Company Overview - GoDaddy Inc. (GDDY) is a leading internet services company based in Arizona, with a market cap of $18.1 billion, specializing in domain registration, web hosting, website building, online marketing, and digital commerce tools for small businesses and entrepreneurs. The company was founded in 1997 and serves over 20 million customers while managing more than 80 million domain names worldwide [1]. Earnings Projections - GoDaddy is expected to release its Q3 2025 earnings on October 30, with analysts projecting earnings of $1.50 per share, representing a 13.6% growth from $1.32 in the same quarter last year. The company has surpassed Wall Street's bottom-line estimates in two of the past four quarters while missing on two occasions [2]. - For fiscal 2025, analysts forecast an EPS of $5.84, marking a 20.4% increase from $4.85 reported in fiscal 2024. In fiscal 2026, earnings are expected to grow 22.1% annually to $7.13 per share [3]. Recent Performance - In the second quarter of fiscal 2025, GoDaddy reported revenue of $1.22 billion, an 8.3% year-over-year increase, exceeding Wall Street's estimate of $1.20 billion. The company's EPS rose 39.6% year-over-year to $1.41, also surpassing analysts' expectations of $1.34 [5]. - However, shares of GoDaddy fell about 3% after the announcement of ceasing operations as the registry service provider for the .CO top-level domain, which is expected to create a 50-basis-point headwind to bookings and revenue, primarily impacting the fourth quarter [6]. Stock Performance - GoDaddy's stock has declined 18.8% over the past 52 weeks, underperforming the Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund's 23.6% surge and the S&P 500 Index's 14.4% uptick during the same time frame [4]. Analyst Ratings - Analysts maintain a moderately optimistic view on GoDaddy, with an overall "Moderate Buy" rating. Out of 18 analysts covering the stock, there are nine "Strong Buys," one "Moderate Buy," and eight "Holds." The mean price target of $191.60 suggests a 44.7% upside potential from current price levels [7].

Core Viewpoint - GoDaddy Inc. is set to release its financial results for Q3 2025 on October 30, 2025, after the U.S. stock market closes, followed by a live webcast for investors [1]. Company Overview - GoDaddy assists millions of entrepreneurs worldwide in starting, growing, and scaling their businesses by providing services such as domain naming, website building, logo creation, product sales, and payment processing [3]. - The company offers an AI-powered experience called GoDaddy Airo, which aims to expedite the process of getting small businesses online, driving traffic, and boosting sales [3]. - GoDaddy provides 24/7 expert guidance to support its users [3].

Group 1: AI Investment Opportunity - Artificial intelligence is considered the greatest investment opportunity of our lifetime, with a strong emphasis on the urgency to invest now [1][13] - Wall Street is investing hundreds of billions into AI technologies, but there is a critical question regarding the energy supply needed to support this growth [2][6] - AI technologies, particularly data centers for large language models, consume vast amounts of energy, comparable to that of small cities, leading to concerns about power grid strain and rising electricity prices [2][3] Group 2: Company Overview - A specific company is highlighted as a key player in the AI energy sector, owning critical energy infrastructure assets that are essential for meeting the increasing energy demands of AI [3][7] - This company is positioned to benefit from the surge in demand for electricity driven by AI data centers, making it a potentially valuable investment in the digital age [3][8] - The company is debt-free and has significant cash reserves, amounting to nearly one-third of its market cap, which provides a strong financial foundation [8][10] Group 3: Market Position and Strategy - The company plays a crucial role in U.S. LNG exportation and is well-positioned to capitalize on the onshoring trend driven by tariffs, particularly under the current administration [5][7] - It is capable of executing large-scale engineering, procurement, and construction projects across various energy sectors, including oil, gas, and renewable fuels [7][8] - The company also holds a substantial equity stake in another AI-related venture, providing investors with indirect exposure to multiple growth opportunities in the AI sector [9][10] Group 4: Future Outlook - The future of AI is closely tied to energy infrastructure, and the company is strategically positioned to benefit from the anticipated energy demands of AI technologies [6][14] - The influx of talent into the AI field is expected to drive rapid advancements, further solidifying the importance of investing in AI-related companies [12] - The potential for significant returns is highlighted, with projections suggesting a possible 100% return within 12 to 24 months for investors who act now [15][19]

