Investment strategist picks 5 stocks ‘to pounce on' during Q2 earning season

Investment strategist Shay Boloor has identified five stocks for the Q2 2025 earnings season, spanning AI, connectivity, and next-gen infrastructure. Alphabet (GOOG) is forecast for revenue growth despite AI costs, following a strong Q1 and significant capital return initiatives. Robinhood (HOOD) has surged nearly 150% year-to-date, benefiting from crypto and new product offerings, with Q2 results keenly watched for user growth. Speculative plays AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) and Oklo (OKLO) have seen over 100% YTD gains, focusing on satellite broadband and AI-powering nuclear reactors respectively, with Oklo still pre-revenue. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) projects Q2 growth in its data center segment, driven by AI chip demand, though potential U.S. export controls pose a risk.

Analysis

An investment strategist has identified five stocks across diverse growth sectors ahead of the Q2 2025 earnings season. In established technology, Alphabet (GOOG) is expected to report revenue of $93.6 billion, though its outlook is tempered by rising AI costs and macroeconomic headwinds, despite a strong Q1 that included a 12% YoY revenue increase and a $70 billion buyback program. Similarly, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is poised for growth in its Data Center and Client segments, with projected Q2 revenue of $7.4 billion, but faces a potential $800 million negative impact from U.S. export controls. Robinhood (HOOD) has demonstrated significant momentum, with its stock surging nearly 150% year-to-date, fueled by the cryptocurrency boom and new product launches; its upcoming report will be critical for validating user growth. The list also includes two speculative, high-growth companies: AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) and Oklo (OKLO), which have rallied 110% and 156% year-to-date, respectively. ASTS is expected to report a 472% surge in revenue to $5.15 million but a widening EPS loss, with investor focus on its satellite deployment progress. Oklo, a pre-revenue company developing compact nuclear reactors for AI data centers, is trading on its long-term potential and key backing, with its Q2 update expected to focus purely on developmental milestones.

Key Decisions for Investors

• For Alphabet and AMD, investors should scrutinize management commentary on margin pressure from AI investments and the quantifiable impact of U.S. export controls, respectively, as these are the primary risks to their near-term outlook.
• Given Robinhood's 150% year-to-date rally, it is prudent to assess the Q2 earnings for tangible evidence of sustained user growth and monetization to justify its elevated valuation.
• Positions in speculative stocks like ASTS and OKLO should be evaluated based on non-financial catalysts, such as progress on technological milestones and commercial deployment plans, rather than their current loss-making financial results.
• Consider the thematic diversification across this list, but differentiate investment approaches based on company maturity, from assessing fundamental earnings power in GOOG and AMD to validating the long-term narrative for pre-revenue firms like OKLO.