Headquartered in Texas, Oracle Corporation is a giant in the software industry. The financial world eagerly awaits Oracle Corporation’s (ORCL:NYE) first-quarter fiscal year 2024 earnings report. In an era marked by uncertainty, Oracle shines due to its stability. It is primarily driven by surging demand for its cloud services, particularly in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI). This article dives into the ORCL stock forecast for the upcoming year.
Rising Demand for Oracle’s Cloud Services:
Oracle’s journey through fiscal year 2023 was marked by remarkable achievements. One of these is the burgeoning demand for its cloud services. During the Fiscal Q4 2023 conference call, the company emphasized the ability of its cloud data centers.
They featured a high-bandwidth and low-latency Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) network. This technical infrastructure has made Oracle’s Gen2 Cloud the preferred choice for AI development companies looking to train their large language models efficiently.
This technological advantage has positioned Oracle as a leader in cloud services. Moreover, it also opened the door to significant growth opportunities in the AI sector. As we delve into the first quarter of fiscal year 2024, all eyes are on Oracle as it gears up to reveal its financial performance.
ORCL Stock: Revenue and Earnings Growth
The consensus among analysts is that Oracle is poised to report total revenue of $12.45 Billion in Q1 FY24. This represents a substantial increase from the $11.4 Billion reported in the previous year’s first quarter. The anticipated year-over-year growth mirrors the continued robust performance of Oracle’s cloud business.
Furthermore, (ORCL:NYE) expects its total cloud revenue to experience substantial growth in the range of 28% to 30% during Q1 FY24. This does not include Cerner. The said projection takes into account the effects of constant currency values.
In terms of earnings, analysts project Oracle to achieve $1.15 per share in Q1 FY24. Thus, marking an impressive year-over-year increase of 11.7%. Oracle’s management anticipates Q1 FY24 adjusted EPS to fall within the range of $1.12 to $1.16. Hence, reflecting a robust year-over-year growth rate of 9% to 13% in the ORCL stock forecast.
ORCL Stock Forecast: Analyst’s Projections
Market analysts have been diligently studying Oracle’s trajectory and have set their expectations for Q1 FY24. Analyst Brent Thill at Jefferies & Company increased the price target for ORCL stock from USD 135 to USD 145 on September 7. He maintains a Buy rating on the stock.
Meanwhile, Barclays upgraded its Overweight rating on (ORCL:NYE). It raised the price target from USD 126 to USD 150 for the ORCL stock forecast. This is driven by the momentum in Oracle’s cloud infrastructure and AI demand.
Taking a glance at joint analyst sentiment, Oracle stock currently holds a “Buy” consensus rating with a slightly bullish view of the stock.
ORCL Stock Forecast Potential:
The big question on investors’ minds is whether Oracle’s stock is poised for further growth. Oracle stands to gain from the rising demand for AI-powered solutions and its commitment to expanding its cloud infrastructure.
However, it is worth noting that ORCL stock forecast has already surged by 54.54% year-to-date. This impressive run may limit the stock’s upside potential as we approach the Q1 FY24 earnings report.
The average price target among analysts is USD 122.66. Hence, indicating a 2.90% downside potential from its current level of USD 126.32. (ORCL:NYE) has a high market CAP of USD 342.87 Billion.
Options Traders Prepare for Volatility:
Options traders are gearing up for potential volatility in the wake of ORCL’s earnings report. Market participants are pricing in a significant +/- 5.41% move following ORCL’s earnings announcement.
This volatility expectation surpasses the previous quarter’s earnings-related move of 0.22%. Moreover, it witnessed an average 2.4% move in the past eight quarters. Traders calculate the expected earnings move by assessing the at-the-money straddle of the nearest-to-expiration options following the earnings disclosure. This calculation helps gauge potential market volatility.
Final Takeaway:
As the financial world awaits Oracle’s Q1 FY24 earnings report, there is an air of excitement and anticipation. Oracle’s steadfast growth in the cloud and AI sectors has ignited optimism among analysts, who anticipate strong revenue and earnings figures. However, with a stock that has already seen substantial gains this year, investors are also mindful of potential limitations to further upside.
