META GOES AFTER THE CLOUD, GOOGLE SIGNS WITH APPLE, S&P ALL TIME HIGHS | MARKET CLOSE
META GOES AFTER THE CLOUD, GOOGLE SIGNS WITH APPLE, S&P ALL TIME HIGHS | MARKET CLOSE
116 days agoAmit Kukreja@amitinvesting
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Note: AI-generated summary based on third-party content. Not financial advice. Read more.
Quick Insights

Google (GOOGL) is a compelling investment following its major partnership to power Apple's AI, potentially bringing its Gemini technology to 2 billion users. Consider the on-shoring theme with On Semiconductor (ON), a core holding expected to see revenue growth re-accelerate and profit margins expand. The data center sector is bullish, with specialized provider Iren (IREN) highlighted as a long-term holding that could potentially quadruple by 2030 despite expected volatility. For a high-risk play on edge computing, consider One Stop Systems (OSS), but look for a potential entry point on a dip to the $8 - $9 range. Finally, an insider purchase at MicroStrategy (MSTR) for the first time since 2022 could be a bullish signal for the Bitcoin proxy stock.

Detailed Analysis

Meta Platforms (META)

  • Meta is reportedly establishing a new top-level initiative called Meta Compute to enter the cloud compute business, aiming to build out tens of gigawatts of data center capacity.
    • The host believes this is a strategic move to monetize Meta's massive AI infrastructure investments, similar to AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure.
    • This news is seen as a potential catalyst for other data center stocks like Nebius, CoreWeave, and Iren.
  • The stock was down about 2% on the day of the podcast.
  • A report from the New York Times suggested Meta is cutting 10% of the staff from its Reality Labs division.
    • The host notes this is less than the 30% previously reported by Bloomberg, which may be why the stock didn't react positively. The market may have been expecting deeper cuts in the money-losing division.
  • Piper Sandler named META as one of their top picks for 2026, expecting 25% year-over-year growth.

Takeaways

  • Meta's potential entry into the cloud computing market could create a significant new revenue stream outside of advertising, which could lead Wall Street to re-evaluate the company's AI strategy.
  • Investors will be closely watching Meta's next earnings call for more details and revenue projections for the Meta Compute initiative.
  • The 10% staff cut in Reality Labs is a step towards improving profitability, but the market seems to believe more significant cuts are needed to make a real impact.

Data Center & AI Infrastructure Stocks

  • The podcast highlighted a strong day for data center and AI infrastructure companies, potentially driven by Meta's announcement of its Meta Compute initiative.
  • Oracle (ORCL):
    • Seen as a leader in the data center trade, its 3.5% gain helped lift other related stocks.
    • Mentioned that famous investor Michael Burry is explicitly shorting the stock.
    • Goldman Sachs recommended ORCL as a "buy".
  • CoreWeave (CRWV): Was up 13% on the day.
  • Iren (IREN): Was up over 9%, returning to over $50 a share after falling to $35 in November.
    • A speaker noted they are in it for the long haul, believing the stock could "quadruple by 2030," but warned listeners to be patient and expect volatility.
  • Nebius.com (NEB): Had a 10% gain, closing over $100.
    • A speaker mentioned a potential partnership with Meta.
  • Applied Digital (APLD): Had strong earnings the previous week, contributing to positive sentiment in the sector.

Takeaways

  • The data center sector is experiencing strong bullish sentiment, driven by the insatiable demand for AI compute.
  • Meta's entry into cloud services could further validate the business model of specialized data center providers like Iren, CoreWeave, and Nebius, as it signals that even the largest tech companies see a massive market opportunity.
  • Investors interested in this theme should be prepared for high volatility. As one speaker noted, these stocks can have 10% moves up and then sell off the next day for no clear reason.

One Stop Systems (OSS)

  • The host disclosed that they bought a small "tracker" position in OSS at around $9.90.
  • The investment thesis is based on edge compute, particularly for military applications. The host compared the potential to the early days of Palantir (PLTR).
  • OSS is a micro-cap stock with a market cap of around $200 million.
  • From a valuation perspective, it was noted that OSS trades at around 6 times sales, while some competitors trade at 100 times sales.
  • The host believes the company has the potential to secure a billion-dollar contract.

