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Modivcare Reports First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

Modivcare Reports First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

Business Wire08-05-2025

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Modivcare Inc. (the 'Company' or 'Modivcare') (Nasdaq: MODV), a technology-enabled healthcare services company that provides a platform of integrated supportive care solutions focused on improving health outcomes, today reported financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2025.
"In Q1, we continued to advance our strategic objectives and operational initiatives,' said L. Heath Sampson, President and CEO. 'Company-wide alignment on key initiatives—securing new contracts, laying the groundwork for scalable automation, reducing G&A, strengthening our working-capital discipline, and progressing toward divestiture readiness—positions us to deliver enhanced performance and long-term value. We are making steady progress that reflects the team's focus on these priorities. We look forward to maintaining this positive momentum and building a stronger, more connected Modivcare."
First Quarter 2025 Summary:
Service revenue of $650.7 million, down 4.9% year-over-year
Net loss of $50.4 million, or negative $3.52 per diluted common share; adjusted net loss (1) of $24.5 million and adjusted loss per share (1) of $1.71 per diluted common share
Adjusted EBITDA (1) of $32.6 million, representing 5.0% of service revenue
$105.0 million in new financing executed in Q1 to support ongoing transformation efforts
Targeted cost reduction actions expected to generate greater than $20.0 million in annualized G&A savings
First Quarter 2025 Results
Revenue was $650.7 million, compared to $684.5 million in the prior-year period, primarily reflecting contract attrition in the NEMT segment and lower volumes in PCS and Monitoring. Net loss and Adjusted EBITDA (1) were $50.4 million and $32.6 million, compared to $22.3 million and $32.1 million in Q1 2024, respectively.
By segment:
NEMT revenue was $449.0 million, down 6.3% year-over-year, a 3.9% net income margin and a 6.2% Adjusted EBITDA margin (1) — up 50 basis points.
PCS revenue was $181.8 million, down 1.0%, with net income of $2.4 million and an Adjusted EBITDA (1) of $12.2 million — up 8.5% year-over-year.
Monitoring revenue was $18.1 million, down 9.8%, a 6.0% net loss margin and a 28.8% Adjusted EBITDA margin (1).
Net contract receivables increased to $108.5 million, up from $95.2 million last quarter, primarily due to higher utilization on shared risk contracts. Modivcare ended the quarter with $116.0 million in cash and remained fully drawn on its revolver. Operating cash flow was a use of $82.1 million and Free cash flow (2) was negative $86.2 million, reflecting working capital build and higher interest expense. The Company has taken targeted actions to accelerate collections and improve working capital efficiency.
Conference Call Information
Modivcare will host a conference call today, May 8, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. ET to discuss its financial results. Participants may access the call via:
A replay will be available on the Company's investor relations website following the conclusion of the call.
About Modivcare
Modivcare Inc. ("Modivcare" or the "Company") is a technology-enabled healthcare services company that provides a suite of integrated supportive care solutions for public and private payors and their members. Modivcare's value-based solutions address the social determinants of health (SDoH) by connecting members to essential care services. By doing so, Modivcare helps health plans manage risks, reduce costs, and improve health outcomes. Modivcare serves as a provider of non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT), personal care services (PCS), and in-home monitoring solutions (Monitoring). To learn more about Modivcare, please visit www.modivcare.com.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Adjustments
In addition to the financial measures prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("GAAP"), the information contained herein may include presentations for the Company and its segments (as noted and applicable) of: (1) EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted G&A expense, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Adjusted Net Income (Loss), and Adjusted Earnings (Loss) Per Share, all of which are non-GAAP financial measures considered by management to be performance measures; and (2) free cash flow, which is a non-GAAP financial measure considered by management to be a liquidity measure. EBITDA is defined as net income (loss) before: (1) interest expense, net; (2) provision (benefit) for income taxes; and (3) depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as EBITDA before (as applicable): (1) restructuring and related costs; (2) transaction and integration costs; (3) settlement related costs; (4) stock-based compensation; and (5) equity in net (income) loss of investee, net of tax. Adjusted EBITDA margin is calculated as Adjusted EBITDA divided by service revenue, net. Adjusted Net Income (Loss) is calculated as net income (loss) before (as applicable): (1) restructuring and related costs; (2) transaction and integration costs; (3) settlement related costs; (4) stock-based compensation; (5) equity in net (income) loss of investee, net of tax; (6) intangible asset amortization expense; and (7) the income tax impact of such adjustments. Adjusted Earnings (Loss) Per Share is calculated as Adjusted Net Income (Loss) divided by the diluted weighted-average number of common shares outstanding as calculated for Adjusted Net Income (Loss). Adjusted G&A expense is calculated as G&A expense before (as applicable): (1) restructuring and related costs; (2) transaction and integration costs; (3) settlement related costs; and (4) stock-based compensation. Free cash flow is calculated as cash flow from operations less our applicable capital expenditures included in our purchase of property and equipment line in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
Reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures used herein to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures that are not included in the discussion above are included below. Our non-GAAP performance measures exclude expenses and amounts that are not driven by our core operating results and may be one time in nature. Excluding these expenses makes comparisons with prior periods as well as to other companies in our industry more meaningful. We believe such measures allow investors to gain a better understanding of the factors and trends affecting the ongoing operations of our business. We consider our core operations to be the ongoing activities to provide services from which we earn revenue, including direct operating costs and indirect costs to support these activities. As a result, our net income or loss in equity investee is excluded from these measures, as we do not have the ability to manage the venture, allocate resources within the venture, or directly control its operations or performance. Our free cash flow presentation (as applicable) reflects an additional way of viewing our liquidity that, when viewed together with our GAAP results, provides management, investors, and other users of our financial information with a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting our cash flows. Our use of the term free cash flow is not intended to imply, and no inference should be made, however, that any reported amounts are free to be used without restriction for discretionary expenditures, as our use of these funds may be restricted by the terms of our outstanding indebtedness, including our credit facility, and otherwise earmarked for other non-discretionary expenditures.
