Core Viewpoint - Criteo S.A. (CRTO) has received an upgrade to a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), indicating a positive outlook on its earnings estimates, which is a significant factor influencing stock prices [1][3]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Performance - The Zacks rating system emphasizes the importance of earnings estimate revisions, which have shown a strong correlation with near-term stock price movements [4][6]. - For the fiscal year ending December 2025, Criteo is expected to earn $4.39 per share, with a 12% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate over the past three months [8]. Zacks Rank System - The Zacks Rank system classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with Zacks Rank 1 stocks historically generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [7]. - Criteo's upgrade to Zacks Rank 1 places it in the top 5% of Zacks-covered stocks, suggesting a strong potential for market-beating returns in the near term [10].

Core Insights - Criteo has launched its Auction-Based Display technology, enhancing programmatic flexibility in retail media environments and driving industry advancement [1][5] - The new technology is designed to meet the unique dynamics of retail environments, providing retailers with biddable trading options and flexible pricing [2][3] - This innovation allows advertisers to execute standardized campaigns across various ad formats, optimizing multi-retailer campaigns more efficiently [4] Company Overview - Criteo is a global platform that connects the commerce ecosystem, leveraging AI to access over $1 trillion in annual commerce sales [6] - The company provides technology, tools, and insights necessary for brands, agencies, retailers, and media owners to drive performance and growth [6] Industry Context - The retail media landscape is evolving, with increasing demand for highly relevant and timely ads, which Criteo's technology addresses through real-time bidding and advanced ad relevancy controls [3][5] - By complementing existing reservation-based deals with auction-based buying, retailers can unlock new monetization opportunities and access national media budgets [2]

Core Insights - Criteo and dentsu have announced an expanded global partnership aimed at enhancing commerce and performance media campaigns for dentsu's clients, marking the first time a top holding company will utilize Criteo's complete Commerce Media Platform stack [1][2][3] Partnership Details - The partnership will provide dentsu's brands and retailers with AI-enhanced audiences, buying tools, consultancy services, and measurement capabilities to improve commerce outcomes [2] - Dentsu will integrate Criteo's commerce SKU signals and product intelligence into its media solutions, aiming to help clients grow in the Algorithmic Era [3] Technology and Tools Utilization - Dentsu will leverage Criteo's SKU-Based Planning Tool to streamline campaign activation, management, and optimization across over 200 global retailers [5] - The Commerce Growth Performance Buying Platform will be used by dentsu to execute performance deals across video and display ad formats, enhancing customer attraction and retention [5] - Access to custom supply packages of premium publishers' inventory will allow dentsu to improve targeting and performance across campaigns run on third-party demand-side platforms [5] Consultancy and Support - Dentsu clients will benefit from Criteo's consultancy services, which will provide insights to help retailers build and scale their media networks effectively [5]

Core Viewpoint - Criteo S.A. (CRTO) has experienced a significant downtrend, with a 13.6% decline in stock price over the past four weeks, but it is now in oversold territory, suggesting a potential turnaround due to analysts' positive earnings outlook [1][5][7] Group 1: Stock Performance - The stock has faced heavy selling pressure, leading to a decline of 13.6% in the last four weeks [1] - The Relative Strength Index (RSI) for CRTO is currently at 28.25, indicating that the stock is oversold [5] - Oversold stocks are often seen as potential entry points for investors looking for rebounds [3] Group 2: Analyst Sentiment - There is a strong consensus among sell-side analysts to raise earnings estimates for CRTO, resulting in a 6.6% increase in the consensus EPS estimate over the last 30 days [7] - A positive trend in earnings estimate revisions typically correlates with price appreciation in the near term [7] Group 3: Zacks Rank - CRTO holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), placing it in the top 20% of over 4,000 ranked stocks based on earnings estimate trends and EPS surprises [8]

Group 1 - The individual investor focuses on undercovered companies, particularly in technology, software, electronics, and energy transition sectors [1] - The investor has over 50 companies on their watchlist and has been investing personal capital for over 7 years globally [1] - The investor holds a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering and works as an automotive battery R&D engineer in Sweden [1] Group 2 - The investor aims to identify asymmetric investment opportunities to achieve market-beating returns through diligent research of small to mid-cap companies [1]

