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Why Shares of Arm Holdings Are Rising Today | The Motley Fool

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  Published in Stocks and Investing on Monday, October 27th 2025 at 17:02 GMT by The Motley Fool
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1. A Strong Earnings Beat

ARM’s most recent quarterly earnings, reported on October 25, 2025, surpassed market expectations on several fronts:

• Revenue Growth – The company posted a 17 % year‑over‑year increase in revenue, reaching $1.62 billion for the quarter. Analysts had forecast $1.55 billion, making ARM’s performance a clear outlier.
• Adjusted Earnings Per Share (EPS) – Adjusted EPS of $0.42 beat the consensus estimate of $0.35, delivering a 20 % upside to the consensus.
• Profitability Metrics – ARM’s gross margin expanded from 58 % to 60 %, while operating margin climbed to 27 % from 25 %, reflecting tighter cost controls and higher‑margin licensing deals.
• Guidance – The management reiterated its full‑year guidance of $7.3 billion in revenue and a 20‑25 % rise in operating margin, a forward‑looking outlook that was met with a strong market reaction.

The earnings release, available on ARM’s Investor Relations site, highlighted that the bulk of the revenue increase came from a surge in demand for ARM‑based processors in automotive and Internet‑of‑Things (IoT) sectors. In addition, the company announced a new licensing agreement with a major automotive OEM that will bring ARM cores into next‑generation electric vehicle platforms.

2. New Architecture – ARMv9.5

ARM unveiled the latest iteration of its CPU architecture, ARMv9.5, during its earnings call. Key features of the new architecture include:

• Security Enhancements – Building on the TrustZone technology, ARMv9.5 introduces hardware‑level encryption that is expected to accelerate the adoption of secure AI workloads.
• AI‑Optimized Extensions – The architecture incorporates specialized instructions to accelerate machine‑learning inference, a move designed to compete more directly with Nvidia’s GPU offerings.
• Higher Performance Core – The Cortex‑X9 core claims a 30 % higher IPC (instructions per cycle) compared to its predecessor, aiming to meet the demands of high‑performance computing in data centers.

ARM’s chief technology officer noted that the architecture will be available to customers starting Q4 2025, and early benchmarks show a 12 % performance lift for the most demanding workloads.

3. Strategic Partnership with Microsoft Azure

Another headline‑grabbing development is ARM’s newly announced partnership with Microsoft Azure, aimed at delivering ARM‑based virtual machines to the cloud. The partnership details include:

• Pre‑baked ARM64 images – Azure will offer a suite of ARM64‑optimized images for both Windows and Linux workloads.
• Exclusive Azure Marketplace – ARM‑licensed software developers will receive priority placement in Azure Marketplace, potentially accelerating adoption among enterprise customers.
• Co‑development of Optimized Virtual CPUs – ARM and Microsoft will jointly develop a set of hyper‑optimized virtual CPUs to deliver 10–15 % better performance per watt compared to traditional x86 options.

This collaboration is expected to help ARM capture a larger share of the cloud infrastructure market, a sector that has historically favored x86 processors. Industry observers suggest that the partnership could shift the balance of power in favor of ARM for the next few years.

4. Regulatory and Market Context

• Nvidia’s Acquisition Talks – Over the past months, Nvidia has expressed interest in acquiring ARM, a move that has drawn scrutiny from U.S. regulators. The current article notes that the U.S. Department of Justice is reviewing the proposal, and any outcome could have a direct impact on ARM’s valuation and strategic direction.
• SoftBank’s Stake – SoftBank, the majority owner of ARM, has not disclosed any intention to sell its stake. However, the company is exploring potential exit strategies, which could create opportunities for secondary market investors.
• Competition – ARM’s rivals, including Intel, AMD, and Nvidia, are aggressively developing their own low‑power CPUs. ARM’s ability to maintain its lead will hinge on its ability to stay ahead in AI and security features.

5. Investor Takeaways

• Positive Momentum – The combination of strong earnings, an upgraded architecture, and a high‑profile cloud partnership has boosted investor confidence, as reflected in the share price rally.
• Valuation Considerations – Analysts are debating whether ARM’s current valuation reflects the long‑term benefits of its ecosystem strategy. Some suggest a modest upside potential if the company can sustain its growth trajectory.
• Risk Factors – Regulatory hurdles around Nvidia’s potential acquisition and the competitive pressure from other CPU makers remain key risks.

6. Additional Resources

For readers who wish to dive deeper, the following links provide more context:

• ARM Holdings Investor Relations – Earnings Release (Oct 25 2025) – https://arm.com/investor/earnings/oct25-2025
• Microsoft Azure – ARM Partnership Announcement – https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/arm-azure-partnership/
• SoftBank Annual Report 2025 – https://www.softbank.jp/en/ir/annual_report/2025
• Nvidia’s Interest in ARM – Regulatory Review Summary – https://www.justice.gov/olc/arm-nvidia-acquisition-review

In sum, ARM Holdings’ shares rallied because the company delivered a solid earnings beat, rolled out a cutting‑edge CPU architecture, and secured a strategic partnership that could open new revenue streams. While the chip industry remains highly competitive and subject to regulatory scrutiny, ARM’s focus on AI, security, and cloud readiness positions it well for future growth. Investors who believe in the long‑term dominance of ARM’s ecosystem should consider the current rally a potential entry point, while those wary of regulatory risks might adopt a more cautious stance.