Discussion of Alphabet and Palantir earnings and investments, focusing on key business segments and growth.
From Nasdaq: 2025-02-19 08:57:00
In a podcast, Motley Fool analysts discuss earnings from Alphabet and Palantir, covering topics like where to invest $1,000. They also talk about the role of PR firms in shaping public opinion with a TV writer. The transcript of the video mentions the growth in Alphabet’s cloud revenue and their plans to spend $75 billion on capital expenditures. Comparing CapEx spending across different tech companies requires looking at relative context, not just absolute numbers. In analyzing companies, it’s crucial to focus on return on invested capital to determine success. Amazon’s history, particularly with AWS, showcases phenomenal ROICs. Google, while excelling in its core advertising business, also saw record YouTube ad revenue, dominating TV viewing globally. YouTube’s success lies in understanding viewer preferences and curating content accordingly to maintain its leading position.
Google’s business segments, including Cloud, YouTube, Maps, and more, contribute to Alphabet’s revenue. Valuing Alphabet requires considering its various properties and moonshots. CFO Ruth Porat’s emphasis on disciplined capital investment has led to a focus on properties with a billion users for valuation purposes. While moonshots like Waymo may be speculative, mature properties generating revenue are key to Alphabet’s overall value. Alphabet’s value is a combination of mature properties and long-term investments. Despite stock price fluctuations, Google remains a strong growth opportunity. Palantir, with a 25% increase, offers data analysis services for companies to make better decisions. Their technology has real-world applications, like helping Ferrari win races through data analysis. However, with a stock valued 170 times forward earnings, investors need to carefully consider the risks before investing.
Patience is key when evaluating high-flying stocks like Palantir. While the company is making strides in the tech industry, it’s essential to weigh the potential risks and returns before diving in. David Meier’s insights shed light on the importance of understanding a company’s value beyond the hype. It’s crucial for investors to exercise caution and not let excitement cloud their judgment. Mary Long discusses how different publications cover the same topic from similar angles, possibly due to the work of Black Bag or Crisis PR firms. Ricky Mulvey speaks with TV writer Jordan Harper about Crisis PR in Hollywood and how it applies to shaping public opinion, especially in the corporate world. Jordan Harper shares his experience working on a pilot during the Les Moonves scandal, sparking his interest in Crisis PR. He discusses researching the industry through Wikipedia, personal connections, and interviews with Black Bag PR professionals in Hollywood. Harper explains the importance of Crisis PR agents building relationships with journalists at major media organizations to control the narrative and shape public opinion. He delves into the Lead Steer Theory, emphasizing the significance of influencing key media outlets like The New York Times in crisis management. Ricky Mulvey discusses the power of setting the tone for news stories, emphasizing the influence it has on subsequent reporting. Jordan Harper delves into the trend of healthier eating and the tactics used by big food companies to combat it, highlighting the role of Crisis PR in shaping public perception. Harper also explores the manipulation of the media by food industries over the years, urging consumers to critically analyze news sources and consider the motives behind reported stories. The discussion touches on the complexities of objective news gathering and the need for transparency in reporting to combat misinformation and biased narratives. Harper provides historical examples of Crisis PR strategies in response to major incidents such as Three Mile Island and the Tylenol murders, illustrating the impact of corporate communications on public perception. Tylenol took full responsibility for a crisis, settling with victims and removing products from shelves. Honest handling of the situation maintained consumer trust. Ricky Mulvey advises readers to question news sources and look for hidden agendas or missing information. Awareness of Crisis PR tactics can help identify manipulated narratives in media.
Look for unasked questions and assumptions in news articles. Educate yourself by analyzing familiar subjects in the news. Be wary of PR speak and hidden agendas, noting trends and powerful entities benefiting from certain narratives. Acknowledge that media is controlled, but don’t dismiss it entirely. Critically analyze news for biases and omissions.
The Motley Fool provides financial advice and stock recommendations, with editorial standards. Board members include former Facebook and Alphabet executives. David Meier, Mary Long, and Ricky Mulvey offer insights on stocks, with personal finance content following Fool editorial guidelines. Listeners are encouraged to make informed decisions and not solely rely on advice. 1. The stock market reached new highs today, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq both closing at record levels. The S&P 500 gained 0.8% to close at 4,352.34, while the Nasdaq rose 1.4% to end the day at 14,895.12.
2. In international news, tensions are rising between Russia and Ukraine as Russia continues to amass troops near the border. Ukraine’s President has called for a meeting with Russian President Putin to discuss the situation.
3. The latest COVID-19 statistics show a decrease in cases and hospitalizations in many parts of the world. The United States reported a 15% decrease in cases compared to the previous week, while hospitalizations have dropped by 20% in the past month.
4. Climate change activists are calling for urgent action following a report that shows global temperatures are continuing to rise. The report states that 2021 was the sixth-warmest year on record, with temperatures 1.2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
5. A new study has found that the average salary for women in the tech industry is 20% lower than their male counterparts. The study also revealed that women are significantly underrepresented in leadership positions within tech companies.
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