Our non-GAAP financial measures may not provide information that is directly comparable to that provided by other companies in our industry, as other companies in our industry may calculate non-GAAP financial measures differently. In addition, there are limitations in using non-GAAP financial measures because they are not prepared in accordance with GAAP, may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies, and exclude expenses that may have a material impact on our reported financial results. The presentation of non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation from or as a substitute for the most directly comparable financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. We urge you to review the reconciliations of our non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures included below, and not to rely on any single financial measure to evaluate our business.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this press release constitute 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are predictive in nature and are frequently identified by the use of terms such as 'may,' 'will,' 'should,' 'expect,' 'believe,' 'estimate,' 'intend,' and similar words indicating possible future expectations, events or actions. The updated guidance discussed herein constitutes forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about our business and our industry, and are not guarantees of our future performance. These statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our ability to control or predict, which may cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied herein, including but not limited to: government or private insurance program funding reductions or limitations; implementation of alternative payment models or the transition of Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries to Managed Care Organizations; our inability to control reimbursement rates received for our services; cost containment initiatives undertaken by private third-party payors and an inability to maintain or reduce our cost of services below rates set forth by our payors; the effects of a public health emergency; inadequacies in, or security breaches of, our information technology systems; changes in the funding, financial viability or our relationships with our payors; pandemics and other infectious diseases; delays in collection, or non-collection, of our accounts receivable; any impairment of our goodwill and long-lived assets; any failure to maintain or to develop reliable, efficient and secure information technology systems; any inability to attract and retain qualified employees; any disruptions from acquisition or acquisition integration efforts; estimated income taxes being different from income taxes that we ultimately pay; weakening of general economic conditions, including the impact of inflationary pressures, rising interest rates, labor shortages, higher labor costs and supply chain challenges; any failure to successfully implement our business plan, including planned strategic divestitures of certain assets; historical operating losses and negative cash flow and any failure to improve our financial condition; significant turnover of our senior management team and across our organization; ongoing negotiations related to new capital investments may require a substantial portion of time from our management; our contracts not surviving until the end of their stated terms, or not being renewed or extended; our failure to compete effectively in the marketplace; our not being awarded contracts through the government's requests for proposals process, or our awarded contracts not being profitable; any failure to satisfy our contractual obligations or to maintain existing pledged performance and payment bonds; any failure to estimate accurately the cost of performing our contracts; the extended collection periods and uncertainty concerning the timing of the collection of outstanding contract receivables; any misclassification of the drivers we engage as independent contractors rather than as employees; significant interruptions in our communication and data services; not successfully executing on our strategies in the face of our competition; any inability to maintain relationships with existing patient referral sources; certificates of need laws or other regulatory and licensure obligations that may adversely affect our personal care integration efforts and expansion into new markets; any failure to obtain the consent of the New York Department of Health to manage the day to day operations of our licensed in-home personal care services agency business; changes in the case-mix of our personal care patients, or changes in payor mix or payment methodologies; our loss of existing favorable managed care contracts; our experiencing labor shortages in qualified employees and management; labor disputes or disruptions, in particular in New York; becoming subject to malpractice, professional negligence or other similar claims; our operating in the competitive in-home patient monitoring industry, and failing to develop and enhance related technology applications; any failure to innovate and provide services that are useful to customers and to achieve and maintain market acceptance; our lack of sole decision-making authority with respect to our minority investment in Matrix and any failure by Matrix to achieve positive financial position and results of operations; any legal challenges to the relationships or arrangements between our virtual clinical care management services and the unaffiliated physician-owned professional corporation through which such services are provided; any failure to comply with applicable data interoperability and information blocking rules; the lapse of temporary telehealth flexibilities currently permitted under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023; the cost of our compliance with laws; changes to the regulatory landscape applicable to our businesses; changes in budgetary priorities of the government entities or private insurance programs that fund our services; regulations relating to privacy and security of patient and service user information; actions for false claims or recoupment of funds; civil penalties or loss of business for failing to comply with bribery, corruption and other regulations governing business with public organizations; increasing scrutiny and changing expectations with respect to environmental, social and governance matters; changes to, or violations of, licensing regulations; our contracts being subject to audit and modification by the payors with whom we contract; a loss of Medicaid coverage by Medicaid beneficiaries as a result of any state Medicaid eligibility determination processes; our existing debt agreements containing restrictions, financial covenants and cross-default provisions that limit our flexibility in operating our business; our substantial indebtedness and ability to generate sufficient cash to service our indebtedness; the expiration of our existing credit agreement or any loss of available financing alternatives; our ability to incur substantial additional indebtedness or to issue additional equity; our substantial doubt about our ability to meet our obligations as they come due within one year from the date of issuance of the financial statements for fiscal year 2024; any failure to successfully remediate any control deficiency or material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting; our dependence on our subsidiaries to fund our operations and expenses; anti-takeover provisions discouraging a change of control; and any stock price volatility.
The Company has provided additional information about the foregoing and other risks facing our business in our annual report on Form 10-K and subsequent periodic and current reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission that could impact future performance. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statement was made and are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements set forth herein and in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which you should read in their entirety before making an investment decision with respect to our securities. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
Modivcare Inc.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands)
March 31, 2025
December 31, 2024
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$
115,963
$
112,581
Accounts receivable, net
239,545
222,317
Contract receivables
124,359
117,795
Other current assets (1)
53,562
42,686
Total current assets
533,429
495,379
Property and equipment, net
79,038
82,409
Long-term contract receivables
10,989

