Latest news with #LZ
Gizmodo
08-07-2025
- Science
- Gizmodo
Record-Setting Dark Matter Detector Comes Up Empty—and That's Good News
WIMPs (weakly interacting massive particles) are one of the most serious contenders for dark matter—the 'missing' mass supposedly constituting 85% of our universe. Given its elusiveness, dark matter tests the patience and creativity of physicists. But the latest results from LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ), the South Dakota-based detector, may have brought scientists a small step closer to catching WIMPs in action. In a recent Physical Review Letters paper, scientists analyzed 280 days' worth of data from LUX-ZEPLIN, reporting the tightest ever upper limit on WIMPs. The result—a near fivefold improvement—demonstrates how physicists are increasingly getting better at circumventing the problem that dark matter is, well, dark; the elusive stuff evades any detection method that depends on materials interacting with visible light or other types of radiation. There's ample evidence to suggest that dark matter does in fact exist, including numerous astrophysical observations hinting at some invisible matter exerting gravitational force on objects we can see. Physicists, as a result, tend to use materials that we can see, such as liquid forms of heavyweight elements like xenon, and simply wait for some unknown particle to interact with it. That strategy—waiting for particles to interact with heavy elements—is a well-tested approach for detecting WIMPs, hypothetical particles that interact with gravity but on a scale so tiny that only the most sensitive detectors might catch a glimpse. The LUX-ZEPLIN experiment, located one mile underground in a decommissioned South Dakota gold mine, employs nearly 15,000 pounds (7 tons) of liquid xenon. The chemical element's high atomic mass and density make it potentially easier for scientists to detect any unknown particles that may pass through the detector. Also, liquid xenon is transparent, preventing any unwanted noise—usually arising from radioactive matter around the detector—from spoiling an experiment. 'If you think of the search for dark matter like looking for buried treasure, we've dug almost five times deeper than anyone else has in the past,' said Scott Kravitz, a physicist at the University of Texas at Austin and deputy coordinator for LZ, in a press release. 'That's something you don't do with a million shovels—you do it by inventing a new tool.' The latest experiment also represents the first time the LZ team applied a technique called 'salting,' in which false WIMP signals were added in advance. This helped the researchers—who, of course, would love to find dark matter—avoid bias and stay skeptical of potentially promising signals. 'There's a human tendency to want to see patterns in data, so it's really important when you enter this new regime that no bias wanders in,' said Scott Haselschwart, a physicist at the University of Michigan and LZ physics coordinator, in the same release. 'If you make a discovery, you want to get it right.' The next steps for the LZ experiment are to continue pressing against the upper limit for WIMPs and utilize the detector's cutting-edge technology to probe other interesting and rare physics processes, explained Amy Cottle, a physicist at University College London also involved with LZ, in the statement. 'We've demonstrated how strong we are as a WIMP search machine, and we're going to keep running and getting even better—but there's lots of other things we can do with this detector,' she said.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
5 Insightful Analyst Questions From LegalZoom's Q1 Earnings Call
LegalZoom's first quarter performance drew a positive response from the market, as the company delivered revenue growth despite ongoing macroeconomic challenges. Management credited this outcome to a combination of accelerating subscription growth, successful pricing initiatives, and the strategic integration of Formation Nation. CEO Jeffrey Stibel highlighted that subscription revenue growth marked a turning point, stating, 'Q1 marks the first time in the past year that our subscription revenue growth has accelerated on a sequential basis.' The quarter also benefited from cost efficiencies and increased adoption of bundled service offerings, which helped offset weaker demand for new business formations. Is now the time to buy LZ? