UnitedHealth (UNH) Share Price ReboundsUnitedHealth (UNH) Share Price Rebounds
A month ago, in our analysis of the UNH chart, we:
→ highlighted that UnitedHealth shares had lost nearly 23% in value;
→ drew a descending channel and suggested that bearish pressure could continue, threatening the support level around $450, which had held since early 2022.
Since then, UNH’s stock price decisively broke below that level (as marked by the arrow), falling to around $250 — its lowest point since spring 2020 — before staging a sharp rebound. This steep price movement was driven by a series of fundamental developments, including:
→ the resignation of the CEO and news of a Department of Justice investigation into potential Medicare fraud;
→ UnitedHealth withdrawing its earnings guidance for the coming year;
→ political debates over the Medicaid programme as part of the 2025 budget negotiations;
→ President Trump’s directive to cut prescription drug prices.
Recent news that the new CEO and several top executives have bought tens of millions of dollars’ worth of UNH shares appears to have renewed investor confidence — the share price rose above the $300 mark yesterday.
Technical Analysis of UNH Share Chart
These latest developments justify an update to the descending channel configuration. Of particular note is the gradual decline with limited volatility — a sign that the price is moving along the channel's median line (highlighted on the chart).
In this setup:
→ the bounce from the $250 level points to the lower boundary of the channel;
→ traders may consider a scenario where the current recovery pushes UnitedHealth stock towards the median, after which supply pressure may return and offset the recent dominance of demand.
It’s also possible that the key psychological level of $300 could now act as support.
This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.
Stocktrading
4H FVG level is indicating a strong bullish sentiment.Market Analysis – Gold (XAU/USD)
Gold is currently trading within a bullish Fair Value Gap (FVG) on the 4-hour timeframe, accompanied by notable volume activity. Just below this zone lies a weekly FVG, and multiple other FVG and Breaker Block (BPR) formations have emerged in the same region. The price action around the 4H FVG level is indicating a strong bullish sentiment.
However, on the 1-hour chart, the market has recently formed a bearish FVG in the 3214–3220 range. If the price breaks above this level with strength, the bullish momentum could potentially drive the market toward the following upside targets: 3233, 3240, 3250, and 3260.
Let’s monitor closely and remember: Do Your Own Research (DYOR).
$LMT began scaling the world’s most expensive weapons programLockheed Martin began scaling the world’s most expensive weapons program back in 2013. A nice match with Palantir? Isn't it? ;)
Since 2013, NYSE:LMT has been on a long-term upward trajectory - marked by consistent higher lows and major consolidation zones.
But here’s what most people don’t ask:
Why 2013? Why then?
The Real Catalyst: F-35 Lightning II
That single event? It triggered:
→ Full-rate production across the U.S. and allied nations
→ Huge visibility into long-term defense revenues
→ Global adoption (UK, Israel, Japan, Australia…)
Look closely at the chart and you’ll see:
→ Key support zones (red lines) from $430–$450
→ Massive consolidation in 2017–2020 and again 2022–2024
→ A textbook bullish structure on the weekly time frame
Price is sitting at ~$469. If this support holds… we may be at the start of the next leg up.
This wasn’t just a product launch. It was a multi-decade defense bet. And it paid off.
Post-2011 U.S. defense budgets started climbing again.
And where did that money go?
→ Aerospace
→ Missile defense
→ Cybersecurity
All categories where Lockheed Martin dominates.
Major wins that anchored the trend
From 2013 to today:
→ Multi-billion dollar Pentagon F-35 contracts (Lot 6 to Lot 17 — $18B in 2023 alone)
→ International THAAD defense system deals
→ Long range hypersonic weapon delivery
→ Space wins via NASA’s Artemis program
Each of these was a fundamental “trust” signal to the market.
Analysing the Spike in Volatility on the Walmart (WMT) ChartAnalysing the Spike in Volatility on the Walmart (WMT) Share Price Chart
On Thursday, the US retail giant reported its quarterly results — which turned out to be broadly better than expected. While total revenue was roughly in line with analysts’ forecasts, earnings per share came in higher at $0.61 versus the expected $0.57.
At the same time, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon stated on Thursday:
"We will do everything we can to keep our prices as low as possible. But given the scale of the tariffs, even at reduced levels, we won't be able to absorb all the pressure, considering the reality of tight retail margins."
This statement may have raised concerns among market participants about the company’s future earnings, contributing to Friday’s drop in the share price to $92.
It also drew the attention of the US President. On Saturday, Donald Trump said that Walmart (WMT) should “swallow the tariffs” instead of blaming them and raising prices.
In response, Walmart reiterated that it will keep prices as low as possible for as long as it can — which has always been the company’s approach.
Technical Analysis of the WMT Stock Price Chart
Looking at the broader market context, we can see that price fluctuations formed a narrowing triangle in late April — a sign that buyers and sellers had reached some agreement around a fair value of approximately $95.50.