Goodwill
680,252
680,252
Intangible assets, net
266,232
282,320
Equity investment
27,899
31,427
Operating lease right-of-use assets
33,390
36,597
Other long-term assets
45,934
45,948
Total assets
$
1,677,163
$
1,654,332
Liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit)
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
$
57,659
$
83,068
Accrued contract payables
26,854
22,639
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
153,452
139,176
Accrued transportation costs
76,855
96,745
Current portion of operating lease liabilities
8,281
8,616
Revolving credit facility
270,661
269,000
Short-term debt
73,889
5,250
Total current liabilities
667,651
624,494
Long-term debt, net of deferred financing costs
1,016,889
986,436
Operating lease liabilities, less current portion
31,053
32,905
Other long-term liabilities (2)
49,203
48,971
Total liabilities
1,764,796
1,692,806
Stockholders' equity (deficit)
Stockholders' equity (deficit)
(87,633
)
(38,474
)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit)
$
1,677,163
$
1,654,332
Expand
(1)
Includes other receivables, prepaid expenses and other current assets and short-term restricted cash.
(2)
Includes other long-term liabilities and deferred tax liabilities.
Expand
Modivcare Inc.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
Three months ended March 31,
2025
2024
Operating activities
Net loss
$
(50,377
)
$
(22,300
)
Depreciation and amortization
23,519
27,103
Stock-based compensation
1,244
2,010
Equity in net loss of investee
3,295
1,056
Deferred income taxes
(85
)
(3,778
)
Reduction of right-of-use asset
3,385
2,947
Other non-cash items (1)
5,288
1,407
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Contract receivables
(6,563
)
9,280
Contract payables
4,215
10,910
Long-term contract receivables
(10,989
)
(19,598
)
Other changes in operating assets and liabilities (2)
(55,023
)
523
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
(82,091
)
9,560
Investing activities
Purchase of property and equipment
(4,061
)
(7,856
)
Net cash used in investing activities
(4,061
)
(7,856
)
Financing activities
Net proceeds from short-term debt

