Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company ended Q4 2025 with a diluted AFFO per share of $2.24, an increase of 1.4% from $2.21 in Q4 2024 [10] - Full-year AFFO guidance for 2026 is projected to be between $8.50 and $8.70 per share, indicating a year-over-year growth of 4.1% at the midpoint [5][16] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q4 was $288.9 million, up 3.7% from $278.5 million in Q4 2024, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 48.5%, an expansion of 40 basis points year-over-year [10][11] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Local revenue increased by 1.7% in Q4, while national programmatic revenue grew by 3.3%, marking the third consecutive quarter of growth for national [6] - Digital revenue on a same-store basis increased by 3.7% in Q4, with digital billboards representing 33.7% of total revenue for the quarter [20][21] - The company added 111 digital units in Q4, ending the year with 5,553 operating units [7] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Atlantic and Southwest regions showed relative strength in Q4, while the Northeast region exhibited weakness [19] - Political advertising was a headwind in Q4, down approximately $11 million compared to 2024, but is expected to reverse in 2026 [6][19] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to remain aggressive in digital deployments, targeting a similar number of internal digital deployments as in the previous year [8] - The company is well-positioned for acquisitions, with an investment capacity exceeding $1 billion while maintaining leverage within the target range of 3.5x-4x net debt to EBITDA [15][16] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the advertising climate for 2026, citing political tailwinds and increased spending around World Cup venues [29] - The company anticipates a conservative start to Q1 but expects momentum to build throughout the year, particularly in political advertising [42] Other Important Information - The company completed 13 acquisitions in Q4 for approximately $57 million, bringing the total for the year to 50 acquisitions for $191 million [8] - The proposed cash dividend for Q1 2026 is $1.60 per share, with an expected total of $6.40 per share for the year [18] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the state of the macro in the U.S. ad market? - Management expects to maintain acquisition spending close to $200 million in 2026, with a positive ad spend climate anticipated [28][29] Question: What are the implications of Clear Channel's acquisition? - Management does not foresee significant changes in the industry structure and believes Clear Channel may not need to sell assets [33][34] Question: What are the expectations for acquisition-adjusted growth in Q1? - Management anticipates Q1 growth may be slightly below guidance but expects momentum to increase as the year progresses [40][42] Question: How much benefit is expected from political advertising? - Management estimates around $12 million to $14 million in incremental political advertising revenue compared to the previous year [59]

This story was originally published on Marketing Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Marketing Dive newsletter. Walmart’s U.S. advertising arm, Walmart Connect, grew revenue 41% year over year in Q4, an important period that includes the holidays, according to an earnings statement. The retailer saw global advertising revenue rise 46%, reaching nearly $6.4 billion, for the full fiscal year. Advertising and membership fees, two high-margin segments, accounted for a third ...

Core Insights - The influx of higher-income consumers is significantly benefiting Walmart, leading to increased visits and purchases of higher-margin items [1] - Walmart's e-commerce and advertising segments are driving substantial growth, with e-commerce sales increasing by 27% globally [5][10] - Walmart's operational improvements and strategic investments are reflected in raised sales and earnings guidance for fiscal 2026 [12][13] Group 1: Consumer Trends - Higher-income consumers are increasingly attracted to Walmart for convenience, quality, and low prices, resulting in more frequent visits and purchases of premium products [1] - The growth in affluent shoppers is creating a multiplier effect, enhancing e-commerce growth and increasing subscriptions to Walmart+ [2] Group 2: E-Commerce Growth - Walmart achieved its first profitable quarter for e-commerce operations in May 2025, marking a significant transformation in its business model [4] - Global e-commerce sales surged 27%, with U.S. sales increasing by 28%, driven by store-based order fulfillment and a growing third-party marketplace [5] Group 3: Speed and Delivery - Walmart's ability to deliver orders within three hours to 95% of American households has been a critical factor in its e-commerce success [6] - Revenue from faster deliveries has increased by 70% year over year, highlighting speed as a competitive advantage [7] Group 4: Marketplace and Advertising - Walmart's online marketplace has expanded to over 500 million items, attracting more customers and generating commission revenue from third-party sellers [8] - The advertising business has grown by 53%, now representing a $4 billion revenue stream, showcasing high margins and low capital requirements [10][9] Group 5: Financial Performance and Stock Outlook - Walmart has raised its full-year sales forecast multiple times, indicating strong operational momentum and confidence in future growth [11][12] - Walmart shares have increased approximately 20% in 2026, significantly outperforming the S&P 500, reflecting a shift in investor perception towards a growth-oriented company [14][15]

Improved communication with your mom can bring you closer. Or if the relationship can't be fixed, find emotional connection with other older women on Golden Encounters, the mature dating site that connects sensitive cubs with roaring cougars. >> And then it pops up and it says, "Adds are coming to AI but not to Claude." It's very good.Anthropic also published a blog post explaining in pretty aggressive terms why it will never have advertising in Claude. Neither one of them mentions OpenAI or ChatGpt by name ...

So this is something that we were talking about last week with the CEO of RO, which has a Super Bowl ad with Serena Williams. It's really interesting that even with all the talk about the demise of linear television, the Super Bowl obviously stands alone. So talk to us about the value of a Super Bowl ad and what that ROI still looks like.You know, attention is what everyone's seeking. You know, you can't really tell someone about how great your product is if you don't have their attention. I on Madison Aven ...

In the pre-digital age, advertising was a cyclical business. Big-tech bosses reckon digital advertising is different. But there are reasons to doubt their upbeat pitch https://t.co/944ri5SYLs ...

The Super Bowl. We know this is more than a game. For many viewers, it's about the commercials that are costing up to $10 million for 30 seconds.Uh this year, there will be a faceoff between two AI names, OpenAI and Anthropic. Joining us now, Marcus Collins, marketing professor at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business and author of For the Culture. We've come a long way, Marcus. Come a long way.Used to be Coke and Pepsi, didn't it. Used to be Coke and Pepsi. Uh, now now it's Isn't that incred ...

Novo is betting a celebrity-packed Super Bowl ad will help it win back some consumers https://t.co/KypPYQNRvw ...

Core Insights - The focus is on Alphabet's performance, particularly regarding its AI product Gemini and its impact on user metrics and cloud services growth [2][4][10] Group 1: Gemini Performance - Gemini has reportedly surpassed some AI competitors, with over 600 million monthly active users as of Q4, and investors are looking for this number to approach 1 billion to match OpenAI [2][3] - The conversion of Gemini's user base into cloud services usage is critical, with expectations for growth in the low to mid-30% range [4] Group 2: Capital Expenditure (CapEx) - Alphabet's CapEx is viewed positively, as it is flexible between search and cloud business, showing efficiency in spending compared to competitors like Meta [6][7] - The market's threshold for CapEx is not clearly defined, but as long as revenue continues to rise, increased spending is acceptable [5][6] Group 3: Advertising Revenue - Search revenue is expected to grow by 14%, with investors hoping for a slight acceleration to 15% or more [9] - Advertising remains a significant profit driver for Alphabet, and there is anticipation for how AI will further enhance ad opportunities [11][12]

Ads are coming to ChachiPT. Even though you're going to be paying $8 a month, you might still get advertising. >> I kind of think of ads as like a last resort for us for a business model.>> And so here's an example of what an advertisement might look like. So the user is basically asking for a recipe. They give a recipe and then below it, an ad for hot sauce. ...