AMZN Enters the Dow: What It Means for Investors and the Market

Posted on by The INO.com Team

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), often referred to as the Dow, is one of the most enduring and esteemed price-weighted indices, overseeing 30 prominent publicly traded companies listed on both the NYSE and the NASDAQ.

Throughout its history, the Dow has functioned as a reliable gauge of the overall health of the U.S. stock market and economy. The companies featured in the Dow are often regarded as stalwarts in their respective industries.

However, over the past years, the absence of a few major tech giants within the index has led to its downfall. As the S&P 500 takes the lead, questions have been raised on Dow’s ability to correctly capture the essence of Artificial Intelligence’s (AI) impact on the U.S. economy.

In 2023, the Dow recorded a 13.7% increase, whereas the S&P 500 saw a 24.2% surge. Looking at year-to-date performance, the S&P 500 has risen by about 7%, compared to the Dow's increase of over 2%.

The performance gap between the indexes can be largely attributed to the S&P 500's heavier focus on big tech stocks, which have emerged as significant market winners. The anticipation surrounding the Federal Reserve's potential shift from rate hikes to cuts, coupled with the AI frenzy, propelled tech stocks to unprecedented heights last year.

Out of the few major big tech players, namely Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL), Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN), Apple Inc. (AAPL), Meta Platforms, Inc. (META), Microsoft Corporation (MSFT), and NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA), only two tech titans MSFT and AAPL were included in the Dow up until last month.

However, considering the Dow’s lagging performance compared to the S&P 500 and its lack of exposure to big tech stocks, in a recent bold move to revitalize its performance and embrace the tech wave, Dow replaced pharmaceutical retailer Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (WBA) with e-commerce giant, AMZN. Among the 30 blue chip companies listed in the Dow, AMZN holds the 17th position by weight.

But What Led to AMZN's Inclusion Into the Dow?

AMZN's inclusion in the Dow Jones index can be attributed to a three-for-one split implemented by Walmart, Inc. (WMT), also in the Dow. Companies within the Dow are weighted according to their stock price. Therefore, WMT's stock split, which effectively reduces its price and thereby its weight within the index, necessitated a rebalancing. Consequently, the Dow opted to incorporate AMZN into its listing.

S&P Dow Jones Indices indicates that this adjustment mirrors the evolving landscape of the American economy, which is expected to amplify consumer retail exposure alongside other business sectors within the Dow. Beyond AMZN's retail aspect, its addition to the Dow could elevate the index's performance, propelled by AMZN's increasing influence in the tech sector.

Commanding a market cap of over $1.80 trillion, AMZN has spread its wings across various industries over the past few years. While renowned for its remarkable retail operations, its substantial advancements in the entertainment landscape through Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Music, Prime Gaming, and Twitch underscore its versatility and impact.

Moreover, the company has also achieved notable progress in the tech space, particularly with its Amazon Web Services (AWS) segment, capitalizing on the surge in demand for Cloud and AI services. According to Statista, AWS generated $90.80 billion with its cloud services in 2023.

Additionally, buoyed by a record-breaking holiday shopping season, AMZN witnessed solid year-over-year growth in both its topline and bottom-line figures in the final quarter of 2023. Meanwhile, its AWS segment, which recorded a net sale of $24.20 billion, was more profitable than analysts had predicted and accounted for 14% of AMZN’s overall revenue in the same quarter.

With AMZN’s focus on fortifying its foothold in the realm of AI, the company, during the fourth quarter, launched the Q chatbot for developers and nontechnical corporate workers, alongside unveiling its partnership with chip kingpin NVDA to provide cutting-edge infrastructure, software, and services, aimed at supporting customers' advancements in generative AI.

On the earnings call, AMZN’s CEO Andy Jassy emphasized that generative AI remains a focal point for AMZN, with ongoing dedication and investment. He highlighted its potential to revolutionize numerous customer experiences and processes, foreseeing it as a significant driver of tens of billions of dollars in revenue for AMZN in the coming years.