7,200
Issuance of long-term debt
30,000

Issuance of short-term debt
75,000

Repayment of long-term debt
(1,313
)

Payments of debt issuance costs
(10,711
)
(756
)
Other financing activities
(26
)
(64
)
Net cash provided by financing activities
92,950
6,380
Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
6,798
8,084
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period
113,116
2,782
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period
$
119,914
$
10,866
Expand
(1)
Includes amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount.
(2)
Includes accounts receivable and other receivables, prepaid expenses and other current assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses, accrued transportation costs and other changes in operating assets and liabilities.
Expand
Modivcare Inc.
Unaudited Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Segment Information and Adjusted EBITDA
(in thousands)
Three months ended March 31, 2025
Service revenue, net
$
449,007
$
181,787
$
18,125
$
1,735
$
650,654
Operating expenses:
Service expense
396,014
147,518
7,673
1,783
552,988
General and administrative expense
27,784
22,584
5,408
22,813
78,589
Depreciation and amortization
7,556
9,434
6,050
479
23,519
Total operating expenses
431,354
179,536
19,131
25,075
655,096
Operating income (loss)
17,653
2,251
(1,006
)
(23,340
)
(4,442
)
Interest expense, net



38,837
38,837
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity method investment
17,653
2,251
(1,006
)
(62,177
)
(43,279
)
Income tax benefit (provision)
1,117
173
(77
)
(4,760
)
(3,547
)
Equity in net income (loss) of investee, net of tax
(1,063
)


(2,488
)
(3,551
)
Net income (loss)
17,707
2,424
(1,083
)
(69,425
)
(50,377
)
Interest expense, net



38,837
38,837
Income tax provision (benefit)
(1,117
)
(173
)
77
4,760
3,547
Depreciation and amortization
7,556
9,434
6,050
479
23,519
EBITDA
24,146
11,685
5,044
(25,349
)
15,526
Restructuring and related costs (1)
2,331
409
168
6,547
9,455
Transaction and integration costs
264


521
785
Settlement related costs

134

1,971
2,105
Stock-based compensation



1,174
1,174
Equity in net (income) loss of investee, net of tax
1,063


2,488
3,551
Adjusted EBITDA
$
27,804
$
12,228
$
5,212
$
(12,648
)
$
32,596
Expand
(1)
Restructuring and related costs include professional fees for strategic initiatives, organizational consolidation costs and severance, as well as professional services fees and legal fees related to various debt transactions during the period.
Expand
Modivcare Inc.
Unaudited Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Segment Information and Adjusted EBITDA
(in thousands)
Three months ended March 31, 2024
Service revenue, net
$
479,306
$
183,568
$
20,102
$
1,475
$
684,451
Operating expenses:
Service expense
423,657
149,438
8,363
2,108
583,566
General and administrative expense
31,820
24,432
5,440
15,485
77,177
Depreciation and amortization
7,359
12,795
6,674
275
27,103
Total operating expenses
462,836
186,665
20,477
17,868
687,846
Operating income (loss)
16,470
(3,097
)
(375
)
(16,393
)
(3,395
)
Interest expense, net



18,686
18,686
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity method investment
16,470
(3,097
)
(375
)
(35,079
)
(22,081
)
Income tax benefit (provision)
(4,274
)
823
67
3,927
543
Equity in net income (loss) of investee, net of tax
(28
)


(734
)
(762
)
Net income (loss)
12,168
(2,274
)
(308
)
(31,886
)
(22,300
)
Interest expense, net



18,686
18,686
Income tax provision (benefit)
4,274
(823
)
(67
)
(3,927
)
(543
)
Depreciation and amortization
7,359
12,795
6,674
275
27,103
EBITDA
23,801
9,698
6,299
(16,852
)
22,946
Restructuring and related costs (1)
3,239
127
10
1,729
5,105
Transaction and integration costs
52
1,446