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $183.1 million vs analyst estimates of $177.2 million (5.1% year-on-year growth, 3.4% beat) Adjusted EPS: $0.13 vs analyst estimates of $0.13 (in line) Adjusted EBITDA: $37.01 million vs analyst estimates of $34.91 million (20.2% margin, 6% beat) Revenue Guidance for Q2 CY2025 is $183 million at the midpoint, roughly in line with what analysts were expecting EBITDA guidance for the full year is $165 million at the midpoint, in line with analyst expectations Operating Margin: 4.9%, up from 2.9% in the same quarter last year Subscription Units: 1.92 million, up 319,000 year on year Billings: $219.5 million at quarter end, up 13.3% year on year Market Capitalization: $1.64 billion While we enjoy listening to the management's commentary, our favorite part of earnings calls are the analyst questions. Those are unscripted and can often highlight topics that management teams would rather avoid or topics where the answer is complicated. Here is what has caught our attention. Ella Smith (JPMorgan Chase) asked about the drivers of strong subscription unit growth. CEO Jeffrey Stibel explained this was due to a combination of bundling entry-level products and focusing on upselling and cross-selling to higher-value offerings. Pat Mcllwee (William Blair) questioned whether marketing spend would increase following the new brand campaign and Formation Nation integration. Stibel said overall spend would remain stable, with shifts in allocation rather than a net increase, and CFO Noel Watson emphasized flexibility in managing expenses. Sang-Jin Byun (Jefferies) inquired about macroeconomic impacts beyond business formations. Stibel and Watson noted continued negative pressure on volumes due to uncertainty and policy changes but reiterated confidence in managing through various scenarios. Elizabeth Elliott (Morgan Stanley) sought insights on the sustainability of recent pricing changes and their applicability to other products. Stibel said pricing remains a lever but stressed the need to add value alongside price increases. Stephen Ju (UBS) asked about potential to increase customer lifetime value at Formation Nation through upselling and cross-selling. Stibel described early integration efforts and the opportunity to grow LTV over time while maintaining the strengths of each brand. In the coming quarters, the StockStory team will closely monitor (1) progress in driving double-digit subscription revenue growth and improving customer retention, (2) further integration of Formation Nation and the development of upsell and cross-sell capabilities within its customer base, and (3) LegalZoom's ability to maintain expense discipline and margin targets despite ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty. Additional attention will be paid to the impact of new product enhancements and technology investments, particularly those involving artificial intelligence. LegalZoom currently trades at $8.96, up from $7.27 just before the earnings. At this price, is it a buy or sell? The answer lies in our full research report (it's free). Market indices reached historic highs following Donald Trump's presidential victory in November 2024, but the outlook for 2025 is clouded by new trade policies that could impact business confidence and growth. While this has caused many investors to adopt a "fearful" wait-and-see approach, we're leaning into our best ideas that can grow regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate. Take advantage of Mr. Market by checking out our Top 9 Market-Beating Stocks. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+782% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
LZ Q1 Earnings Call: Subscription Expansion and Brand Integration Underpin 2025 Strategy
Online legal service provider LegalZoom (NASDAQ:LZ) reported Q1 CY2025 results topping the market's revenue expectations , with sales up 5.1% year on year to $183.1 million. The company expects next quarter's revenue to be around $183 million, close to analysts' estimates. Its non-GAAP profit of $0.13 per share was in line with analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy LZ? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $183.1 million vs analyst estimates of $177.2 million (5.1% year-on-year growth, 3.4% beat) Adjusted EBITDA: $37.01 million vs analyst estimates of $34.91 million (20.2% margin, 6% beat) Revenue Guidance for Q2 CY2025 is $183 million at the midpoint, roughly in line with what analysts were expecting EBITDA guidance for the full year is $165 million at the midpoint, in line with analyst expectations Operating Margin: 4.9%, up from 2.9% in the same quarter last year Subscription Units: 1.92 million, up 319,000 year on year Market Capitalization: $1.68 billion LegalZoom's first quarter performance was shaped by subscription growth, product bundling, and the impact of the Formation Nation acquisition. CEO Jeffrey Stibel noted that subscription revenue growth accelerated sequentially, highlighting success in repositioning the business toward higher-value, recurring offerings. Stibel emphasized, 'We drove strong results despite a weaker-than-expected macroeconomic environment,' attributing the shift to a focus on compliance-related and virtual mail subscriptions. The company also reported progress in integrating Formation Nation, with a notable increase in subscription units and a reduction in reliance on free formation products. Management pointed to effective pricing adjustments and bundling entry-level