Reddit vs. Snap: Which Social Media Ad Stock is the Smarter Buy Now?

Core Insights - Reddit (RDDT) and Snap (SNAP) are competing for digital ad budgets, with Reddit focusing on community engagement and Snap on visual messaging and AR experiences [1][2] - Both platforms are investing in AI to enhance ad targeting and campaign performance [1][2] Digital Advertising Market - The global social media ad market is expected to grow from $228.18 billion in 2024 to $406.64 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 12.25% [2] - Brands are increasingly seeking platforms with personalized reach and engaged audiences, benefiting both Reddit and Snap [2] Reddit's Position - Reddit has over 100,000 active subreddits, with Reddit Answers reaching 6 million weekly active users in Q2 2025, a 5x increase sequentially [4][11] - Ad revenues for Reddit grew 84% year over year to $465 million in Q2 2025, with a consensus estimate of $438.33 million for Q3 2025 [6][12] - Daily Active Uniques (DAUq) rose 21% year over year to 110.4 million in Q2 2025, with a consensus estimate of 113.17 million for Q3 2025 [7] Snap's Position - Snap's global user base reached 469 million DAUs in Q2 2025, an 8.6% year-over-year increase [8] - The Snapchat+ subscriber base approached 16 million, supported by new offerings like Lens+ [9][11] - Commerce-driven ad volume grew 39% year over year in Q2 2025, with newer ad formats like Sponsored Snaps showing stronger conversion outcomes [10][12] Financial Performance and Valuation - RDDT shares have increased by 30.2% year-to-date, while SNAP shares have declined by 27.7% [13] - RDDT trades at 17.35X forward Price/Sales, significantly higher than SNAP's 2.09X [11][16] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Reddit's Q3 2025 earnings is 34 cents per share, a 112.5% increase year over year, while SNAP's estimate is 4 cents per share, a 50% decline year over year [18] Investment Outlook - Reddit is building momentum through community engagement and improving ad tools, but its monetization model is still evolving [19] - Snap offers a more mature platform with a broader global footprint and deeper youth traction, making it a more attractive investment option [20]