Bank of America’s Top Tech Stock Picks Ahead of Earnings

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By Tyler Matthews

Amidst market fluctuations, discerning investors often seek strategic entry points. Bank of America analysts have recently identified several technology sector stocks presenting potential buying opportunities, suggesting capitalizing on recent weaknesses before these companies release their quarterly financial updates. Their analysis spotlights firms with strong fundamentals or promising turnaround prospects.

Spotlight on Key Tech Recommendations

Analysts at Bank of America have pinpointed specific companies where current valuations may not fully reflect underlying strengths or future potential. Investors are encouraged to consider these names ahead of their earnings announcements.

Block (SQ): Undervalued Resilience

Payment technology firm Block is seen as having significant upside potential. Analyst Jason Kupferberg suggests the stock’s current price doesn’t adequately account for the business’s durability or its recent focus on operational spending discipline. While acknowledging that revised revenue projections might adjust high expectations, the core business model’s quality remains a key positive. Despite lowering the price target to $80 from $94, Bank of America maintains a buy rating, citing Block’s ability to protect adjusted operating income. The company is scheduled to report earnings on May 1st.

Microsoft (MSFT): Leading the AI Charge

Microsoft remains a top pick for the bank, largely due to its strategic position in the burgeoning artificial intelligence (AI) field. Analyst Brad Sills emphasizes that Microsoft is exceptionally well-placed to benefit from the AI cycle. Upcoming earnings on April 30th will likely focus on Azure’s performance and capital expenditure (capex) levels. Despite some speculation about reduced capex, BofA believes any adjustments are likely geographic recalibrations rather than a shift away from Microsoft’s long-term growth strategy. Although the price target was adjusted downwards to $480 from $510, Microsoft retains its status as a “top pick”.

Roblox (RBLX): Emerging Growth and Efficiency

Gaming platform Roblox is demonstrating impressive execution and efficiency gains, catching the eye of analyst Omar Dessouky. The platform’s performance in 2024 has shown significant capability. While not yet a staple in large institutional portfolios, Roblox could attract more attention, especially if investors seek growth stocks resilient to potential economic headwinds in 2025. Bank of America anticipates positive results when Roblox reports on May 1st.

Spotify (SPOT): A Defensive Play

Bank of America holds a positive outlook on Spotify, expecting its Q1 2025 results to align with forecasts for revenue, premium subscribers, and monthly active users (MAUs). The analysts view Spotify’s subscription-based model as a more defensive position amidst current economic uncertainties. However, they caution that recent market volatility might temper advertising growth in the latter half of the year, though an acceleration is anticipated thereafter.

PayPal (PYPL): Turnaround Efforts Underway

PayPal is set to announce earnings on April 29th. While Bank of America concedes that the first quarter won’t reveal a complete transformation, they highlight significant progress in the company’s strategy, particularly efforts to boost branded total payment volume (TPV). The analysts reiterate their buy recommendation, pointing to PayPal’s strong brand recognition, robust balance sheet, and significant market scale as key factors supporting its ongoing business transformation.

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