Tag: investing

Berkshire’s Quiet Bet on Alphabet Reinforces the Value Case Behind the $100 B Quarter

Berkshire Hathaway revealed a US $4.3 billion investment in Alphabet Inc. during Q3 2025, buying approximately 17.8 million shares. This strategic move occurred as Alphabet achieved its first US $100 billion revenue quarter. Berkshire’s purchase reflects a value-focused approach amid a tech market rotation, emphasizing Alphabet’s solid fundamentals and growth potential.

Berkshire Hathaway has disclosed a new US $4.3 billion position in Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL), confirming that Warren Buffett’s conglomerate entered the stock during the third quarter of 2025 — the same period in which Alphabet reported its first-ever US $100 billion revenue quarter.

According to Berkshire’s latest 13-F filing, the company purchased roughly 17.8 million shares of Alphabet, making it one of Berkshire’s ten largest equity holdings. The move surprised market watchers who have long associated Berkshire’s tech exposure primarily with Apple, which the firm trimmed in the same quarter.

A Contrarian Entry at a Trillion-Dollar Scale

Berkshire’s timing stands out. Alphabet shares were trading around US $270 – 280 during Q3 2025 — only modestly above their estimated intrinsic value range. While other institutional investors were rotating out of mega-cap tech after two years of outperformance, Berkshire appears to have treated Alphabet as a value compounder rather than a momentum play.

For Buffett followers, the purchase echoes a familiar pattern: buying into a cash-rich franchise once its growth narrative collides with valuation discipline. Alphabet fits that mold neatly — a business generating more than US $80 billion in free cash flow annually, returning US $15 billion in quarterly buybacks, and maintaining over US $100 billion in cash reserves.

Fundamentals Back the Move

Alphabet’s Q3 2025 report, released October 29, underscored that growth and prudence can coexist in Big Tech.

  • Revenue: US $102.3 billion (+16 % YoY)
  • Operating Income: US $31.7 billion (+23 %)
  • EPS: US $2.87
  • Google Cloud: +34 % YoY, margin rising to 9 %
  • CapEx: Raised to US $91 – 93 billion for AI data-center expansion

CEO Sundar Pichai described the period as “a reflection of how AI is transforming every corner of our business,” while CFO Ruth Porat stressed “disciplined long-term investment.”

Those remarks align closely with Buffett’s own playbook — durable cash flow, reinvestment discipline, and capital allocation guided by intrinsic value rather than quarterly optics.

Reinforcing the “Still Underpriced” Thesis

Our prior SWOTstock analysis of Alphabet’s Q3 results placed fair value near US $284 per share, with the market trading just above that level post-earnings. Berkshire’s purchase suggests that even at these prices, long-term investors still see a margin of safety — particularly as Alphabet’s AI infrastructure spending begins to translate into productivity and monetization gains across Search, YouTube, and Cloud.

For value-oriented readers, the implication is clear: when Berkshire buys into a trillion-dollar tech name after a record quarter, it’s not chasing growth — it’s buying durability.

Market Reaction

The disclosure briefly lifted Alphabet shares in after-hours trading on Friday, as investors digested the significance of Berkshire’s first new mega-cap tech stake in years. Analysts now expect fresh comparisons between Alphabet’s AI capital discipline and Apple’s maturing growth profile, which Berkshire has been gradually reducing.

As of mid-November 2025, Alphabet trades around US $277, giving the stake a paper value near its initial cost — a rare instance where Buffett’s patience and Alphabet’s execution appear perfectly aligned.

Disclosure: This article is based on public filings and Alphabet’s official Q3 2025 financial results. It does not constitute investment advice.

Related Post

💡 Alphabet Q3 2025 Earnings — A $100 B Quarter that Still Feels Underpriced

Cisco Q1 FY 2026 – AI Demand Lifts Guidance, But Valuation Looks Full

Cisco’s fiscal 2026 began strongly, with revenue up 8% to $14.9 billion and non-GAAP EPS up 10% to $1.00. Management raised guidance due to AI orders and Splunk integration. Despite this, Cisco trades above historic valuation levels at $74, making it less attractive for value investors seeking bargains.

🧭 TL;DR Summary

Cisco (CSCO:NASDAQ) delivered a strong start to fiscal 2026: revenue rose 8 % to $14.9 billion and non-GAAP EPS jumped 10 % to $1.00. Management raised full-year guidance on accelerating AI-network orders and early progress integrating Splunk. Yet, after the 6 – 8 % post-earnings surge, Cisco trades well above its historic valuation range. For value investors, it remains a reliable dividend engine—but hardly a bargain at $74.

