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Luke Kawa

Klarna sinks after Q1 guidance for revenue and gross merchandise value comes in short of estimates

Buy now, pay later, issue guidance that Wall Street likes even later.

Shares of Klarna are tumbling in early trading after the fintech payments company’s Q1 outlook came in below analysts’ projections.

Management sees Q1 revenues between $900 million and $980 million, the midpoint of which is below Wall Street’s call for $965.1 million. The company’s range for gross merchandise value in the current quarter of $32 billion to $33 billion is fully below the consensus estimate for $33.37 billion.

(Gross merchandise value is the dollar figure associated with all purchases made via Klarna’s different modes of payment.)

This disappointing outlook outweighed a solid set of Q4 top-line results. Revenues of $1.08 billion came in $10 million above expectations, gross merchandise volume beat estimates at $38.7 billion (consensus: $38.06 billion), and active consumers of 118 million were nearly a full million above what Wall Street had penciled in.

The stock is poised to open at an all-time low.

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Hardware stocks jump thanks to server demand and record Lenovo revenue

Server stocks are rallying as Dell, Super Micro Computer, and Hewlett Packard Enterprise ride the momentum of Hong Kong-based Lenovo. The PC-maker's stock rose 19% on Friday, hitting an all-time high, on record Q4 earnings.

Powering the positive earnings report was the company's AI-related revenue, which grew 84% in the fourth quarter and now makes up for over a third of total revenue. Investors seem to think the increased demand for servers could have trickle-down effects to other companies.

"The company's results and commentary reinforced the outlook for strong AI-infrastructure demand while indicating resilient broader traditional server and storage spending," wrote Bloomberg Intelligence senior technology analyst Woo Jin Ho. "Lenovo's $21 billion AI-server pipeline and remarks that demand is outpacing supply support Dell's AI-demand momentum and point to robust orders."

AI's insatiable computing demand is reshaping the hardware industry and driving up server demand.

Dell will report first quarter earnings Thursday, May 28.

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Ross Stores surges as Q1 results beat expectations, full-year guidance raised

Ross shares are rising after the company delivered strong Q1 results, with sales topping Wall Street’s projections.

The stock soared 6.3% just after the open.

Key numbers:

  • Earnings per share of $2.02 vs. $1.47 year over year (estimate: $1.72).

  • Sales of $6.01 billion, up 21% year over year (estimate: $5.61 billion).

  • Comparable sales growth of 17% (estimate: 8.58%).

CEO Jim Conroy attributed the results to better traffic in stores. “Customer traffic was the primary driver of the strong sales trend as compelling merchandise assortments, higher customer acquisition and engagement from our ongoing marketing initiatives, and an improved in‑store experience are resonating with shoppers.”

The company also noted that transaction volume grew across all key demographics, including “income levels, ethnicities, and age groups, including younger customers.” Sales were also likely buoyed by standard seasonal tailwinds, including consumer spending from tax refunds.

Backed by the strong quarter, the company lifted its full-year targets. Ross now projects same-store sales growth of 6% to 7%, up from the prior forecast of 3% to 4%, topping Wall Street’s estimate of 4.64%. It boosted its annual EPS guidance to a range of $7.50 to $7.74, versus the prior outlook of $7.02 to $7.36.

Ross Stores has been one of the retail sector’s standout performers this year, rising around 20% year to date as of Thursday’s close.

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