Four Stocks for the AI Revolution (SPLK, PLTR, BLGID, TWLO)

AI, cloud computing, data science, distributed systems, edge computing – these form the backbone for what will be different about the world 5 years from now versus 5 years ago in almost every single industry. You won’t make a piece of toast in the morning in a decade without it being “smart toast” from a machine that has machine-learned your precise point of toast-done-ness to within 5 decimal points.

The major trends driving these interwoven revolutions have only been accelerated by the pandemic, which means the key stocks positioned to win along these thematic lines could be destined to dominate the leaderboard for a long time to come in a move that has already gotten underway.

With that in mind, here are a few of the more interesting Edge Computing stocks in play right now: Splunk Inc (NASDAQ:SPLK), Palantir Technologies Inc (NYSE:PLTR), BLGI Inc (OTCMKTS:BLGI, BLGID), and Twilio Inc (NYSE:TWLO).

 

Splunk Inc (NASDAQ:SPLK) provides software that allows its customers to collect, index, search, monitor, and analyze data regardless of format or source. Its software helps make sense of large and diverse data sets commonly referred to as big data and it’s specifically tailored for machine data. Examples include HVAC controllers, manufacturing systems, smart electrical meters, GPS devices and RFID tags.

Its flagship product is Splunk Enterprise, a machine data platform, comprised of collection, indexing, search, reporting, analysis, alerting, monitoring and data management capabilities. Splunk Enterprise can collect and index hundreds of terabytes of machine data daily, irrespective of format or source. Its platform uses Splunk’s patented data processing architecture that performs dynamic schema creation on the fly, enabling users to run queries on data without having to define or understand the structure of the data prior to collection and indexing.

Splunk Inc (NASDAQ:SPLK) most recently announced that it has completed the acquisition of Plumbr, an application performance monitoring (APM) company offering auto-instrumentation, Real User Monitoring and deep application performance insights for enterprise applications. Splunk also announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Rigor, a digital experience monitoring (DEM) company offering advanced synthetic monitoring and optimization tools. Rigor’s solutions help customers optimize end-user experiences in digital channels.

According to the release, with both acquisitions and product integrations, Splunk will significantly expand its APM and DEM capabilities. The combined power of Splunk’s Observability Suite will ultimately give customers a seamless, end-to-end observability experience to help guide them across both cloud and on-premises environments, as well as the software architecture transformations occurring with applications.

Even in light of this news, SPLK has had a rough past week of trading action, with shares sinking something like -7% in that time. That said, chart support is nearby and we may be in the process of constructing a nice setup for some movement back the other way. SPLK shares have been relatively flat over the past month of action, with very little net movement during that period.

Splunk Inc (NASDAQ:SPLK) generated sales of $491.7M, according to information released in the company’s most recent quarterly financial report. That adds up to a sequential quarter-over-quarter growth rate of 13.3% on the top line. In addition, the company has a strong balance sheet, with cash levels far exceeding current liabilities ($2.1B against $1.2B).

 

Palantir Technologies Inc (NYSE:PLTR) builds and deploys software platforms for the intelligence community in the United States to assist in counterterrorism investigations and operations. It offers Palantir Gotham, a software platform for government operatives in the defense and intelligence sectors, which enables users to identify patterns hidden deep within datasets, ranging from signals intelligence sources to reports from confidential informants, as well as facilitates the handoff between analysts and operational users, helping operators plan and execute real-world responses to threats that have been identified within the platform.

The company also provides Palantir Foundry, a platform that transforms the ways organizations operate by creating a central operating system for their data; and allows individual users to integrate and analyze the data they need in one place. Palantir Technologies Inc. was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Denver, Colorado.

Palantir Technologies Inc (NYSE:PLTR) announced today that it was awarded a $36m one-year indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract with the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) for enterprise data integration and data management to support the NCATS Secure Scientific Platforms Environment.

According to the release, Palantir’s Foundry software will be provided in various configurations to the NCATS Secure Scientific Platforms Environment, which supports several critical health missions through the integration, management, security, and analysis of any kind of scientific data, and provides controlled access to internal and external collaborators.