📅 Quarter Recap

  • Revenue: $14.9 billion (+8 % YoY)
  • GAAP EPS: $0.72 (+6 %)  Non-GAAP EPS: $1.00 (+10 %)
  • Gross Margin: 65.5 % (GAAP) / 68.1 % (non-GAAP)
  • Operating Cash Flow: $3.2 billion (–12 % YoY)
  • Shareholder Returns: $2 billion buybacks + $0.41 dividend
  • Guidance: FY 2026 revenue ≈ $60.6 billion; non-GAAP EPS $4.08 – 4.14

AI-driven switching orders, stronger software renewals, and Splunk integration boosted confidence, while recurring subscription revenue rose to 44 % of total sales—proof that Cisco’s transformation is gaining traction.

🔍 Key Highlights

  • AI Infrastructure Momentum: Backlog > $1 billion in AI network orders.
  • Subscription Strength: Security + observability software sustain recurring growth.
  • Margin Discipline: Gross margins above 65 % despite input inflation.
  • Capital Returns: Consistent buybacks and ~2 % dividend yield signal balance-sheet strength.
  • Execution Watch: Operating cash flow fell 12 %, and analysts seek clearer AI-revenue disclosure before assigning higher multiples.

💪 SWOT Analysis (with estimated price impact ranges)

Strengths (+8 % to +12 %)
Cisco’s expanding recurring-revenue base and tight cost control anchor earnings stability. Its balance sheet is debt-light and supports steady buybacks and dividends—attributes valued by income investors.

Weaknesses (–5 % to –8 %)
Hardware still drives over 40 % of sales, leaving results exposed to ordering cycles. Operating cash flow slid 12 %, reflecting inventory timing and working-capital drag. Without transparent AI-revenue reporting and faster cash-conversion, valuation upside is hard to justify.

Opportunities (+10 % to +15 %)
AI-infrastructure spending offers a fresh growth lane. The Silicon One platform and Splunk integration can unlock new data and security use cases, while Hypershield subscriptions could lift software margins 1 – 2 points. Execution on these fronts may re-rate Cisco toward 15× earnings.

Threats (–7 % to –10 %)
Rivals such as Arista, Palo Alto Networks, and Juniper’s Mist unit are capturing AI-network share faster. Cisco’s portfolio breadth can appear complex to customers seeking simpler cloud-native solutions. Macro slowdown or AI-capex pause would test both hardware and optics segments.

Horizontal bar chart titled ‘Cisco Q1 FY 2026 – SWOT Price Impact Range ($)’. The chart shows estimated price impact ranges for Strengths (+8 to +12, green), Weaknesses (–8 to –5, red), Opportunities (+10 to +15, blue), and Threats (–10 to –7, yellow). Vertical dashed line at zero with horizontal axis from –20 to 20 dollars, representing balanced upside and downside factors.

📈 Valuation Scenarios (Based on FY 2026 Guidance)

Bull Case (~30 % probability)

  • AI network revenue grows +10 %, software margins expand 100 bps.
  • EPS ≈ $4.20, 15× multiple → fair value ≈ $63.
  • Requires strong backlog conversion and clear AI execution proof.

Base Case (~50 %)

  • 6 % steady growth, EPS ≈ $4.10, 14× multiple → fair value ≈ $57.
  • Most probable path given guidance and macro conditions.

Bear Case (~20 %)

  • Flat revenue and AI order delays, EPS ≈ $3.80, 12× multiple → fair value ≈ $46.
  • Reflects execution or macro slippage.

Weighted Fair Value: ≈ $58 per share (~8 % below current $74 price).

Bar chart titled ‘Cisco Q1 FY 2026 – Valuation Scenarios’. The Bear case shows $46 (20 %, red bar), the Base case shows $57 (50 %, gray bar), and the Bull case shows $63 (30 %, green bar). A horizontal dashed line marks the probability-weighted fair value at approximately $56.6, labeled in purple text.

🔭 Forward Checkpoints to Monitor

  • Q2 AI-network bookings growth and conversion rate.
  • Recurring revenue as % of total (45 % target watch).
  • Cash-flow recovery trend and Splunk synergy delivery.
  • Competitive pricing in Ethernet and optics segments.

💡 Verdict

Cisco’s AI story is credible but largely priced in. At ~18× forward earnings, shares sit above their five-year average. Cash generation remains solid and the dividend safe, yet the margin of safety is thin after the rally.

  • Fair Price: ≈ $58 / share
  • Buy-Under Level: ≈ $55
  • Action: Hold for income; wait for a pullback before adding.

📣 Call to Action

Dividend investors should keep Cisco on their watchlist but avoid chasing momentum. Add on weakness below $55 to lock in a better yield and valuation margin.

⚖️ Disclaimer

This analysis is based solely on Cisco Systems’ official Q1 FY 2026 financial report and earnings call materials. It is for informational purposes only and not investment advice. Always verify figures with official sources and consider personal risk tolerance before investing.

