Parents are warning others to think about getting their kids vaccinated for the flu.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
6 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Should You Buy Palantir Stock Ahead of Q2 Earnings on August 4?
Palantir Technologies (PLTR) will release its second-quarter earnings on Monday, Aug. 4. Ahead of its earnings, the AI-powered software company reached an all-time high price of $160.39 on July 25, reflecting widespread investor optimism as it headed into Q2 results. PLTR is up 106.5% year-to-date, significantly outpacing the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX). This explosive rally has pushed Palantir's 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) to 65.30, just below the 70 threshold that typically signals overbought conditions. While some investors might see this as a warning sign, the market seems undeterred. The momentum behind Palantir remains strong, with buyers continuing to push the stock higher even as valuation metrics soar to dizzying heights. More News from Barchart Tesla Just Signed a Chip Supply Deal with Samsung. What Does That Mean for TSLA Stock? Here's What Happened the Last Time Novo Nordisk Stock Was This Oversold Dear Microsoft Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for Aug. 1 Our exclusive Barchart Brief newsletter is your FREE midday guide to what's moving stocks, sectors, and investor sentiment - delivered right when you need the info most. Subscribe today! Palantir is currently trading at eye-popping valuation levels, with a forward earnings multiple of 433.88x and a price-sales ratio of 130.8x. These numbers are significantly higher than those of major tech giants, including Nvidia (NVDA). Such a rich premium indicates that the market isn't just expecting strong results, it's effectively pricing in continued acceleration in growth. However, any earnings miss or signs of a moderation in growth could challenge this narrative and trigger volatility. The options market is already reflecting some of this volatility. Traders are pricing in a potential move of about 10.48% in either direction following the earnings release. While that's below Palantir's average earnings move of 17.47% over the past four quarters, it still indicates potential for significant post-earnings volatility. Palantir Gears Up for a Strong Q2: Can It Beat Expectations Again? Palantir is heading into its second-quarter earnings with strong momentum. The company's management has guided Q2 revenue between $934 million and $938 million, representing roughly 38% year-over-year growth at the midpoint. However, based on its recent performance trends and growing demand for its Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP), there's reason to believe Palantir might once again exceed its projections. Over the past year, Palantir has shown consistent acceleration in its revenue growth. In Q1 2024, year-over-year growth stood at 21%, but by Q1 2025, it had climbed to an impressive 39%. Much of this momentum is being driven by surging demand for its AI-powered solutions, particularly in the U.S. market. The company's U.S. operations are thriving across both commercial and government sectors. In Q1, U.S. revenue jumped 55% compared to the previous year, with the commercial segment standing out with 71% year-over-year growth. That builds on a 64% gain in U.S. commercial revenue the quarter before, highlighting sustained demand for Palantir's AI offerings. Palantir's U.S. commercial business has now surpassed a $1 billion annual run rate, driven by new customer wins and deepening engagement with existing clients. The total contract value (TCV) booked in this segment reached $810 million in Q1, up 183% from a year earlier. This number could once again mark solid growth in Q2. Over the trailing 12 months, Palantir has secured over $2 billion in U.S. commercial TCV. Furthermore, the remaining deal value in this business increased 127% year-over-year, indicating a robust pipeline that will support future growth. Customer growth also remains solid. Palantir now serves 432 U.S. commercial clients, representing a 65% increase from the same quarter last year, and has doubled the number of million-dollar deals compared to the same period a year ago. The U.S. government business, too, will remain a major contributor in Q2. Notably, in Q1, revenue from this segment rose 45% to $373 million, reflecting continued success in securing and expanding AI-related government contracts. While top-line growth is strong, Palantir is also gaining ground on the bottom line. The company's operating leverage is improving, with adjusted operating margins reaching 44% in Q1, an 800-basis-point increase from the prior year. That