** Video conferencing platform Zoom Communications' ZM.O shares jump 15.6% to $90.86
** Co lifts annual profit and rev forecast on growth driven by new products such as Phone, Contact Center and Virtual Agent
** Up to last close, stock has fallen 3.7% this year
ZOOM'S AI FEATURES GAIN TRACTION
** Jefferies ("buy," $105) highlights strong AI adoption across the product suite, most notably AI Companion monthly active users (MAU) rising more than 4x
** JP Morgan ("neutral," $90) highlights customer experience as the most viable prospect for AI monetization, seeing continued strength in co's Team Chat and its employee experience platform Workvivo
** Morgan Stanley ("equal-weight," $92) says Zoom's AI features support stability in the core business
** Bernstein ("market-perform," $90) says it is hard to see the monetization of AI tools despite adoption, because co is adding new features to paid plans at no extra cost
** Needham ("buy," $100) argues that successful AI execution could cement Zoom's products as mainstream workplace and classroom tool
(Reporting by Arnav Mishra and Anhata Rooprai in Bengaluru)
((Arnav.Mishra@thomsonreuters.com))