In early May, sentiment shifted in favour of the bulls, with this level acting as support (marked by an arrow).
The earnings release triggered a spike in volatility — the ATR indicator is now at a one-month high. The Walmart stock price extremes seen at the end of last week suggest two key levels, roughly equidistant from the $95.50 axis:
→ resistance around $99 (reinforced by the psychological level of $100);
→ support around $92.
Given the above, it is reasonable to suggest that once the market has digested the news, price movements may calm down again. In that case, we may well see another narrowing triangle form on the WMT chart — slightly above the previous one.
This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.
Netflix - The bulls just never stop!Netflix - NASDAQ:NFLX - is insanely bullish now:
(click chart above to see the in depth analysis👆🏻)
The entire stock market basically collapsed during April. Meanwhile, Netflix is creating new all time highs with a +20% parabolic bullish candle. Looking at the chart, this strength is very likely to continue even more until Netflix will (again) retest the upper resistance trendline.
Levels to watch: $1.400
Keep your long term vision!
Philip (BasicTrading)
COCA-COLA: This is a +43% wave, aiming at $82.Coca-Cola is about to turn bullish on its 1D technical outlook (RSI = 53.500, MACD = -0.130, ADX = 31.368), trading on a flat 1M candle, coming off another flat candle before it (April). This neutrality has historically been a re accumulation period for the stock. Given that its most recent low was on the 0.382 of its multi year Channel Up and the rebound took place on the 1M MA50, we expect at least a +43.22% rise from there. On this pattern, all rallies that started on the 1M MA50, grew by at least +43.22% and touched the 0.786 Fibonacci level of the Channel. Our TP = 82.00 and we expect to get there by the end of the year.
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AppLovin Corporation (APP) – Rewiring Ad Tech with AI at ScaleCompany Snapshot:
AppLovin NASDAQ:APP is shedding its legacy gaming identity and emerging as a pure-play AI advertising infrastructure leader. Post its $900M gaming unit divestiture, the company is laser-focused on AXON 2.0, its next-gen AI ad engine, positioning APP as one of the most transformative players in the digital ad ecosystem.
🚀 Key Growth Drivers:
🧠 AXON 2.0 – AI-Powered Programmatic Ad Platform
Delivers real-time ad bidding with predictive optimization
Retail and eCommerce verticals seeing rapid adoption
Scalable infrastructure = operating leverage + high margin tailwinds
🛠️ Self-Serve & GenAI Expansion
Self-serve ad tools on the roadmap = democratizing access for SMBs
Generative AI ad creatives enable fast, customized campaigns at scale
Broadens TAM beyond top-tier advertisers to long-tail marketers
💰 High-Margin, Asset-Light Model
Post-divestiture, APP’s margins are structurally higher
Lean, software-first model with strong unit economics and cash generation
Flexibility for buybacks, R&D, or strategic M&A
📊 Market Positioning & Flywheel
Network effects: More advertisers = better data = smarter bidding
Competes with The Trade Desk, Google DV360, and Meta in ad optimization
First-mover advantage in mobile AI bidding infrastructure
📈 Financial & Strategic Highlights:
Q/Q margin expansion amid rising advertiser retention
Structural cost improvements post-gaming spinout
Potential for SEED_TVCODER77_ETHBTCDATA:2B + in annualized EBITDA as AI scaling accelerates
🧭 Investment Outlook:
✅ Bullish Above: $255.00–$260.00
🚀 Upside Target: $520.00–$525.00
🎯 Thesis: AppLovin is evolving into the NVIDIA of mobile ad tech—using proprietary AI infrastructure to reshape programmatic advertising. With high-margin growth, expanding use cases, and a clear product vision, APP is a top-tier AI advertising compounder.
#AppLovin #APP #AdTech #AXON #AIAdvertising #Programmatic #DigitalMarketing #GrowthStock
BANK OF AMERICA: Strongest rebound since 2023 eyes $65.Bank of America is heavily bullish on its 1D technical outlook (RSI = 68.687, MACD = 1.120, ADX = 62.779) as it's on an impressive rebound since the April low, which was priced on the 0.236 Fibonacci level of the long term Channel Up that begun in December 2011. Every rally on the 0.236 Fib always hit the 0.786 Fib. Long until the end of the year, TP = 65.00.
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S&P 500 Breaks Out — Trump, Tariffs & Bullish Island PatternDonald Trump has mentioned the US stock market in every meeting he has held in the past few days, which has caused the US stock market indices , including the S&P500 Index ( SP:SPX ), to rise:
"Better go out and buy stocks now".
President Donald Trump told a crowd in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday that the markets are just getting started. “It’s going to get a lot higher,” he said, right as the S&P 500 posted its first gain since late February.
But one of the main reasons for the increase in the S&P 500 Index and US stocks is The United States has dropped its tariffs on Chinese goods to 30% , down from a brutal 145% , while China is slashing its own duties on US imports to just 10% , temporarily, for the next 90 days .
