouTube increased 13% to $9.8 billion. CEO Sundar Pichai saluted the division’s “strong performance” in the tech giant’s earnings release. Despite all ...

Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai during the Google I/O developers conference in Mountain View, California, on May 10, 2023.Google is adding a new artificial intelligence subscription service that offers exclusive access to the company's most "cutting edge" AI products.Called "Google AI Ultra," the new plan includes the highest usage limits and access to its latest AI models and premium features, the company announced Tuesday at its annual developer conference Google IO.At $249.99 per month, the subscription plan ...

Core Viewpoint - Spotify Technology S.A. is expected to report strong earnings growth in Q1 2025, with earnings per share estimated at $2.32, reflecting a 121% year-over-year increase, and revenues projected at $4.5 billion, indicating a 13.3% growth compared to the previous year [1]. Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Q1 earnings has seen two upward revisions and one downward revision in the past 30 days, with a 1.3% increase in the 2024 earnings estimate during the same period [2]. - The current earnings estimates for Q1, Q2, E1, and F2 are $2.32, $2.44, $10.55, and $13.56 respectively, showing a positive trend in revisions over the last 60 days [3]. Earnings Surprise History - Spotify has a notable earnings surprise history, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the last four quarters, with an average positive surprise of 22% [4]. Earnings Prediction Model - The current Earnings ESP for Spotify is -8.61%, and it holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), indicating that the model does not predict a definitive earnings beat this time [5][6]. Subscriber Growth - The growth in subscribers and monthly active users (MAU) is expected to positively impact both revenue and earnings, with total MAUs estimated at 678.3 million (10.3% year-over-year growth), ad-supported MAUs at 426.4 million (10% growth), and premium subscribers at 265.41 million (11% growth) [8]. Stock Performance - Spotify's stock has experienced significant price increases, rallying 35% year-to-date, 58% over the past six months, and 109% in the past year, indicating a strong upward trend [9]. Investment Considerations - The company's strong performance metrics are attributed to price hikes, a loyal consumer base, and cost reductions, which have contributed to growth in both top and bottom lines [10]. - The expectation is for another robust quarterly performance driven by subscriber gains and increases in average revenue per user (ARPU), which will enhance the company's financial position [11]. Long-term Outlook - While current growth prospects for Spotify appear strong, there may be a potential correction in the stock price, suggesting that investors might consider waiting for a more opportune moment to invest [12]. - The long-term growth potential of the company remains strong, making it a stock to monitor for future investment opportunities [14].