The choice, while predictable, is not without a certain logic. Disney, after all, is no longer merely a purveyor of animated fantasies; it is a sprawling, multifaceted enterprise. To place a master of experience at its helm suggests a shrewd understanding of where the true loyalties – and revenues – now reside. It is a recognition that a perfectly executed parade, a flawlessly themed hotel, can prove far more enduring than any fleeting cinematic trend.
A recent acquisition, veiled in the customary secrecy of such affairs, is presented as the key to unlocking fresh revenue streams. A noble endeavor, to be sure, though one cannot help but observe that such “unlocking” often requires a rather vigorous application of shareholder funds. The stock, alas, currently resides some distance from its former glories—a circumstance that presents both a challenge and, for the discerning investor, a most intriguing opportunity. It is as if the company, having momentarily lost its footing, now attempts a daring recovery, hoping to recapture the applause of the market.
The company’s continued investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure is being treated as a reckless gamble. Analysts fixate on capital expenditure, on the immediate outflow of funds. They demand a return on investment now. But to focus solely on the present cost is to miss the larger, more troubling implications.
The surprisingly affirmative answer, I submit, lies not in breathless speculation, but in a careful parsing of their current portfolio and, more importantly, the subtle, almost coquettish, hints of future endeavors. Let us, then, delve into the particulars, shall we?
VXUS, see, it’s tryin’ to track every stock outside the U.S. that’s worth a tinker’s darn. Thousands of ’em! EEM, though, it’s pickin’ and choosin’ just the up-and-comin’ places. Sounds excitin’, don’t it? Like a gold rush. But I’ve seen enough rushes to know most folks end up with nothin’ but dust and regrets. This here comparison ain’t about pickin’ a winner, mind you. It’s about understandin’ what you’re gettin’ yourself into, and what a body’s likely to pay for it.
This morning, Roth Capital, with a flourish worthy of a baroque composer, revised its price target for Bloom stock upwards—to $133 per share, a 29% augmentation. A rather bold stroke, considering the underlying substrate. The market, ever susceptible to such pronouncements, reacted with predictable alacrity. One wonders if the analysts themselves truly believe in this particular alchemy, or if it is merely a performance—a dazzling display of financial ventriloquism.
The forecasts called for fifty-seven cents a share on sixteen-point-eight billion in sales for the last quarter. What Pfizer brought in was sixty-six cents on seventeen-point-six billion. A good harvest, by most measures. But the fields aren’t yielding as abundantly as they once did.
They had a quarter, apparently. A good one. Record revenue, $1.4 billion. Seventy percent year-over-year. It’s just… excessive. It’s like they’re trying to outdo everyone. Like revenue is some kind of competition. And the tenth successive quarter of accelerating growth? Who’s keeping track? It’s unsettling. They beat expectations, naturally. Wall Street was expecting $1.34 billion and they delivered $1.4. It’s like they’re deliberately trying to lower the bar, then dramatically clearing it. It’s manipulative, frankly.
Applied Digital is the landlord in this scenario, owning the real estate where the magic happens. They’ve been on a tear, up nearly 500% in the last year. That’s…a lot. It’s the kind of growth that makes you suspect they’re either geniuses or running a very sophisticated pyramid scheme. Revenue jumped 250% to $126.6 million. They’ve signed leases worth $16 billion. Which is great, until you realize building data centers is expensive. Like, “second mortgage on your house” expensive. They’re carrying over $2.6 billion in debt. They do have $1.9 billion in cash, which is…reassuring, I guess? It’s like being $50,000 in debt but having $40,000 in the bank. Still not ideal, but you can buy a decent used car.
Palantir’s core business revolves around the provision of data analytics platforms to both governmental and commercial entities. The company’s Gotham platform continues to benefit from increased demand within the defense and intelligence sectors, a trend likely sustained by current geopolitical dynamics. Concurrently, Foundry, Palantir’s commercial offering, is securing larger-scale deployments with prominent clients, including Walmart (WMT +2.23%) and Amazon (AMZN 2.17%).