-------------------------------------------------
Now let's take a look at the S&P 500 Index chart on the daily time frame .
S&P500 Index managed to break the Resistance zone($5,737_$5,506) and 21_SMA(Weekly) by Breakaway Gap .
In terms of Classic Technical Analysis , the S&P500 Index has managed to form a Bullish Long Island Pattern , and this pattern is one of the continuing patterns and will be a sign of the continuation of the S&P500 Index's upward trend .
In terms of Elliott Wave theory , it seems that the S&P500 index has completed the corrective wave and is in new impulsive waves , which could cause a new All-Time High(ATH) to form.
I expect the S&P500 index to increase by at least +5% as it approaches the Uptrend line , and we will see the possibility of a new ATH .
Please respect each other's ideas and express them politely if you agree or disagree.
S&P 500 Index Analyze (SPX500USD), Daily time frame.
Be sure to follow the updated ideas.
Do not forget to put a Stop loss for your positions (For every position you want to open).
Please follow your strategy and updates; this is just my Idea, and I will gladly see your ideas in this post.
Please do not forget the ✅' like '✅ button 🙏😊 & Share it with your friends; thanks, and Trade safe.
UnitedHealth Group faces DOJ criminal probeUnitedHealth Group faces DOJ criminal probe amid stock turmoil. Will the gaps be filled? (and most importantly when)
This situation shows the critical importance of compliance and transparency in the healthcare industry, especially for companies managing public funds.
UnitedHealth Group is under a criminal investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice for potential Medicare fraud, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. This follows a civil inquiry earlier this year and a separate Senate investigation into the company's Medicare billing practices.
The company's stock has experienced significant volatility, recently closing at $308.01, marking a 48% decline over the past month and a 40% drop year-over-year. Analysts have adjusted their outlooks accordingly, with Oppenheimer setting a price target of $400, KeyBanc at $450, and B of A Securities at $350.
#trading #tradingcards #tradingstrategy #daytrading #swingtrading #stocktrading #optionstrading
Crossed over 6.05 SKLZSklz will be over 10$ next year mark my words!!!
Daily booming primed for a breakout of the oldest bearish trends dating back to the reverse split… been holding and buying for years got stuck in and now we are bullish with a good avg price waiting for half sell off north off 11.53$ riding the rest.
16.7m shares i own 3.1k
Broadcom Inc. (AVGO): Software-Driven Growth Meets AI Hardware ECompany Overview:
Broadcom NASDAQ:AVGO is undergoing a strategic transformation—shifting from a hardware-centric model to a hybrid software and subscription platform. The VMware acquisition is proving pivotal, reshaping AVGO’s margin profile and deepening its enterprise moat.
🔑 Growth Catalysts:
💻 VMware Integration = High-Margin Recurring Revenue
70%+ of top 10,000 VMware customers already moved to subscription model
Transition boosts revenue visibility, margin expansion, and valuation multiples
Strong cross-sell opportunities within Broadcom’s enterprise base
⚙️ Custom AI Chips – A Key NVIDIA Hedge
Broadcom’s custom AI accelerators offer an alternative amid export curbs
Strong demand from hyperscalers and cloud players (Amazon, Google, Meta)
Positioned as a strategic silicon supplier in the AI infrastructure stack
📶 Diversification = Resilience
Deep reach across networking, broadband, storage, and wireless
Reduced cyclicality vs. pure-play semiconductor firms
Balanced between enterprise software and hardware demand
🛡️ Geopolitical Edge
Broadcom’s chip solutions provide alternatives in regions impacted by U.S.-China tech tensions
VMware’s software suite ensures relevance in multi-cloud and hybrid IT environments
📊 Financial Highlights:
Consistent double-digit free cash flow growth
EBITDA margin expansion via software scale and cost synergy post-VMware
Shareholder-friendly with strong buybacks and dividend growth
📈 Investment Outlook:
✅ Bullish Above: $165.00–$170.00
🚀 Upside Target: $270.00–$280.00
🎯 Thesis: With AI tailwinds, VMware synergies, and rising recurring revenues, Broadcom is evolving into a software+silicon powerhouse—positioned for outsized returns and resilience in volatile markets.
#Broadcom #AVGO #VMware #AIchips #Semiconductors #EnterpriseSoftware #RecurringRevenue
AAPL | Apple Stock | Three Drives Down PATTERNThe Three Drives / Three Dives Down pattern is usually short term bearish , but near term and long term bullish .
Previously, we saw a -32% correction. This time, it could be a little higher if we consider the previous neckline support:
The only way I see this paying out differently, is if the price captures the current resistance zone, and CLOSES above it:
__________________
NASDAQ:AAPL
Tesla - The Next 7 Days Decide Everything!Tesla ( NASDAQ:TSLA ) is sitting at a crucial structure:
Click chart above to see the detailed analysis👆🏻
Despite the -60% correction which we have been seeing over the past couple of months, Tesla still continuously validates its overall uptrend. That's exactly the reason for my strong bullish thesis and the assumption, that after we see bullish confirmation, Tesla will reject the current support area.
