Core Insights - Acxiom has launched 'True Intelligence,' a new measurement solution aimed at providing marketers with enhanced insights into the effectiveness of their digital and connected TV advertising [1] Group 1 - The 'True Intelligence' solution integrates Interpublic's Interact operating system, Acxiom's Real ID, and The Trade Desk's media buying platform, Kokai [1]

Core Viewpoint - The Trade Desk has experienced significant stock performance fluctuations, with a 352% increase from 2020 to 2024, but a 63% decline in 2025, making it the worst-performing stock in the S&P 500 [1][2]. Financial Performance - The Trade Desk reported Q2 2025 results and projected Q3 revenue of $717 million, reflecting a growth rate of only 14%, which is notably low compared to historical performance [4][11]. Product Development - The company launched an AI-powered platform called Kokai, touted as the most significant upgrade to date, yet investor expectations for growth have not been met, leading to disappointment [6][11]. Client Feedback and Adoption - CEO Jeff Green indicated that all clients are expected to use Kokai by year-end, but reports suggest that many clients prefer the older Solimar platform due to user-friendliness issues, causing some to explore alternative adtech options [8][10]. Competitive Landscape - The Trade Desk faces competitive pressures from Amazon's growing advertising business and other platforms like Yahoo!, which offers lower take rates, prompting some advertisers to switch [9][10]. User Interface Concerns - The issues appear to stem from user interface problems rather than technological shortcomings, with the company actively seeking client feedback to make rapid improvements to Kokai [12][13]. Future Outlook - The Trade Desk is expected to address its current challenges, and with its history of success, it is likely to regain the anticipated growth rate once improvements are made [14].

Group 1 - MNTN, Inc. (NYSE:MNTN) recently experienced a significant stock price increase, reaching over $31 shortly after its IPO at $16, but faced a decline following its first earnings report, which was deemed suboptimal [1][2] - The company operates a self-serve platform for performance marketing on Connected TV, enabling brands to run ads and track outcomes like conversions and revenue [2] - Despite better-than-expected revenue and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), the stock traded lower after hours due to a large bottom-line loss attributed to the IPO process [2] Group 2 - Management provided strong guidance for the current quarter, indicating potential for future growth despite the recent stock performance [2] - The investment community acknowledges MNTN's potential but suggests that other AI stocks may offer greater upside with less risk [2]

Group 1 - Growth stocks have the potential to generate significant returns for investors, especially turnaround stories, although not all struggling stocks will recover [1] - A $7,000 investment in Palantir Technologies, AppLovin, and Carvana at the beginning of 2023 would yield substantial returns as of September 18 [2] Group 2 - Palantir Technologies has seen its popularity surge among retail investors, driven by enhancements in its AI platform, leading to a quarterly revenue exceeding $1 billion for the first time, with a 48% year-over-year growth [4][5] - The company reported a net income of $326.7 million, a significant turnaround from a net loss of $373.7 million in 2022 [5] - Since the start of 2023, Palantir has generated returns of over 2,600%, making a $7,000 investment worth nearly $193,000, although its valuation is considered inflated with a P/E ratio exceeding 570 [6] Group 3 - AppLovin has outperformed Palantir, leveraging AI to enhance its advertising technology operations, resulting in explosive growth [7] - The company's recent quarterly sales reached $1.3 billion, a 77% increase year-over-year, with earnings soaring by 164% to $820 million [9] - AppLovin's profit margins have improved significantly, and while it trades at around 90 times earnings, its forward P/E is estimated to be a more reasonable 46 [9]

Core Viewpoint - Nexxen International Ltd. has announced a new $20 million Ordinary Share repurchase program following the completion of its previous $50 million program, indicating a commitment to returning capital to shareholders [1][2]. Group 1: Share Repurchase Program - The new repurchase program will continue until the earlier of March 19, 2026, or until the program is completed [2]. - The program does not obligate the company to repurchase any specific amount of shares and can be suspended, modified, or discontinued at the company's discretion [3]. - Any shares repurchased will be classified as dormant shares under Israeli Companies Law and held in treasury without rights [3]. Group 2: Company Overview - Nexxen is a global advertising technology platform specializing in data and advanced TV, offering a flexible and unified technology stack that includes a demand-side platform (DSP) and supply-side platform (SSP) [4]. - The company is headquartered in Israel and has offices across the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, and is traded on Nasdaq under the ticker NEXN [5].

Group 1: Western Union - Western Union announced the acquisition of Intermex for approximately $500 million to strengthen its position in high-growth Latin American markets [1] - Western Union shares fell 1.7% to settle at $8.20 [7] Group 2: Johnson Controls - Johnson Controls raised its dividend from 37 cents to 40 cents per share [2] - Johnson Controls shares gained 1% to close at $108.48 [7] Group 3: MNTN, Inc. - MNTN reported a second-quarter loss of 65 cents per share, an improvement from a loss of 69 cents per share a year ago, with quarterly sales of $68.460 million, exceeding analyst estimates of $64.483 million [2] - MNTN shares rose 0.1% to settle at $20.08 [7] Group 4: Nordic American Tankers - Nordic American Tankers posted weaker-than-expected quarterly sales, leading to a negative outlook [3] - Nordic American shares fell 0.3% to $3.30 [7] Group 5: Occidental Petroleum - UBS analyst maintained Occidental Petroleum with a Neutral rating and raised the price target from $45 to $46 [3] - Occidental Petroleum shares rose 0.4% to close at $47.36 [7] Group 6: Kenvue Inc. - Kenvue was maintained with a Neutral rating by Citigroup, with the price target lowered from $22 to $20 [4] - Kenvue shares fell 1.3% to settle at $18.10 [7]