Bottom Line

Despite the Dow lagging behind the S&P 500 index, inclusion in the Dow serves as a clear signal to investors, analysts, and the financial media, indicating a company's status as a stalwart of the American economy.

That being said, AMZN’s inclusion among the top 30 blue-chip companies comes as no surprise, considering the company’s strong financial prowess, relentless success, and diverse portfolio spanning retail, entertainment, and technology.

In addition, AMZN's robust financial performance in its last reported quarter, along with its recent partnerships with industry giants such as NVDA and product launches to fortify its position in the realm of AI, underscore its potential for further expansion and innovation.

Looking forward, Wall Street is buzzing with high expectations for the company’s fiscal first-quarter earnings, forecasting an impressive 11.9% year-over-year revenue climb to $142.48 billion, alongside a remarkable 171.6% year-over-year EPS surge to $0.84.

Furthermore, driven by AMZN’s competitive advantages, including its strong positions in logistics, e-commerce, and cloud computing, Wall Street projects the company to achieve revenue growth close to 10% by 2028. Street also anticipates slight increases in its EBITDA margin, reaching 21.2% by the end of 2028, and predicts AMNZ's market cap will reach $3 trillion over the next five years.

With such bullish sentiment echoed by analysts for the company’s future prospects coupled with its inclusion in the prestigious Dow index, institutional investors are flocking to AMZN shares, with 2,532 holders ramping up their stakes, reaching a total of 312,340,167 shares. Moreover, 428 institutions have taken new positions (32,292,371 shares).

This surge in institutional investment speaks volumes about the growing confidence in AMZN's future prospects. In light of all the encouraging aforementioned factors, AMZN emerges as a compelling investment opportunity.

Nvidia vs. Netflix- Which Is the #1 Growth Stock to Buy in March?

Posted on by The INO.com Team

With the S&P 500 soaring roughly 8% year-to-date, stocks have experienced a solid start in 2024, with investors reaping the rewards of putting their money in high-growth stocks. This positive momentum is expected to persist throughout the rest of the year and beyond.

Amid this market rally, chip giant NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) and entertainment powerhouse Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) have emerged as beacons of growth, capturing investor’s bullish sentiment.

Although operating in distinct industries with unique business models, these titans share striking parallels in their journey to success. Their unwavering commitment to excellence, combined with strategic flexibility, has catapulted them to the forefront of their respective industries.

Therefore, let’s explore the fundamentals of NVDA and NFLX to unveil the ultimate growth contender of the month.

Last Reported Quarterly Results

In the fiscal fourth quarter that ended January 28, 2024, NVDA witnessed a staggering 265.3% year-over-year surge in its topline, totaling $22.10 billion. The company’s non-GAAP net income surged to $12.84 billion and $5.16 per share, marking a remarkable increase of 490.6% and 486.4% from the prior-year quarter, respectively.

As of January 28, 2024, NVDA’s cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities stood at $25.98 billion.

Conversely, for the fourth quarter that ended December 31, 2023, NFLX’s revenue rose 12.5% year-over-year to $8.83 billion. The company also experienced significant growth in net income and EPS compared to the previous year’s quarter, amounting to $937.84 million and $2.11, respectively. As of December 31, 2023, NFLX held $7.12 billion in cash and cash equivalents.

Growth Trajectory

NVDA, the reigning chip powerhouse, is currently one of the market's most sizzling stocks. Since its inception in 1993, NVDA has spearheaded cutting-edge computer chip technology, pushing the boundaries of graphics-heavy video games to unparalleled heights.

However, with the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI), these chips have swiftly ascended to newfound prominence, reflecting NVDA's enduring innovation and strategic adaptability. The company stands as a global giant in the production of Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) renowned for their ability to handle complex mathematical operations, powering captivating visuals across devices.