🔋 AMD Q3 2025 — AI Growth Kicks Into High Gear, but Valuation Catches Up

AMD reported record Q3 2025 earnings with a 36% revenue increase to $9.25 billion and a gross margin of 54%. Data Center sales grew 22%, while Client & Gaming surged 73%. Despite strong results, stock dipped due to export-control concerns. Q4 revenue guidance is between $9.3-$9.9 billion.

🧭 TL;DR Summary

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD:NASDAQ) posted record Q3 2025 results: revenue up 36 % y/y to $ 9.25 billion, non-GAAP EPS $ 1.20, and gross margin 54 %.
Data Center sales jumped 22 %, Client & Gaming soared 73 %, while Embedded declined 8 %.
Guidance for Q4 calls for $ 9.3 – 9.9 billion revenue—yet the stock dipped ≈ 4 % after hours as investors digested export-control headwinds and lofty expectations.

🧾 Quarter Recap

AMD’s Q3 marked a clear inflection in its AI and compute franchise.
CEO Lisa Su described the quarter as “a step-up in our growth trajectory as our rapidly scaling data-center AI business drives significant revenue and earnings growth.”
Gross margin improved two points y/y to 52 % (GAAP) and 54 % (non-GAAP), underscoring richer product mix led by EPYC CPUs and Instinct GPUs.
Operating income more than doubled to $ 1.27 billion.

Segment breakdown:

  • Data Center: $ 4.34 b (+ 22 %) — 5th Gen EPYC and Instinct MI350 ramp.
  • Client + Gaming: $ 4.05 b (+ 73 %) — Ryzen and console demand rebound.
  • Embedded: $ 0.86 b (– 8 %) — soft industrial & networking orders.

Management guided Q4 revenue $ 9.3 – 9.9 b (midpoint $ 9.6 b), excluding China-bound MI308 GPU shipments awaiting approval.

🌟 Key Highlights

  1. AI acceleration: Instinct MI350 shipments ramping, with MI308 awaiting export clearance.
  2. Margin expansion: Gross margin 54 % shows strong mix shift to high-end compute.
  3. Balanced growth: Client & Gaming offset softer Embedded demand.
  4. Cautious guidance: China restrictions = headwind, but secular AI TAM tailwinds intact.

🧩 SWOT Analysis (with Price-Impact Ranges)

Strengths (+ 7 – 15 %)
High-margin AI and server products drive sustainable earnings growth. Data Center + Client momentum supports multiple expansion.

Weaknesses (– 6 – 12 %)
Exposure to export controls and volatile PC cycle; Embedded softness limits diversification.

Opportunities (+ 10 – 22 %)
Next-gen MI350 and Zen 5 launches could unlock share gains vs NVIDIA and Intel; AI server TAM expands through 2026.

Threats (– 8 – 18 %)
Regulatory uncertainty (China exports), intense AI competition, macro slowdown risk.

AMD Q3 2025 SWOT price impact chart showing strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats with colored horizontal bars from –45 to +55 dollars, indicating potential stock price impact ranges.

💸 Valuation Scenarios

  • Bull Case (35 % probability)
    • 2026 E EPS ≈ $ 6.50
    • P/E multiple ≈ 40×
    • Target Price: $ 260 – 300 (+ 20 %)
    • Thesis: Strong AI GPU and EPYC share gains, China shipments resume, margin expansion continues.
  • Base Case (50 % probability)
    • 2026 E EPS ≈ $ 5.50
    • P/E multiple ≈ 35×
    • Target Price: $ 230 – 250 (± 0 %)
    • Thesis: Balanced growth across Data Center and Client, modest Embedded recovery, stable margins.
  • Bear Case (15 % probability)
    • 2026 E EPS ≈ $ 4.50
    • P/E multiple ≈ 30×
    • Target Price: $ 180 – 200 (– 20 %)
    • Thesis: AI spending slows, export restrictions persist, competition pressures gross margin.

🎯 Probability-weighted fair value: $ 242 – 255 per share — roughly aligned with current post-earnings price, indicating AMD is fairly valued with moderate upside if AI acceleration outperforms.💸 Valuation Scenarios

AMD Q3 2025 valuation scenarios chart showing Bear, Base, and Bull cases with target prices of $190, $240, and $280, and a dashed line marking fair value around $246.

🧠 Verdict

AMD Q3 2025 shows AI execution is translating into profits. The stock’s valuation now reflects that success.
Short-term pullbacks from export or competitive news could offer better entries, but long-term investors still have a clear AI compounder.

Call: ⚖️ Hold / Accumulate on Weakness
Fair Value: $ 242 – 255 per share

🗣️ Call to Action

If you’re an AI-infrastructure-focused investor, keep AMD on your watchlist for pullbacks below $ 240.
The next earnings cycle will reveal whether the MI350 and Zen 5 ramps translate into market-share inflection.

⚠️ Disclaimer

This analysis is based solely on AMD’s official Q3 2025 financial report and earnings call. It is not investment advice. Please conduct your own due diligence before making investment decisions.