strength is expected to continue into Q2, helping to drive further earnings growth. Analysts are forecasting PLTR to deliver earnings per share (EPS) of $0.08 for the second quarter, a significant increase from $0.03 a year ago. With its expanding commercial footprint, deepening government relationships, and surging demand for AI solutions, Palantir appears well-positioned for another quarter of strong performance. Is Palantir Stock a Buy? Palantir heads into its Q2 earnings report with strong momentum, particularly in its U.S. commercial and government segments, and growing demand for its AI platform. The company has shown a clear trend of accelerating revenue growth and improving profitability, setting the stage for potentially strong Q2 results. Despite the solid momentum in Palantir's business, Wall Street remains cautious ahead of Q2 earnings. The consensus rating on the stock is 'Hold,' primarily due to its steep valuation. Palantir may be delivering the growth, but at current prices, it's already priced to perfection. On the date of publication, Amit Singh did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
6 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Warren Buffett unloads $1.2 billion of this popular tech stock
Warren Buffett unloads $1.2 billion of this popular tech stock originally appeared on TheStreet. You wouldn't typically see Warren Buffett unloading a stock like this, let alone one he's held for more than a decade. This week, though, VeriSign () finds itself at the center of what's an uncharacteristically sharp trim. Berkshire Hathaway () , () significantly cut its position in the stock, just as it posted another rollicking quarterly report. 💵💰💰💵 On the surface, nothing seems broken, which has investors wondering — why now? Perhaps a regulatory move, a valuation call, or something deeper? One thing is for certain, though: In a market that's chasing flash, Buffett's choice to cut a high-performing player is anything but casual. The evolution of Buffett's tech playbook Warren Buffett's early apprehension of tech is the stuff of legend. He famously stayed away from the sector for decades, once admitting he couldn't understand it, and barely used a computer that stance quietly changed in 2016, when Berkshire began loading up on Apple. By 2018, the position had swelled to over $36 billion. Today, Apple alone accounts for over 25% of Berkshire's public holdings. Still, Buffett hasn't gone full Silicon Valley. His tech playbook favors digital infrastructure over disruption. Businesses like VeriSign, with their recurring cash flows and healthy renewal rates, along with broader investments in data centers or AI-related chip pipelines, fit a more classic mold. At this point, over 30% of Berkshire's public-stock portfolio leans into tech, but not the kind with moonshot promises. His goal has been to focus on companies with durable digital moats, redefining the tech space on his own terms. Buffett's cash pile signals patience in the stock market That said, it's also imperative to look at Warren Buffett's latest moves, which mostly exude patience. In his 2024 annual letter, published this past February, The Oracle put it bluntly by saying, 'Often, nothing looks compelling; very infrequently we find ourselves knee-deep in opportunities.' That theme of restraint has mostly been Berkshire's posture throughout the year. By the end of Q1 this year, Berkshire's cash stockpile surged to a record $347.7 billion, up from $334.2 billion at mountain of dry powder shows a few stocks seem attractively priced, despite the AI-driven market frenzy. At Berkshire's May shareholder meeting in Omaha, Buffett laid investor fears to rest, calling recent volatility 'not a dramatic bear market or anything of the sort.' Instead, he felt it was best to avoid focusing on the noise and staying rational in the process. That said, Berkshire has been a net seller for 10 consecutive quarters. Buffett is waiting for more value and moats, along with opportunities when markets overshoot and capital allocation really pays off. Buffett's $1.2 billion sale slashes Berkshire's VeriSign stake below 10% Warren Buffett isn't one to make moves casually, and his $1.2 billion sell-off of VeriSign has investors buzzing. Berkshire Hathaway trimmed its stake from 14.2% to 9.6% in the stock, triggering over a 6% drop in pre-market trading on Tuesday. Naturally, there's always logic behind any Buffett sale, but it also raises real questions. Let's begin with the rationale: The move isn't exactly a sudden vote of no confidence in VeriSign. By slipping behind the 10% ownership threshold, Berkshire effectively sidesteps the extra SEC filings like Schedule 13D amendments. That's a regulatory perk that