Levels to watch: $250, $400
Keep your long term vision,
Philip (BasicTrading)
WHAT A LOVELY BULLISSH GAP ON AMAZON: A 4RR PROFIT TRADE CLOSEDI just closed this beautiful 4RR trade on Amazon.
The trade was entered last week, this new week market open Gap pushed the price high to my 4RR target.
Trade Idea;
The monthly is extremely bullish.
The weekly is also bullish.
Daily is bullish as well, so i entered on the daily time frame pull back swing low.
Result?
A beautiful 4RR profits trade.
Next Action?
I will wait till the daily frame correct and form a swing low before entering for a bullish trend continuation buy.
Golden Opportunity: XAU/USD’s Bull & Bear Heist Strategy!Hello Money Makers & Market Bandits! 🤑💰✈️
Get ready to raid the XAU/USD Gold Market with our cunning Thief Trading Style, blending sharp technicals and deep fundamental insights! 📊🔥 Our plan? Strike with precision on both bullish and bearish moves, grabbing profits before the market turns. Let’s outwit the charts and stack that gold! 🏆💸
📈 The Gold Heist Plan
Entry Points 🚪:
🏴☠️ Bullish Move: Wait for a pullback to the Institutional Hidden Buy Zone at 3080—your signal to jump in for bullish gains!
🏴☠️ Bearish Move: Watch for a breakout below the neutral level at 3200—time to ride the bearish wave!
Tip: Set alerts to catch these key levels! 🔔
Stop Loss (SL) 🛑:
Bullish Trade: Place SL at 2960 (4H swing low, Institutional Hidden Buy Zone).
Bearish Trade: Set SL at 3360 (4H swing high).
Adjust SL based on your risk, lot size, and number of orders. Stay sharp—this is your shield! ⚠️
Take Profit (TP) 🎯:
Bullish Robbers: Aim for 3660 or exit early if momentum fades.
Bearish Robbers: Target 3080 or slip out before the market flips.
Escape Plan: Watch for overbought/oversold signals to avoid traps! 🚨
📡 Why XAU/USD?
The Gold Market is in a bearish trend 🐻, driven by:
Fundamentals: USD strength from Fed policy, US growth, and tariffs.
Macroeconomics: US resilience vs. global economic weakness.
COT Data: Bearish speculative bets favor USD.
Intermarket: Rising US yields and equities boost USD, pressuring gold.
Quantitative: RSI and Fibonacci confirm bearish momentum.
🧠 Sentiment Outlook (May 12, 2025)
Retail Traders:
🟢 Bullish: 42% 😊 (Hoping for gold rebound on trade war fears)
🔴 Bearish: 45% 😟 (USD strength and improved US-China relations weigh)
⚪ Neutral: 13% 🤔
Source: Social sentiment & trading platform polls
Institutional Traders:
🟢 Bullish: 30% 💼 (Safe-haven demand amid geopolitical uncertainty)
🔴 Bearish: 60% ⚠️ (USD rally and higher concrete 5/12/2025)
🟢 Bullish: 30% 💼 (Safe-haven demand amid geopolitical uncertainty)
🔴 Bearish: 60% ⚠️ (USD rally and higher yields suppress gold)
⚪ Neutral: 10% 🧐
Source: COT reports & institutional flows
⚠️ Trading Alert: News & Risk Management 📰
News can shake the market like a storm! Protect your loot:
Skip new trades during major news releases.
Use trailing stop-loss to lock in profits and limit losses.
Stay vigilant—volatility is our playground, but only with a plan!
💪 Ride with the Thief Trading Team!
Hit the Boost Button to power up our Thief Trading Style and make this heist epic! 🚀 Each boost fuels our squad, helping us plunder profits daily. Let’s conquer the XAU/USD market together! 🤝
Stay tuned for the next heist! 🐱👤 Keep your charts ready, alerts on, and trading vibe high. Catch you in the profits, bandits! 🤑🎉
#ThiefTrading #XAUUSD #GoldHeist #TradingView #StackTheGold
CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. – AI-Native Cybersecurity Powerhouse Company Snapshot:
CrowdStrike NASDAQ:CRWD remains a top-tier cybersecurity leader, redefining endpoint and cloud protection through its AI-powered Falcon platform, securing some of the most critical digital infrastructures in the world.
