Spotify's second-quarter user growth exceeded expectations, driven by a court ruling against Apple, but its first quarterly loss in a year was due to social charges and currency headwinds. Despite challenges, Spotify posted its first full year of profitability in 2024, with strong subscriber and active user growth, and is focusing on improving its ad business and long-term margins.
Netflix is set to release its first quarter earnings, and shareholders are keeping an eye on the stock market reaction, the financial impact of the ad-tier business, and the effectiveness of the crackdown on password sharing, with hopes of a significant increase in net additions.
Walmart has agreed to acquire TV maker Vizio for $2.3 billion in cash, aiming to grow its ad business through Vizio's SmartCast Operating System, which allows users to stream free ad-supported content on their TVs. The move comes as Walmart seeks to expand its media business and capitalize on higher profit margins in advertising sales, with the potential to leverage Vizio's customer-centric platform for profitable growth.
Netflix plans to implement more price hikes in 2024 and eliminate the cheapest ad-free plan, aiming to grow revenue and improve operating margins. The company's ad tier has seen significant growth, accounting for 40% of all Netflix sign-ups in ad markets. Despite facing challenges in scaling its ad business, Netflix is focused on attracting advertisers and recently secured a $5 billion deal to stream WWE's Raw live. With expectations of double-digit revenue growth in 2024, Netflix is looking to extract additional revenue from existing customers through higher prices and ads.
Walmart is expected to report second-quarter earnings on Thursday, with analysts anticipating a boost in same-store sales as consumers turn to the retail giant for value and back-to-school shopping. In addition to its primary retail business, Walmart's ad business and health and wellness business are seen as potential profit drivers. Walmart Connect, the company's media business, is experiencing growth and aims to become a top 10 advertiser in the US. Walmart's health and wellness business, including Walmart Health and virtual health offerings, is expanding and aims to double its health center footprint by the end of 2024.
Lyft plans to expand its advertising business as its new CEO aims to lead a turnaround for the company. The ride-hailing giant is looking to diversify its revenue streams and capitalize on its vast user base by offering more advertising opportunities to brands. This move comes as Lyft faces increasing competition in the ride-hailing market and seeks to improve its financial performance.
In her first tweet thread since becoming CEO of Twitter, Linda Yaccarino emphasized the company's focus on free speech, echoing owner Elon Musk's views. Yaccarino also highlighted the need for an "unfiltered exchange of information and open dialogue" to drive civilization forward. She did not address any specific issues or accounts but faces the challenge of stabilizing the ad business and rebuilding engagement on the site.
Amazon is planning to launch an ad-supported tier of its Prime Video streaming service to generate more revenue from entertainment and build its ad business. The move would help Amazon cover the costs of creating movies and programs such as 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.'
