Zoom Communications прогнозирует снижение выручки на фоне сокращения спроса

Zoom Communications has released its revenue forecast for the upcoming fiscal year, which fell short of analysts' expectations. This is due to the gradual abandonment of hybrid work models by employers and the return of employees to offices. Following the announcement, the company's shares fell by 2% in after-hours trading.

In the fourth quarter, which ended on January 31, Zoom's revenue amounted to $1.18 billion, which corresponds to forecasts. Adjusted earnings per share reached $1.41, exceeding analysts' expectations of $1.30. However, the forecast for the first quarter of the next fiscal year suggests revenue in the range of $1.16–$1.17 billion, which is below the average estimates of $1.18 billion. The annual revenue forecast is $4.79–$4.80 billion, also falling short of the expected $4.81 billion.

Previously, Zoom demonstrated rapid growth amid the pandemic, when many companies switched to a remote or hybrid work format. However, recent initiatives, such as US President Donald Trump's decree on the return of federal employees to offices five days a week, as well as similar steps by large corporations, including JPMorgan Chase, Amazon and AT&T, cast doubt on the sustainability of demand for video conferencing services. Despite this, Zoom CEO Eric Yuan said he was not concerned about employees returning to offices.

Zoom continues to face stiff competition from platforms such as Microsoft Teams. In response, the company plans to launch an updated version of its AI companion in April, aimed at automating workflows with individual agents. However, analysts note that the integration of artificial intelligence has not yet yielded significant results and requires further investment.

Despite the current challenges, Zoom continues to adapt to changing market conditions by investing in new technologies and expanding the range of services offered.