Microsoft removed from 'US 1 List' at BofA
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Apr 08 2025
0mins
Should l Buy SPOT?
Removal from Investment List: BofA analysts have taken Microsoft (MSFT) off their "US 1 List," which highlights top investment ideas from Buy-rated U.S. stocks.
Renewal of Other Stocks: The firm has renewed Boston Scientific (BSX) and Spotify Technology (SPOT) for a new term after they completed 52 weeks on the list.
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Analyst Views on SPOT
Wall Street analysts forecast SPOT stock price to rise
21 Analyst Rating
15 Buy
6 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 483.180
Low
525.00
Averages
750.79
High
900.00
Current: 483.180
Low
525.00
Averages
750.79
High
900.00
About SPOT
Spotify Technology SA a Luxembourg-based company, which offers digital music-streaming services. The Company enables users to discover new releases, which includes the latest singles and albums; playlists, which includes ready-made playlists put together by music fans and experts, and over millions of songs so that users can play their favorites, discover new tracks and build a personalized collection. Its users can either select Spotify Free, which includes only shuffle play or Spotify Premium, which encompasses a range of features, such as shuffle play, advertisement free, unlimited skips, listen offline, play any track and audio. The Company operates through a number of subsidiaries, including Spotify LTD and is present in over 20 countries. Its service offers a music listening experience without commercial breaks.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Spotify Stock Pullback Raises Investor Buy Opportunity Questions
- Strong User Growth: Spotify's fourth-quarter revenue rose 13% year-over-year to €4.5 billion, adding a record 38 million monthly active users, bringing the total to 751 million and surpassing management's guidance of 32 million, indicating robust user acquisition despite stock pullback.
- Profitability Improvement: The company expanded its fourth-quarter gross margin to 33.1%, an 83-basis-point increase from the previous year, demonstrating stronger profitability across both premium and ad-supported tiers, alleviating concerns about royalty payments capping profit potential.
- Valuation Pressure: Despite strong fundamentals, Spotify's stock has declined 17%, trading at a forward P/E ratio of about 33, reflecting high market expectations for continued revenue growth and margin expansion; however, management expects only 3 million new premium subscribers in Q1 2026, a significant drop from 9 million in Q4, which may impact market confidence.
- Increased Competitive Risks: Spotify faces intense competition from tech giants like Apple, Alphabet, and Amazon; while it currently leads the market, these companies can price their streaming services more aggressively as they do not rely on them for standalone profitability, increasing pressure on Spotify's market position.
See More
Spotify Achieves Record User Growth in Q4
- Record User Growth: Spotify added a record 38 million monthly active users in Q4, surpassing management's guidance of 32 million, bringing the total audience to 751 million, demonstrating the company's strong appeal amid fierce competition.
- Sustained Revenue Growth: The company's Q4 revenue rose 13% year-over-year to €4.5 billion, driven by an expanding user base and improved profitability, further solidifying its market leadership position.
- Improved Profitability: Spotify's gross margin expanded to 33.1% in Q4, an 83-basis-point increase from the previous year, indicating stronger profitability across both its premium subscribers and ad-supported free tier.
- Market Competition Pressure: Despite strong fundamentals, Spotify's stock faces pressure with a current P/E ratio of about 40, reflecting high market expectations for future growth, while competition from giants like Apple and Amazon poses significant market risks.
See More
ACWX ETF 52-Week Price Analysis
- Price Range Analysis: The ACWX ETF has a 52-week low of $49.33 and a high of $74.92, with the last trade at $72.21, indicating relative stability in a volatile market, which may attract investors seeking steady returns.
- Technical Analysis Tool: Comparing the current share price to the 200-day moving average can provide valuable insights for investors, helping them assess market trends and make more informed investment decisions.
- ETF Trading Mechanism: Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) trade like stocks, where investors buy and sell 'units' that can be created or destroyed based on demand, impacting the fund's liquidity and market performance.
- Inflows and Outflows Monitoring: Weekly monitoring of changes in shares outstanding helps identify ETFs with significant inflows or outflows, where inflows necessitate purchasing underlying assets, while outflows may lead to selling, affecting individual stock performance.
See More
SPOTIFY TECHNOLOGY S.A.: BARCLAYS LOWERS TARGET PRICE FROM $650 TO $600
- Barclays Adjusts Target Price: Barclays has lowered its target price for Spotify from $650 to $600.
- Market Implications: This adjustment reflects Barclays' analysis of Spotify's market performance and future prospects.
See More
Bank of America Adds Microsoft and Others to U.S. 1 List
- Bank of America Recommendation: On Tuesday, Bank of America added Microsoft, Spotify, and Viking Holdings to its U.S. 1 list, which aims to showcase its best investment ideas, with all stocks rated as Buy, reflecting strong confidence in these companies.
- Microsoft Growth Potential: Despite facing selloff pressures, Microsoft's double-digit growth potential is viewed as a rare investment discount, indicating that its long-term value may be underestimated, potentially attracting more investor interest.
- Intensifying Competition Impact: As ChatGPT and DeepSeek continue to lose market share in the U.S. chatbot market, Microsoft's market position may face challenges, posing potential risks to its future growth that require close monitoring of market dynamics.
- Executive Transition: OpenAI COO Brad Lightcap's shift to a new role may influence the company's strategic direction, particularly in the increasingly competitive AI sector, prompting investors to assess its potential impact on the market.