Core Insights - GoDaddy is launching a trusted identity naming system for AI agents to address the challenge of distinguishing legitimate agents from unvetted or malicious ones as the number of AI agents is expected to exceed one billion in the next three years [1][2] - The new system is based on proven technologies and protocols, leveraging GoDaddy's extensive experience in internet safety, including domain names and SSL certificates [1][2] - The initiative aims to create a secure environment for agent-to-agent interactions, drawing parallels to the early internet's "Wild West" [1] Technical Details - The service utilizes a modular adapter layer that works across protocols and is inspired by an Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) draft for an Agent Name Service (ANS) [2][3] - Each enrolled agent will receive a report verifying its identity, confirming good standing, and specifying its location, ensuring standards-aligned and ecosystem-ready solutions [2][3] - The system includes features such as lifecycle management for registration, renewal, and revocation, enhancing security and governance for production deployments [3] Availability and Collaboration - A developer preview of the system is set to launch in the coming weeks, with broader availability to follow [2] - GoDaddy is collaborating with standards bodies and industry partners to ensure broad participation and seamless interoperability in the development of this system [2]

Fund Performance - Artisan Global Discovery Fund's Investor Class APFDX returned 10.84%, Advisor Class APDDX returned 10.83%, and Institutional Class APHDX returned 10.93% in Q2 2025, compared to an 11.84% return for the MSCI All Country World Small Mid Index [1] - Global markets experienced volatility in Q2 2025, with a shift from double-digit declines to gains following President Trump's tariff announcements and subsequent suspension [1] Company Focus: GoDaddy Inc. - GoDaddy Inc. (NYSE:GDDY) is a leader in domain registration, generating 70% of its revenue from core domain services and 30% from higher-margin applications and commerce tools [3] - GoDaddy's stock closed at $141.40 per share on September 26, 2025, with a market capitalization of $19.577 billion [2] - The company faced a one-month return of -4.66% and a 52-week loss of 9.81% [2] Investment Strategy and Concerns - Artisan Global Discovery Fund ended its investment in GoDaddy due to increased competition from Wix and AI-based business models, as well as concerns over incremental marketing investments in its AI-powered suite, Airo [3] - GoDaddy's strategy focuses on cross-selling higher-margin products through domain services, but risks from competition and macro challenges for small and medium-sized businesses remain [3]

Industry Overview - The Zacks Internet - Delivery Services industry includes companies providing services through Internet-based platforms, such as food delivery, online travel booking, and web hosting [2] - The industry is characterized by growth-stage companies investing heavily in R&D and sales & marketing, which may hinder short-term profitability [2] Growth Drivers - Increased smartphone usage and improved Internet access are driving growth in the delivery services sector, with 4G and emerging 5G technology enhancing user experiences [3] - Shifting consumer preferences towards convenience and online services are expected to benefit the industry, particularly in food ordering and travel booking [4] - Technological advancements, such as smart routing algorithms and real-time GPS tracking, are improving delivery efficiency and customer experience [5] Challenges - Persistent macroeconomic uncertainties, inflation, and high interest rates pose significant challenges to the industry [1] - Higher upfront costs associated with market expansion may negatively impact profitability, especially as competition intensifies from major tech companies like Amazon and Alphabet [7] - The potential fallout from tariff wars could indirectly affect revenue growth and margins due to reduced spending from small businesses and startups [6] Industry Performance - The Zacks Internet - Delivery Services industry has underperformed compared to the S&P 500 and the broader Computer and Technology sector over the past year, gaining only 0.2% [11] - The industry currently holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 103, placing it in the top 42% of approximately 250 Zacks industries, indicating solid near-term prospects [9][10] Valuation Metrics - The industry is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 1.64X, significantly lower than the S&P 500's 5.44X and the sector's 7.1X [14] Company Highlights - **GoDaddy (GDDY)**: Focused on cloud-based technology products, benefiting from strong momentum in its Applications & Commerce business, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 earnings revised upward by 2.2% to $6.05 per share [17][18][19] - **Vipshop Holdings (VIPS)**: An online discount retailer in China, improving its financial performance through enhanced product offerings and a focus on high-margin apparel businesses, with a current-year earnings estimate revised upward by $0.05 to $2.44 per share [23][24] - **QuinStreet (QNST)**: A provider of online marketing services, positioned to benefit from the shift to online business models, with a fiscal 2026 earnings estimate remaining unchanged at $1.05 per share [27][28] - **Asure Software (ASUR)**: A cloud computing firm focusing on human capital management solutions, with a 2025 earnings estimate revised upward by $0.02 to $0.79 per share [31][32]

