Teradata’s Curious Ascent

Teradata (TDC +25.83%) – a name once whispered with the resignation of a forgotten uncle – has stirred. On this, the eleventh of February, a most peculiar event unfolded. The stock, after years of languishing in the shadows, experienced a surge, a veritable eruption, reaching heights not seen in a considerable span. A 42.8% jump! One almost expects Behemoth to materialize and demand a share of the profits. It has since settled, a mere 22% gain at noon ET, but the air remains thick with…possibility, or perhaps, delusion.

The Numbers, as They Are

The fourth quarter of 2025 revealed sales of $421 million – a 3% increase, a modest cough in the grand scheme of things, yet sufficient to appease the market deities. Analysts, those oracles of limited foresight, predicted $400 million. They were, predictably, wrong. One wonders if they consult tea leaves or merely flip coins.

Adjusted earnings climbed a respectable 40% to $0.74 per share, leaving the aforementioned analysts gasping for breath at their missed projection of $0.54. Such precision! It’s enough to make one suspect insider trading…or, at the very least, a particularly astute pigeon.

More intriguing, however, is the quality of those earnings. Recurring revenues are growing faster than overall sales, driven by a 15% increase in annual recurring revenues (ARR) from the public cloud. A cloud, you say? How very modern. Free cash flow swelled to $151 million, dwarfing the $71 million in adjusted net income. A discrepancy, perhaps? Or merely an accounting sleight of hand worthy of Woland himself?

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A Modest Valuation, For Now

Artificial intelligence, that current obsession of the technologically inclined, played its expected role. Agentic AI tools are assisting customers in organizing their data. Steve McMillan, Teradata’s CEO, envisions a future shaped by these systems. He speaks of autonomous AI reasoning, acting, and adapting 24/7. One pictures a tireless, digital bureaucrat, endlessly processing data, devoid of soul. A chilling prospect, frankly.

McMillan believes Teradata is uniquely positioned to provide this future. A bold claim, indeed. One can almost hear the chorus of competing tech giants scoffing into their caviar.

Despite this jump, Teradata’s stock remains, shall we say, reasonably priced. Less than 12 times free cash flow, roughly 2x sales. A bargain, compared to the frothy valuations of other data management darlings. But let us not be naive. The market is a fickle beast, prone to irrational exuberance and sudden, inexplicable collapses. Today’s bargain may be tomorrow’s ruin.

One should remember that even the most meticulously constructed financial edifice can crumble under the weight of unforeseen circumstances. Or, in some cases, simply a poorly timed sneeze.

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2026-02-11 20:42