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On Tuesday, Mizuho maintained its optimistic stance on Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL), reiterating an Outperform rating and a price target of $170.00. The firm's positive outlook comes ahead of Oracle's first fiscal quarter and Analyst Day, which are scheduled to take place next week at CloudWorld. Expectations are set for Oracle to surpass estimates due to the strength of its Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), which may balance out weaker performances in Software as a Service (SaaS) and license sectors.
The analyst predicts that Oracle will benefit from several key growth drivers, including expansions in artificial intelligence (AI) capacity, database migration facilitated by multi-cloud partnerships, and a potential recovery in its Cerner (NASDAQ:CERN) operations. With AI set to be a central theme at the upcoming CloudWorld event, the anticipation is for Oracle to announce the launch of an AI factory in conjunction with a partnership with Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) Web Services (AWS).
Oracle's stock currently trades at a 36% discount compared to its industry peers. This valuation is deemed attractive by Mizuho, considering the company's resilient business model and the accelerating growth prospects tied to AI innovations. The analyst's confidence is further bolstered by the belief that Oracle can surpass its fiscal year 2026 targets, which were initially outlined in January 2023. Consequently, there is an expectation for Oracle's management to increase its FY26 guidance during next week's events.
With a focus on Oracle's strategic developments and potential market performance, Mizuho's analysis suggests a strong future trajectory for the company, underpinned by technological advancements and strategic partnerships. Oracle's upcoming Analyst Day at CloudWorld will be a significant occasion for the company to showcase its progress and outline its vision for the future.
In other recent news, Oracle Corporation has reached a significant agreement, settling a privacy lawsuit for $115 million. The lawsuit accused Oracle of unlawfully collecting and selling personal data of individuals to third parties. Despite the settlement, Oracle maintains that it did not engage in any wrongdoing. The agreement stipulates that Oracle will cease collecting user-generated information from the URLs of websites visited by users and the text entered in online forms, except on Oracle's own websites.
Edward Jones, meanwhile, has maintained a Buy rating on Oracle, pointing to the company's strategic expansion into cloud services and the anticipated boost in sales growth. The firm also predicts an uptick in Oracle's profitability following the full integration of Cerner, a recent acquisition. Edward Jones suggests that the current share price may not fully incorporate the firm's optimistic outlook for Oracle's sales growth.
In parallel, TikTok is contesting the United States Department of Justice's assertions regarding its connections to China. The social media company is seeking to overturn legislation that mandates its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest TikTok's U.S. operations or face a potential ban. TikTok emphasized that its content recommendation algorithm and user data are securely stored on U.S.-based Oracle cloud servers. The appeals court is scheduled to conduct oral arguments on the legal dispute soon.
InvestingPro Insights
As Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) prepares for its first fiscal quarter and Analyst Day, InvestingPro data indicates a robust financial position. Oracle has a market capitalization of $389.38 billion, reflecting its significant presence in the industry. The company's P/E ratio stands at 38.08, suggesting that investors are willing to pay a premium for its earnings, possibly due to Oracle's reputation as a prominent player in the software industry and its steady history of dividend payments, now in its 16th consecutive year.
InvestingPro Tips highlight that Oracle has raised its dividend for 10 consecutive years, showcasing a commitment to returning value to shareholders. Analysts have also revised their earnings upwards for the upcoming period, signaling confidence in Oracle's performance. With a revenue growth of 6.02% over the last twelve months as of Q1 2024, Oracle demonstrates its ability to expand its financial base. For investors looking for more insights, there are over 15 additional InvestingPro Tips available, providing a deeper dive into Oracle's financial health and market potential.
As Oracle continues to trade near its 52-week high with a price total return of 18.43% over the past year, the company's upcoming Analyst Day at CloudWorld is poised to be a pivotal event that could further influence its market standing and investor sentiment.
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