Takeaways

  • OSS is a high-risk, high-reward micro-cap play on the "edge compute" theme, specifically for defense applications.
  • The host explicitly warned against "FOMO-ing" into the stock after its recent run-up (it was up 30% on the day of the podcast).
  • They suggested that a dip back to the $8 - $9 range could be a better entry point, noting the stock's RSI (Relative Strength Index) is high, indicating it may be overbought.
  • This is a speculative investment that requires significant research due to its small size and the risks associated with micro-cap stocks.

Google (GOOGL)

  • Google officially entered a multi-year partnership with Apple (AAPL) to use Google's Gemini models and cloud technology to power the next generation of Apple's foundation AI models.
  • This deal is seen as a massive win for Google, solidifying its position as a leader in AI and potentially bringing its technology to 2 billion Apple users.
  • The company's market cap surpassed $4 trillion for the first time.
  • Google also announced partnerships with Wayfair (W) and Shopify (SHOP) to advance AI-powered e-commerce experiences.
  • Elon Musk commented that the Apple deal represents an "unreasonable concentration of power" for Google.

Takeaways

  • The partnership with Apple is a major strategic victory for Google, giving its Gemini AI models massive distribution and a competitive edge over rivals like OpenAI.
  • Google is successfully leveraging its AI and cloud technology to forge key partnerships across different industries (mobile, e-commerce), creating new avenues for growth.
  • Despite its massive size, Google continues to demonstrate strong growth potential, making it a compelling name within the "Mag 7".

Zeta Global (ZETA)

  • Zeta is described as an all-encompassing marketing platform that is leveraging AI with its Athena chatbot.
  • A key part of its strategy is Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), which is seen as the future of search, replacing traditional Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Zeta uses its proprietary first-party data to power this.
  • The CEO, David Steinberg, is highlighted for his vision. In 2017, he decided to sacrifice short-term profits to re-architect the entire platform to be native to AI and data.
  • The stock has performed well, but the speakers believe Wall Street is just beginning to understand the story. An upcoming price target from Wedbush analyst Dan Ives is anticipated to bring more attention.

Takeaways

  • Zeta is presented as a compelling investment in the marketing technology space with a strong, differentiated AI strategy.
  • The company's focus on GEO and its large trove of first-party data could be a significant long-term competitive advantage as AI transforms online search and advertising.
  • While the stock has had a strong run, the speakers believe there is more upside as the company's growth story becomes more widely known. However, they also caution that the ride will likely be "very bumpy."

On-shoring & Semiconductor Theme

  • The podcast discussed the "on-shoring" trade, which is the trend of bringing manufacturing, particularly for semiconductors, back to the United States.
  • Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC): News was shared that the U.S. is nearing a trade deal with Taiwan that would involve TSMC building at least five additional semiconductor fabs in Arizona in exchange for lower tariffs.
  • Amcor (AMCR) and Intel (INTL) were mentioned as companies that would benefit from this increased domestic manufacturing and packaging activity.
  • On Semiconductor (ON): A speaker's core holding. The thesis is that its revenue growth is set to re-accelerate while its profit margins expand.
  • AEHR Test Systems (AEHR): Mentioned as another U.S.-based semiconductor play that is part of the on-shoring theme and has seen a recent run-up.

Takeaways

  • The on-shoring of semiconductor manufacturing is a powerful, politically-backed theme that could provide a long-term tailwind for specific U.S.-based semiconductor and equipment companies.
  • The potential TSMC deal to expand in Arizona is a major catalyst that could directly benefit supply chain partners like Amcor.
  • Investors looking to play this theme should research companies involved in the domestic semiconductor supply chain, from design and manufacturing to packaging and testing.

Cryptocurrencies

  • Bitcoin (BTC): The price was mentioned as being around $91,300.
  • Ethereum (ETH): The price was mentioned as being $3,097.
  • The speakers noted that it's "so weird" to see the stock market near all-time highs while crypto has been "flat to down."
  • They speculated that money might be flowing into commodities like gold and silver instead of crypto at the moment.
  • MicroStrategy (MSTR): Was up about 3%. An insider, a board member, made a purchase for the first time since 2022.
  • BitMine (BITM): Was also up 3%.

Takeaways

  • Cryptocurrencies have been underperforming relative to the broader equity markets and commodities recently.
  • The flow of capital seems to be favoring precious metals over digital assets in the current environment.
  • An insider buy at MicroStrategy could be seen as a bullish signal from someone close to the company, suggesting they see value at current prices.
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About Amit Kukreja
Amit Kukreja

Amit Kukreja

By @amitinvesting

Breaking down stocks, business, tech. Thank you for following along the journey!