These advanced chips have become indispensable for training state-of-the-art AI programs such as ChatGPT and Gemini, underscoring NVDA’s pivotal role in driving the AI revolution forward. Leveraging AI to its advantage, NVDA’s earnings reports have managed to exceed expectations throughout 2023.

Furthermore, NVDA’s shares soared roughly 200% over the past year, buoyed by the company’s stellar earnings performance and solid demand for its AI chips. This surge attracted both institutional and retail investors, driving up share prices. With a market cap of around $2 trillion, NVDA has now claimed the title of the world's third most valuable company.

On the other hand, commanding a market cap of over $268 billion, NFLX stands as a pioneer in the streaming entertainment space, revolutionizing how audiences consume content worldwide. With a vast library of original programming and a global subscriber base, NFLX enjoys unrivaled dominance in the industry.

In a recent conference, NFLX’s CFO Spencer Neumann elaborated on NFLX’s trajectory under its revamped Co-CEO structure and its ambitious vision for future expansion. Neumann emphasized the smooth transition to the new leadership structure and NFLX’s dedication to broadening its entertainment repertoire, spanning films, TV series, gaming endeavors, and live content experiences.

Over the last few years, the tech company has adopted several strategic approaches to bolster its financial health. NFLX’s growth strategy hinges significantly on its substantial investment in content, with an annual expenditure projected at approximately $17 billion.

In addition, Netflix is venturing into new revenue avenues, including the introduction of an ad-supported subscription tier and measures aimed at bolstering monetization, such as combating password sharing.

Moreover, despite its risky move of cracking down on password sharing, NFLX’s latest earnings report revealed a surge of 13 million new subscribers in the final quarter of 2023, marking its most substantial growth since 2020. While initially met with resistance, the strategic move has been designed to counteract declining subscribership.

Greg Peters, NFLX’s Managing Director, emphasized during the earnings call that the company's top priority regarding ads is scalability. He highlighted a 70% quarter-on-quarter growth in the last quarter, following a similar growth trend in the previous quarter, indicating a positive growth trajectory for the company.

Competitive Landscape

In the dynamic worlds of technology and entertainment, both NVDA and NFLX are fiercely vying for supremacy in their domains.

The soaring popularity of generative AI owes a significant debt to NVDA and its groundbreaking GPUs. With skyrocketing demand and tight supply, NVDA's GPU H100 has emerged as a highly sought-after and premium-priced commodity, propelling NVDA to trillion-dollar status for the very first time.

With tech giants such as Microsoft Corporation (MSFT), Meta Platforms Inc. (META), OpenAI, Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN), and Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) heavily relying on NVDA’s GPU chips to power their generative AI planforms, these companies have started developing their own AI processors.

In addition, NVDA faces stiff competition from other chip makers like Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD) and Intel Corporation (INTC), all striving to release the newest, most efficient, and potent AI chips to dominate the market.

Meanwhile, NFLX confronts fierce competition from fellow FAAMG (Meta (formerly Facebook), Apple Inc. (AAPL), Amazon, Microsoft, and Alphabet’s Google) heavyweights. The streaming arena is now brimming with contenders like Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video, and YouTube Premium, launched by Apple, Amazon, and Google, respectively.

This fierce rivalry compels NFLX to perpetually innovate and enrich its content library to retain its crown as the streaming kingpin. Furthermore, the mounting expenses of content licensing and the delicate balance between original productions and licensed content present enduring hurdles for NFLX to overcome.

Bottom Line

As evidenced by their latest quarterly results, both NVDA and NFLX continue to deliver impressive performances, standing as formidable players in their respective industries, with their growth trajectories reflecting their strategic prowess and market dominance.

NVDA's cutting-edge GPU chips have propelled it to the forefront of the AI revolution, with staggering earnings growth and market capitalization making it a top contender in the tech landscape.

Fueled by these promising prospects, NVDA’s shares soared to unprecedented heights last month, with its market cap skyrocketing by a Jaw-dropping $267 billion in a single day. This remarkable surge nearly matched the entire market cap of NFLX, reflecting immense investor confidence in NVDA’s prospects.

