Connected TV (CTV)

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The Trade Desk vs. Magnite: Which Ad-Tech Stock is the Better Buy Now?
ZACKS· 2025-09-24 14:15
Key Takeaways The Trade Desk grows with CTV, retail media, Kokai upgrade and expanding media partnerships.Magnite boosts CTV growth via Roku, Netflix and FanDuel deals, plus streamr.ai acquisition.MGNI shares climbed 13.2% in 3 months, while TTD shares fell 32.9% over the same period.The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD) and Magnite, Inc. (MGNI) are leading players in the digital advertising technology market. TTD operates a leading demand-side platform, which aids advertisers in focusing on data-driven advertising. M ...
TTD vs. AMZN: Which Ad-Tech Stock is the Smarter Buy Now?
ZACKS· 2025-08-26 15:56
Core Insights - The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD) and Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) are significant players in the digital advertising ecosystem, with TTD focusing on ad-tech and AMZN leveraging its e-commerce and cloud capabilities to drive advertising revenue [1][2] Group 1: The Trade Desk (TTD) - TTD is positioned to capture growth opportunities in connected TV (CTV) and retail media, with a strong focus on international expansion and innovative platforms like Kokai [3][4] - In Q2 2025, TTD's growth was largely driven by CTV and retail media, with video accounting for a high-40s percentage of its overall business [4] - The Kokai platform has seen over 70% client adoption, enhancing campaign precision and efficiency through integrated AI tools [5][6] - TTD's audience targeting efficiency improved significantly for clients, with Samsung reporting a 43% increase and Cashrewards a 73% improvement in cost per acquisition [6] - TTD faces macroeconomic challenges that could impact advertising budgets, particularly from large global brands, and is experiencing competition from AMZN's expanding DSP business [7] Group 2: Amazon (AMZN) - AMZN's ad services revenue reached $56.2 billion in 2024, with a 22% increase to $15.7 billion in Q2 2025, driven by growth across its advertising portfolio [8][9] - AMZN's advertising capabilities allow access to over 300 million ad-supported audiences across various platforms, contributing significantly to profitability [9] - The company is investing heavily in its DSP and CTV businesses, enhancing its competitive position against TTD [11] - Recent partnerships with Roku and Disney have expanded AMZN's DSP reach, leveraging its diverse business model to reduce reliance on any single segment [12][13] Group 3: Share Performance and Valuation - Over the past month, TTD shares declined by 40.8%, while AMZN shares fell by 2.1%, with both companies trading at high forward P/E valuations [10][14] - TTD's forward 12-month price/earnings ratio is 26.02X, compared to AMZN's 31.39X, indicating differing market perceptions [17] - Analysts have made slight upward revisions for TTD's earnings, while AMZN has seen a more significant upward revision of 6.69% for the current fiscal year [18][20] Group 4: Investment Outlook - AMZN is viewed as a stronger investment pick due to its diversified business model, which includes retail, cloud, AI, and advertising, providing stability and multiple growth avenues compared to TTD's ad-tech focus [22]
Can The Trade Desk's CTV Momentum Fend Off Rising Competition?
ZACKS· 2025-08-25 15:30
Core Insights - The Trade Desk's Connected TV (CTV) business is experiencing significant growth, with total revenues for Q2 2025 increasing by 19% year-over-year to $694 million, surpassing the overall digital ad market growth [1][9] - CTV is identified as the fastest-growing advertising channel, bolstered by partnerships with major media companies like Disney, NBCU, Netflix, Roku, and Walmart [1][5] - The company is focusing on the transition from linear to programmatic CTV, which is delivering the highest return on ad spend [2] Revenue and Performance - Video advertising, including CTV, accounted for a high-40s percentage of total business in Q2 2025 [1] - Over 70% of clients are utilizing the AI-powered Kokai platform, with full adoption expected by the end of the year [3] - Campaigns using Kokai are achieving over 20-point improvements in key performance indicators compared to legacy tools, leading to increased advertiser spending [4][9] Competitive Landscape - The competition remains intense, particularly from major players like Google and Amazon, as well as independent ad-tech companies such as Magnite and PubMatic [6][10] - Magnite reported a 14% year-over-year increase in CTV contributions, while PubMatic's CTV revenues surged over 50% year-over-year in Q2 2025 [7][8] Strategic Focus - The Trade Desk is targeting the live sports streaming market, allowing advertisers to bid on key moments in live events, enhancing engagement opportunities [5] - The integration of Koa AI tools into the Kokai platform is seen as a transformative development, improving campaign precision and efficiency [3] Market Position and Valuation - Despite a 54.8% decline in share price year-to-date, TTD's forward price/earnings ratio stands at 26.45X, higher than the industry average of 20.64X [11][13] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TTD's earnings for 2025 has remained unchanged over the past 30 days, indicating stability in earnings expectations [14]