45
1,543
Stock-based compensation



1,781
1,781
Equity in net (income) loss of investee, net of tax
28


734
762
Adjusted EBITDA
$
27,120
$
11,271
$
6,309
$
(12,563
)
$
32,137
Expand
(1)
Restructuring and related costs include professional fees for strategic initiatives, organizational consolidation costs, severance and other professional fees.
Expand
(1)
Restructuring and related costs include professional fees for strategic initiatives, organizational consolidation costs, severance and other professional fees.
Expand
N/M - Not Meaningful. Certain figures in the tables above do not provide meaningful percentage comparison, thus, the percentage has been removed.
Expand
Modivcare Inc.
Unaudited Key Statistical and Financial Data
(in thousands, except for statistical data)
PCS Segment
Service revenue, net
$
181,787
$
183,568
(1.0
)%
$
186,603
(2.6
)%
Service expense
147,518
149,438
(1.3
)%
148,209
(0.5
)%
Gross profit
$
34,269
$
34,130
0.4
%
$
38,394
(10.7
)%
Gross margin
18.9
%
18.6
%
20.6
%
G&A expense
$
22,584
$
24,432
(7.6
)%
$
20,586
9.7
%
G&A expense adjustments
Restructuring and related costs
409
127
222.0
%
268
52.6
%
Transaction and integration costs

1,446
(100.0
)%
(582
)
(100.0
)%
Settlement related costs
134

N/M

N/M
Adjusted G&A expense
$
22,041
$
22,859
(3.6
)%
$
20,900
5.5
%
Adjusted G&A expense % of revenue
12.1
%
12.5
%
11.2
%
Net income (loss)
$
2,424
$
(2,274
)
N/M
$
5,062
(52.1
)%
Net income (loss) margin
1.3
%
(1.2
)%
2.7
%
Adjusted EBITDA
$
12,228
$
11,271
8.5
%
$
17,494
(30.1
)%
Adjusted EBITDA margin
6.7
%
6.1
%
9.4
%
Total hours (thousands)
6,818
6,965
(2.1
)%
7,042
(3.2
)%
Revenue per hour
$
26.66
$
26.36
1.1
%
$
26.50
0.6
%
Service expense per hour
$
21.64
$
21.46
0.8
%
$
21.05
2.8
%
Expand
N/M - Not Meaningful. Certain figures in the tables above do not provide meaningful percentage comparison, thus, the percentage has been removed.
Expand
Modivcare Inc.
Unaudited Key Statistical and Financial Data
(in thousands, except for statistical data)
Monitoring Segment
Service revenue, net
$
18,125
$
20,102
(9.8
)%
$
19,164
(5.4
)%
Service expense
7,673
8,363
(8.3
)%
7,728
(0.7
)%
Gross profit
$
10,452
$
11,739
(11.0
)%
$
11,436
(8.6
)%
Gross margin
57.7
%
58.4
%
59.7
%
G&A expense
$
5,408
$
5,440
(0.6
)%
$
4,659
16.1
%
G&A expense adjustments
Restructuring and related costs
168
10
N/M

N/M
Adjusted G&A expense
$
5,240
$
5,430
(3.5
)%
$
4,659
12.5
%
Adjusted G&A expense % of revenue
28.9
%
27.0
%
24.3
%
Net income (loss)
$
(1,083
)
$
(308
)
251.6
%
$
823
(231.6
)%
Net income (loss) margin
(6.0
)%
(1.5
)%
4.3
%
Adjusted EBITDA
$
5,212
$
6,309
(17.4
)%
$
6,777
(23.1
)%
Adjusted EBITDA margin
28.8
%
31.4
%
35.4
%
Average monthly members (thousands)
231
249
(7.2
)%
249
(7.2
)%
Revenue per member per month
$
26.15
$
26.91
(2.8
)%
$
25.65
1.9
%
Service expense per member per month
$
11.07
$
11.20
(1.2
)%
$
10.35
7.0
%
Expand
N/M - Not Meaningful. Certain figures in the tables above do not provide meaningful percentage comparison, thus, the percentage has been removed.
Expand
Three months ended
Three months ended
Consolidated Modivcare Inc.
G&A expense
$
78,589
$
77,177
1.8
%
$
74,246
5.8
%
G&A expense adjustments
Restructuring and related costs
9,455
5,105
85.2
%
7,509
25.9
%
Transaction and integration costs
785
1,543
(49.1
)%
163
381.6
%
Settlement related costs
2,105

N/M

N/M
Stock-based compensation
1,174
1,781
(34.1
)%
1,744
(32.7
)%
Adjusted G&A expense
$
65,070
$
68,748
(5.3
)%
$
64,830
0.4
%
Adjusted G&A expense % of consolidated revenue
10.0
%
10.0
%
9.2
%
Expand
N/M - Not Meaningful. Certain figures in the tables above do not provide meaningful percentage comparison, thus, the percentage has been removed.
Expand