See More
TRENT AI SECURES FUNDING ROUND LED BY LOCALGLOBE AND CAMBRIDGE INNOVATION CAPITAL, INVOLVING PARTICIPATION FROM EXECUTIVES AT OPENAI, SPOTIFY, DATABRICKS, AWS, AND MORE
Event Overview: The event is organized by local entities including Globe and Cambridge Innovation Capital, focusing on advancements in technology and innovation.
Participation: Key leaders from various companies such as OpenAI, Spotify, Databricks, and AWS are participating, indicating a strong interest in collaborative innovation.
Focus Areas: The discussions likely revolve around emerging technologies, data management, and the future of AI, reflecting current trends in the tech industry.
Networking Opportunities: The event serves as a platform for networking among industry leaders, fostering partnerships and sharing insights on technological advancements.
See More
Spotify Stock Pullback Raises Investor Buy Opportunity Questions
- Strong User Growth: Spotify's fourth-quarter revenue rose 13% year-over-year to €4.5 billion, adding a record 38 million monthly active users, bringing the total to 751 million and surpassing management's guidance of 32 million, indicating robust user acquisition despite stock pullback.
- Profitability Improvement: The company expanded its fourth-quarter gross margin to 33.1%, an 83-basis-point increase from the previous year, demonstrating stronger profitability across both premium and ad-supported tiers, alleviating concerns about royalty payments capping profit potential.
- Valuation Pressure: Despite strong fundamentals, Spotify's stock has declined 17%, trading at a forward P/E ratio of about 33, reflecting high market expectations for continued revenue growth and margin expansion; however, management expects only 3 million new premium subscribers in Q1 2026, a significant drop from 9 million in Q4, which may impact market confidence.
- Increased Competitive Risks: Spotify faces intense competition from tech giants like Apple, Alphabet, and Amazon; while it currently leads the market, these companies can price their streaming services more aggressively as they do not rely on them for standalone profitability, increasing pressure on Spotify's market position.
See More
Spotify Achieves Record User Growth in Q4
- Record User Growth: Spotify added a record 38 million monthly active users in Q4, surpassing management's guidance of 32 million, bringing the total audience to 751 million, demonstrating the company's strong appeal amid fierce competition.
- Sustained Revenue Growth: The company's Q4 revenue rose 13% year-over-year to €4.5 billion, driven by an expanding user base and improved profitability, further solidifying its market leadership position.
- Improved Profitability: Spotify's gross margin expanded to 33.1% in Q4, an 83-basis-point increase from the previous year, indicating stronger profitability across both its premium subscribers and ad-supported free tier.
- Market Competition Pressure: Despite strong fundamentals, Spotify's stock faces pressure with a current P/E ratio of about 40, reflecting high market expectations for future growth, while competition from giants like Apple and Amazon poses significant market risks.
See More
ACWX ETF 52-Week Price Analysis
- Price Range Analysis: The ACWX ETF has a 52-week low of $49.33 and a high of $74.92, with the last trade at $72.21, indicating relative stability in a volatile market, which may attract investors seeking steady returns.
- Technical Analysis Tool: Comparing the current share price to the 200-day moving average can provide valuable insights for investors, helping them assess market trends and make more informed investment decisions.
- ETF Trading Mechanism: Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) trade like stocks, where investors buy and sell 'units' that can be created or destroyed based on demand, impacting the fund's liquidity and market performance.
- Inflows and Outflows Monitoring: Weekly monitoring of changes in shares outstanding helps identify ETFs with significant inflows or outflows, where inflows necessitate purchasing underlying assets, while outflows may lead to selling, affecting individual stock performance.
See More
SPOTIFY TECHNOLOGY S.A.: BARCLAYS LOWERS TARGET PRICE FROM $650 TO $600
- Barclays Adjusts Target Price: Barclays has lowered its target price for Spotify from $650 to $600.
- Market Implications: This adjustment reflects Barclays' analysis of Spotify's market performance and future prospects.
See More
Bank of America Adds Microsoft and Others to U.S. 1 List
- Bank of America Recommendation: On Tuesday, Bank of America added Microsoft, Spotify, and Viking Holdings to its U.S. 1 list, which aims to showcase its best investment ideas, with all stocks rated as Buy, reflecting strong confidence in these companies.
- Microsoft Growth Potential: Despite facing selloff pressures, Microsoft's double-digit growth potential is viewed as a rare investment discount, indicating that its long-term value may be underestimated, potentially attracting more investor interest.
- Intensifying Competition Impact: As ChatGPT and DeepSeek continue to lose market share in the U.S. chatbot market, Microsoft's market position may face challenges, posing potential risks to its future growth that require close monitoring of market dynamics.
- Executive Transition: OpenAI COO Brad Lightcap's shift to a new role may influence the company's strategic direction, particularly in the increasingly competitive AI sector, prompting investors to assess its potential impact on the market.
See More
TRENT AI SECURES FUNDING ROUND LED BY LOCALGLOBE AND CAMBRIDGE INNOVATION CAPITAL, INVOLVING PARTICIPATION FROM EXECUTIVES AT OPENAI, SPOTIFY, DATABRICKS, AWS, AND MORE
Event Overview: The event is organized by local entities including Globe and Cambridge Innovation Capital, focusing on advancements in technology and innovation.
Participation: Key leaders from various companies such as OpenAI, Spotify, Databricks, and AWS are participating, indicating a strong interest in collaborative innovation.
Focus Areas: The discussions likely revolve around emerging technologies, data management, and the future of AI, reflecting current trends in the tech industry.
Networking Opportunities: The event serves as a platform for networking among industry leaders, fostering partnerships and sharing insights on technological advancements.
See More
