How Should You Play The Trade Desk Stock Going Into Q2 Earnings?

Core Viewpoint - The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD) is set to report its Q2 2025 results on August 7, with expectations of a 17% year-over-year revenue increase to approximately $684.46 million, alongside an earnings estimate of 42 cents per share, up from 39 cents in the prior year quarter [1][2]. Financial Performance - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TTD's Q2 earnings is 42 cents, unchanged over the past 60 days, with total revenues expected to reach $684.46 million, reflecting a 17.1% increase year-over-year [1][12]. - TTD's revenues are projected to be at least $682 million, indicating a 17% year-over-year growth, which includes the impact of political ad spending from the previous year [2]. Earnings Surprise History - TTD has consistently beaten the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings in the last four quarters, with an average earnings surprise of 11.14% [3]. Market Position and Strategy - TTD is focusing on increasing digital spending in areas like Connected TV (CTV), which represented a significant portion of its business, and is seen as a key driver for revenue growth [6][8]. - The company is capitalizing on the shift from linear to programmatic CTV, positioning it as a central element of its growth strategy [6][8]. - TTD's Kokai platform is gaining traction, with two-thirds of clients already using it, leading to improved performance metrics such as a 24% lower cost per conversion [8][9]. Competitive Landscape - The digital advertising industry remains highly competitive, with major players like Alphabet and Amazon posing challenges to TTD's market positioning [11][16]. - TTD's stock has underperformed compared to its peers, with a 25.2% decline over the past six months, contrasting with the performance of the broader Internet Services industry and the S&P 500 [12][16]. Valuation Metrics - TTD's stock is trading at a premium, with a forward 12-month Price/Sales ratio of 13.52X, significantly higher than the industry average of 5.3X [19].