Alibaba launches AI portfolio as Cisco raises $63 billion revenue forecast

Alibaba Group shares surged 8.2% in New York trading after reporting robust growth in its artificial intelligence portfolio. Revenues from AI-related products hit 8.97 billion yuan in the first quarter, marking triple-digit growth for 11 consecutive quarters. The company projects AI revenue will reach 30 billion yuan by year-end, with AI expected to generate over half of its cloud-computing revenue soon.

CEO Wu stated that while heavy spending on technology has reduced EBITDA by 61% year over year, the investment is strategic. AI revenue now comprises 30% of the Cloud Intelligence Group, which generated 41.6 billion yuan, and is projected to exceed 50% within a year. Overall revenue grew 3%, rising to 11% when excluding sold businesses like Sun Art and Intime.

In the broader tech sector, Cisco Systems raised its annual revenue forecast to between 62.8 and 63 billion dollars for fiscal 2026, driven by a 20% surge in AI networking equipment sales. The firm expects orders from hyperscale clients to reach 9 billion dollars, a significant increase from the previous 5 billion, as it shifts focus to specialized components for AI data centers.

Conversely, Doximity faced scrutiny as Wall Street firms downgraded its stock due to concerns over high AI spending and slowing pharmaceutical advertising. Baird cut its price target to 18 dollars, noting it will take years for AI investments to justify costs, even though the company reported Q4 2026 revenue of 145.4 million, beating expectations.

Other companies are leveraging AI to boost valuations and capabilities. Navan saw BMO Capital raise its price target to 22 dollars, citing 31% revenue growth that reached 702 million dollars. Intuit partnered with Vapi following a 50 million dollar funding round to embed voice AI into QuickBooks Workforce, while ServiceNow raised its full-year guidance aiming for 30 billion dollars in subscription revenue through its Now Assist solution.

Key Takeaways

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  • Alibaba AI revenue reached 8.97 billion yuan in Q1, showing triple-digit growth for 11 consecutive quarters.
  • CEO Wu stated AI revenue will exceed 50% of the Cloud Intelligence Group within a year.
  • Alibaba's Cloud Intelligence Group generated 41.6 billion yuan, with AI accounting for 30% of external cloud revenue.
  • Cisco raised its fiscal 2026 revenue forecast to 63 billion dollars due to surging demand for AI networking.
  • Cisco expects hyperscale client orders to reach 9 billion dollars in fiscal 2026, up from 5 billion.
  • Wall Street downgraded Doximity amid concerns that AI spending will delay profitability returns.
  • Baird lowered Doximity's price target to 18 dollars, citing uncertainty in marketing budgets.
  • Navan achieved 702 million dollars in revenue with 31% growth, prompting BMO to raise its price target.
  • Intuit secured a 50 million dollar funding round for Vapi to enhance voice AI features in QuickBooks.
  • ServiceNow aims to reach 30 billion dollars in subscription revenue using its AI solution, Now Assist."]

    Alibaba Shares Jump 8% on Strong AI Revenue Growth

    Alibaba Group shares rose 8.2% in New York after the company reported strong growth in its artificial intelligence products. Revenues from AI-related products reached 8.97 billion yuan in the first quarter, marking triple-digit growth for 11 consecutive quarters. The company expects AI revenue to hit 30 billion yuan by the end of the year and generate over half of its cloud-computing revenue soon. While total revenues missed estimates slightly, the cloud unit continues to grow by 38% year over year.

    Alibaba CEO Says AI Growth Justifies Stock Rise

    Alibaba reported lower profits and cash flow due to heavy spending on technology and AI investments. Despite this, investors focused on the strong growth in its cloud and AI businesses, sending shares up 7%. The company's Cloud Intelligence Group revenue grew 38% to 41.6 billion yuan, driven by public cloud and AI product adoption. AI-related product revenue reached 8.97 billion yuan, continuing a streak of triple-digit growth for 11 quarters.

    Alibaba Cloud Revenue Grows 40% Thanks to AI Services

    Alibaba Group reported a 40% year-over-year increase in external cloud revenue for the quarter ending March 2026. AI-related products now account for 30% of the company's external cloud revenue. This growth was driven by the expansion of public cloud services and higher enterprise adoption of AI tools. The Cloud Intelligence Group generated 41.6 billion yuan in revenue during this period.

    Alibaba Trades Profits to Fund Rapid AI Expansion

    Alibaba is investing heavily in artificial intelligence, which has caused its EBITDA to fall by 61% year over year. CEO Wu stated that AI revenue now makes up 30% of the Cloud Intelligence Group and will exceed 50% within a year. The company expects this investment to pay off with strong returns over the next three to five years. Overall revenue grew 3%, rising to 11% when excluding sold businesses like Sun Art and Intime.

    Cisco Raises Revenue Forecast on AI Networking Demand

    Cisco Systems raised its annual revenue forecast to between 62.8 and 63 billion dollars for fiscal 2026. The upgrade comes as demand for its AI-powered networking equipment surges, with sales increasing by 20% in the latest quarter. These tools help businesses automate and secure their networks more efficiently. Cisco stock rose 2.5% in premarket trading following the positive news.

