Microsoft Earnings, Peloton Earnings
In today’s update, we will wrap up our Big Tech earnings reviews with Microsoft. We will then conclude the discussion with a look at Peloton earnings.
To set the scene, Microsoft and Peloton are in some ways complete opposites. Microsoft has been reporting some of the cleanest, all-around solid earnings releases in Big Tech. Peloton is in the most precarious of positions in terms of companies that we check in on from time to time. It’s been six months since we looked at Peloton’s earnings.
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Alphabet FY4Q22 Earnings, The Subscription War, Peloton FY2Q23 Earnings (Daily Update)
Hello everyone. We kick off today’s update with Neil’s thoughts on Alphabet’s earnings. The discussion also goes over an observation regarding the changing competitive landscaping involving Google, Amazon, and Apple. We then examine Peloton’s earnings. Let’s jump right in.
An anecdote regarding Apple TV+ and Hollywood star branding.
Looking over my Apple TV+ usage over the past few months, actors/actresses have played a key role in my watch habits. Apple’s heavy marketing around the new Jennifer Lawrence movie "Causeway" included making her Hunger Games films available to TV+ subscribers for free for a limited time. Those movies represented a decent amount of my TV+ watch time in the back half of 2022.
It is fair to question if this star power emphasis appeals to certain age demographics (i.e. older) over others. However, considering that all Apple TV+ subs are essentially family subs, Apple only needs to appeal to one family member to do well in the subscription engagement/dollars battle.
Alphabet FY4Q22 Earnings
Continuing our earnings reviews, we turn to Alphabet. The company reported 4Q22 earnings back on February 2nd.
Here are the major financial line items compared to those of peers:
(click / tap here to view table)
In what has become a theme with these releases, a main takeaway from Alphabet’s earnings call was a focus on cost controls. There was talk of economic anxiety, softness in various businesses, and a resulting push for optimization and improved profitability.
A big difference between Google and Amazon is that Google Search remains highly profitable.
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Roku 3Q22 Earnings, Peloton 1Q23 Earnings (Daily Update)
Hello everyone. In today's update, we will focus on earnings from two of the smaller companies playing in the tech arena (Roku and Peloton). While Roku is an Apple competitor, Peloton remains a good source for assessing how consumers are thinking about different forms of connected fitness.
Let's jump right in.
Roku 3Q22 Earnings
Roku reported earnings back on November 2nd.
With macro issues taking a big toll on Roku's advertising business, the company's user growth and engagement appear to be rare bright spots. We say “appear” as it’s difficult to get comfortable regarding how streaming companies define and measure engagement. According to Roku, an active account is anyone who has streamed something in the past 30 days. It's easy to see how that definition offers quite a bit of wiggle room for volatility.
As shown below, Roku has seen a small rebound in new user growth (on a TTM basis).
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Apple Sends Out Event Invites to Media, Peloton Is Imploding, A Peloton and Amazon Tie-up? (Daily Update)
The following update was sent to members on August 25th.
Hello everyone. Let’s jump right in.
Apple Sends Out Event Invites to Media
Yesterday, Apple sent out media invites for an in-person event at Steve Jobs Theater to be held on Wednesday, September 7th. It’s been three years since Apple last held a full-fledged in-person product event at Steve Jobs Theater.
Apple’s approach to WWDC was likely a test run for what is in store on September 7th. Apple will welcome press/media/analysts/VIPs/employees to Steve Jobs Theater to enjoy breakfast/refreshments. Guests will then be led to Steve Jobs Theater where Tim Cook will get on stage to welcome everyone. This will be directly followed by Apple playing a taped presentation. Afterwards, the press will be able to check out the new products in the demo area. Apple may even start the taped presentation a few minutes earlier for guests to encourage press liveblogging on social media.
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