DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ibotta, Inc. (NYSE: IBTA), the performance marketing platform for promotions, today released its third annual State of Spend report revealing that while consumers feel less direct impact from inflation, they remain firmly focused on value. At the same time, brand loyalty continues to weaken, signaling a fundamental shift in how consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands acquire and retain their customers. Rather than turning to pre-inflation shopping habits, consumers have so. ...

Accelerating the Genius Sports Media Strategy February 2026 Legend to Join Genius Sports Disclaimer Forward-Looking Statements This presentation contains forward-looking statements as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that involve significant risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements relating to the closing timeline of ...

Core Insights - NerdWallet, Inc. (NRDS) is actively transforming its growth strategy by decreasing reliance on organic Google search and developing a more diversified and higher-value revenue model [1][5] Group 1: Business Strategy - A significant aspect of this transition is the expansion of performance marketing, which is attracting high-intent users and providing clearer return on investment [2] - NerdWallet is leveraging AI-driven referral channels, becoming the most cited source among peers in large language model (LLM) responses, which shows higher conversion rates compared to traditional organic search [3] - The company is enhancing its monetization profile through vertical integration in financial services, with acquisitions like Next Door Lending, resulting in approximately 2 times revenues per lead compared to traditional models [4] Group 2: Financial Performance - Over the past six months, NerdWallet's stock has increased by 15.3%, outperforming peers and the industry, which has seen a decline of 20.3% [6] - NerdWallet trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 13.02X, lower than the industry average of 21.04X, and compared to LendingClub and FUTU Holdings at 10.38X and 14.89X, respectively [10] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NerdWallet's earnings for 2025 and 2026 indicates year-over-year increases of 720% and 49.6%, respectively [11]

Core Viewpoint - MNTN will release its financial results for Q4 and the full year ended December 31, 2025 on February 10, 2026, after US market close [1] Group 1: Financial Results Announcement - MNTN's financial results will be announced after the close of US markets on February 10, 2026 [1] - A live webcast will be hosted by MNTN management to discuss the results and provide a business update on the same day at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time [1][2] Group 2: Webcast Details - The live webcast can be accessed through the MNTN investor relations website, with pre-registration available [2] - A replay of the webcast will be available on the investor relations website shortly after the call and will remain accessible for at least seven days [2] Group 3: Company Overview - MNTN is a technology platform focused on performance marketing for Connected TV, offering self-serve technology that simplifies TV advertising [3] - The company has been recognized as one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies and featured in INC's Best in Business Issue [3]

Core Insights - The article discusses the evolution of marketing from traditional brand building to performance marketing, highlighting the transformative role of AI in achieving precise targeting and campaign management [1][4][15] Group 1: Evolution of Marketing - Marketing has transitioned from brand building to performance marketing, where measurable results are prioritized over broad reach [3][4] - The introduction of digital marketing allowed for targeted campaigns but also created challenges due to the overwhelming amount of data available [4][5] Group 2: Role of AI in Marketing - AI technology enables a central platform that integrates various marketing tasks, allowing for better data aggregation, customer understanding, and campaign execution [5][9] - The AI-driven marketing platform is described as omnipresent, anticipatory, and adaptive, which enhances the ability to predict consumer behavior and optimize strategies [9][14] Group 3: Practical Applications of AI in Marketing - Companies can now leverage AI to identify and target diverse consumer segments more effectively, creating tailored campaigns that resonate with specific audiences [11][12] - An example is provided where a pen company can utilize AI to analyze data and create customized marketing strategies for different product lines [10][11] Group 4: Industry Developments - Stagwell is collaborating with Palantir to develop an AI-driven marketing platform that allows enterprises to manage complex marketing processes at scale [13] - The partnership aims to make AI-driven marketing solutions as ubiquitous as operating systems like Windows or iOS, emphasizing the need for brands to integrate these technologies into their marketing strategies [14]

Core Insights - Fluent, Inc. has secured a new $30 million financing facility with Bay View Funding, enhancing its financial flexibility and liquidity [1][2] - The new agreement is collateralized by all assets of Fluent and its subsidiaries and carries no liquidity or financial covenants [1] - This financing replaces the previous credit facility with SLR Credit Solutions, which has been fully repaid [1][2] Company Overview - Fluent, Inc. is a provider of commerce media solutions that connects brands with engaged consumers [4] - The company leverages exclusive ad inventory, first-party data, and proprietary machine learning to drive monetization and customer engagement [4] - Founded in 2010, Fluent focuses on performance marketing to enhance revenue streams for partners [4]

