Reddit’s Bull Case for Zoom Has Nothing to Do With Video Calls
Reddit’s Bull Case for Zoom Has Nothing to Do With Video Calls
David BerenFri, March 27, 2026 at 1:35 PM UTC
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Sundry Photography / iStock Editorial via Getty Images (Sundry Photography / iStock Editorial via Getty Images)Quick Read -
Zoom Video Communications (ZM) reported Q4 revenue of $1.247B (+5.3% YoY) and Q4 non-GAAP EPS of $1.44 (beating by 69%), but full-year EPS of $5.92 missed estimates while enterprise net dollar expansion fell to 98% below the 100% threshold, causing shares to drop 12% post-earnings. The stock carries a $7.8B cash position and 1% stake in Anthropic valued as a key asset amid a $23B market cap.
Zoom’s rare earnings miss and deteriorating underlying metrics—including 19% decline in Q4 free cash flow and elevated online churn—conflict with Reddit’s bullish sentiment centered on its Anthropic stake and deep discount valuation relative to Microsoft Teams competition and deceleration in core video growth.
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Still one of the most popular video calling tools, Zoom's Q4 FY2026 earnings handed investors a headline that looked spectacular and a full-year figure that quietly disappointed. Zoom Video Communications (NASDAQ:ZM) posted $1.247 billion in Q4 revenue, up 5.3% year-over-year, beating estimates by 0.6%. High-value enterprise customers grew 9.3% year-over-year to 4,468 accounts. Yet the full-year non-GAAP EPS of $5.92 missed the $5.9724 estimate, marking Zoom's first EPS miss in seven quarters. Shares dropped roughly 12% in the session after earnings and remain down about 7.5% year to date.
The Q4 non-GAAP EPS of $1.44, which beat the $0.85 estimate by 69%, was heavily distorted by $532 million in gains on strategic investments. Free cash flow fell nearly 19% year-over-year in Q4; the enterprise net dollar expansion rate was 98%, below the 100% threshold; and online monthly churn ticked up to 2.9% from 2.8%.
The Anthropic Angle Driving Reddit's Bull Case
Sentiment on r/wallstreetbets has been predominantly bullish over the past 30 hours, with scores ranging from 76 to 82 across six of eight measured windows. The conversation centers on a thread titled "$ZM - Best Anthropic Play, Trades Below Nav." from u/Stonkgang_, which has accumulated 109 upvotes and 55 comments.
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24/7 Wall St. (24/7 Wall St.)
This infographic provides a snapshot of Zoom's (ZM) Q4 financial performance, highlighting key metrics such as revenue and customer growth, as well as current social sentiment on Reddit and the factors driving it.
$ZM - Best Anthropic Play, Trades Below Nav.by u/Stonkgang_ in wallstreetbets
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The post argues "$ZM, yes, Zoom Video owns a 1% stake in Anthropic due to its early investment in 2023... it generates 2bn in FCF a year, has a market cap of 22bn, with 7.8bn in cash... its entire core business trades at 5x FCF ($10bn)", making Zoom the most efficient way to buy Anthropic exposure at a discount. Zoom carries $7.8 billion in cash against a $23 billion market cap, trades at roughly 12x trailing earnings, and guides for $5.065 to $5.075 billion in FY2027 revenue, the first time it would cross the $5 billion milestone. The bull case rests on three pillars:
Zoom's Anthropic stake and $7.8 billion cash position create a balance sheet that prices the core video and CX business at a deep discount to intrinsic value.
Zoom Customer Experience saw accelerating high-double-digit growth in Q4, with paid AI included in each of the top 10 CX deals, pointing to real product expansion beyond legacy video.
The analyst consensus of 14 buy ratings and a $97 average price target sits well above the current share price near $80, with at least one firm carrying a $115 price target.
Where the Bear Case Still Has Teeth
For investors focused on finances, Zoom's free cash flow guidance for FY2027 is $1.70 to $1.74 billion, down from the $1.924 billion generated in FY2026. A net dollar expansion rate below 100% means existing enterprise customers are spending less than they did a year ago. Revenue growth is expected to decelerate, with consensus projecting 3.3% growth in the fiscal year after next. Microsoft Teams remains a formidable free alternative for enterprise buyers locked into Microsoft 365, and management explicitly flagged lengthened sales cycles.
At roughly 14x on guided EPS of $5.77 to $5.81 is reasonable for a profitable, cash-generative technology business. The Anthropic stake and agentic AI roadmap are the variables that will determine whether Zoom earns a higher valuation multiple from here.
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