NFLX, on the other hand, dominates the streaming entertainment space with its vast content library and global subscriber base. Despite facing stiff competition from tech giants and emerging streaming platforms, NFLX remains focused on expansion and innovation, which is evident in its ambitious growth strategies and robust financial health in the last reported quarter.

While challenges and competition persist, NVDA and NFLX demonstrate resilience, adaptability, and a relentless drive for success, making them compelling options for investors seeking growth opportunities in the dynamic worlds of technology and entertainment.

However, NVDA’s shares are trading at a much higher valuation than NFLX. For instance, in terms of forward Price/Sales, NVDA is trading at 19.37x, 178.7% higher than NFLX’s 6.95x. Likewise, NVDA’s forward Price/Book ratio of 24.32 is 116.2% higher than NFLX’s 11.25x.

The higher valuation of NVDA compared to NFLX indicates investor confidence in NVDA's future growth potential, leading investors to be willing to pay a premium price for its shares. However, it also signals that NVDA's anticipated growth might already be factored into its stock price, potentially dimming its attractiveness compared to NFLX.

Furthermore, while NVDA’s ascent captivates the stock market and propels the S&P 500 Index to unprecedented highs, Barclays research analyst Sandeep Gupta anticipates that demand for AI chips will stabilize once the initial training phase concludes.

Gupta underscores that during the inference stage, the computational demand is lower compared to training, suggesting that high-powered PCs and smartphones could suffice for local inference tasks. Consequently, this scenario may reduce the urgency for NVDA’s expanding GPU facilities.

As a result, investors might be banking on future growth that could potentially fail to materialize. With that being said, NFLX may emerge as a more promising growth stock compared to NVDA.

Is Best Buy (BBY) Flashing a Red Alert for Investors?

Posted on by The INO.com Team

Best Buy Co., Inc. (BBY), the electronic retailing giant, reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter 2024 earnings and revenue. The recent report broke a string of eight straight year-over-year EPS declines. The retailer posted an EPS of $2.72 in the quarter that ended January 28, 2024, up 4% from the prior year’s quarter. That exceeded analysts’ earnings estimate of $2.50 per share.

Although BBY experienced stagnant revenue in the fourth quarter of 2024, dropping by less than 1% to $14.65 billion, it surpassed analysts’ expectations of $14.56 billion. 

However, for the full year 2024, the company recorded $43.45 billion in revenue, marking a 6.1% year-over-year decrease. Moreover, its operating income experienced a 12.3% year-over-year decline to $1.57 billion, while net earnings dropped by 12.5% to $1.24 billion from the previous year’s $1.42 billion.

This scenario likely stems from Americans contending with elevated prices for essentials such as rent and specific foods despite an overall decrease in the inflation rate. In the meantime, acquiring loans for appliances, cars, and homes or utilizing credit cards remains accompanied by higher costs.

Persistent challenges in the housing market have prompted consumers to scale back their purchases of high-value items. Additionally, there’s a sustained preference for experiential spending on activities such as concerts and travel. Consequently, consumers are exercising caution when it comes to expenditures on gadgets and other products.

The current scenario presents a stark contrast to BBY’s sales during the peak of the pandemic, characterized by heightened consumer spending on electronics. Shoppers indulged in purchases to facilitate remote work and assist with virtual learning for their children. Additionally, government stimulus checks played a significant role in driving this spending spree.

Furthermore, Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData, said, “Over the final quarter, the market was soft, but Best Buy underperformed it and lost share.”

Particularly evident was this trend in appliances, where competitors such as The Home Depot, Inc. (HD) fared significantly better, and in consumer electronics and computing, where companies such as Apple Inc. (AAPL) and Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) demonstrated superior performance.

Also, BBY incurred $169 million in fourth-quarter restructuring charges linked to employee layoffs. Looking forward, BBY anticipates approximately $10 million to $30 million in additional restructuring-related charges for fiscal year 2025.