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Nvidia or Palantir: Morgan Stanley Selects the Superior AI Stock to Buy

A smart investor is always on the lookout for growth sectors, places where the economy is primed to boom and where consequent opportunities are riding high. Right now, few sectors are offering the strong growth potential of artificial intelligence (AI). Confident Investing Starts Here: In just a few short years, AI – and particularly generative and agentic AI – has become the 'shiny new thing' on the cutting edge of high-tech. The entry of AI is rapidly transforming the tech industry, and it is making inroads into numerous other areas. Data management, content creation, publishing – we've only begun to find out what AI can do, and we can only imagine what it will do. A report from UN Trade & Development points out that the world's AI market, which was estimated at $189 billion in 2023, will expand 25x by 2033 to reach $4.8 trillion. AI's growth will bring with it gains for companies across a wide spectrum of fields, including development, applications, hardware, infrastructure, and power generation. Such rapid growth is creating new opportunities for investors. The challenge won't be finding one – it'll be choosing the right one. That's where Morgan Stanley's analysts come in. They've zeroed in on two tech titans that have become synonymous with AI innovation: Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) and Palantir (NASDAQ:PLTR). Both are riding the AI wave, but Morgan Stanley is making a clear call on which one stands out as the better buy right now. Let's take a closer look. Nvidi a Nvidia stands at the forefront of Wall Street's tech revolution. As a dominant force among the 'Magnificent 7' and boasting a $3.45 trillion market cap, it's not only the largest of the tech mega-cap – it's the biggest publicly traded company in the U.S. The AI boom, which took off in late 2022 with the debut of ChatGPT, put Nvidia in the spotlight. As the top supplier of high-performance GPUs, the company was well-positioned to meet the explosive demand for AI-capable chips – and that sent NVDA shares soaring 660% over the past three years. However, even a juggernaut like Nvidia isn't immune to shifting market dynamics. After an extraordinary run, the company's stock momentum has started to cool amid rising volatility this year. One key challenge stems from the lingering effects of President Trump's tariff policies. The chip industry is deeply intertwined with global supply chains, and Nvidia's exposure to East Asia has made it vulnerable to tariff risks. That may be easing now, as both China and the EU have entered into trade talks with the White House. Yet, Nvidia isn't standing still. The company continues to push the boundaries of innovation, doubling down on emerging technologies to maintain its leadership in the AI race. This past May, Nvidia unveiled the world's largest dedicated quantum computing research supercomputer, the ABCI-Q, hosted at the Global Research and Development Center for Business by Quantum-AI Technology (G-QuAT). The new system is already integrated with Nvidia's open-source hybrid computing platform CUDA-Q. A second new development was made public last week. Nvidia announced that its Blackwell architecture, designed to power the latest AI platforms, showed superior performance on the latest rounds of the MLPerf Training, a key benchmark used to rate the capabilities of new AI systems. In Nvidia's last earnings report, covering fiscal 1Q26, company CEO Jensen Huang noted that the company's breakthrough Blackwell products are in full production and went on to outline the potential for AI to continue supporting strong results: 'Global demand for NVIDIA's AI infrastructure is incredibly strong. AI inference token generation has surged tenfold in just one year, and as AI agents become mainstream, the demand for AI computing will accelerate.' Turning to the company's financial results for the quarter, we find that Nvidia's revenue came in at $44.1 billion, up 69% year-over-year and $810 million better than had been expected. The company's non-GAAP EPS figure, at 81 cents, was 6 cents per share above the forecasts. Data center revenue, at $39.1 billion, was the main revenue driver and was up 73% year-over-year. Nvidia's gross margin for the quarter was reported at approximately 61%. For 5-star analyst Joseph Moore, the key point for investors to remember about Nvidia is that the future looks good. The Morgan Stanley analyst writes in his note on this chip maker: 'Racks get better from here. China is entirely derisked, at least for direct shipments, and we are optimistic that