Snowflake Inc. (NYSE: SNOW), the cloud data-warehouse software company that has been a favorite among investors, recently reported its Q2 earnings for fiscal year 2025, surprising analysts with better-than-expected results. Despite this, the stock took a significant hit, dropping 8% in extended trading on Wednesday. But what led to this sharp decline, and what does it mean for the future of Snowflake?
A Strong Quarter Overshadowed by Growing Pains Snowflake (NYSE: SNOW) reported Q2 revenue of $868.8 million, up from $674.0 million a year earlier, easily surpassing Wall Street’s estimates of $851.6 million. Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) came in at $0.19, also beating the consensus of $0.16. The company’s product revenue, a critical metric, was $829.3 million, just above expectations. Yet, despite these strong figures, the market reaction was overwhelmingly negative.
So, what went wrong? The company’s net loss widened, and rising costs became a focal point for investors. The broader concern is that Snowflake’s growth might be losing momentum, as reflected by a less-than-stellar product revenue beat. The company’s guidance for the rest of the fiscal year was positive, with a slight increase in its full-year outlook. However, this was not enough to assuage fears about its ability to maintain high growth rates amidst increasing competition and operational challenges.
The Falling Wedge Breakout: A Technical Perspective From a technical analysis standpoint, Snowflake’s stock recently broke out of a falling wedge pattern, a bullish signal that typically indicates a potential upward price movement. However, the 8% drop in extended trading suggests that this breakout might be tested in the coming days.
Investors should keep an eye on key support levels. The stock may find buying interest around $123, corresponding to its June swing low. If this level fails to hold, a further decline to $108 or even $95 could be on the horizon, where the stock might attract more buyers.
Snowflake (NYSE: SNOW) stock is down 13% in Thursday's premarket trading this move is really bad for Snowflake (NYSE: SNOW) stock as the stock will start the day with a weak momentum from its Relative Strength Index (RSI) of 60.71 which was Wednesday's RSI close. with the stock down by 13% in premarket trading, it will place the RSI at 52 which is bad as it will approach the oversold region leading to more sellout despite earnings beat.
CEO Transition and Security Concerns Add to Investor Jitters Adding to the uncertainty is Snowflake’s recent leadership change. The company appointed a new CEO in February, which can often lead to strategic shifts that make investors nervous. Moreover, a cyberattack in May that compromised data from high-profile clients like AT&T and Live Nation has not helped restore confidence.
Why Analysts Are Still Bullish on Snowflake (NYSE: SNOW) Despite the post-earnings slide, some analysts remain optimistic about Snowflake’s future. JMP Securities, while lowering its price target from $235 to $190, maintained a Market Outperform rating. The analysts highlighted Snowflake’s strong core business, particularly in financial services and tech sectors, and its potential for profitable growth with a projected $3.36 billion in product revenue for fiscal 2025.
Snowflake’s long-term prospects look promising, especially as the company continues to innovate and roll out new AI products. The market for cloud data services is expected to grow substantially, and Snowflake is well-positioned to capitalize on this trend.
What’s Next for Snowflake? The next few weeks will be critical for Snowflake (NYSE: SNOW) as it navigates the post-earnings fallout. Investors will be watching closely to see if the stock can hold key support levels or if it will continue to slide. On the operational front, the company needs to address concerns about rising costs and demonstrate that it can sustain high growth rates in a competitive market.
In summary, while Snowflake’s Q2 results were strong, the market’s reaction highlights underlying concerns about its future growth trajectory. For now, cautious optimism seems to be the best approach, as the company works to regain investor confidence and prove that it can continue to lead in the cloud data space.