Snowflake’s shares rose 12% on May 22, 2025, hitting their highest level since early 2024 after the company reported its fiscal first-quarter 2026 results.

The data analytics firm posted revenue of US$1.04 billion, a 26% increase from last year and above analysts’ US$1.01 billion estimate.

This is the first time Snowflake has surpassed US$1 billion in quarterly sales since going public in 2020.

Adjusted earnings per share were 24 cents, beating the expected 21 cents, but the company still reported a net loss of US$430 million, higher than last year’s US$317 million loss.

Analysts said that two US$100 million deals finalized during the quarter significantly contributed to the results.

The company’s focus on AI and large customer contracts helped drive revenue and stock gains despite continued net losses.

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🔗 Source: CNBC

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Growth milestone reflects successful enterprise data strategy pivot

Snowflake’s first-ever $1 billion revenue quarter represents more than just a number; it’s validation of their strategic positioning in the enterprise data market.

The company maintains a remarkable 124% net revenue retention rate, indicating existing customers are significantly expanding their usage over time despite increased competition1.

This sustained growth comes as Snowflake competes in an increasingly crowded market against tech giants like Amazon (Redshift), Google (BigQuery), and Microsoft (Azure Synapse), each leveraging their cloud infrastructure advantages2.

What makes this milestone particularly notable is that it follows a leadership transition. Former CEO Frank Slootman had grown the customer base from just 80 in 2015 to over 1,000 by early 2018, establishing the foundation for today’s growth trajectory3.

Snowflake’s ability to close two new $100 million deals in the quarter demonstrates its continued success in landing enterprise-scale customers despite competitive pressure from both established players and newer entrants like Databricks.

2️⃣ AI integration emerging as key differentiation in crowded data market

Snowflake’s strategic AI partnerships with companies like OpenAI and Anthropic are positioning it to capitalize on the projected $121.74 billion global cloud AI market in 20251.

The company is leveraging these partnerships to enhance its capabilities in deploying large language models for analytics, creating a value proposition distinct from competitors who may excel in different areas1.

This AI focus builds upon Snowflake’s existing strengths in data warehousing, where it’s known for features like automatic scaling, secure data sharing, zero-copy cloning, and time-travel capabilities4.

The industry recognition is evident. Snowflake now ranks 7th in the influential DB-Engines ranking with a score of 140.60, reflecting its growing importance in the data ecosystem4.

By integrating AI directly into its platform while maintaining its multi-cloud compatibility, Snowflake is addressing a key enterprise concern: avoiding vendor lock-in while still accessing cutting-edge AI capabilities1.

3️⃣ Investment patterns reveal mixed sentiment despite strong results

Despite Snowflake’s stock climbing 29% year-to-date while the Nasdaq declined nearly 2%, investor sentiment shows interesting contradictions that suggest ongoing uncertainty about long-term growth.

Short interest in Snowflake has increased recently, indicating some investors are betting against the stock despite its positive quarterly performance and raised guidance5.

The company added 1,735 new customers in the previous quarter, but only a small percentage of these were high-value clients that drive significant revenue growth5.

Snowflake has invested heavily in innovation, introducing over 400 new product capabilities, signaling a substantial R&D commitment that impacts current profitability but could enhance long-term competitiveness5.

The widening net loss ($430 million compared to $317 million a year earlier) highlights the tension between growth investments and profitability that continues to shape investor perspectives on the stock’s valuation.

Recent Snowflake developments

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