Industry Overview - The digital advertising market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.4% from 2025 to 2030, driven by mobile penetration, social media proliferation, and programmatic advertising expansion [2] - Video advertising is projected to remain the dominant format as brands increasingly leverage visual storytelling [2] The Trade Desk (TTD) - TTD reported revenues of $616 million in Q1 2025, a 25% year-over-year increase, exceeding management's guidance of at least $575 million [4] - Adjusted EBITDA for TTD was $208 million, reflecting a 34% margin compared to $162 million and a 33% margin in the previous year [4] - Customer retention rate was over 95% for the reported quarter [4] - TTD's net cash from operating activities was $291.4 million, with free cash flow at $230 million [5] - Adjusted earnings per share increased by 27% year-over-year to 33 cents [5] - The Kokai platform is utilized by two-thirds of clients, achieving lower cost per conversion by 24% and lower cost per acquisition by 20% [5] - TTD's revenue is heavily reliant on North America, with 88% of revenues coming from this region, limiting international market expansion [7] - Total operating costs surged by 21.4% year-over-year to $561.6 million, which may impact profitability if revenue growth does not keep pace [8] Criteo (CRTO) - Criteo's AI-driven Performance Media business and capabilities in Retail Media are strong growth drivers [9] - The Commerce Media Platform includes both demand-side and supply-side solutions, allowing Criteo to capture value across the ad tech value chain [9] - Criteo's media spend was $4.3 billion over the last 12 months, with $919 million in Q1 2025 [10] - Retail Media on-platform revenues grew by 17% year-over-year, supported by partnerships with 70% of the top 30 U.S. retailers [10] - Criteo onboarded 300 new brands in Q1, bringing the total to over 3,800 for Retail Media [11] - The company launched a new AI-powered automation toolset, Commerce GO!, designed to streamline campaign launches [12] - Criteo differentiates itself by offering direct retailer access and a transparent platform built around first-party data [13] Share Performance and Valuation - Year-to-date, CRTO has declined by 33.6%, while TTD has seen a decline of 37.1% amid macroeconomic uncertainties [14] - Valuation metrics indicate TTD is overvalued with a Value Score of F, while CRTO has a Value Score of A [16] - TTD's forward 12-month price/earnings ratio is 38.32X, significantly higher than CRTO's 5.97X [17] Analyst Estimates - Analysts have revised CRTO's earnings estimates downward for the current quarter, indicating a trend of negative revisions [18] - TTD has experienced relatively lower downward revisions in earnings estimates compared to CRTO [20] Investment Recommendation - Criteo is positioned as the stronger investment option due to its better valuation, focus on partnerships, and expanding retail media presence [22]

Core Viewpoint - Criteo (CRTO) has experienced a significant decline in its stock price, losing 29.2% year-to-date, which is notably worse than the broader market indices and its industry peers [1][2]. Company Performance - The underperformance of Criteo's stock is attributed to tariffs and inflation affecting the industry, but the company is positioned for long-term growth despite macroeconomic uncertainties [2]. - In Q1 2025, Criteo's Retail Media on-platform revenues increased by 21% year-over-year, driven by heightened demand from advertisers and retailers [3]. - Off-platform monetization also saw growth, supported by a 60% increase in supply partners, indicating successful partnerships with retailers like Michaels, Dollar Tree, and Meijer [3]. Strategic Focus - Criteo is transitioning from its legacy retargeting business to focus on high-growth areas such as Retail Media and Commerce Audiences, with over 250 brands onboarded to its expanded platform [4]. - The company is enhancing its offerings with new features like dynamic sponsored products and video ads, which have strengthened its product suite [9]. Competitive Landscape - Criteo competes with major tech companies like Amazon, Google, and The Trade Desk, which have also seen declines in their stock prices [5]. - Criteo differentiates itself by providing retailer-direct access and a transparent, demand-driven platform that aligns with first-party data needs, leveraging its broad retail network and proprietary technology [6]. Financial Outlook - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Criteo's 2025 earnings is $3.46 per share, reflecting an upward revision of 8.46% over the past 30 days, with a projected year-over-year increase of 16.98% [7]. - Revenue estimates are pegged at $1.15 billion, indicating a year-over-year growth of 2.41% [7]. - Criteo has beaten earnings estimates in three of the last four quarters, with an average surprise of 45.42% [8]. Investment Potential - Criteo's focus on high-growth areas and its recent expansion of the advertiser base by 11% year-over-year suggest strong market traction [9]. - The company currently holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) and a Growth Score of A, indicating a favorable investment opportunity [10].