Billionaires Buy a Brilliant Growth Stock That Has Partnered With Amazon
The Motley Fool· 2025-08-13 07:55
Core Viewpoint - Roku is considered undervalued by Wall Street analysts, with a median target price of $105 per share, indicating a potential upside of 28% from its current price of $82 [1] Company Positioning - Roku is the leading streaming platform in North America, measured by hours streamed, and its operating system is the best-selling TV OS in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico [2] - The Roku Channel ranks as the fifth most popular streaming service in the U.S., following major competitors like YouTube and Netflix [2] Advertising Market Dynamics - Traditional TV advertising remains a larger market than connected TV (CTV) advertising, expected to continue until 2028, but CTV ad spending is projected to grow at 12% annually through 2029 [3] - Roku is well-positioned to benefit from the increasing ad spend on CTV due to its market leadership [9] Valuation Insights - Roku's operating system and The Roku Channel are seen as under-monetized assets, with estimates suggesting The Roku Channel alone could be worth more than the company's current market value [4] - Roku trades at 2.7 times sales, slightly below its two-year average of 2.8 times sales, which is reasonable given its revenue growth forecast of 12% annually through 2027 [7] Strategic Partnerships - Roku's exclusive partnership with Amazon is expected to drive growth, allowing advertisers to target viewers more accurately across different streaming channels and devices [5][6] - Early tests of this integration showed that advertisers could reach 40% more unique viewers and reduce ad frequency by nearly 30%, enhancing the value of ad spend [7] Investment Activity - Notable hedge fund managers have recently increased their stakes in Roku, indicating confidence in the company's potential [8]
Can Trade Desk Sustain Double-Digit Revenue Growth Amid Headwinds?
ZACKS· 2025-07-10 16:00
Company Overview - The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD) anticipates revenues of at least $682 million for Q2 2025, reflecting approximately 17% year-over-year growth, a slowdown from the 25% growth recorded in Q1 2025, indicating a potential maturation in its growth cycle [1] - Rising operating expenses surged 21.4% year-over-year to $561.6 million, primarily due to investments in enhancing platform capabilities [3] - TTD's adjusted EBITDA is expected to be $259 million, with a margin of nearly 38%, which is 400 basis points higher than in Q1 2025, attributed to targeted investments in infrastructure and talent [6] Market Conditions - The company faces rising macroeconomic uncertainty and escalating trade tensions, which could impact advertising budgets and programmatic demand, particularly affecting large global brands [2] - The growth in Connected TV (CTV) adoption is a significant driver for TTD's growth strategy, with global ad spend projected to rise in CTV and retail media [4] Innovation and Product Development - TTD's flagship products, including Kokai, Unified ID 2.0, and OpenPath, are gaining traction, with two-thirds of clients using the AI platform Kokai, which has reduced costs per conversion by 24% and per acquisition by 20% [5] Competitive Landscape - Taboola.com Ltd. (TBLA) reported Q1 revenues of $427 million, a 3% increase, with expectations for Q2 2025 revenues between $438 million and $458 million, indicating a solid growth trajectory [7] - PubMatic, Inc. (PUBM) expects Q2 revenues between $66 million and $70 million, focusing on high-growth segments like CTV and maintaining financial discipline with projected adjusted EBITDA of $9 million to $12 million [8] Valuation Metrics - TTD's shares have decreased by 23.3% over the past year, contrasting with the Zacks Internet -Services industry's decline of 1.4% [11] - The company trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 11.86X, significantly higher than the industry's average of 5.31X [12]
The E.W. Scripps Company Rises 51% YTD: Should You Buy the Stock Now?