This restructuring is intended to “right-size resources to better align with the company’s revenue outlook for FY25,” among other goals. 

Concurrently, Best Buy’s CFO Matt Bilunas stated that, as part of their ongoing strategy, they would persist in closing traditional stores as they conduct thorough evaluations upon lease renewals. “In fiscal '24, we closed 24 stores,” he noted. “And in fiscal '25, we expect to close 10 to 15 stores.”

So, amid flat revenue in the fourth quarter, the retailer is braced for layoffs and store closures. Despite this, BBY’s stock approaches the Buy point on its earnings surprise. Shares of BBY have gained nearly 6% over the past month.

Meanwhile, analysts responded to the electronic retailer giant’s better-than-anticipated earnings by increasing their share price targets. Truist analyst Scott Ciccarelli raised the firm’s price target on BBY to $87 from $68.

Also, Telsey Advisory Group analyst Joseph Feldman increased his price target for Best Buy to $85 per share from $75 while maintaining a Market Perform rating on the stock. Feldman said Best Buy’s EPS exceeded the firm’s estimates, driven by better-than-expected sales and profitability.

However, fourth-quarter comparable sales were still bleak given a challenging industry and macro environment, he added. Overall, Feldman stated, Best Buy has a sound business strategy and solid management team while being ahead of its peers in its omnichannel capabilities, usage of real estate, and new revenue streams.

Furthermore, Jefferies increased the firm’s price target on BBY from $89 to $95 while maintaining a Buy rating on the shares after it called “slightly better” fourth-quarter results.

Bottom Line

Maintaining such extensive inventory can incur significant costs, particularly considering BBY’s operation of more than 1,000 stores solely in the United States. The array of expensive electronic products, often swiftly rendered obsolete by the rapid pace of technological advancement, pose liabilities until sold and ensuring consistent merchandise turnover can pose challenges.

Hence, the retailer shuttered 24 stores last year and intends to continue closing underperforming ones. The company is also strategically removing certain items from shelves at remaining stores, redirecting focus towards higher-margin products. The retailer plans to discontinue sales of DVDs and other physical media products to revamp its tech centers and allocate space for more lucrative tech items.

Corie Sue Barry, BBY’s CEO & Director, clarified, “We’re not remodeling every store in the fleet, but we’re enhancing the shopping experience to embody the excitement and innovation that technology offers.”

She emphasized the removal of outdated technology that no longer significantly contributes to its bottom line.  “And so, removing physical media, updating mobile, digital imaging, computing, tablets, and smart home, I think that allows us to make that center of the store really feel a bit more vibrant and exciting. And so, the goal here is not that every single store is going to look like an Experience Store.”

This entails embracing agility in previously unexplored markets and creating space for reimagined store concepts. BBY is reassessing its large store formats, which have functioned more as display-centric warehouses than profit-driven entities.

The company also plans to launch additional outlet centers and novel formats to test two key concepts. Firstly, small locations will be opened in selected outstate markets lacking prior physical presence, gauging the potential to capture untapped market share.

Secondly, Best Buy will explore transitioning from large-format to small-format stores nearby, aiming to enhance convenience and retain physical store presence effectively. Also, the retailer is increasingly investing in AI to improve operational efficiency and customer service.

BBY expects sales in the computing category to strengthen, demonstrating growth for the full year 2025. This projection is based on the increasing momentum of early replacement and upgrade cycles, alongside the release of new products featuring advanced AI capabilities throughout the year.

Wedbush analyst Basham has echoed similar sentiments, noting, “There are building signs of stabilization in consumer electronics, with laptop and TV unit sales again increasing for [Best Buy] in 4Q24, and replacement and innovation cycles likely to build from here.”

Also, the implementation of workforce reductions and cost-saving measures within the company aims to free up capital for reinvestment, particularly in emerging areas like artificial intelligence. This strategy is designed to position the company strategically for an anticipated industry rebound.