Summary of Viant Technology FY Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Viant Technology (NasdaqGS:DSP) - **Business Model**: Viant operates as a demand-side platform (DSP) that assists advertisers in purchasing ads, charging a fee based on the ad spend. For example, if an advertiser spends $100, Viant may retain 10% as a fee, equating to $10, while the remaining $90 is used for ad purchases [3][4]. Industry Context - **Competition**: Viant competes with major players in the DSP space, including Google (DV360), The Trade Desk, Amazon, and Yahoo. Notably, three of these competitors have conflicts of interest as they also sell ads, making Viant and The Trade Desk the primary independent options for advertisers seeking objectivity [3][4]. - **Market Dynamics**: The digital advertising market is shifting, with brand advertising growth lagging behind direct response advertising. Viant's platform has seen 46% of its ad spend in connected TV (CTV), which is growing faster than traditional channels [35][36]. Key Innovations and AI Integration - **Vion AI**: Launched to create an autonomous advertising platform, Vion AI includes features like AI Bidding, which saves customers an average of 40% on costs, and AI Planning, which automates media planning processes that typically take weeks into just 60 seconds [10][11][12]. - **AI Decisioning**: Set to launch in 2026, this feature aims to fully automate ad campaign creation and optimization, removing human oversight and enhancing efficiency [24][25]. Strategic Partnerships and Market Positioning - **Target Audience**: Viant is focusing on direct-to-consumer e-commerce companies, leveraging partnerships with measurement companies to gain trust and visibility among advertisers who primarily use platforms like Meta [44][45]. - **Addressability Advantage**: Viant's Household ID spans 95% of U.S. households, providing a significant edge in targeting and addressability compared to competitors [48]. Financial Outlook and Growth Potential - **Growth Projections**: Viant anticipates a growth rate of 16% year-over-year, with potential for acceleration due to the removal of political ad spending headwinds and the onboarding of large clients like Molson Coors [74][77]. - **Acquisition Strategy**: The company remains opportunistic regarding acquisitions, focusing on exclusive data and intelligence that can enhance its competitive position [82]. Conclusion - **Market Position**: Viant is positioned as a strong competitor in the DSP market, with a focus on innovation through AI and a commitment to objectivity in ad buying. The company is optimistic about future growth, particularly with the upcoming launch of AI Decisioning and the acquisition of significant clients [84][86].

Summary of Ibotta's Fireside Chat Company Overview - **Company**: Ibotta - **Industry**: Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) and Performance Marketing - **Key Executive**: Chris Riedy, Chief Revenue Officer Core Insights and Arguments 1. **Attraction to Ibotta**: Chris Riedy was drawn to Ibotta due to its potential in performance marketing and its partnerships with major retailers like Walmart, Instacart, and DoorDash, which enhance consumer engagement and marketing effectiveness [9][12][13] 2. **Shift in Sales Strategy**: Post-IPO, the company recognized the need for measurable outcomes in marketing spend, leading to the development of a new performance marketing approach called "Live Lift" [15][14] 3. **Live Lift Product**: This product focuses on measuring incremental sales generated by promotions, allowing brands to assess the cost-effectiveness of their marketing campaigns [16][17][18] 4. **Sales Cycle Dynamics**: The traditional sales cycle for promotions has been lengthy, but the Live Lift product aims to shorten this cycle by enabling quicker campaign launches and adjustments based on real-time data [27][28][30] 5. **Client Engagement**: Ibotta is shifting its approach to engage directly with C-suite executives and brand managers rather than relying solely on procurement or center of excellence roles, ensuring a better understanding of client needs [20][21][22] Important but Overlooked Content 1. **Market Challenges**: The current macroeconomic environment poses challenges for CPG clients, including inflation and changing consumer demands, which may impact growth in 2026 and 2027 [47][48][49] 2. **Third-Party Validation**: Ibotta is working with third-party measurement providers like Circana to validate the effectiveness of its campaigns, which is crucial for building trust with clients [34][36] 3. **Integration with Retail Media**: Ibotta's offerings are seen as complementary to retail media strategies, enhancing the overall marketing effectiveness for brands by driving awareness and conversion [57][60] 4. **Distribution Partnerships**: The company has established relationships with major distribution partners like Walmart and DoorDash, focusing on collaboration to enhance customer offerings [61][65] Conclusion Ibotta is positioning itself as a leader in performance marketing within the CPG sector by leveraging data-driven insights and innovative products like Live Lift. The company is adapting its sales strategies to meet the evolving needs of its clients while navigating a challenging macroeconomic landscape.