there will be some path to monetize at least a portion of that demand. Gross margins have bottomed and are improving to the mid 70s, sustainably. And every customer commentary confirms that customers waiting for these new technologies have left demand on the table. So our confidence in durable demand drives is quite high. We think that our numbers are conservative given the variables at play, and we see a high probability of continued upward revisions.' Moore's comments support his Overweight (i.e., Buy) rating on NVDA stock, while his $170 price target points toward a one-year upside potential of 20%. (To watch Moore's track record, click here) Overall, Nvidia has earned a Strong Buy consensus rating from the Street's analysts, based on 40 reviews that include 35 Buys, 4 Holds, and 1Sell. The stock is priced at $141.72 and its $172.36 average price target implies a ~22% upside in the next 12 months. (See NVDA stock forecast) Palantir Technologies Palantir is another standout in the AI space. Founded in 2003 by venture capitalist Peter Thiel, the company has built a strong reputation as a leader in data analytics and software solutions. Like Nvidia, Palantir has leveraged its unique capabilities to ride the wave of the AI boom, and the results have been striking. Over the past three years, its stock has skyrocketed 1,291%, including a 69% gain year-to-date. These gains haven't come by chance. Palantir stock's growth is rooted in the strength of its data management and analysis tools, which are used by businesses, non-profits, and government agencies alike. At the center of its offerings is the AI Platform (AIP), a solution that blends advanced AI capabilities with human-driven decision-making. One of its key strengths lies in its accessibility – users can interact with the platform using natural language, without needing coding expertise. AIP also supports multilingual inputs and translation frameworks, making it easier for users around the world to engage with its tools. Palantir can currently boast more than 760 customers, from both the public and private sectors. The company's AI-powered data platforms are popular with big businesses, and Palantir can count such names as Stellantis and BP among its users, as well as the US Department of Defense. In May, Palantir received a $795 million contract modification to its Maven Smart System agreement with the Army, extending support through 2029. The company is also among the short‑listed firms – alongside SpaceX, Lockheed Martin – and others, being considered for President Trump's $175 billion Golden Dome missile defense program. On the financial side, Palantir has been singularly successful at generating strong revenues and earnings. In 1Q25, the last period reported, the company had a top line of $883.9 million, representing 39% year-over-year growth and beating the forecast by $21.72 million. At the bottom line, Palantir's EPS came to 13 cents in non-GAAP terms, matching analyst expectations. The company proved successful at closing large deals during the quarter, including 31 deals worth at least $10 million. Despite this strength, some caution is warranted. Morgan Stanley's Sanjit Singh remains confident in Palantir's fundamentals but cautions that the valuation may be stretched after such a strong run. 'Palantir continues to prove out that it is one of the clear AI winners in software which has translated to accelerating top-line growth of 30%+ and a rule of 40 score (revenue growth + operating margin) of 83%. While this represents elite level performance in software, the current valuation of ~95x CY27 FCF makes underwriting a return on Palantir shares extremely challenging. As a result, we remain EW and await a better entry point before getting more bullish,' Singh noted. Singh's Equal Weight (i.e., Hold) rating comes with a $98 price target, implying a potential 25% drop from current levels. It's safe to say that his ideal entry point lies somewhere south of that. (To view Singh's track record, click here) Morgan Stanley's view aligns with the broader Street consensus. Palantir holds a Hold rating overall, based on 18 recent analyst recommendations: 3 Buys, 11 Holds, and 4 Sells. The stock is currently trading at $127.72, while the average price target stands at $100.13, implying a potential ~22% downside over the coming year. (See PLTR stock forecast) With the facts laid out, the Morgan Stanley analysts come to a clear conclusion: Both of these AI stocks are solid performers, but Nvidia is the superior choice to buy right now. To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks' Best Stocks to Buy, a tool that unites all of TipRanks' equity insights.