Group 1 - The Trade Desk (TTD) research indicates that despite global economic pressures, North American holiday retail sales are expected to grow [1][2] - Over 80% of consumers in the UK and Germany are prioritizing price in their shopping decisions, leading to increased price comparison behavior [1] - 43% of UK consumers and 56% of German consumers are considering reducing purchases from American companies, presenting new opportunities for Chinese brands [1] Group 2 - The holiday shopping season in 2025 will see consumers preparing earlier, with 50% of American consumers planning to complete most of their purchases before Black Friday [2][4] - eMarketer predicts a 1.2% year-over-year growth in US holiday retail sales for 2025, marking the lowest growth rate since 2009 [2] - Brands that maintain advertising spend during economic uncertainty are likely to achieve better ROI and sales growth, with 60% of such brands seeing improved returns [4] Group 3 - AI is becoming a crucial engine for companies expanding internationally, impacting product design, operational efficiency, and marketing tools [6] - The rapid iteration of AI technology is enabling brands to enhance their marketing strategies and operational capabilities [6] - TTD's programmatic advertising utilizes algorithms to match supply and demand in real-time, optimizing ad spend efficiency [7][8] Group 4 - Open Internet advertising is essential for brands, covering 75% of users' digital media time and facilitating cross-platform marketing strategies [8][9] - CTV (Connected TV) is the fastest-growing media channel, with 30% of digital media time spent by US consumers on CTV, enhancing brand engagement and emotional connection [9] - A premium internet multi-channel strategy centered on CTV is key for Chinese brands to boost short-term performance and build long-term brand equity during the holiday season [9]

Group 1 - The Trade Desk (TTD) has released a report indicating that the upcoming holiday shopping season is expected to see growth in retail sales, presenting new opportunities for Chinese brands going overseas [1] - The report highlights a shift towards more rational consumer behavior, with over 80% of consumers in the UK and Germany prioritizing price in their shopping decisions, and 43% of UK consumers and 56% of German consumers considering reducing purchases of certain overseas products [1] - A new trend for holiday shopping in 2025 is emerging, characterized by earlier preparation, increased rational consumption awareness, more complex decision-making, and a multi-touchpoint shopping behavior [1] Group 2 - Chinese brands are moving away from short-term thinking and are focusing on long-term value creation, starting their annual marketing strategy planning in the first quarter instead of the traditional last-quarter push [2] - There has been a significant increase in inquiries about European and Asian markets, indicating a shift towards a diversified market strategy for brands during the holiday season [2] - Consumers are engaging with over 2000 digital content websites and platforms daily, with 80% of users still planning to visit physical stores, highlighting the importance of an open internet advertising ecosystem [2]

Group 1: Meta and Technology Developments - Meta's new Ray-B smart glasses were unveiled during the Meta Connect event, contributing to a slight increase in Meta's shares by approximately 1.5% [2] - Meta's stock has seen significant growth this year, up over 30% [2] - The valuation of Meta is considered attractive at around 27 times earnings, with a positive growth outlook for revenue, although bottom-line growth may slow down in the coming years [3] Group 2: Market Opportunities and Risks - The Ray-B glasses are seen as having potential sales, with the market for such technology still developing [4] - There is optimism regarding the ad tech sector, particularly due to revenue synergies from AI investments, contrasting with other sectors focused on cost savings [6] - The potential for data collection from the glasses could enhance advertising revenue, although privacy concerns must be addressed [7][8] Group 3: Investment Strategies - The investment strategy includes focusing on companies with high optionality, balancing underweight positions in Meta and Nvidia with overweight positions in other tech firms [8] - Bitcoin is highlighted as an undervalued asset with potential for strong performance in 2025 and beyond [10] - Smaller cap companies like Upstart and KKR are identified as having economic opportunities, suggesting a diverse investment approach rather than solely relying on large tech firms [12]

Core Insights - The Trade Desk (TTD) is enhancing its Connected TV (CTV) business by leveraging the transition from linear to programmatic CTV, which is seen as the "kingpin of the open internet" [1] - The company identifies live sports streaming as a crucial component of its CTV strategy, capitalizing on the availability of live sports on streaming platforms [2] - TTD aims to capture market share in live sports streaming by enabling advertisers to bid on high-engagement moments during live events, thus showcasing the benefits of programmatic CTV [3] - TTD's CTV segment is its fastest-growing channel, contributing to a 19% year-over-year revenue growth in Q2 2025 [4] Competitive Landscape - TTD faces significant competition from major players like Google and Amazon, particularly in the CTV space, as Amazon expands its Demand-Side Platform (DSP) business [5] - Amazon's ad services revenue is projected to reach $56.2 billion in 2024, positioning it as a leading DSP player and intensifying competition for TTD [6] - Collaborations with platforms like Roku and Disney enhance Amazon DSP's reach, allowing advertisers to access a vast audience across various channels [7] - Magnite is also strengthening its CTV presence through partnerships and acquisitions, further increasing competition in the ad-tech space [9] Financial Performance - TTD shares have declined by 13.6% over the past month, contrasting with a 21.6% increase in the Internet – Services industry [12] - The forward price/earnings ratio for TTD is 22.29X, which is lower than the industry average of 24.53X [13] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TTD's earnings for 2025 has been revised downward in the last 60 days, indicating potential challenges ahead [14]