services—such as bookkeeping and e-signatures—to drive engagement and enable future cross-sell opportunities. Looking ahead, LegalZoom's guidance is anchored in a strategy to further decouple from business formation volatility and drive double-digit subscription revenue growth by year-end. Management expects ongoing pricing initiatives, expanded product features, and increased cross-sell efforts to sustain momentum, despite anticipating a mid- to high single-digit decline in the overall business formations market. Stibel explained, 'We have a resilient, dynamic business that gives us flexibility to execute, manage to the bottom line and drive cash flow generation.' The company's approach includes leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance both customer acquisition and operational efficiency, as well as exploring new partnerships to diversify lead sources and reduce dependence on paid marketing. LegalZoom's cost structure flexibility and growing subscription base are expected to support EBITDA margin targets even in a shifting macroeconomic climate. Management attributed quarterly results to subscription adoption, product bundling, and integrating Formation Nation, while highlighting cost discipline and evolving marketing strategies. Subscription model shift: LegalZoom's move toward higher-value, recurring revenue streams continued, with over 60% of revenue now from subscriptions. Management highlighted the success of compliance and virtual mail subscriptions, alongside stable adoption rates for higher-priced registered agent services. Product bundling strategy: The company bundled entry-level products such as bookkeeping, forms, and e-signatures into premium formation packages, driving a 20% increase in subscription units. While this boosted subscriber counts, management acknowledged lower average revenue per user (ARPU) and renewal rates for these entry-level bundles, viewing them as a funnel for future upsell. Formation Nation integration: Early integration efforts contributed to revenue and informed LegalZoom's broader shift away from free formations. The acquisition allowed the company to redirect lower-margin, value-seeking customers to Formation Nation, while LegalZoom focused on higher-value segments. Management expects this approach to drive overall margin improvement. Pricing discipline and elasticity: LegalZoom reverted registered agent pricing to historical levels and began testing further price increases for existing customers, citing inelastic demand and positive retention. Management is cautious about raising prices without adding value, but sees this as a sustainable lever for margin expansion. Marketing and brand evolution: A new brand campaign emphasizes LegalZoom as a trusted provider, combining technology access with human support. The company is reallocating marketing spend rather than increasing it, aiming for greater efficiency and a stronger brand presence amid macroeconomic uncertainty. LegalZoom's outlook focuses on expanding subscription revenue, optimizing product mix, and maintaining flexible spending amid a weaker business formations environment. Subscription-led growth: Management expects double-digit subscription revenue growth by the end of the year, driven by ongoing product bundling, expanded compliance features, and targeted pricing initiatives. Upselling and cross-selling within the existing customer base are central to this strategy, as is migrating entry-level subscribers to higher-value plans over time. Integration and operational efficiencies: The continued integration of Formation Nation is expected to allow LegalZoom to segment customer acquisition and optimize for both value and margin. The company will apply learnings from Formation Nation's "do-it-for-me" model and customer onboarding to drive higher engagement and unlock new revenue streams, while leveraging AI and automation to improve efficiency and scalability. Macro and regulatory headwinds: Management is modeling for a mid- to high single-digit decline in business formations and no further revenue from Beneficial Ownership Information Report (BOIR) filings due to a regulatory change. Flexible marketing and cost structures are expected to help LegalZoom manage profitability despite these external pressures. In the coming quarters, the StockStory team will monitor (1) LegalZoom's ability to sustain double-digit subscription revenue growth as product bundles mature, (2) progress in integrating Formation Nation and shifting customer mix toward higher-value segments, and (3) the effectiveness of new marketing strategies and partnerships in diversifying lead generation. Developments in AI-driven automation and evolving regulatory requirements will also be important markers of long-term execution. LegalZoom currently trades at a forward EV/EBITDA ratio of 9.8×. At this valuation, is it a buy or sell post earnings? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election sent major indices to all-time highs, but stocks have retraced as investors debate the health of the economy and the potential impact of tariffs. While this leaves much uncertainty around 2025, a few companies are poised for long-term gains regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate, like our Top 9 Market-Beating Stocks. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Kadant (+351% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
