Spotify (NYSE:SPOT) saw a notable increase of over 13% in its stock price during pre-market today after reporting better-than-anticipated earnings and gross margin for Q2/24.

The streaming giant posted an EPS of €1.33, surpassing the Street forecast of €1.05. However, revenue for the quarter was slightly below expectations, coming in at €3.81 billion compared to the estimated €3.82 billion. Premium revenue was recorded at €3.35 billion, marginally above the €3.34 billion estimate.

The company’s gross margin for the second quarter stood at 29.2%, exceeding the Street estimate of 28.1%.

Monthly active users (MAUs) were reported at 626 million, falling short of the projected 631.46 million. Similarly, ad-supported MAUs were 393 million, below the expected 397.71 million.

For the third quarter of 2024, Spotify forecasts revenue of €4 billion, which is significantly lower than the Street estimate of €4.365 billion.

KeyBanc analysts reiterated an Overweight rating and a $400 price target on Spotify (NYSE:SPOT) stock, highlighting the potential for Spotify's bundles to significantly boost operating profit starting in the third quarter.

The analysts noted that while the key determinant will be the bundle take rates, Spotify will have limited data by the time of its second-quarter earnings report. According to the analysts' calculations, if 50% of subscribers in Australia, the U.K., and the U.S. opt for the bundle, it could result in a 6-12% increase to his above-consensus operating profit forecast for Q3/24.

Overall, the analysts believe that bundles enhance lifetime value (LTV), which should give Spotify the flexibility to invest in growth while also improving profit margins.

Citi analysts increased their price target for Spotify (NYSE:SPOT) to $310 from $255 while maintaining their Neutral rating on the stock. The analysts noted that Spotify's stock has performed well as investors respond positively to cost controls, welcome price increases, and show growing interest in emerging opportunities such as audiobooks, video ads, and education.

While the analysts believe the Street has underestimated Spotify's revenue for 2024, they suggest that the forecasts for 2025 and 2026 may be overly optimistic. The primary discrepancy between their projections and the Street's lies in the expected moderation of premium net additions.

Shares of Spotify (NYSE:SPOT) soared over 14% intra-day today following the audio streaming giant's announcement of fiscal Q1/24 results that exceeded expectations for earnings, revenue, and gross margins.

Spotify disclosed earnings per share of EUR 0.97, surpassing the anticipated EUR 0.64. The company's revenue reached EUR 3.64 billion for the quarter, edging above the forecasted EUR 3.61 billion. Premium revenue alone amounted to EUR 3.25 billion, ahead of the expected EUR 3.22 billion.

In user metrics, Spotify's monthly active users (MAUs) totaled 615 million, slightly below the predicted 617.89 million. Premium subscribers reached 239 million, narrowly missing the forecast of 239.26 million. Spotify particularly excelled with a gross margin of 27.6%, outperforming the expected 26.5%.

For the upcoming second quarter, Spotify projects revenue of EUR 3.8 billion, slightly trailing the consensus estimate of EUR 3.85 billion. The company anticipates MAUs to rise to 631 million and premium subscribers to increase to 245 million, both figures slightly below expectations.

Additionally, Spotify forecasts a second-quarter gross margin of 28.1%, surpassing analyst expectations of 26.7%.

On April 23, 2024, Jeffrey Wlodarczak of Pivotal Research significantly raised the stakes for Spotify (SPOT:NYSE) by setting a new price target of $400, up from its then-current price of $305.56. This bold move, as reported by StreetInsider, suggests a strong belief in Spotify's growth potential, forecasting an impressive upside of nearly 31%. This optimistic outlook is not unfounded, as Spotify has recently demonstrated remarkable financial performance, including a record-breaking quarter that has caught the attention of investors and analysts alike.

