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eToro CEO Highlights Retail Investor Surge as Q2 Profit Beats Estimates

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Trading and cryptocurrency platform eToro reported stronger-than-expected second-quarter profits, fueled by a surge in retail investor activity during market volatility, CEO Yoni Assia said Tuesday.

MARKET CONTEXT
Retail investors actively “bought the dip” following sharp declines in April after U.S. President Trump announced new tariffs. Assia noted investors targeted high-growth stocks such as Google, Nvidia, and Tesla, echoing patterns seen during the COVID-19 market disruptions when institutional investors pulled back.

Despite the Q2 profit beat, shares of eToro fell 8% post-earnings, reflecting expectations set by the company’s recent May IPO, which saw shares debut above the marketed range. Analysts said the surge in April trading activity was not sustained through July, tempering market enthusiasm.

CRYPTO AND PRODUCT EXPANSION
eToro saw heightened crypto trading activity in July, driven by bitcoin reaching all-time highs. Assia highlighted that regulatory clarity in the U.S. is helping fintech firms expand crypto offerings and attract younger, tech-savvy investors.

The company plans to expand into AI-driven trading strategies and cater to more sophisticated users while maintaining its core retail trading platform, which allows users to invest in stocks, crypto, and other assets while mirroring strategies of top investors.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

  • Adjusted Q2 profit: $0.56 per share (est. $0.50)

  • Market focus: Retail investors driving stock and crypto activity

Zebra Technologies to Acquire Elo Touch Solutions for $1.3 Billion, Raises Full-Year Forecasts

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Barcode scanner and handheld device maker Zebra Technologies (ZBRA.O) announced a $1.3 billion all-cash deal to acquire Elo Touch Solutions, a touchscreen system maker, as it expands its retail-focused offerings. The acquisition follows strong second-quarter results driven by rising demand for Zebra’s devices and a recent acquisition of 3D imaging firm Photoneo.

Zebra’s shares jumped nearly 7% in premarket trading following the announcement and an upward revision of its annual revenue and profit guidance. The company benefits from increased digitization in retail and logistics, with its products aiding inventory management, warehouse operations, and shipment tracking.

The Elo Touch acquisition, expected to close in 2025, will add self-service kiosks, payment terminals, and touchscreen systems to Zebra’s portfolio, enabling frontline workers to better serve customers. CEO Bill Burns described the deal as a “next step” to accelerate frontline connectivity and estimated it expands Zebra’s addressable market by $8 billion.

Elo Touch, serving clients including JCPenney, has annual sales near $400 million. The acquisition is expected to be immediately accretive to earnings and to generate around $25 million in additional core profit three years after closing.

Zebra’s Q2 performance also benefited from lower tariffs than anticipated, with supply chain diversification across China, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Mexico helping manage costs. In April, Zebra raised prices on most North American products to offset tariff-related pressures.

For the full year, Zebra now expects sales growth between 5% and 7%, up from a prior range of 3% to 7%. Adjusted earnings per share guidance has been raised to $15.25–$15.75 from $13.75–$14.75.

In Q2, sales rose 6.2% to $1.29 billion, meeting estimates, while adjusted EPS of $3.61 exceeded expectations of $3.32.

TSMC Reports 38.6% Year-on-Year Sales Increase in Q2, Exceeding Forecasts

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Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world’s largest contract chipmaker, announced second-quarter revenue of NT$933.8 billion ($31.9 billion), surpassing market expectations. This represents a 38.6% increase compared to NT$673.5 billion recorded in the same period last year.

The strong performance exceeded the LSEG SmartEstimate consensus of NT$927.8 billion from 21 analysts, as well as TSMC’s own April guidance, which forecasted revenue between $28.4 billion and $29.2 billion. The company is set to release its full Q2 earnings report, including outlooks for the current quarter and full year, on July 17.

TSMC has benefited significantly from the growing demand for artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, with major customers such as Nvidia relying on its advanced chip manufacturing capabilities.