Key Catalysts:
Falcon Platform – AI-First, Cloud-Native 🧠☁️
Unified security architecture: endpoint, identity, cloud, and data
Leverages real-time analytics, automation, and continuous threat hunting
Widely recognized as a gold standard in modern cybersecurity (GigaOm, Gartner)
Elite Partnerships = Ecosystem Synergy 🤝
Named Google Cloud’s 2025 Security Partner of the Year
Deep collaborations with AWS, Microsoft Azure, and NVIDIA
Embedded in cloud-native DevOps workflows = high stickiness and TAM expansion
AI + Cyber = Next-Gen Growth Tailwind 🚀
Integrating generative AI and autonomous detection to proactively prevent threats
Strategic positioning at the intersection of cloud security and AI operations
Key enabler of Zero Trust architectures for global enterprises
Massive Market Opportunity 🌍
Global cyber budgets rising amid escalating threats
CrowdStrike well-positioned for land-and-expand growth via Falcon modules
Expanding presence in identity protection, XDR, and managed services
Financial Edge:
Consistent 30%+ YoY revenue growth
High gross margins (~77%)
Strong free cash flow generation, underpinning long-term profitability
📈 Investment Outlook
✅ Bullish Above: $370.00–$375.00
🚀 Upside Target: $600.00–$620.00
🎯 Thesis: Platform leverage, elite partnerships, and AI innovation make CrowdStrike a core cybersecurity growth leader for the AI era.
#CrowdStrike #Cybersecurity #AI #CRWD #FalconPlatform #CloudSecurity #NextGenTech
Walt Disney Co | DISThe Walt Disney Company is reportedly exploring options to sell or find a joint venture partner for its India digital and TV business, reflecting the company's ongoing strategic evaluation of its operations in the region. The talks are still in the early stages, with no specific buyer or partner identified yet. The outcome and direction of the process remain uncertain. Internally, discussions have commenced within Disney's headquarters in the United States as executives deliberate on the most viable course of action. These deliberations signify the company's willingness to adapt and optimize its business operations to align with changing market dynamics. The Wall Street Journal reported on July 11 that Disney had engaged with at least one bank to explore potential avenues for assisting the growth of its India business while sharing the associated costs. This approach suggests a proactive stance by the company to explore partnerships or arrangements that can drive growth while minimizing financial burdens. While it is too early to ascertain the exact direction this exploration will take, the developments in Disney's India business warrant attention, as they may shape the future landscape of the company's presence in this all-important region.
The ongoing shift from traditional TV to streaming has placed Disney and its competitors in a costly and transformative phase. As part of this transition, Disney is actively cutting costs amid macroeconomic challenges that have impacted its advertising revenue and subscriber growth. CEO Bob Iger has been at the forefront of these changes, and his contract was recently extended through 2026 to allow him sufficient time to make transformative changes while strengthening the bench with future leaders of the company.
One of the key considerations for Disney is evaluating its portfolio of TV networks, including ABC and ESPN. Bob Iger has expressed a willingness to be expansive in assessing the traditional TV business, leaving open the possibility of selling certain networks while retaining others acknowledging that networks like ABC may not be core to Disney's new business model. ESPN, as a cable TV channel, is being approached differently. Disney is open to exploring strategic partnerships, such as joint ventures or offloading ownership stakes, to navigate the challenges faced by the sports network. CEO Iger, who had previously expressed pessimism about the future of traditional TV, has found the situation to be worse than anticipated since his return to Disney.
Although the linear networks segment, which accounts for Disney's TV properties such as ABC, National Geographic, FX, and FreeForm, has struggled to grow in the recent past, this segment is still an important part of the company's business, which is evident from the positive operating income reported by this segment in fiscal 2022. As below data reveals, the DTC business and content licensing made operating losses in FY 2022 which were offset by the operating income reported by linear networks. For this reason, investors will have to closely monitor a potential sale of TV assets to evaluate the impact of such a decision on Disney's profitability.
The broadcasting landscape is experiencing a significant shift, with uncertainties surrounding its future and the changing nature of consumer preferences. While linear television channels are not expected to disappear immediately, their consumption continues to decline as viewers increasingly favor OTT platforms. This transition represents a fundamental trend shaping the industry. In terms of business models, subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) services will continue to grow with targeted advertising.
As the ascent of streaming video continues, cable, satellite, and internet TV providers in the United States faced their most significant subscriber losses to date in the first quarter of 2023. Analyst estimates indicate a collective shedding of 2.3 million customers during this period. Consequently, the total penetration of pay-TV services in occupied U.S. households, including internet-based services like YouTube TV and Hulu, dropped to its lowest point since 1992, standing at 58.5%, according to Moffett's calculations.
In Q1, pay-TV services in the U.S. witnessed a nearly 7% decline in customers compared to the previous year, with cable TV operators experiencing a 9.9% decline, while satellite providers DirecTV and Dish Network registered subscriber losses of 13.4%. Virtual MVPDs, which are multichannel video programming distributors, also suffered significant losses, shedding 264,000 customers during the quarter. Comcast, the largest pay-TV provider in the country, lost 614,000 video customers in Q1, and Google's YouTube TV was the only tracked provider to experience subscriber growth, adding an estimated 300,000 subscribers during the period. These trends illustrate the challenges faced by the pay-TV industry, with factors like increasing sports-broadcast fees driving retail prices higher, leading to cord-cutting and subsequent price adjustments by distributors. By 2026, e-Marketer predicts that the number of non-pay TV households will surpass pay TV households by over 25 million.
