Zoom lifts annual forecasts on robust demand amid AI push
ZOOM Communications raised its annual revenue forecast on Wednesday, benefiting from hybrid work trends and the integration of artificial intelligence into its products.
The integration of AI into its tools and expansion of its range of services has helped Zoom. It added agentic AI Companion capabilities and AI updates across its platform in March.
'Across online and enterprise, the majority of the business in the first quarter saw no change in buying behaviour, still strong demand,' CFO Michelle Chang said on a post-earnings call.
Chang said no losses were incurred even though there was increased caution and more scrutiny on deal terms among a few larger US customers.
The company now sees fiscal 2026 revenue between US$4.80 billion and US$4.81 billion, above its prior forecast of US$4.79 billion and US$4.80 billion. Analysts expect US$4.79 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG.
'With a beefed-up buyback programME and AI Companion upgrades now spanning everything from shift summaries to clip generation, Zoom finally has the makings of a new story to tell,' said Jeremy Goldman, senior director of briefings at Emarketer.
It forecast annual adjusted profit per share between US$5.56 and US$5.59, compared with estimates of US$5.41. It had earlier forecast adjusted profit between US$5.34 and US$5.37.
Revenue for the first quarter ended April 30 was US$1.17 billion, in line with expectations. Adjusted profit came in at US$1.43 per share, compared with estimates of US$1.31. REUTERS

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Independent Singapore
2 days ago
- Independent Singapore
WFH fatigue? Why people under 30 are heading back to the 'real office'
Working from home (WFH) was seen as a pivotal job incentive for many people over the past few years. No shuttling back and forth, one can wear anything in the mornings, and the choice to take Zoom calls from any part of the house with a reliable Wi-Fi connection. Lately, however, an interesting shift is happening: an increasing number of workers under 30 are willingly heading back into the office. Yes, they do it of their own accord. So, what's behind this movement? Loneliness isn't just a buzzword. For many young professionals today, work isn't just about income; it's about community, meeting people, and building relationships. Pursuing a career from a bedroom desk can be very alienating, particularly when one is trying to make friends or build up contacts in a new city, or grow professionally without organic exchanges. Going back to the office, even on a part-time basis, gives people something like identity affirmation, social comfort, and emotional security. Out of sight, out of mind. Realistically speaking, when the manager only sees you in little squares during Zoom calls, it is hard to stand out. See also My dad, late 50s, got laid off; how now? Today's professionals are specifically mindful of the importance of visibility at work. Since many of these individuals are usually in the early phases of their professions, they are excited to learn, eager to network, and keen on proving themselves in what they're capable of. Being in the office enables them to spur-of-the-moment mentorship, try their hand at leadership roles, not to mention those coffee time chats that may turn into huge prospects in the future. Remote work may be effective, but it's not always exciting and inspiring. For those rushing for growth, inspiration matters a lot. Space matters, and not everyone has it. Not everyone has the indulgence of a home office with ergonomic furniture and speedy internet. Many under-30s live in joint apartments, tiny studios, or with co-tenants and family. Wanting to have a fruitful day of work next to a roommate on a gaming headset or a yapping dog can be a formula for weariness and tension. On the other hand, the office, for all its flaws, provides a physical space intended for work. For many, that alone is worth the travel from home to office and back. Structure and separation. WFH can easily fuzz the lines between work and life, particularly for younger professionals who are still trying to figure out procedures, practices, and restrictions. Being always 'on' is one thing when you're busy trying to prove yourself, and it quickly becomes untenable. With the office environment, natural boundaries are created. The day has a start and an end. The couch at home is back to being a place for Netflix, not spreadsheets. Company culture is back in style. Workers at present aren't just clocking in and out; they pursue purpose and a sense of belonging. For them, company culture is a lot more than pizza get-togethers or ping pong tables; it's about teamwork, relationships, synergy, and collective goals. And for many, culture is difficult to feel through a small Zoom screen. See also Women-powered organisation she1K invests in drone startup Hybrid isn't dead—it's evolving This is not saying that the work-from-home era is over and done with. Hybrid work models are still flourishing, and flexibility is still a top priority for many young professionals. What is shifting is the perception that remote work is equal to what is 'ideal.' More and more, the under-30 horde has recognised that now and then, 'being in the room matters more than being on the call.' Thus, if you see more bikes at parking spaces outside the office, or hear more conversation around the coffee machine, you're not imagining it. Young professionals in today's workforce are reminding all that work is actually more than just everyday jobs; it's also about people, places, and possibilities. In a world that's still unravelling the future of work, Gen Zs just want the best of both worlds, and aren't frightened to go out and get it.
