Core Viewpoint - Coupang Inc. is currently viewed as a less favorable investment option, with recent downgrades and price target reductions from major firms indicating concerns over growth potential and regulatory risks [1][3]. Group 1: Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - Bernstein initiated coverage of Coupang with an Underperform rating and a price target of $17, reflecting a cautious outlook on the company's performance in the South Korean internet sector [1]. - Nomura downgraded Coupang from Buy to Neutral, lowering its price target from $30 to $22, citing increased regulatory risks following a data breach [3]. Group 2: Market and Sector Insights - The South Korean digital advertising market is expected to continue shifting towards online channels, with a preference for companies demonstrating high growth potential linked to online penetration and AI leadership [2]. - Despite the overall growth in digital advertising, the e-commerce and food delivery sectors are perceived to have limited growth opportunities at this time [2]. Group 3: Company Overview - Coupang Inc. operates a retail business through mobile applications and internet websites, both in South Korea and internationally, indicating its broad market presence [4].

Core Insights - Google's latest quarterly report indicates that the company is successfully navigating the challenges posed by the artificial intelligence (AI) landscape, which is becoming a significant opportunity for growth [1][2]. Financial Performance - Alphabet's fourth-quarter profit increased by 30% year-over-year to $34.5 billion, translating to $2.82 per share, while revenue rose by 18% to $113.8 billion [3]. - Digital ad sales reached $82.3 billion in the fourth quarter, marking a 14% increase from the previous year, and Google Cloud revenue surged by 48% to $17.7 billion [8]. AI and Capital Expenditure - The company has committed to substantial capital expenditures, having spent $91 billion primarily on AI, with plans to invest an additional $175 billion to $185 billion in the upcoming year [6]. - This projected capital expenditure budget is nearly half of Alphabet's anticipated 2025 revenue of $403 billion, indicating a strong commitment to enhancing its AI capabilities [7]. Market Position and Strategy - Google's stock price has increased nearly 60% over the past five months, reflecting investor confidence in its AI strategy and overall business performance [4]. - The company is integrating its Gemini AI technology into various platforms, including its search engine, Gmail, and Chrome browser, to maintain its competitive edge against emerging companies like OpenAI and Anthropic [5]. Legal Challenges - A recent ruling by a U.S. District Judge rejected a proposal from the Justice Department to break up Google's search engine monopoly, suggesting that the rise of AI could help mitigate concerns about Google's market dominance [9][10].

