Earnings

Snap Inc. beat Q2 revenue and earnings expectations, signaling a potential turnaround. Global Daily Active Users reached 493 million, and ARPU increased. The advertising business rebounded, driven by large advertisers and international growth. Strategic investments in AI and AR are underway, with new AR glasses set to launch. This performance contrasts with challenges faced by competitors like Meta and Reddit.

Palantir’s stock rose 20% after reporting “otherworldly” Q2 earnings, driven by strong AI sovereignty demand. Revenue surged 93% year-over-year to $1.94 billion, beating expectations. Commercial revenue jumped 149%, and government revenue grew 90%. The company raised full-year guidance, projecting strong commercial growth. CEO Alex Karp highlighted the “sovereign AI revolution” as a key driver, noting unprecedented growth for a company at their scale.

Coinbase shares fell after reporting a wider-than-expected second-quarter loss. Revenue declined year-over-year, missing analyst forecasts due to the ongoing “crypto winter” and challenging macroeconomic conditions. Despite a tough trading environment, subscription revenue showed promise as Coinbase diversifies. The company, however, saw a decrease in stablecoin revenue, highlighting ongoing sector headwinds.

Apple reported a strong fiscal third quarter, exceeding revenue and EPS expectations. Despite impressive performance, escalating memory chip prices are a significant headwind. Price increases on MacBooks and iPads were implemented. New CEO John Ternus will take over on September 1st, coinciding with the iPhone launch event. Apple Intelligence and AI strategy, including revamped Siri, are key future drivers. The company anticipates continued memory cost increases in the near future but remains focused on its strong ecosystem and strategic AI investments.

Semiconductor stocks saw a significant rally Thursday, driven by strong earnings from Microsoft and Lam Research, particularly in AI. Lam Research jumped 18% on AI-fueled demand, while Microsoft climbed 15% due to robust Azure growth. Memory chip stocks also rose, with Samsung’s shortage warning boosting Micron and Sandisk. The sector, crucial for AI infrastructure, rebounded after a recent correction, reflecting renewed investor confidence. Arm Holdings also gained on strong demand for its new chip.

Apple is set to release its fiscal Q3 earnings, with analysts predicting $1.89 EPS on $108.65 billion revenue. The company is near an all-time stock high, defying industry headwinds like chip shortages. A significant AI initiative, including a revamped Siri, is expected soon. This report is also Tim Cook’s last as CEO before handing over to John Ternus.

Microsoft shares surged, while Meta’s stock dropped significantly following their latest earnings reports. Microsoft exceeded revenue expectations, driven by strong Azure cloud growth and accelerating adoption of its AI assistant, Copilot. Conversely, Meta missed revenue guidance and saw a steep decline in free cash flow due to heavy AI infrastructure investment. Meta’s CEO suggested potentially leasing excess computing capacity, but investors remain cautious about Meta’s AI strategy and profitability.

Qualcomm’s latest earnings met expectations, but forward guidance was cautious due to supply chain constraints. The company announced a September 1 price increase for its chips to offset rising input costs and is diversifying into automotive, wearables, and robotics, aiming for non-smartphone revenue to be 60% of total revenue next fiscal year. Automotive and IoT segments show healthy growth, while handset chip sales declined.

Ebay’s Q2 2021 earnings surpassed expectations, driven by strong performance in its core marketplace and a robust advertising business. The e-commerce giant reported revenue growth and a significant increase in active buyers, signaling continued momentum in the digital retail space.

Tech giants Alphabet and Tesla saw shares decline on concerns over increased AI spending, despite strong revenue. Tesla missed EPS expectations, while IBM also reported weaker results. Geopolitical tensions, including attacks on Saudi Arabian tankers, pushed oil prices up nearly 5%, nearing $90. Congress is considering bills to ban stock trading for members and restrict presidential involvement with cryptocurrencies. The EU approved the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger, while the US deal faces legal challenges. Comcast beat earnings and achieved profitability with its Peacock streaming service.