Business Times
3 days ago
- Business Times
Singapore stocks sink on Thursday after Powell signals higher inflation; STI down 0.7%
[SINGAPORE] Local shares fell for a second consecutive session on Thursday (Jun 19), after US Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell warned of 'meaningful' inflation ahead, as consumers are expected to face higher prices due to the Trump administration's proposed import tariffs. He also cautioned against placing too much confidence in the current outlook for rate cuts. The benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) lost 0.7 per cent or 26.63 points to close at 3,894.18. Across the broader market, decliners outnumbered advancers 315 to 167, with 981.1 million securities worth S$933.2 million changing hands. The top performer on the Straits Times Index (STI) was Hong Kong-based conglomerate Jardine Matheson Holdings , up 0.9 per cent or US$0.43 at US$46.26. At the other end of the index was Thai Beverage , the maker of Chang beer. The counter declined 3.2 per cent or S$0.015 to close at S$0.45. The trio of local banks were in the red. DBS was down 0.7 per cent or S$0.30 at S$43.93, OCBC declined 0.3 per cent or S$0.05 to S$15.99 and UOB closed 0.3 per cent or S$0.12 lower at S$34.71. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Elsewhere in the region, key indices ended mostly lower on Thursday, after the US Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) left the benchmark interest rate unchanged at 4.25 to 4.5 per cent, citing a strong labour market and reduced uncertainty in the economic outlook. Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 1 per cent and the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI declined 0.7 per cent. Australia's ASX 200 slipped 0.1 per cent and Hong Kong's Hang Seng tumbled 2 per cent. South Korea's Kospi bucked the trend, closing 0.2 per cent higher. Suan Teck Kin, head of research at UOB Global Economics & Markets Research, said the research team is still projecting for three 25-basis-point rate cuts in 2025, to be delivered at the September, October and December FOMC meetings. This would bring the upper bound of the Fed Funds Target Rate (FFTR) to 3.75 per cent by the end of 2025. He added that the team is also maintaining its forecast for two additional rate cuts in 2026, which would lower the terminal FFTR to 3.25 per cent that year. 'The revised 'dot plot' suggests the Fed will still cut rates two times this year, unchanged from its March outlook, though the June version shows more dispersion among the Fed members, as a result of the elevated uncertainty,' said Suan.

Straits Times
08-06-2025
- Straits Times
Apple under pressure to shine after AI stumble
Developers, who build apps and tools to run on the company's products, may be keen for Apple to loosen its tight control of access to iPhones. PHOTO: REUTERS San Francisco - Pressure is on Apple to show it hasn't lost its magic despite broken promises to ramp up iPhones with generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) as rivals race ahead with the technology. Apple will showcase plans for its coveted devices and the software powering them at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) kicking off on June 9 in Silicon Valley. The event comes a year after the tech titan said a suite of AI features it dubbed 'Apple Intelligence' was heading for iPhones, including an improvement of its much criticised Siri voice assistant. 'Apple advertised a lot of features as if they were going to be available, and it just didn't happen,' noted Emarketer senior analyst Gadjo Sevilla. Instead, Apple delayed the rollout of the Siri upgrade, with hopes that it will be available in time for the next iPhone release, expected in the fall. 'I don't think there is going to be that much of a celebratory tone at WWDC,' the analyst told AFP. 'It could be more of a way for Apple to recover some credibility by showing where they're headed.' Industry insiders will be watching to see whether Apple addresses the AI stumble or focuses on less splashy announcements, including a rumoured overhaul of its operating systems for its line of devices. 'The bottom line is Apple seemed to underestimate the AI shift, then over-promised features, and is now racing to catch up,' Mr Gene Munster and Mr Brian Baker of Deepwater Asset Management wrote in a WWDC preview note. Rumours also include talk that Apple may add GenAI partnerships with Google or Perplexity to an OpenAI alliance announced a year ago. 'Double black eye' Infusing its lineup with AI is only one of Apple's challenges. Developers, who build apps and tools to run on the company's products, may be keen for Apple to loosen its tight control of access to iPhones. 'There's still a lot of strife between Apple and developers,' Mr Sevilla said. 'Taking 30 per cent commissions from them and then failing to deliver on promises for new functionality-that's a double black eye.' A lawsuit by Fortnite maker Epic Games ended with Apple being ordered to allow outside payment systems to be used at the US App Store, but developers may want more, according to the analyst. 'Apple does need to give an olive branch to the developer community, which has been long-suffering,' Mr Sevilla said. 'They can't seem to thrive within the restrictive guardrails that Apple has been putting up for decades now.' As AI is incorporated into Apple software, the company may need to give developers more ability to sync apps to the platform, according to Creative Strategies analyst Carolina Milanesi. 'Maybe with AI it's the first time that Apple needs to rethink the open versus closed ecosystem,' she said. Apple on defensive Adding to the WWDC buildup is that the legendary designer behind the iPhone, Mr Jony Ive, has joined with ChatGPT maker OpenAI to create a potential rival device for engaging with AI. 'It puts Apple on the defensive because the key designer for your most popular product is saying there is something better than the iPhone,' Mr Sevilla said. While WWDC has typically been a software-focused event, Apple might unveil new hardware to show it is still innovating, the analyst speculated. And while unlikely to come up at WWDC, Apple has to deal with tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump in his trade war with China, a key market for sales growth as well as the place where most iPhones are made. Mr Trump has also threatened to hit Apple with tariffs if iPhone production wasn't moved to the US, which analysts say is impossible given the costs and capabilities. 'The whole idea of having an American-made iPhone is a pipe dream; you'd have to rewrite the rules of global economics,' said Mr Sevilla. One of the things Apple has going for it is that its fans are known for their loyalty and likely to remain faithful regardless of how much time it takes the company to get its AI act together, Ms Milanesi said. 'Do people want a smarter Siri? Hell yeah,' she said. 'But if you are in Apple, you're in Apple and you'll continue to buy their stuff.' AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.