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These Magnificent 7 Reports Impressed Investors: AMZN, TSLA

The Q3 reporting cycle has officially ended for the Mag 7 group following the release of Nvidia’s quarterly results yesterday. The group posted strong growth, though post-earnings reactions weren’t favorable for all.

But reports from Tesla TSLA and Amazon AMZN did spark post-earnings positivity, with shares of each seeing positive price action following their releases.

But what was there to like in each respective release? Let’s take a closer look.

Amazon’s AWS Results Impress

 

Concerning headline figures in Amazon’s quarterly release, the company exceeded both consensus EPS and sales expectations handily. EPS grew a sizable 70% year-over-year, whereas sales of $60 billion reflected an 11% climb from the year-ago period.

However, the real highlight of the results was the AWS results. AWS sales jumped 19% year-over-year to $27.5 billion, matching the same growth pace we saw last quarter. While the growth pace didn’t reflect an acceleration, the results overall confirm underlying momentum.

Further, the profitability picture for AWS jumped higher, with operating income of $9.3 billion well above the $5.4 billion mark in the year-ago period. Below is a chart illustrating the company’s AWS results against our consensus expectations, with the recent $27.5 billion print falling $127 million short.

Zacks Investment Research Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Like Tesla, analysts raised their earnings expectations for Amazon following the favorable release, with the stock boasting a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Zacks Investment ResearchImage Source: Zacks Investment Research

Overall, the company’s dominant stance in the cloud paints a bright outlook for the company, particularly in the midst of this AI frenzy that we’ve all become accustomed to. AWS is the dominant player in the cloud computing market, flexing a significant market share globally. It provides various services, including computing power, storage, databases, and AI/ML tools.

Tesla Sees Higher Profitability

 

While EV delivery/production numbers were important, the real highlight of the release that caused shares to perk up was margin expansion, with the company’s gross margin expanding nicely to 19.8% vs. a 17.9% print in the same period last year.

Please note that the chart’s values are calculated on a trailing twelve-month basis.

Zacks Investment Research Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Notably, Tesla reported its lowest-ever level of cost of goods sold (COGS) per vehicle throughout the period, which bodes favorably for upcoming periods as well. Analysts have raised their EPS expectations across the board following the release, with the stock now holding the highly-coveted Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

See also  Meta Platforms: The Rising Star of the Tech GiantsUnveiling the "Magnificent Seven" Stocks

Amidst the AI revolution, the tech landscape has been dominated by the "Magnificent Seven" - Apple, Amazon, Alphabet, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla. These American tech behemoths have not only ridden the AI wave to stratospheric stock market heights but have also showcased a remarkable blend of innovation, profitability, and market resilience over the years.

The Stock Performance Dance of 2023

While most of the "Magnificent Seven" dazzled investors with their soaring stock prices in 2023, the momentum seems to be carrying forward into this year, except for a few outliers:

Apple: down 11.4%Amazon: up 16.9%Alphabet: down 3.4%Meta Platforms: up 44.9%Nvidia: up 86.4%Microsoft: up 8.9%Tesla: down 27.5%

Among these, Meta Platforms, outshining its peers with a stellar performance that leaves the S&P 500 Index in its dust, warrants a closer look to discern its potential value.

Meta Platforms Takes the Lead

Meta Platforms, formerly Facebook, has transformed into a tech juggernaut that has successfully breached the coveted $1 trillion market cap frontier, a move that seemed improbable until recently. With a market cap of $1.3 trillion, Meta's ambit has expanded beyond Facebook to encompass a suite of immensely popular social media platforms like Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger, alongside the nascent Threads.

The reign of Meta's social media empire, as declared by CEO Mark Zuckerberg with over 3.1 billion users across its applications, further solidifies its position among the top global social networks, witnessing an enviable 2023 report of $3.07 billion in monthly active users (MAU) as per Statista.

Revenue Surge Riding the Meta Wave

The loyalty Meta Platforms evokes in its massive consumer base is translating into a revenue and profit bonanza for the tech giant. In Q4, its Family of Apps (FoA) segment, constituting the social media ecosystem, raked in a staggering $39.0 billion in revenue, constituting a lion's share of the total revenue. The segment's operating income witnessed a robust 97% year-over-year growth, standing tall at $21.0 billion.

Contrarily, the metaverse-focused Reality Labs (RL) segment, grappling in recent quarters, showcased a glimmer of hope with a 47.1% year-over-year revenue surge in Q4, primarily fueled by the brisk sales of Quest 3, its mixed reality headset unveiled last year. The full-year 2023 financial report echoed a 16% surge in revenue and an impressive 73% growth in diluted earnings per share for Meta.

Meta Stock: Reaching for the Stars

Bolstering its product lineup with AI-infused innovations like the Meta AI-powered Ray-Ban smart glasses and generative AI stickers, Meta Platforms is making strides to redefine the tech landscape. The resurgence of the Reality Labs segment hints at a promising future, particularly in the burgeoning global metaverse market forecasted to exceed $1.3 trillion by 2030.

Witnessing a robust growth trajectory on the WhatsApp Business platform and Threads amassing about 130 million active users in 2023, Meta Platforms seems poised to elevate its status as the rising star of the tech giants, setting its sights on unparalleled zeniths in the digital realm.

Insights on Meta Platforms Stock Growth and Dividends Unveiling the Prospects of Meta Platforms Stock

Zacks Investment Research Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The stock’s current momentum is undeniable, partly boosted by the recent U.S. election. Growth is expected to resume in its next fiscal year, with our consensus FY25 expectations suggesting 30% EPS growth on 16% higher sales.

Bottom Line

With Nvidia’s quarterly release finally out of the way, the Q3 reporting cycle for the broader Mag 7 group has ended. The group overall posted strong growth, though Amazon AMZN and Tesla TSLA were among the few to see post-earnings momentum.

A notable boost in profitability helped vault Tesla shares higher, with the stock also benefiting from the recent U.S. election. The company overall remains the prime selection for EV exposure, with growth expected to return in a big way during its next fiscal year.

A strong showing from AWS in Amazon’s release aided the bullish action post-earnings, with the results reflecting underlying momentum. The company remains a solid pick for the AI frenzy given its dominant cloud computing stance, with an upcoming holiday season also potentially providing near-term tailwinds.

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