ZACKS· 2025-07-07 16:55
Core Insights - The E.W. Scripps Company (SSP) shares have increased by 51.1% year-to-date (YTD), outperforming the Zacks Broadcast Radio and Television industry's growth of 34.1% and the Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector's return of 12.4% [2] - SSP's strong performance is attributed to effective execution in live sports and Connected TV (CTV) strategies, along with disciplined cost management [3] Performance Comparison - SSP has outperformed competitors such as Nexstar Media Group (NXST), Sinclair (SBGI), and Paramount Global (PARA), with NXST and PARA returning 14.7% and 23.3% YTD, respectively, while SBGI has lost 8.4% [2][9] Strategic Initiatives - SSP has renewed its multi-year deal with the WNBA, ensuring ION remains the league's national home for Friday night games, which enhances advertiser demand [6] - The company has also signed an agreement to broadcast Tampa Bay Lightning games at no cost to viewers, launching a new local station, The Spot - Tampa Bay 66, which improves viewer loyalty and opens new advertising opportunities [7] Financial Performance - In Q1 2025, Scripps Networks contributed 37.8% of total company revenues, with segment profit increasing from $49.7 million to $64.1 million despite a 5.4% decline in revenues [14] - SSP has reaffirmed its 2025 target of 400-600 basis points of margin expansion, with first-quarter results already exceeding that range due to early execution of cost-saving measures [14] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 earnings is pegged at 8 cents per share, indicating a 92.59% year-over-year decline, while the consensus for 2025 revenues is $2.19 billion, suggesting a 12.81% year-over-year decline [15] Valuation - SSP stock is currently trading at a forward 12-month Price/Earnings ratio of 7.72X compared to the industry's 32.10X, making it an attractive option for value investors [16] - The company has a Value Score of A, reinforcing its appealing valuation [16] Future Outlook - SSP is positioned for sustained momentum through the rest of the year, backed by strategic execution, expanding sports content, and a growing presence in CTV [20] - The company is expected to deliver long-term value in 2025 due to solid cost control and multiple revenue tailwinds from renewed partnerships and investments in distribution [20]
The Trade Desk's CTV Business Driving Growth: Can the Momentum Hold?
ZACKS· 2025-06-26 13:26
Core Insights - The Trade Desk (TTD) is experiencing growth due to increased adoption of Connected TV (CTV), which is central to its growth strategy [1][10] - Video advertising, including CTV, accounted for a high-40s percentage of TTD's total business in the last reported quarter [2][10] - TTD's new Ventura Operating System aims to enhance efficiency and transparency in CTV advertising [3][10] Company Performance - TTD is capitalizing on the shift from linear to programmatic CTV, with CTV being referred to as the "kingpin of the open internet" [2] - The current ad landscape shows supply outpacing demand, creating a buyer's market, particularly in CTV [2] - TTD's shares have declined by 40.6% year to date, compared to a 9.3% decline in the Internet – Services industry [11] Competitive Landscape - Competitors like PubMatic and Magnite are also benefiting from the growth in CTV, with PubMatic's CTV revenues increasing over 50% year over year [5][6] - Magnite reported a 15% increase in CTV's contribution, representing 43% of its total contribution ex-TAC [7][10] - The competitive environment is intensifying, with major players investing heavily in CTV capabilities [5][7] Economic Context - Increasing macroeconomic uncertainty and trade tensions may negatively impact TTD and its competitors by squeezing advertising budgets [4][10] - TTD has noted the potential impact of macroeconomic conditions on large global brands, which could affect revenue growth if conditions worsen [4][10] Valuation Metrics - TTD's shares are currently trading at a forward price/earnings ratio of 35.58X, significantly higher than the Internet Services industry's ratio of 17.8X [13] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TTD's earnings for 2025 has remained unchanged over the past 30 days [14]
The Trade Desk vs. PubMatic: Which Ad-Tech Stock Is the Better Pick?