LegalZoom, Perplexity partner to offer legal services to AI search use
LegalZoom (LZ) announced a strategic partnership with Perplexity to empower legal solutions for Perplexity Pro subscribers. The company stated this is the first known partnership between a legal services provider and a major generative artificial intelligence platform. As part of the partnership, Perplexity Pro subscribers will gain access to exclusive offers from LegalZoom, including discounts on legal services and products tailored for individuals and small businesses. Easily unpack a company's performance with TipRanks' new KPI Data for smart investment decisions Receive undervalued, market resilient stocks right to your inbox with TipRanks' Smart Value Newsletter Published first on TheFly – the ultimate source for real-time, market-moving breaking financial news. Try Now>> See the top stocks recommended by analysts >> Read More on LZ: Disclaimer & DisclosureReport an Issue JPMorgan ups LegalZoom target, adds to Analyst Focus List LegalZoom's Earnings Call: Balancing Growth and Challenges LegalZoom's Mixed Performance: Strong Revenue and EBITDA Amid Growth Challenges and Strategic Adjustments LegalZoom's Sell Rating: Growth Challenges and Sustainability Concerns Amid Strong Buyback Strategy LegalZoom Reports Strong Q1 2025 Financial Results
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
LegalZoom (NASDAQ:LZ) Posts Better-Than-Expected Sales In Q1, Stock Soars
Online legal service provider LegalZoom (NASDAQ:LZ) reported Q1 CY2025 results exceeding the market's revenue expectations , with sales up 5.1% year on year to $183.1 million. The company expects next quarter's revenue to be around $183 million, close to analysts' estimates. Its GAAP profit of $0.03 per share was $0.02 above analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy LegalZoom? Find out in our full research report. LegalZoom (LZ) Q1 CY2025 Highlights: Revenue: $183.1 million vs analyst estimates of $177.2 million (5.1% year-on-year growth, 3.4% beat) EPS (GAAP): $0.03 vs analyst estimates of $0.01 ($0.02 beat) Adjusted EBITDA: $37.01 million vs analyst estimates of $34.91 million (20.2% margin, 6% beat) Revenue Guidance for Q2 CY2025 is $183 million at the midpoint, roughly in line with what analysts were expecting EBITDA guidance for the full year is $165 million at the midpoint, in line with analyst expectations Operating Margin: 4.9%, up from 2.9% in the same quarter last year Free Cash Flow Margin: 22.6%, similar to the previous quarter Subscription Units: 1.92 million, up 319,000 year on year Market Capitalization: $1.32 billion 'Our first quarter results reflect accelerating subscription growth and solid progress towards our goal of double-digit subscription revenue growth in the fourth quarter,' said Jeff Stibel, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of LegalZoom. Company Overview Founded by famous lawyer Robert Shapiro, LegalZoom (NASDAQ:LZ) offers online legal services and documentation assistance for individuals and businesses. Sales Growth A company's long-term sales performance can indicate its overall quality. Any business can put up a good quarter or two, but the best consistently grow over the long haul. Over the last three years, LegalZoom grew its sales at a sluggish 5% compounded annual growth rate. This fell short of our benchmark for the consumer internet sector and is a poor baseline for our analysis. LegalZoom Quarterly Revenue This quarter, LegalZoom reported year-on-year revenue growth of 5.1%, and its $183.1 million of revenue exceeded Wall Street's estimates by 3.4%. Company management is currently guiding for a 3.2% year-on-year increase in sales next quarter. Looking further ahead, sell-side analysts expect revenue to grow 4.7% over the next 12 months, similar to its three-year rate. This projection doesn't excite us and suggests its newer products and services will not lead to better top-line performance yet. Today's young investors likely haven't read the timeless lessons in Gorilla Game: Picking Winners In High Technology because it was written more than 20 years ago when Microsoft and Apple were first establishing their supremacy. But if we apply the same principles, then enterprise software stocks leveraging their own generative AI capabilities may well be the Gorillas of the future. So, in that spirit, we are excited to present our Special Free Report on a profitable, fast-growing enterprise software stock that is already riding the automation wave and looking to catch the generative AI next.