Core Insights - GoDaddy has launched the Airo Site Designer, an AI-powered website builder aimed at simplifying the process of creating WordPress websites for small businesses [1][2][3] Group 1: Product Features - Airo Site Designer allows users to generate a multipage website by simply describing their business idea in a plain-text prompt, significantly reducing the time and effort required to publish a site [2][4] - The tool is designed to address the common challenge faced by small businesses of getting online quickly, with 64% of small business owners reporting positive results from using AI, yet 39% lacking confidence in its use [3][4] - The latest version of Airo Site Designer offers faster response times, professional layouts, premium imagery, and real-time previews, enhancing the user experience [7] Group 2: Target Audience - The Airo Site Designer is not only beneficial for small business owners but also serves as a valuable tool for digital agencies and freelancers, enabling them to streamline their workflow and focus on higher-value services [6] - By eliminating repetitive tasks, the tool allows professionals to move from client intake to initial draft in minutes, thereby improving efficiency [6] Group 3: Integration and Support - Airo Site Designer is part of GoDaddy's Managed Hosting for WordPress, integrating with the company's broader product offerings, including domains, marketing, and commerce solutions [5] - GoDaddy provides 24/7 expert guidance to assist users in leveraging the Airo experience for business growth [8]

Core Insights - The buyout firm is set to acquire a majority stake in a domain registrar and web-hosting provider based in Arizona [1] Company Summary - The target company operates in the domain registration and web hosting industry, indicating a focus on digital services and online presence [1] Industry Summary - The acquisition highlights ongoing consolidation trends within the domain registration and web hosting sector, suggesting potential growth opportunities and competitive dynamics [1]

Core Insights - GoDaddy's Entrepreneurial Power Rankings highlight the thriving small business environment in cities with professional football teams, showcasing the economic impact of game-day events on local entrepreneurship [2][3][6] Group 1: Entrepreneurial Landscape - The rankings are based on the number of entrepreneurs per 100 people, indicating a strong correlation between pro football stadiums and small business growth in surrounding areas [3][6] - Nearly all metro areas in the rankings have a higher number of entrepreneurs per 100 people than the national average, with Pittsburgh being the only exception [6] - Florida's cities, particularly Miami Gardens (1), Tampa (8), and Jacksonville (15), exemplify how a supportive environment fosters small business growth [6] Group 2: Economic Impact - Events at pro football stadiums drive significant economic activity, benefiting small and microbusinesses, many of which have fewer than 10 employees [3][4] - The presence of game-day fans and tourists contributes to the growth of local businesses, creating a vibrant economic ecosystem [3][4] Group 3: Role of Technology - GoDaddy's AI-powered tools, such as GoDaddy Airo, assist small business owners in establishing an online presence quickly, enabling them to compete effectively with larger companies [5][9] - The company emphasizes the importance of resilience among small business owners, drawing parallels between the qualities admired in football players and those needed for entrepreneurial success [5][6] Group 4: Research and Insights - The GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab analyzes over 20 million online businesses, providing valuable insights into microbusiness trends and the entrepreneurial landscape [10]

Group 1 - The major theme in the industry over the past few months has been the impact of Generative AI, particularly in website building [2] - There is a significant opportunity for companies to leverage Generative AI to create websites through voice commands, which could transform the business model [2] - The discussion around Generative AI highlights both opportunities and potential risks for companies in the website development space [2]