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 4, 2026. Registration Statement No. 333- UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 Form S-1 REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 Direct Digital Holdings, Inc. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) (Primary Standard Industrial Delaware 7370 87-2306185 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service) (I.R.S. Employer Identificati ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In 2025, the company added 1.4 million net new digital subscribers, bringing the total to 12.8 million subscribers, with a goal of reaching 15 million [9][18] - Total digital revenues exceeded $2 billion for the first time, with adjusted operating profit (AOP) growing over 20% and margins expanding to 19.5% [9][19] - Digital subscription revenues grew 14% year-over-year, while total subscription revenues increased approximately 9% [22][24] - AOP for 2025 reached approximately $550 million, with a year-over-year growth of about 21% [19][24] - Free cash flow generation was approximately $551 million, reflecting a robust AOP and capital-efficient model [19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Digital advertising revenues increased by 25%, contributing to a total advertising revenue growth of 16% [10][22] - The company reported strong performance across multiple products, with digital subscription revenues growing to $382 million in Q4 [22] - The Family Plan subscription offering has been positively received, contributing to subscriber growth [21] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company operates in a challenging media environment characterized by polarization and low trust, but believes it is well-positioned to navigate these trends [10][11] - The company sees significant opportunities in engaging with global markets through its diverse portfolio of products [11][12] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to enhance its journalism and digital products, focusing on video content as a strategic investment area [13][14] - Plans for 2026 include continued growth in subscribers, revenue, AOP, and margin expansion, with a focus on building a larger and more engaged audience [14][25] - The company emphasizes the importance of independent journalism and its role in society, aiming to adapt and thrive amid industry changes [16][17] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to pursue growth opportunities and navigate industry challenges, citing a strong execution of its long-term strategy [9][10] - The company anticipates another year of healthy growth in 2026, with expectations for increased digital subscription revenues and advertising revenues [24][25] Other Important Information - The company announced an increase in the quarterly dividend from $0.18 to $0.23, reflecting its capital allocation strategy [20] - The company plans to discontinue reporting digital-only subscribers and ARPU by product categories, focusing instead on total digital-only subscribers and ARPU [21] Q&A Session Summary Question: Digital ad growth breakdown - Management noted that digital ad growth was driven by increased supply, improved demand, and effective ad products, leading to higher engagement and repeat purchases from marketers [27][28] Question: Capital allocation strategy - The company remains committed to returning at least 50% of free cash flow to shareholders while prioritizing organic investments in its subscription strategy [35][37] Question: Password sharing approach - Management discussed the Family Plan as a way to encourage engagement and revenue growth, viewing it as a positive strategy rather than a crackdown on password sharing [39][41] Question: Video journalism initiative - The company sees video as a significant long-term opportunity and is ramping up production, focusing on scalable formats and engaging content [45][49] Question: Single product growth and conversion potential - Management expressed confidence that single product users can be converted to more valuable bundle subscriptions, indicating a successful strategy in the subscription funnel [80][81] Question: Contract negotiations with NewsGuild - Management stated that they have a productive relationship with unions and are well-prepared for ongoing contract negotiations [86]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In 2025, the company added 1.4 million net new digital subscribers, bringing the total to 12.8 million, with a goal of reaching 15 million subscribers [10][18] - Total digital revenues exceeded $2 billion for the first time, with adjusted operating profit (AOP) growing over 20% and margins expanding to 19.5% [10][19] - Digital subscription revenues grew 14% year-over-year, while total subscription revenues increased approximately 9% [22][25] - AOP grew by approximately 21% year-over-year to $550 million, with AOP margin expanding by approximately 190 basis points [19][24] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Digital advertising revenues increased by 25%, contributing to total advertising revenue growth of 16% [11][22] - Licensing, affiliate, and other revenues grew by 5.5% to $100 million, primarily due to higher licensing revenues [24] - The company reported a digital-only average revenue per user (ARPU) of $9.72, reflecting a positive trend in pricing strategies [21][60] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company experienced strong engagement across its portfolio, which contributed to significant growth in digital advertising [10][11] - The advertising market showed improved demand, allowing the company to secure larger deals with existing marketers and attract new ones [30][77] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to leverage its world-class journalism and lifestyle products to engage a larger audience, with a focus on video content as a key growth area [12][14] - The strategic priorities for 2026 include enhancing journalism formats, expanding product offerings, and navigating technological changes to increase value for audiences [15][26] - The company plans to continue investing in high-quality journalism and digital product experiences while maintaining operational efficiency [25][32] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged the challenges in the media landscape, including a polarized environment and competition from powerful platforms, but expressed confidence in the company's strategic positioning [11][12] - The outlook for 2026 includes expectations for continued subscriber growth, revenue growth, AOP growth, margin expansion, and strong free cash flow generation [15][26] Other Important Information - The company returned approximately $275 million to shareholders in 2025, including $165 million in share repurchases and $110 million in dividends [19][20] - The quarterly dividend was increased from $0.18 to $0.23, aligning with the company's capital allocation strategy [20][38] Q&A Session Summary Question: Digital ad growth breakdown - Management noted that digital ad growth was driven by increased supply, improved engagement, and a stronger demand environment [28][30] Question: Cost guidance for Q1 - Management explained that the cost guidance reflects ongoing investments in video and other strategic areas, while maintaining a focus on revenue growth outpacing cost growth [32][33] Question: Capital allocation strategy - The company reiterated its commitment to returning at least 50% of free cash flow to shareholders while prioritizing organic investments in its subscription strategy [37][38] Question: Password sharing approach - Management discussed the Family Plan as a way to encourage engagement and revenue growth, viewing it as a positive strategy rather than a punitive measure [40][41] Question: Video journalism initiative - The company sees video as a significant long-term opportunity and is ramping up production to establish itself as a preferred brand for news consumption [46][48] Question: Single product growth and conversion potential - Management expressed confidence in the ability to convert engaged single product users into more valuable bundle subscriptions, highlighting the interconnectedness of their product offerings [81][82] Question: Contract negotiations with NewsGuild - Management indicated confidence in navigating contract negotiations with unions, emphasizing a history of productive relationships [87]

: Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google and YouTube, is scheduled to report its fourth-quarter earnings after U.S. markets close on Wednesday. Expectations are elevated, and not without reason. Alphabet’s stock has already gained roughly 9% year-to-date and more than 25% since its previous earnings report in late October, when the company stunned investors by crossing the $100 billion quarterly revenue mark for the first time in its history. Now, traders are positioning for another sharp move. Based o ...