    Cisco Stock Soars on AI Infrastructure Growth Plan

    Cisco stock jumped after the company announced a revised sales forecast and a new focus on AI infrastructure. The firm expects orders from hyperscale clients to reach 9 billion dollars in fiscal 2026, up from 5 billion previously. This shift involves moving from traditional networking to specialized components needed for AI data centers. Cisco is also restructuring its workforce to align with these high-growth priorities.

    Wall Street Downgrades Doximity Over AI Spending Worries

    Wall Street firms downgraded Doximity stock due to concerns about high AI spending and slowing pharmaceutical advertising demand. Baird cut its price target to 18 dollars, noting it will take a long time for AI investments to generate returns. KeyBanc also downgraded the stock, citing limited growth catalysts and uncertainty in marketing budgets. Doximity's fiscal 2027 revenue guidance fell below analyst expectations.

    Baird Lowers Doximity Rating Citing AI Cost Risks

    Baird downgraded Doximity from Outperform to Neutral and slashed its price target to 18 dollars. The firm believes it will take years for Doximity to justify its massive AI investments. Doximity reported Q4 2026 revenue of 145.4 million, beating expectations, but analysts remain worried about profitability. Other firms like Jefferies and KeyBanc also lowered their ratings due to advertising spending uncertainties.

    Peloton Consulting Gets Sunstone Investment for AI Growth

    Peloton Consulting secured an investment from Sunstone Partners to expand its AI and Oracle services. The deal provides capital for organic growth and potential acquisitions in enterprise cloud and data analytics. Peloton focuses on helping large companies integrate AI into their operations without disrupting existing systems. The investment supports Peloton's goal to grow globally and accelerate AI-enabled offerings.

    Tech Stocks Rally as AI Trade Drives Market Gains

    US stock futures rose as the artificial intelligence trade pushed technology shares higher. Cisco led the gains, soaring on strong earnings and a positive outlook for its AI networking products. The rally was powered by upbeat earnings reports from major tech companies. Traders saw significant movement in the technology sector despite broader market fluctuations.

    Intuit Partners with Vapi to Boost Voice AI Features

    Intuit named Vapi as a key enterprise customer for its voice AI platform following a 50 million dollar funding round. This partnership helps Intuit embed advanced voice AI into products like QuickBooks Workforce for better customer support. The collaboration aims to automate tasks such as payroll and benefits queries using voice interactions. This move strengthens Intuit's position as an early adopter of enterprise AI tools.

    ServiceNow Stock Looks Attractive After Earnings Drop

    ServiceNow stock rose 4.87% after the company raised its full-year guidance despite market fears about AI replacing enterprise software. Subscription revenue grew 19% year over year in the first quarter, driven partly by the acquisition of MoveWorks. Management plans to reach 30 billion dollars in subscription revenue by using its AI solution, Now Assist. The stock trades at less than six times sales expectations, making it look like a bargain to some investors.

    App Developer Sells Database of User Poop Images for AI

    A developer offered to sell a database of 150,000 labeled images of human stool collected by an AI health app called PoopCheck. The images were uploaded by 25,000 users who used the app to analyze their gut health. The seller claimed the data is valuable for machine learning training and cancer studies. The offer sparked horror and outrage online regarding the privacy and ethics of selling such sensitive user data.

    Doximity Meets Revenue Expectations Despite AI Spending

    Doximity reported Q1 CY2026 revenue of 145.4 million, meeting Wall Street expectations with a 5.1% year-over-year increase. Management highlighted that AI investments are driving growth even as they face macroeconomic and policy challenges. The company remains optimistic about its prospects and continues to expand into new markets. Investors will watch closely to see if these AI efforts translate into future profits.

    BMO Raises Navan Price Target on AI Wins

    BMO Capital raised its price target on Navan stock to 22 dollars, citing strong AI investments and new client wins. Navan has recovered from its post-IPO drop and expects solid growth in booking values. The company posted 31% revenue growth over the last twelve months, reaching 702 million dollars. Other analysts like Oppenheimer and TD Cowen also raised their targets due to strong fundamentals.

    Sources

  • NOTE:

    This news brief was generated using AI technology (including, but not limited to, Google Gemini API, Llama, Grok, and Mistral) from aggregated news articles, with minimal to no human editing/review. It is provided for informational purposes only and may contain inaccuracies or biases. This is not financial, investment, or professional advice. If you have any questions or concerns, please verify all information with the linked original articles in the Sources section below.

    Alibaba AI Revenue Growth Cloud Cloud Computing Cloud Intelligence Group Cisco Networking AI-Powered Networking Equipment Doximity AI Spending Pharmaceutical Advertising Marketing Budgets Baird KeyBanc Jefferies Peloton Consulting Sunstone Partners AI Expansion Oracle Services Intuit Vapi Voice AI QuickBooks Workforce ServiceNow AI Solution Now Assist App Developer User Data Machine Learning Cancer Studies PoopCheck AI Health App Gut Health BMO Capital Navan AI Investments Client Wins Booking Values

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