In efforts to achieve profitability in the streaming business, Disney has implemented significant cost-cutting measures, including saving $5.5 billion through cost reductions and layoffs, and a focus on making Disney+ and Hulu more profitable. Disney aims to enhance Hulu integration, seeing it as a vital component of the company's transition from TV to a streaming-only model. Discussions are also underway for Disney to acquire Comcast Corporation's (CMCSA) stake in Hulu, as Disney currently holds 66% ownership. The company believes that the integration of Hulu and Disney+ will bolster the streaming business and contribute to its profitability. While the negotiations with Comcast over Hulu's valuation are ongoing, the combined offering of Disney+ and Hulu is expected to be available to consumers by the end of the calendar year. Although Disney's plans for ESPN+ and the fate of its other cable channels, such as the Disney Channel, remain uncertain, Bob Iger expects ESPN to eventually move to a streaming-only model, acknowledging the disruptive nature of the traditional TV business model.
The discussions surrounding Walt Disney's TV and streaming business in India come at a critical juncture for the company, as it grapples with intensified competition and significant challenges in the market. The emergence of Reliance Industries' JioCinema streaming platform has posed a considerable threat to Disney's dominance, especially after Reliance secured digital rights for the highly popular Indian Premier League cricket tournament. This strategic move by Reliance, which offered free access to the tournament earlier this year, caused a substantial decline in Disney+ Hotstar's subscribers, a popular streaming service under Disney's India business.
Additionally, Viacom18, which is backed by Reliance and Paramount Global (PARA), made a significant impact on Disney's market position in India. Through its partnership with Warner Bros, Viacom18 secured content rights to popular shows on HBO including Succession, previously aired on Disney's platform. This collaboration forms a formidable alliance challenging Disney's dominance in the Indian market. Reliance's freemium model poses the most significant threat to Disney's current position. By offering content for free on its streaming platform, JioCinema attracted a substantial number of subscribers through the broadcast of IPL. With its ample cash reserves, Reliance has the advantage of focusing on subscriber growth without immediately focusing on monetization strategies. The loss of streaming rights for the IPL, combined with a subsequent decline in paid subscribers, had a profound impact on Disney's reputation in India in the first quarter of this year, which could very well be the most challenging Q1 Disney has had in India for a long time.
A report on video consumption trends in India by Media Partners Asia sheds light on the dynamic landscape of the online video sector in India. For the 15 months that ended in March 2023, total consumption across the online video sector reached a staggering 6.1 trillion minutes. During this period, Disney+ Hotstar emerged as the dominant player in premium VOD, capturing 38% of viewing time. The report attributes Hotstar's success to its strong sports offerings and the depth of its Hindi and regional entertainment content.
During the survey period, Zee and Sony together held a 13% share of the Indian premium video sector viewing time. While the two companies are expected to merge pending regulatory approval, they are projected to operate independently for another year, benefiting from strong engagement across sports as well as regional, local, and international content. Prime Video and Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) collectively accounted for a 10% share of viewership in the premium VOD category. Prime Video also garnered a significant portion of viewership from regional Indian titles. The report emphasizes that local content dominates premium VOD viewership, particularly outside the sports category, while international content leads paid tiers. Catch-up TV is prevalent in the free tier across freemium streaming platforms.
Although Disney was the clear winner in 2022, this report highlights a significant shake-up in the market brought about by the transformation of JioCinema. JioCinema, which previously held a mere 2% share of the premium video market, experienced a major upswing in growth since April. This surge can be attributed to JioCinema's decision to offer free live streaming of the popular IPL cricket tournament, a property that was previously exclusive to Disney-owned media in India. Despite technical glitches impacting user experience, JioCinema witnessed a more than 20-fold increase in consumption in April 2023, enabling it to dominate the premium VOD category. The report raises questions about JioCinema's ability to sustain this growth and scale in the absence of IPL action after June 2023. That being said, this could be an early indication of growth challenges Disney-owned brands may face in India.
Star India, now known as Disney Star following the rebranding last year, is expected to experience a revenue drop of around 20% to less than $2 billion for the fiscal year ending September 2023. Additionally, EBITDA is projected to decline by approximately 50% compared to the previous year. Furthermore, Hotstar is estimated to lose 8 to 10 million subscribers in its fiscal third quarter as well.
Given the current scenario, finding an outright buyer for Disney's India business is expected to be challenging. When Disney acquired the entertainment assets of 21st Century Fox in 2019, the enterprise value of the Indian business was estimated at around $15-16 billion. This high valuation, coupled with the intense competition and declining subscriber base, presents a complex landscape for potential buyers or partners.