Additionally, in January 2024, the retailer announced its collaboration with Bell Canada to run 165 small-format electronics stores. These BBY Express outlets will provide consumer electronics alongside phone, internet, and TV services. The launch of these express locations is anticipated in the second half of this year.

The company anticipates growth opportunities in healthcare as well. Although still a small segment compared to its core business, BBY’s Health sales are projected to grow faster than the core business by fiscal 2025. This growth, coupled with cost synergies from integrating acquired companies, is forecasted to drive a 10-basis points expansion in enterprise operating income rate.

BBY anticipates sales for the current year 2025 to range between $41.30 billion and $42.60 billion, while analysts are projecting $42.09 billion. Moreover, the company’s earnings per share for the year are expected to range from $5.75 to $6.20, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.06.

Therefore, considering BBY’s strategic adjustments, such as optimizing store layouts, exiting low-margin product lines, and venturing into promising sectors like healthcare, it’s advisable to hold onto its shares. Positive industry sentiments, anticipated sales growth, and innovative collaborations indicate potential for future profitability and shareholder value.

Is Energy Transfer (ET) a Buy Opportunity Amidst Acquisition Momentum?

Posted on by The INO.com Team

As a merger frenzy sweeps across the U.S. oil industry, pipeline operators are seizing the opportunity to join the fray. Fueled by ambitions to enhance scale, optimize assets, and capitalize on lucrative export markets, they're making their mark by jumping on the merger bandwagon.

Natural gas pipeline operator Energy Transfer LP’s (ET) recent merger and acquisition endeavors stand out as a shining example in this dynamic landscape. Commanding a market cap of approximately $49 billion, ET is a powerhouse in the energy industry, boasting one of the most extensive and diverse portfolios of assets in the U.S.

Owning and operating over 125,000 miles of pipelines and vital infrastructure, ET’s strategic footprint covers 44 states, tapping into every major U.S. production basin.

Despite its vast footprint, ET made significant moves last year, securing two major deals. It acquired Lotus Midstream for close to $1.50 billion and merged with Crestwood Equity Partners, a fellow Master Limited Partnership (MLP), in a deal worth $7.10 billion.

ET’s Co-CEO Tom Long, in the fourth-quarter conference call, conveyed the company's steadfast belief in the rationale behind consolidation within the energy sector and indicated that the company will continue assessing potential opportunities for further consolidation.

That said, ET's acquisition of Lotus Midstream's Centurion Pipeline assets marks a pivotal expansion for the company, amplifying its presence in the thriving heart of the Permian Basin. This strategic move bolsters ET's capacity for transporting and storing crude oil and elevates its connectivity across key markets. 

The Centurion assets, located across some of the most active areas of the Permian Basin, boast substantial gathering volumes from prominent producers, fortifying ET's access to crucial downstream markets characterized by consistent demand. These assets serve as direct conduits to major hubs such as Cushing, Midland, Colorado City, Wink, and Crane, unlocking a network of unparalleled opportunities for ET to thrive and flourish.

Meanwhile, last year November, ET successfully completed its merger with Crestwood Equity Partners LP, solidifying its dominant position in the midstream sector. The transaction boosts ET’s distributable cash flow per unit, bringing in substantial cash flows from long-term contracts and acreage dedications.

In its fourth-quarter earnings release, the company emphasized the transformative impact of its merger with Crestwood, projecting an impressive $80 million in annual cost synergies by 2026, with an anticipated $65 million to be realized by 2024 alone.

These synergies, however, are just the tip of the iceberg, with further benefits expected to emerge from enhanced financial and commercial alignments in the near future. Moreover, during the fourth quarter, ET’s assets surged to unprecedented heights with the addition of new growth projects and acquisitions.

Notably, Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) fractionation volumes soared by a remarkable 16%, establishing a new record for ET. Similarly, NGL transportation volumes witnessed a substantial uptick of 10%, also setting a new benchmark.