The stock has suffered a bit of late, with shares of PLTR taking a hit in recent action, down about -4% over the past week.

Palantir Technologies Inc (NYSE:PLTR) managed to rope in revenues totaling $251.9M in overall sales during the company’s most recently reported quarterly financial data — a figure that represents a rate of top line growth of 42.9%, as compared to year-ago data in comparable terms. In addition, the company has a strong balance sheet, with cash levels far exceeding current liabilities ($1.5B against $604.1M).

 

BLGI Inc (OTCMKTS:BLGI, BLGID) is an emerging software development player trading on the OTC with full and exclusive licensing rights from one of the most impressive private blockchain/AI/cloud technology firms around.

According to information from the company’s communications and website, BLGI is attached through licensing agreements to privately held Chicago-based leading-edge software development firm, Charteris, Mackie, Baillie & Cummins Limited (CMBC). CMBC’s primary focus has been, most centrally, the development of commercial solutions for Asset Management for complex financial transactions.

BLGI Inc (OTCMKTS:BLGI) recently announced that in furtherance of the restructuring of the Company, it filed Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation with the State of Florida, effective as of October 8, 2020, to consolidate its capital by a 20:1 reverse split of its Common Stock and reduce the number of shares of Common Stock it is authorized to issue from 490,000,000 to 200,000,000 shares. The Company has also changed its name from Black Cactus Global, Inc. to BLGI, Inc. The Company’s Common Stock began trading on a post-reverse split basis on October 16, 2020.

According to the company’s release, the new leadership team, led by Lawrence P. Cummins, CEO, looks forward to executing its business plan by using the Intellectual Property it acquired from Mr. Cummins’ company, Charteris, Mackie, Baillie & Cummins Limited, to develop solutions for business opportunities that have been identified.

This is now a very interesting emerging play at the cutting edge in the software development, AI, and blockchain marketplace.

BLGI Inc (OTCMKTS:BLGI) is still ramping up toward initial revenue growth, so we don’t have the numbers in play yet to work off, but the potential here appears to be considerable given the licensing agreements apparently in place.

 

Twilio Inc (NYSE:TWLO) provides a cloud communications platform that enables developers to build, scale, and operate communications within software applications in the United States and internationally.

Its customer engagement platform provides a set of application programming interfaces that handle the higher level communication logic needed for nearly every type of customer engagement, as well as enable developers to embed voice, messaging, and video capabilities into their applications. The company was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.

Twilio (NYSE:TWLO), the leading cloud communications platform, today announced the successful completion of its previously announced acquisition of Segment, the market-leading customer data platform. This transaction is valued at approximately $3.2 billion in Twilio Class A common stock, on a fully diluted and cash free, debt free basis.

“Nearly every company is focused on acquiring, retaining and growing their customer relationships through digital engagement,” said Jeff Lawson, co-founder and CEO of Twilio. “However, the biggest impediment to great digital engagement are the data silos that prevent companies from truly understanding their customers. With the addition of Segment, Twilio’s Customer Engagement Platform now enables companies to both understand their customer, and engage with them digitally — the combination is key to building great digital experiences.”

While this is a clear factor, it has been incorporated into a trading tape characterized by a pretty dominant offer, which hasn’t been the type of action TWLO shareholders really want to see. In total, over the past five days, shares of the stock have dropped by roughly -2% on above average trading volume. All in all, not a particularly friendly tape, but one that may ultimately present some new opportunities. Over the past month, shares of the stock have suffered from clear selling pressure, dropping by roughly -5%.

Twilio Inc (NYSE:TWLO) managed to rope in revenues totaling $448M in overall sales during the company’s most recently reported quarterly financial data — a figure that represents a rate of top line growth of 51.8%, as compared to year-ago data in comparable terms. In addition, the company has a strong balance sheet, with cash levels far exceeding current liabilities ($3.3B against $326.3M).

 

 

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