We recently compiled a list of the 20 Most Profitable Stocks of the Last 20 Years. Meta Platforms, Inc. is placed second on our list. TheFly reported on January 26 that Rothschild & Co Redburn upgraded META from Neutral to Buy and raised its price target to $900 from $740. The firm noted that while higher costs could push 2026 earnings estimates lower and cause shares to dip in the short term, it sees a disconnect between the current stock price and META’s long-term value. Rothschild argued that at curren ...

Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:META) reported a strong financial performance with an earnings per share (EPS) of $8.88 and revenue of $59.89 billion, exceeding estimates.The company's advertising revenue saw a significant increase, contributing to the overall growth with $58.14 billion in revenue.Despite a wider loss in the Reality Labs division, Meta's daily active users grew to 3.58 billion, indicating a solid market presence and user engagement.Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:META), a leading technology company ...

Core Viewpoint - Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META) is currently trading at approximately $659 per share, which is about 16% lower than its 52-week high, presenting a potential buying opportunity at a 30% discount around $460 per share [2][3] Company Analysis - Meta's established network effects and extensive user base create a strong competitive edge, positioning the company at the forefront of significant growth trends in digital advertising and the metaverse [7][10] - The company has successfully raised advertising prices without notable advertiser turnover, indicating inelastic demand and high switching costs for advertisers due to deep integration within its ecosystem [12] - Meta maintains a prominent market share in the digital advertising sector, with Facebook and Instagram serving as default platforms for numerous businesses [12] Financial Position - Meta has a robust financial position that enables aggressive investments in future growth drivers such as AI and virtual reality, with a strong net cash position and minimal debt providing significant financial flexibility [7][17] - The company generates positive free cash flow, indicating a healthy financial state with no discernible bankruptcy risk [17] Investment Strategy - An annualized yield of 8.4% can be achieved by selling long-term Put options with a strike price of $460, providing a potential opportunity to purchase META stock at a significantly reduced price [3][11] - The Trefis High Quality Portfolio offers a sophisticated framework to mitigate stock-specific risk while providing upside exposure [4][5] Industry Trends - The digital advertising industry is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.0% – 15.4%, while the metaverse is expected to grow at approximately 40%+ [10] - The secular trend of digitalization of advertising and the emergence of immersive social experiences are key drivers for Meta's long-term growth potential [13]

Core Viewpoint - The Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) has consistently outperformed the S&P 500 and is expected to continue this trend due to its focus on growth stocks and the performance of key technology companies known as the "Magnificent Seven" [2][10]. Group 1: ETF Performance - In 2025, the Vanguard Growth ETF rose by 18.9%, surpassing the S&P 500's gain of 16.4% [2]. - The Vanguard Growth fund has outperformed the S&P 500 in 15 of its 22 years on the market, indicating a strong historical performance [10]. - Over the past decade, the Vanguard Growth fund has gained 390%, while the S&P 500 has increased by 265% [6]. Group 2: Fund Composition - The Vanguard Growth ETF mirrors the CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index, focusing on companies with faster-growing sales and profits, currently holding 151 companies [4]. - The fund is heavily weighted towards technology, with 65.8% of its holdings in tech stocks, which have been the best-performing growth stocks [6]. - The "Magnificent Seven" stocks constitute close to 58% of the fund, making their performance critical to the ETF's overall success [8]. Group 3: Key Stocks and Market Trends - The "Magnificent Seven" includes major companies like Nvidia (12.7%), Apple (11.9%), and Microsoft (10.6%), which are pivotal for the fund's performance [11]. - Concerns exist regarding the potential overvaluation of the "Magnificent Seven," but positive trends in AI spending and technology could support their growth [8][9]. - If investors see tangible returns from increased AI spending, the "Magnificent Seven" could perform well, but impatience among investors could lead to struggles [9].