I believe Disney stock is attractively valued today given that the company's streaming business has a long runway for growth internationally while its brand assets will continue to drive revenue higher. As an investor, I am both concerned and curious about what the future holds for Disney's linear networks segment. Going by the recent remarks of CEO Iger, major changes are on their way. A strategic decision to divest non-core assets, in my opinion, will trigger a positive response from the market. That being said, a major divestment of TV assets could materially impact the company's profitability in the next 3-5 years until its streaming business scales enough to replace lost revenue from the linear networks segment. Investors will have to closely monitor new developments to identify a potential inflection point in Disney's story.
Airbnb | ABNB Airbnb is the leader in Alternative Accommodations and experiences. I believe their community of individual hosts and strong brand differentiates them from travel peers. The emerging trend of long-term stays would boost Airbnb’s profit margins and expand the entire travel accommodation market size
Airbnb estimates its current total addressable market to be $3.4 trillion, including $1.8 trillion in short term stays, $ 210 billion in long term stays, and $ 1.4 trillion in experiences. Coupled with a notably underpenetrated market size, the global travel market is growing at an above GDP rate. Airbnb’s current market penetration represents less than 2% of the share. As such, there is a huge runway for Airbnb’s growth over the next decade.
In terms of competition, most Online Travel Agencies (OTA) provide traditional hotel accommodation (Marriott, Hilton, Accor, Wyndham, and InterContinental, for example). These OTAs are not the real competitors for Airbnb. Instead, Booking.com (BKNG) is expanding its traditional hotel business into the alternative accommodation industry. Expedia (EXPE) entered the alternative accommodation market via the acquisition of VRBO in December 2015. However, Airbnb has the first-mover advantage with a very strong brand. I believe Airbnb’s technology and supplies are superior to their peers, and it is hard for Expedia and Booking.com to compete against Airbnb in the alternative accommodations space.
One of the main expenses for Online Travel Agencies is sales and marketing. They have to spend billions of dollars on Google, Facebook, and other social media platforms to attract traffic.
The table below shows the sales and marketing expenses as a percentage of sales. Both Booking.com and Expedia spend almost half of their sales on sales and marketing. According to Airbnb’s disclosure, 80% of their website traffic comes from direct and organic search. In contrast, Booking.com and Expedia only have 60% direct traffic. In other words, Airbnb has the highest brand awareness among these travelers. With a high ratio of direct traffic and organic search, Airbnb spends much less than its peers.
In Q1 FY23’s earning call, Airbnb indicated their sales and marketing expense as percentage of sales would remain the same in FY23.
In late 2019, Airbnb's costs were rising, and growth was slowing. They spent a huge amount of money on performance marketing, which was basically selling their products as a commodity. Their product was looking less different from their competitors. When the COVID occurred, they lost 80% of sales in eight weeks, and they shut down all marketing spending. Interestingly, when the travel market rebounded, Airbnb's business came back to almost the same level as before, with much less marketing expenses. Currently, they spend much less on performance marketing, and most of their expenses are focused on their products/services. They have had 600,000 articles about Airbnb. These efforts have put Airbnb in a much better shape today.
90% of Airbnb's hosts are individuals. Airbnb can capitalize on the personal experience provided by these unique individual hosts, as opposed to a standard hotel service. Customers can find unique properties, differentiated amenities, as well as local insights from these individual hosts.
Airbnb is putting in a lot of effort into the experience market. In Q4 FY22's earnings call, Airbnb expressed that they were beginning to ramp up their Airbnb Experience business and expect to launch more products/services over the coming years. In my opinion, Airbnb Experience may not bring notable direct sales to Airbnb, but it would enhance the stickiness and loyalty of Airbnb's customers. Airbnb Experience would make the Airbnb platform unique and boost their sales indirectly.
Furthermore, Airbnb Experience could become more relevant with AI technology. In Q1 FY23's earnings call, Airbnb disclosed that they are building AI into their products. Airbnb is working with OpenAI ChatGPT, and Airbnb will embed ChatGPT into their app. The AI powered product will be launched next year.
Leveraging AI technology, Airbnb can make their Airbnb Experience and accommodation recommendations more relevant to any consumer. To put it another way, Airbnb would know your preferences for travel destinations and accommodations before you start searching for anything.
Long-term Stay: As disclosed, 20% of Airbnb's gross bookings are long-term stays currently. Long-term stays are the fastest-growing segment in terms of trip length. The pandemic also accelerated some inevitable growth for long-term stays.
Long-term stays mean higher margins for both hosts and Airbnb. In Q1 FY23's earnings call, Airbnb indicated that long-term stays would be one of the biggest growth areas over the next five years. Airbnb made over a dozen upgrades to long-term stays based on affordability, and they also have new discounting tools for hosts on weekly and monthly stays. Airbnb expects more hosts to exclusively list long-term stays with Airbnb.
In addition, 62% of Airbnb's guests are under 34 years old, and Airbnb is focusing on the next generation of travelers. These young customers are more likely to use Airbnb as the platform for long-term stays. The key thing to remember is that more long-term stays mean higher margins for Airbnb.