Summary of MNTN Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: MNTN - **Industry**: Connected TV (CTV) Advertising Key Points Market Opportunity - MNTN identifies a significant market in television advertising, noting that 5.5 billion people watch TV, more than those who drive automobiles [4][4] - The company has created a new Total Addressable Market (TAM) by enabling small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) to access television advertising, with 97% of MNTN's customers being new to TV advertising [4][4] Customer Acquisition Strategy - MNTN estimates that approximately 1.5 million small businesses in the U.S. can utilize streaming TV for advertising [5][5] - The platform is designed to attract customers by focusing on their desire for new traffic rather than just TV ads [5][5] - MNTN's primary lead generation comes from streaming its own branded TV commercials, leading to organic customer acquisition [9][9] Customer Engagement and Performance Metrics - Customers typically measure success through Return on Ad Spend (ROAS), aiming for a common target of $3,000 in revenue for every $1,000 spent [9][9] - The platform allows customers to create campaigns and measure their impact, which encourages increased spending as they see positive results [9][9] Creative Solutions - MNTN has introduced Quick Frame AI, significantly reducing the time and cost to create TV ads, making it accessible for SMBs [17][18] - The cost of creating a TV ad has decreased from thousands of dollars to hundreds, and the time required has been reduced from 40 days to less than a day [17][18] Competitive Landscape - MNTN emphasizes that the fastest-growing segment of the CTV industry is SMBs, which they have helped to create [20][20] - The company focuses on optimizing ad placements and measuring performance across various metrics, including audience engagement and revenue generation [21][21] Financial Performance - MNTN reported a gross margin increase of 7% year-over-year, with adjusted EBITDA margins expected to expand alongside revenue growth [46][46] Future Growth and Market Position - MNTN aims to continue expanding its market share by focusing on performance marketing for SMBs rather than competing in the enterprise space [51][51] - The company is committed to investing in technology and AI to enhance its platform and maintain its competitive edge [32][32] Misconceptions and Market Dynamics - A common misconception among investors is comparing MNTN to larger companies in the industry; MNTN's unique position is highlighted by the fact that 97% of its customers are new to TV advertising [61][61] - The company believes that while larger brands may dominate initial advertising budgets, the growth potential for SMBs remains significant and sustainable [63][63] Conclusion - MNTN is positioned as a leader in the CTV advertising space for SMBs, leveraging technology to provide accessible and effective advertising solutions, with a strong focus on performance metrics and customer satisfaction [4][4][20][20]

Core Insights - Fluent, Inc. reported strong growth in its Commerce Media Solutions business, which accounted for 40% of total revenue in Q3 2025, up from 16% in Q3 2024 [2][5] - The annual revenue run rate for Commerce Media Solutions now exceeds $85 million, with a gross margin of 22%, reflecting a sequential improvement of approximately 400 basis points compared to Q2 2025 [2][5] - The company expects to achieve adjusted EBITDA profitability in Q4 2025 and full-year double-digit revenue growth and adjusted EBITDA profitability in 2026 [4][10] Financial Performance - Q3 2025 revenue was $47.0 million, a decrease of 27% compared to $64.5 million in Q3 2024 [6][20] - Commerce Media Solutions revenue grew 81% to $18.8 million, compared to $10.4 million in Q3 2024 [5][6] - The net loss for Q3 2025 was $7.6 million, or $0.27 per share, compared to a net loss of $7.9 million, or $0.48 per share, for Q3 2024 [6][7] Year-to-Date Performance - Year-to-date revenue for 2025 was $146.9 million, a decrease of 22% compared to $189.2 million in YTD 2024 [8] - Owned and Operated revenue decreased 44% to $73.2 million compared to $130.2 million in YTD 2024 [8] - Commerce Media Solutions revenue increased 98% to $47.5 million compared to $24.0 million in YTD 2024 [8] Business Outlook - The company aims to accelerate the growth of its Commerce Media Solutions business and establish it as a leader in the performance marketing sector [9] - Fluent plans to leverage its 14-year leadership position in customer acquisition and its robust database of first-party user data to differentiate itself in the commerce media space [9] - The company expects to return Commerce Media Solutions gross margin to the high twenties by leveraging AI capabilities and proprietary first-party data [9]