gives it greater privacy and flexibility going forward. Also, this kind of stake-trimming isn't new. In 2024, Berkshire made a similar move with Bank of America, reducing its stake just under 10% while pocketing $10 billion. Also, with its record cash pile, Buffett's looking to redeploy capital elsewhere. However, that doesn't mean it's all fine and dandy with VeriSign. The stock was sold at $285, a considerable 7% discount to the market, and the offering could grow even bigger, with another 515,000 shares still on deck. That discount, along with a massive one-third reduction in Berkshire's position, naturally raises a ton of questions. Also, trimming a stake this sharply suggests there might be a shift in priorities, or perhaps less conviction in VeriSign's long-term potential. More News: Top economist drops 6-word verdict on Trump tariffs, inflation Amazon's quiet pricing twist on tariffs stuns shoppers Nvidia avoids White House crackdown; Trump softens on AI giant On top of that, every dollar from this deal goes to Berkshire's affiliates, and naturally, VeriSign gets no capital infusion, no growth bump, or any strategic upside. Why VeriSign still fits Buffett's long-term playbook That said, despite Buffett's trimming, his decade-long interest in VeriSign is no accident. VeriSign sits quietly at the core of the internet, being the official registry for .com and .net domains. Every time someone registers or renews a domain, VeriSign collects a fee. That robust model generates subscription-like sales, with renewal rates north of 70%, backed by incredible pricing power due to agreements with ICANN. It's exactly the kind of steady, capital-light businesses Buffett loves. It's essentially high margin, low operating costs, and recurring cash flows, which effectively makes it an excellent example of a durable economic moat. Berkshire Hathaway first scooped up VeriSign back in 2012, and as of March 31, 2025, it held 13.29 million shares valued at over $4 billion. Even as Berkshire sold down the position, it was picking up new shares as recently as January. On top of that, VeriSign is up more than 49% year to date, backed by a Q2 showing that blew past Buffett unloads $1.2 billion of this popular tech stock first appeared on TheStreet on Jul 29, 2025 This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Jul 29, 2025, where it first appeared. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
6 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Amazon Q2 Preview: Can AWS and Ads Outrun Tariff Trouble?
Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) will report second-quarter earnings after the bell on Thursday, July 31. Consensus forecasts call for EPS of $1.33 and revenue of $162.18 billion, implying a 10% YoY top-line increase and continued margin expansion. The stock is up just 5% YTD, but has rallied 43% since the April low and now trades about 4% below its all-time high of $242.52, set on February 4. The key swing factor remains AWS. After posting 13% growth YoY last quarter, investors will be watching closely for signs of continued acceleration and any GenAI monetization progress. Retail margin improvement is another focal point. North America posted a 6.3% operating margin last quarter, and bulls are looking for more operating leverage as cost cuts and logistics efficiencies flow through. Amazons growing ad business, which reached $13.9 billion in Q1, is also expected to remain a pillar of high-margin growth. Watch for commentary on consumer demand, international performance, and guidance for Q3, particularly as macro tailwinds fade and regulatory scrutiny intensifies. Trade pressures could also return to the forefront. Amazon previously said it would increase pricing transparency by showing U.S. consumers tariff-related charges on product pages but walked that back after backlash from the Trump administration. With baseline tariffs around 15% on imports expected in August, commentary on whether Amazon will absorb those costs or pass them on to consumers will be closely watched. Higher duties could squeeze margins in key categories like electronics and apparel. Finally, although Prime Day falls in Q3, this July marks the first time Amazon has expanded Prime Day to four days. Any color on early results or consumer response could help frame the companys third-quarter guidance and gauge broader retail strength heading into the back half of the year. Valuation remains elevated at nearly 37x forward earnings, reflecting optimism around AWS momentum and retail margin expansion. But with shares near record levels, any disappointment on cloud growth, spending trends, or tariff commentary could test investor conviction. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