Airbnb indicated that, in the current macroeconomic environment, consumers are looking for affordable ways to travel on Airbnb. Airbnb is adding more affordable accommodations to their platform. The average price of Airbnb rooms is only $67 per night.
Before the pandemic, 80% of Airbnb's sales were coming from either cross-border or urban accommodations. The cross-border business would contribute more sales to Airbnb than other types of travel. The cross-border traveling could be very weak if high inflation persists. Despite this, the global travel market had been growing fast in the past, and I expect the growth will continue in the future.
We are using a two-stage DCF model to estimate Airbnb’s fair value. In the model, we assume 20% of normalized sales growth rate, which we believe is quite conservative.
We assume they can expand their operating margin by 30bps annually and will reach 25.5% in FY32.Their free cash flow conversion was quite healthy in the past, and we assume they will deliver 35.8% in FY32.
In addition, we use 10% of WACC, and 15% of nonGAAP tax rate in the model.
The present value of Free Cash Flow to the Firm (FCFF) over the next 10 years is estimated to be $32 billion, and the present value of terminal value is $88 billion. As such, the total enterprise value is estimated to be $120 billion. Adjusting gross debt and cash balance, the fair value of the stock price is $ 200, according to our estimate.
All things considered, the huge underpenetrated market, strong brand awareness, and growing trend of long-term stays, in my opinion, will provide Airbnb with a huge runway for growth over the next decade. Their competitors are way behind them, and Airbnb would be the best player for the alternative accommodation service provider. In my view, the current stock price is significantly undervalued, and we encourage investors to buy during the weakness.
at the end I always bet on Brian Chesky
Take Two | TTWO & GTA VI. Part IITakeTwo Interactive is preparing for the biggest catalyst in the company's history with the release of GTA 6. Although no definitive timetable has been set for GTA 6, the game will almost certainly release in 2024 or 2025 at the latest given all the information that has come out. Moreover, TTWO itself has started opening up about GTA 6, which is a hint that an announcement is near. The impact that GTA 6 will have on TTWO cannot be understated, given how much resources have been spent developing GTA 6 and the growing consumer frenzy surrounding the title.TTWO could see more upward momentum as GTA 6's release closes in.
GTA 6 is by far the most anticipated video game in the industry's history. The game is so hyped, in fact, that individuals have crashed televised events purely to protest for the release of GTA 6. Even Starfield, which is an incredibly hyped game in its own right, had it Gamescon presentation disrupted by a fan calling for GTA 6. GTA 6 has not even been announced yet, and it seems to have fully captured the attention of the gaming world.
This level of organic hype is an incredibly positive sign for TTWO and its investors. Despite the fact that GTA 5 had nowhere near the hype as GTA 6 at similar stages in their development, GTA 5 still managed to become the best-selling triple A game ever made, with ~185 million units sold. This is a testament to GTA 6's potential, both on a commercial and even cultural standpoint.
If GTA 6 manages to meet or exceed consumer expectations, TTWO should see its shares surge. Given the hysteria surrounding the title, positive reviews will only supercharge demand as consumers will likely find any reason to get their hands on the game. Considering the amount of resources TTWO is rumored to be spending on developing GTA 6, coupled with Rockstar's track record of producing masterpieces, there is very little chance that GTA 6 disappoints.
While GTA is TTWO's most important IP, the company also boasts a strong lineup beyond GTA. In fact, some of its other franchises are bestsellers in their own right. Red Dead Redemption, for instance, has sold more than 55 million units and continues to sell at a solid pace despite the game being nearly 5 years old. Red Dead Redemption has also been critically praised as one of the best triple A games ever made.
TTWO currently has one of its most robust product pipelines in the history of the company across all of its studios. The company has even diversified into mobile gaming, which is proving to be an increasingly large segment in the gaming industry. In fact, TTWO made a huge acquisition in Zynga for a whopping $12.7 billion. Zynga is one of the largest mobile gaming studios in the world and owns massively popular IPs like FarmVille.
Despite TTWO's growing pipeline, the company is still relatively top-heavy compared to peers like EA (EA) or Activision Blizzard (ATVI). This means that underperformance for its flagship franchises, especially GTA, will almost certainly cause the company's value to plummet. So much of TTWO's future prospects are dependent upon the success of GTA 6, especially considering how much revenue the game is expected to pull in.
To gain some perspective on how important the GTA franchise is for TTWO, GTA has generated over $8 billion in revenue since GTA 5's release in 2013. TTWO itself is only worth ~$23 billion. GTA online, for instance, still contributes heavily to the company's recurring revenue and bookings, which came in at $1.2 billion in its most recent quarter.
TTWO has a huge opportunity with GTA 6. The game has garnered unprecedented hype that is starting to grow to a fever pitch. If TTWO delivers a solid sequel, GTA 6 could potentially deliver revenues upwards of ~$20 billion over the next decade, given the revenue trajectory of GTA sequels. At TTWO's current valuation of $23 billion, the company has far more upside, given the potential of GTA 6 and the company's growing pipeline of popular titles.