Meanwhile, NGL exports experienced an impressive surge of over 13%, reflecting the company’s expanding global reach. Additionally, both crude oil transportation and terminal volumes witnessed substantial increases, soaring by 39% and 16%, respectively.

For the fiscal year 2024, the company expects its growth capital expenditures to range from $2.40 billion to $2.60 billion and maintenance capital expenditures are expected to be between $835 million and $865 million. The forecasted adjusted EBITDA for the same period is expected to hover somewhere between $14.50 billion and $14.80 billion.

Apart from mergers and acquisition endeavors, ET is dedicated to returning its unitholders’ value through quarterly distributions. The company’s annual dividend of $1.26 translates to an 8.58% yield on the prevailing price level, while its four-year average dividend yield is 10.24%. Its dividend payouts have grown at a CAGR of 10.8% over the past three years.

With a surge of roughly 14% over the past year, analysts on Wall Street are forecasting a potential increase in the stock's value, estimating it to reach $18.22 within the next 12 months. This suggests a potential upside of 25.4%. The price target varies, ranging from a low of $15 to a high of $22.

Bottom Line

ET emerges as a formidable player in the energy industry, driven by its aggressive growth strategy and slew of acquisitions.

The company's major deals, including the merger with Crestwood and the acquisition of Lotus Midstream's Centurion Pipeline assets, demonstrate its commitment to expanding its footprint and enhancing its capabilities. Additionally, ET's strong operational performance in the fourth quarter underscores its remarkable ability to capitalize on growth projects and acquisitions.

Moreover, the company's attractive dividend yield, the potential for further acquisitions this year, analyst’s bullish forecasts for ET's stock value, and its robust growth prospects all point toward promising opportunities for investors.

With these factors in mind, investors could closely monitor ET's shares for potential gains in the future.

PLTR Stock Surges 40% in 2024: Buy or Wait?

Posted on by The INO.com Team

AI, the pinnacle of technological advancement, has emerged as a premier investment avenue, revolutionizing mundane tasks and business operations alike. Akin to King Midas, its touch is rendering prosperity, as reflected in the soaring stock performance of top AI chip and software enterprises.

Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR) stands as a prime example, surging over 42% this year and a remarkable increase of more than 205% over the past year. The driving force behind the ascent extends beyond the prevailing currents of generative AI, encompassing factors such as stellar quarterly financial results that exceeded investor expectations.

A business' capacity to generate substantial cash autonomously is pivotal. It liberates the enterprise from reliance on debt or additional stock offerings for growth. The self-sufficiency catalyzes several expansion opportunities, fostering resilience and agility in navigating market dynamics.

Considering this, in its fiscal fourth quarter that ended December 31, 2023, PLTR disclosed an operating cash flow of $301.17 million, up 282.4% year-over-year.

Expanding this metric could empower PLTR to bolster its operational investments or even contemplate acquisitions. Sustained growth in cash flow would signal robust health for the company, enticing risk-averse investors to its stock. The trajectory could fortify PLTR's position and amplify its appeal in the market.

Additionally, PLRT's AI prowess is garnering momentum through the implementation of “bootcamps.” These initiatives empower both new and existing clientele to advance high-impact AI applications rapidly. The success of Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) “bootcamps” is amplifying PLTR’s potential market reach.

Having set a goal of executing 500 AIP bootcamps within a year back in October 2023, the company has already surpassed expectations by conducting 560 bootcamps involving 465 organizations. As per the company’s management, these bootcamps have significantly reduced sales cycles and accelerated customer acquisition.

In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023, the company reported a doubling of new U.S. commercial deals exceeding $1 million compared to the year-ago value. Commercial revenue surged by 32% year-over-year to $284 million, whereas Government segment revenue increased by 11% year-over-year to $324 million.