ZACKS· 2025-06-20 15:20
Core Insights - The Trade Desk (TTD) and PubMatic (PUBM) are key players in the programmatic advertising ecosystem, with TTD as a demand-side platform (DSP) and PUBM as a sell-side platform (SSP) [1][2] The Case for TTD - TTD is optimistic about its market growth due to strong execution in connected TV (CTV), retail media, international expansion, and the integration of Sincera's data insights [3][4] - The Kokai platform has achieved 66% client adoption ahead of schedule, delivering significant cost efficiencies with a 24% lower cost per conversion and 20% lower cost per acquisition [4] - TTD reported first-quarter revenues of $616 million, a 25% year-over-year increase, with adjusted EBITDA of $208 million (34% margin) [5] - CTV accounted for 40% of digital spend, while customer retention exceeded 95% [5] - However, TTD faces challenges from macroeconomic uncertainties and competition from major players like Alphabet and Amazon, which could impact revenue growth [6][7] The Case for PUBM - PUBM's underlying business grew 21% year-over-year in Q1 2025, driven by growth in CTV and Supply Path Optimization (SPO) [8][10] - CTV revenues surged 50% year-over-year, although total sales fell 4% due to a shift from a large DSP client [8][11] - PUBM is investing in technologies like Activate for SPO and Convert for commerce media, and is expanding its international presence, particularly in India, Europe, Australia, and Japan [12] - Despite strong growth in CTV, PUBM's revenues declined 4% year-over-year, raising concerns about its competitive position [13] Share Performance and Valuation - Year-to-date, PUBM and TTD have lost 24.7% and 41.6% respectively, amid macroeconomic uncertainties [14] - TTD is considered overvalued with a forward P/E ratio of 10.87X, while PUBM has a lower ratio of 1.74X, indicating a more favorable valuation [16][17] Analyst Estimates - Analysts have made significant downward revisions for PUBM's earnings estimates, while TTD has seen relatively lower revisions [18][19] - Both companies currently hold a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) [20] Conclusion - TTD is positioned as a stronger investment case due to its leading DSP role and innovation, while PUBM's potential is tempered by revenue declines and estimate revisions [21][23]
The Trade Desk Repurchases $386M Stock: A Smart Capital Move?
ZACKS· 2025-06-19 14:26
Core Insights - The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD) utilized $386 million in cash for share buybacks in Q1 2025, supported by a strong balance sheet and consistent cash flow [1][10] - TTD's balance sheet showed approximately $1.7 billion in cash and equivalents with no debt, and a total repurchase authorization of $1 billion [2][10] - The company is optimistic about future growth opportunities in connected TV, retail media, and international expansion, emphasizing a balanced cost structure [3] Financial Performance - Operating cash flow for Q1 2025 was $291 million, while free cash flow was $230 million, indicating that buybacks exceeded cash generation for the quarter [1][10] - TTD anticipates Q2 2025 revenues of at least $682 million, reflecting a 17% year-over-year growth, assuming stable macroeconomic conditions [5][10] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q2 is expected to be around $259 million [5] Strategic Initiatives - TTD continues to innovate in advertising with new partnerships and product launches, including an expanded partnership with HOY and the introduction of Deal Desk within its Kokai platform [4] - The company plans to continue opportunistic buybacks to offset dilution from employee stock grants [6] Market Position - TTD's shares have decreased by 29.5% over the past year, contrasting with the Zacks Internet -Services industry's growth of 0.6% [9] - The company trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 10.88X, which is higher than the industry average of 5.18X [11]
Roku Partners With Amazon Ads: Should You Buy, Sell or Hold the Stock?
ZACKS· 2025-06-17 17:16
Core Insights - Roku has partnered with Amazon Ads to enhance advertiser access to Connected TV audiences, potentially reaching 80 million U.S. CTV households through Amazon DSP [1][2] - Early results from the partnership show a 40% increase in unique viewers and a nearly 30% reduction in ad repetition, indicating improved targeting and measurement capabilities [2] - Roku's shares rose 10.4% following the announcement, reflecting investor optimism about growth opportunities [3] Advertising Strategy - Roku's advertising strategy is gaining momentum with tech-driven upgrades, including an AI-powered Home Screen and partnerships with Adobe and INCRMNTAL [6] - In Q1 2025, Roku's platform revenues grew 17% year-over-year to $881 million, with ad revenues growing even faster [7] - The Roku Channel experienced an 84% year-over-year increase in viewing hours, indicating rising engagement [7] Competitive Landscape - Roku operates in a competitive advertising industry, facing challenges from rivals like Netflix and Paramount Global, which are expanding their ad-supported streaming services [10][11][12] - Netflix's ad-supported tier has seen significant growth, with 94 million subscribers as of May, reflecting strong demand [11] - Paramount Global is expanding its ad-supported tier internationally, indicating a broader strategy to scale its advertising business [12] Devices Segment Challenges - Roku's Devices segment continues to struggle with profitability despite a year-over-year revenue increase of 11% to $140 million in Q1 2025 [13][14] - The segment reported a gross loss of $19 million, highlighting ongoing challenges from macroeconomic pressures and heavy promotional activities [13][14] Valuation and Future Outlook - Roku's price-to-cash flow ratio stands at 38.74X, higher than the industry average of 32.82X, suggesting high growth expectations but an unattractive valuation for value investors [15] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Roku's 2025 total revenues is $4.55 billion, indicating a year-over-year growth of 10.54% [9] - While Roku's long-term prospects appear solid, near-term risks and challenges in the Devices segment warrant caution [19][20]