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of value investing and highlights Criteo (CRTO) as a strong value stock based on its financial metrics and Zacks Rank [2][3][7] Financial Metrics - Criteo (CRTO) has a Price-to-Book (P/B) ratio of 1.45, which is significantly lower than the industry average of 3.83, indicating potential undervaluation [4] - The Price-to-Sales (P/S) ratio for CRTO is 0.86, compared to the industry's average P/S of 1.96, further suggesting that the stock may be undervalued [5] - CRTO's Price-to-Cash Flow (P/CF) ratio stands at 7.41, well below the industry average of 20.68, reinforcing the notion of its attractive valuation [6] Investment Outlook - The combination of CRTO's strong financial metrics and a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) positions it as an impressive value stock with a favorable earnings outlook [3][7]

Industry Overview - The Internet-Software & Services industry is closely tied to the economy, with estimates declining due to tariffs, inflation, and interest rate uncertainties [1][7] - Companies are focusing on cost-saving measures, reducing operating expenses to maintain profitability despite revenue challenges [1][7] - Capital investments are being limited, with only a few companies making significant investments [1] Key Industry Themes - Companies like Criteo (CRTO) and RingCentral (RNG) are performing well by leveraging AI for revenue growth and client retention through subscription models [2][18] - The industry is characterized by a diverse range of players, leading to varied performance outcomes [2] - The Zacks Industry Rank for the Internet-Software & Services sector is 203, placing it in the bottom 17% of nearly 250 classified industries, indicating limited growth prospects [6][8] Economic Impact - The level of technology adoption by businesses is crucial for growth, with some companies advancing in AI while others lag behind [7] - Economic slowdowns lead to reduced expenditures on software and services, impacting industry performance [7] - Geopolitical tensions and tariff changes contribute to market volatility and uncertainty, complicating the operating environment [7] Financial Performance - The industry has shown strong stock market performance, returning 20.5% over the past year, outperforming the broader sector and S&P 500 [11] - The industry is currently trading at a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 24.96X, which is a 15.2% premium to the S&P 500 [14] Company Highlights Criteo S.A. (CRTO) - Criteo's AI-driven platform connects advertisers with retailers, helping to drive commerce despite macroeconomic challenges [18][20] - The company has maintained a client retention rate close to 90% and reported an 18% growth in Retail Media contributions [21][22] - Despite a projected decline in earnings due to the loss of a major customer, Criteo's existing customer spending has increased significantly [21][23] RingCentral Inc. (RNG) - RingCentral's AI-powered solutions have led to an average recurring revenue (ARR) exceeding $2.5 billion [26] - The company has successfully integrated its services into the Salesforce CRM ecosystem and secured significant customer wins [26] - RingCentral's shares have decreased by 26.5% over the past year, with analysts projecting revenue growth of 4.6% in 2025 [27]

Summary of Criteo Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Criteo - **Industry**: E-commerce, Digital Marketing, Media Monetization - **CEO**: Michael Komosinski, who joined earlier this year, previously held leadership roles at Dentsu and Merkel [2][3] Key Points and Arguments Competitive Advantages - Criteo is an independent ad tech player, providing value on both supply and demand sides of retail media [9] - The company has an unmatched supply footprint due to its early market entry with the Commerce Yield monetization platform [10] - Criteo's strategy focuses on reaccelerating growth, improving durability, and enhancing performance media execution [12] Growth Strategy - The company aims to identify white space in product segments and develop products rapidly to achieve consistent results [13] - Near-term opportunities include expanding product offerings in performance media and retail media, such as on-site video and native advertising [14][15] - Long-term goals involve advancements in technology for more efficient retail supply purchasing [15] Market Trends - The advertising industry is moving towards AI-driven automated marketing platforms, with Criteo's Commerce Go tool driving significant campaign volume growth [23][24] - The company reported a 45% quarter-on-quarter growth in its Commerce Audience segment [19] - Social media integrations, particularly with Meta, have shown a 40% sequential growth in 1Q [21] Financial Performance - Criteo maintains a 25% adjusted EBITDA margin guide, with a commitment to growth investments despite a lower revenue base [43] - The company is focused on organic growth and opportunistic M&A to accelerate its roadmap [46] Challenges and Risks - There are signs of softer macro trends affecting client spending, particularly in discretionary categories [41] - The company has reduced scope with its largest client, but believes this situation is unique and not likely to spread [38][40] Future Outlook - Criteo sees a $50 billion serviceable available market (SAM) by 2027 in retail media [29] - The company is optimistic about the integration with Microsoft advertising and expects to make announcements regarding this in the near future [33][34] Additional Important Content - The CEO emphasized the importance of execution and reliability in delivering consistent results to investors [12] - Criteo's focus on AI and data assets positions it well for future developments in the agentic shopping experience [27][28] - The company continues to repurchase shares as part of its capital allocation strategy, balancing growth investments with shareholder returns [46][47]