Spotify's financial achievements have been nothing short of spectacular, with the company reporting a surge in its stock price by 15% to $314.12, following the announcement of its first-quarter earnings. This increase is a testament to the company's robust financial health and its ability to exceed market expectations. Specifically, Spotify announced earnings of $0.97 per share, significantly outperforming the anticipated $0.65 by analysts. This performance is a clear indicator of Spotify's successful cost-cutting measures and its strategic focus on profitability, which has led to record profits and sales figures surpassing Wall Street forecasts.

The company's journey to this point has been marked by strategic adjustments and resilience in the face of challenges. After a year of scrutiny from activist investors and implementing deep layoffs as part of its cost-cutting efforts, Spotify has emerged stronger. Its ability to post a record quarterly profit, as highlighted by CNBC, underscores the effectiveness of its strategic decisions and operational efficiencies. This turnaround is further evidenced by the company's earnings per share of $1.05, a significant recovery from a loss of $1.24 per share a year ago, as reported by Zacks Investment Research.

Moreover, Spotify's stock performance on the NYSE has been impressive, with the price reaching a new year-high of $315.78, up from a year-low of $128.67. This volatility range demonstrates the market's growing confidence in Spotify's business model and its future growth prospects. With a market capitalization of approximately $60.98 billion and a trading volume of 4.92 million shares, Spotify stands as a formidable player in the technology and music streaming industry.

The combination of Spotify's strategic cost-cutting measures, its ability to surpass earnings and revenue expectations, and the positive sentiment from analysts like Jeffrey Wlodarczak of Pivotal Research, all contribute to a bullish outlook for the company. As Spotify continues to navigate the competitive landscape of music streaming, its recent financial performance and strategic initiatives position it well for future growth and profitability.

JPMorgan analysts increased their price target on Spotify (NYSE:SPOT) to $320 from $280 while maintaining an Overweight rating. The analysts are optimistic about Spotify's performance going into the first quarter earnings, expecting the company to accelerate revenue growth, expand gross and operating margins, and significantly boost free cash flow in 2024.

Spotify started the year on a strong note with growth in users and subscribers, leading to a forecast of 82 million net adds for monthly active users and 27 million for premium subscribers in 2024. With podcasts gross margins nearing breakeven and anticipated to turn positive in 2024 due to ad revenue growth and content optimization, Spotify is expected to see gross margin expansion. This, coupled with ramping Marketplace contributions, other revenue cost leverage, and strong ad revenue growth, is anticipated to drive improvements in operating and net income, along with significant free cash flow growth in 2024.

Ahead of first-quarter earnings, scheduled for April 23, JPMorgan slightly adjusted the forecasts for monthly active users and premium subscribers to be about 1 million above Spotify's guidance, with expected counts of 619 million and 240 million, respectively. The 2024 revenue growth projection stands at +17% year-over-year on a constant currency basis, balanced across subscriber growth and average revenue per user increase.

Spotify (NYSE:SPOT) experienced a more than 9% increase in its share price intra-day today following the announcement of a significant workforce reduction. CEO Daniel Ek, in a post on the company's website, described this move as a pivotal change for Spotify. He announced that around 17% of the total workforce would be cut to align the company with its future objectives and to manage operational costs effectively.

Ek noted that initially, Spotify had considered smaller workforce reductions spread over 2024 and 2025. However, the substantial gap between the company's financial targets and its current spending necessitated a more decisive action. This step is viewed as crucial for achieving the company's goals.

In its financial update back in October, Spotify reported an 11% increase in third-quarter revenue compared to the previous year, reaching 3.36 billion euros. The company had projected a revenue of 3.7 billion euros for the fourth quarter.

However, with the recent announcement of major job cuts, Spotify now expects to incur a loss of between 93 million and 107 million euros in the fourth quarter, a stark contrast to the previously anticipated profit of 37 million euros. This revised outlook includes charges of approximately 130 to 145 million euros, attributed to severance payments and impairment of real estate assets. These charges are expected to be primarily paid out during the first and second fiscal quarters of 2024.