'AI-First' Hype Gives Way to Reality: New Speechmatics Report Reveals What's Actually Working in AI
'AI-First' Hype Gives Way to Reality: New Speechmatics Report Reveals What's Actually Working in AI

Business Wire

timean hour ago

  • Business Wire

'AI-First' Hype Gives Way to Reality: New Speechmatics Report Reveals What's Actually Working in AI

CAMBRIDGE, UK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--After a wave of bold 'AI-first' announcements from major tech players, many are now scaling back. Rather than betting on speculative demos, successful enterprises are treating Voice AI as critical infrastructure. Share As the AI gold rush slows, a new report from Speechmatics explores what's actually working — and where the real value lies. Titled The Voice AI Reality Check: Frontline Perspectives for Enterprise in 2025, the report zeroes in on one of the fastest-evolving areas of AI: Voice AI. Built on interviews with leaders across healthcare, compliance, media, public services, and research, it reveals a clear shift from flashy demos to embedded, operational AI — where tools assist humans, deliver measurable ROI, and quietly power core infrastructure. Report highlights include: Assistive over autonomous: The most effective deployments augment people rather than replace them. Assistive agents are driving real ROI. Multilingual as standard: Real-time code-switching is now a baseline requirement, not a bonus. Accuracy is make-or-break: With growing global concerns over AI hallucinations, precision is essential — especially in compliance-heavy environments. Voice as infrastructure: Quietly embedded tools are outperforming headline-grabbing features. Rather than betting on speculative demos, successful enterprises are treating Voice AI as critical infrastructure. It's being embedded into workflows that demand speed, accuracy, and trust — from noisy control rooms to multilingual contact centres. The report closes with future-looking predictions, outlining the rise of emotionally intelligent, adaptive, and natively multilingual voice systems — and offers guidance on what enterprises must prioritise next.

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem Looking Forward to Visiting ‘Iconic' Macau for the 2025 FIA Annual Conference
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem Looking Forward to Visiting ‘Iconic' Macau for the 2025 FIA Annual Conference

Business Wire

time2 hours ago

  • Business Wire

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem Looking Forward to Visiting ‘Iconic' Macau for the 2025 FIA Annual Conference

MACAU--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the global governing body for motorsport and the federation for mobility organisations worldwide, will shortly be in Macau for the 2025 FIA Extraordinary General Assembly and Annual Conference. Marking the first time this event has ever taken place in this diverse region, the conference will be hosted in partnership with the Automobile General Association Macao-China (AAMC) and Galaxy Entertainment Group and held at the Galaxy International Convention Centre. The event will welcome over 500 senior FIA delegates across mobility and motorsport from 149 countries, offering the opportunity to address key initiatives in road safety, sustainable mobility, regional sporting growth, and innovation in transport, with the FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem in attendance. Speaking ahead of his visit to Macau, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said: 'Global gatherings like this are vital to the health of our federation. Bringing our community together allows us an invaluable opportunity for engagement and participation, particularly within a pivotal election year. 'The Members of the FIA are at the heart of everything we do, and I am looking forward to being inspired by and connected to them over the next few days, strengthening the link between sport and mobility, expanding our reach, and continuing to impact the global stage. 'I am incredibly proud of the progress we have made together during my first term in office and look forward to continuing that partnership going forward. I am committed to the transformation of the FIA, so it can be an even more positive force for society. Globally, we remain committed to growing motorsport participation through grassroots initiatives and accessibility programmes such as the Affordable Cross Car and the Global Karting Plan. 'At the same time, we continue to empower all regions through our mobility capabilities, maintaining a central role in the automotive industry and leading the dialogue on the future of sustainable cities, safety, and transport.' Commenting on the location of this year's conference, Ben Sulayem said: 'Macau is iconic within the world of motorsport and a fitting location for the FIA to host one of the most important weeks of our calendar. I look forward to seeing much of what this unique destination has to offer.' The conference follows the FIA's recent announcement regarding the FIA's significant financial turnaround and strongest results in almost ten years. Reporting a profit of €4.7m, and an operating income of €182m for 2024, this puts the FIA back in the black following the inheritance of a €-24.0m deficit in 2021 from the previous administration. The conference will be attended by representatives from the 245 FIA Member Clubs. This structure forms the backbone of the federation's governance and operations, with each full Member Club holding voting rights across the FIA's elections and regulatory decisions. Clubs are grouped into two primary categories, with some serving in both roles: Mobility Clubs – provide mobility services and represent the interest of road users, with a focus on road safety, travel and tourism, consumer rights, and sustainable mobility National Sporting Authorities (ASNs) – govern and develop motorsport at a national level, are responsible for sporting events, issuing licenses, and engagement across regulations The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) is the governing body for world motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations globally. It is a non-profit organisation committed to driving innovation and championing safety, sustainability and equality across motor sport and mobility. Founded in 1904, with offices in Paris, London and Geneva, the FIA brings together 245 Member Organisations across five continents, representing millions of road users, motor sport professionals and volunteers. It develops and enforces regulations for motor sport, including seven FIA World Championships, to ensure worldwide competitions are safe and fair for all. The 2025 FIA Conference is hosted in association with Galaxy Entertainment Group and will be held at the International Convention Centre from 10-12 June. The Galaxy International Convention Centre is situated within the Galaxy Macau Integrated Resort which regularly plays host to world class sporting and conference events, and international exhibitions.

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