The business world is constantly in motion, and recent reports highlight some key trends in tech and finance. From earnings calls to executive shifts and profit fluctuations, here's a roundup of the latest news.
Duolingo's AI-Powered Growth
Duolingo (NASDAQ: DUOL) is seeing significant success with its AI investments. The language learning platform reported an outstanding fourth quarter of 2024, with daily active users (DAUs) surging 51% year over year to 40 million. CEO Luis von Ahn described it as "an outstanding record quarter."
A key driver of this growth is Duolingo's premium AI-powered subscription tier, Max. This tier is showing strong early adoption and contributing to top-line growth. Additionally, the GenAI-powered Video Call feature has boosted user engagement. "Max is now available to the majority of our DAUs and represents about 5% of total subscribers," the company stated, indicating substantial room for future monetization.
Vimeo Bets Big on AI for Video
Vimeo (NASDAQ: VMEO) is also leveraging artificial intelligence to drive growth. Under new CEO Philip Moyer, the video software company reported its fourth-quarter and fiscal year 2024 earnings. The company is focusing on enterprise customers while working to stabilize its Self-Serve business.
Vimeo's AI investments are already paying off. According to the earnings call, AI features drove 40% of customer deals in Q4. "The time for AI in video is now," the company declared, announcing plans for significant investments in 2025 to accelerate growth. This signals a strong belief in the transformative power of AI within the video industry.
Executive Pay at Santander
Meanwhile, in the financial sector, Santander has made headlines for its executive compensation. The bank reportedly paid 12.3 million in salaries, bonuses, and severance packages to four executives who departed from the bank as part of a 2024 reorganization. These executives include Alexandra Brandao, Juan Guitard, Víctor Matarranz, and Marjolein van Hellemondt-Gerdingh.
Saudi Aramco's Profit Dip
Not all news is positive. Saudi Aramco reported a 12.39% drop in profits for 2024. This decline is attributed to lower revenues, primarily due to weaker crude oil prices, lower sales volumes, and lower prices for refined and chemical products.
This profit decrease highlights the volatility of the energy market and its impact on even the largest players in the industry. The company will need to adapt to these changing market conditions to maintain profitability in the future.
Finally, Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. also announced its Q4 2024 earnings call presentation, discussing the company's quarterly results and financial performance.
These diverse reports paint a picture of a dynamic business landscape, with some companies thriving through innovation and others facing challenges from market forces.