While the Government segment remains the primary revenue driver, the Commercial segment exhibits significantly higher growth rates, underscoring robust momentum in this sector. The remarkable expansion is fueled by the success of its AI integration platform, highlighting its pivotal role in driving business growth.

In 2024, the company anticipates its U.S. commercial revenue to surpass $640 million, up roughly 40% from the previous year. CEO Alex Karp remains optimistic, citing "unrelenting" demand.

Future quarters will likely see investors closely monitoring the commercial revenue figure. Increases in this metric would signify successful conversion of bootcamp participants into clients, signaling the business' efficacy in capitalizing on its initiatives and expanding its customer base.

Additionally, to bolster international Commercial revenue growth, PLTR has forged strategic partnerships. For instance, PLTR has collaborated with Fujitsu to broaden its presence in Japan, facilitating the deployment of AIP and data integration capabilities in a new geographic market.

Moreover, the company is diversifying into healthcare, retail, and financial services sectors via strategic partnerships to broaden its market presence. For instance, PLTR has teamed up with SOMPO Care, a prominent healthcare insurer in Japan, to provide real-time data solutions to nursing homes and elder care facilities.

Also, PLTR has been active in the energy sector for over a decade, aiding clients ranging from small operators to supermajors and national oil companies in navigating challenges and seizing opportunities across the value chain. This includes activities from production to distribution, as well as supporting efforts to reduce carbon emissions.

That said, on February 8, PLTR and Bapco Upstream, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bapco Energies, unveiled a strategic, multi-year partnership. The collaboration aims to implement PLTR’s software, facilitating and expediting Bapco Upstream’s endeavors to advance the next generation of energy in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Another metric bound to attract long-term investors is a robust profit margin. In the fourth quarter, PLTR recorded a net income of $96.91 million, equivalent to 15.9% of its total revenue. This marks a notable enhancement from the preceding quarter, where the profit margin stood at 13.2%.

Sustained growth in PLTR's top line alongside a robust profit margin could lower its price-to-earnings ratio, rendering the stock a more appealing investment prospect in the future. The combination signifies a healthier financial position, potentially attracting more investors seeking value in the market.

Institutional investors are also evidently keen on PLTR shares, with 599 holders increasing their positions, totaling 118,615,063 shares. Additionally, 170 holders have initiated new positions, accumulating a total of 28,129,517 shares. The surge in institutional interest underscores growing confidence in the company's potential.

Bottom Line

Delving into PLTR's recent financial performance unveils various factors driving the sustained margin improvement. Notably, the expansion of the commercial sector, characterized by higher margin contracts compared to the government sector, emerges as a primary catalyst behind the margin expansion.

Furthermore, economies of scale and the company's commitment to responsible growth have significantly contributed to margin enhancement. With a growing contribution to revenue from the Commercial segment, PLTR appears poised for further margin expansion, solidifying its position for sustained growth and profitability.

Presently, commercial revenue signifies a substantial growth avenue, with businesses embracing AIP and harnessing PLTR's AI capabilities to leverage their data. Recent quarters' performance underscores this potential, positioning the company to potentially achieve record-free cash flow in 2024, possibly driving an increase in the stock price.

Bloomberg Intelligence suggests that Generative AI could burgeon into a $1.3 trillion market by 2032. This colossal growth potential, coupled with substantial demand for PLTR's offerings, rising sales, and profitability, underscores the company’s auspicious positioning for significant long-term growth.

Analysts project the company's revenue and EPS to rise by 17.2% and 52.2% year-over-year to $615.52 million and $0.08, respectively, for the fiscal first quarter ending March 2024.

However, a significant factor deterring some investors from the stock presently is its sky-high valuation. In terms of forward non-GAAP P/E, PLTR is trading at 72.16x, which is higher than the industry average of 25.03x. Similarly, its forward EV/Sales and forward EV/EBITDA multiples of 18.25x and 56.58x, respectively, are also higher than the industry averages.

Thus, given PLTR’s lofty valuations, investors may opt to wait for a better entry point into PLTR.