The Trade Desk, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTD) stands out as one of Cathie Wood’s 10 stock picks with huge upside potential. Leadership Transition Tempers Analyst Sentiment on Trade Desk (TTD) As of February 2, 2026, The Trade Desk, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTD) continues to attract mixed analyst sentiment, with over 50% of analysts covering the stock remaining bullish, with a consensus upside potential of a 79.80%. On January 27, 2026, The Trade Desk, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTD) drew Rosenblatt analyst Barton Crockett’s attention, who l ...

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 ...

Core Viewpoint - Snap has forecasted first-quarter revenue below Wall Street estimates, indicating increased competition for digital advertising from larger rivals like Meta-owned Facebook and Instagram [1] Group 1 - Snap's revenue forecast for the first quarter is lower than expected, reflecting challenges in the digital advertising market [1] - The competition for digital advertising dollars is intensifying, particularly from major players such as Facebook and Instagram [1]

Core Insights - The individual has extensive experience in investment research, having worked in various roles across different investment firms in Toronto for nearly a decade [1] - The journey began in sell-side research at a Canadian bank, followed by positions in a hedge fund, a family office, and wealth management [1] - Achieving CFA and CAIA designations by the age of 25 was a significant milestone in the individual's career [1] Personal Transformation - The individual emphasizes the importance of self-conquest and personal growth before achieving professional success [1] - A significant lifestyle change occurred, with the individual living in a yurt in the boreal forest, highlighting a shift towards simplicity and self-sufficiency [1] - The current lifestyle includes living close to nature, with access to natural resources for water and heat, indicating a profound appreciation for life [1]

Core Insights - OpenAI plans to test ChatGPT advertising in the U.S. targeting free users and ChatGPT Plus subscribers, who represent 95% of total users but contribute little to revenue, indicating a survival strategy amid financial pressures [1] - The advertising cost for ChatGPT is set at $60 CPM, significantly higher than Meta's average of under $20 CPM, raising concerns about the feasibility of attracting brands to this untested advertising channel [1][2] - The advertising model aims to leverage real-time user data for targeted ads, but faces skepticism due to high costs and untested effectiveness, leading to a cautious approach from advertisers [4][5] Advertising Challenges - ChatGPT faces a similar challenge to early internet advertising, where convincing brands to shift budgets from traditional media to digital platforms was difficult, compounded by the current high stakes of AI advertising [2] - The platform's ability to provide personalized recommendations based on user interactions could enhance ad effectiveness, but requires extensive training data to avoid errors that could alienate users [4][5] - The current digital advertising landscape is saturated, with established channels still effective, making it harder for ChatGPT to prove its value to advertisers [6][7] Potential Advantages - ChatGPT's advertising model could transform traditional advertising by responding to explicit user needs rather than predicting them, potentially leading to higher conversion rates [9][11] - The integration of ads into user interactions could create a seamless experience, turning advertisements into useful information rather than interruptions [9][10] - OpenAI could develop a comprehensive ecosystem around advertising, enhancing its AI's capabilities through user feedback and data, but this requires significant investment from advertisers [10][12] Future Outlook - While ChatGPT's advertising model presents challenges, it also offers a unique opportunity to redefine advertising logic from attention-based to intent-based, focusing on solving user problems rather than merely capturing attention [11][12] - The success of this model hinges on overcoming existing hurdles and proving its effectiveness to advertisers, which may take time to validate [12]

Core Thesis - The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD) is viewed positively despite facing near-term challenges, with a strong long-term growth potential in programmatic advertising [1][4][5] Company Overview - The Trade Desk operates as a technology company in the digital advertising space, both in the United States and internationally [2] - The company's shares were trading at $31.25 as of January 29th, with trailing and forward P/E ratios of 36.22 and 24.88, respectively [1] Current Challenges - TTD is experiencing pressure from slowing digital ad spending, increased competition from major platforms like Google and Amazon, and concerns regarding its transition to a new system [2] - Operating margins are affected by rising costs as the company invests in technology and growth initiatives [2] Market Position and Growth Potential - Despite challenges, TTD remains a leader in programmatic advertising, with strong client retention and a scalable platform [3] - The company is expected to achieve 17% growth in 2025, with a net profit margin of 14.5%, while trading at a forward P/E of 55.9x [4] - TTD's strategic investments and market leadership provide multiple entry points for investors, with defined buy zones around $32 and $18 [4] Long-term Outlook - The structural growth opportunity in programmatic advertising supports a compelling long-term investment thesis, driven by a robust platform and loyal client base [4][5] - The ongoing digital transformation in advertising positions TTD to benefit from potential upside, despite cyclical headwinds [5] Hedge Fund Interest - TTD is not among the 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds, with 42 hedge fund portfolios holding TTD at the end of Q3, down from 60 in the previous quarter [8]

Employment Data and Economic Indicators - The January employment report is crucial for assessing labor market health amid a new Fed chair nominee, with nonfarm payrolls, unemployment rate, and wage growth data being key indicators [1] - The ADP employment report and JOLTS job openings will provide insights into private sector employment and labor demand trends, while initial jobless claims will complete the employment picture [1] - Strong employment numbers could complicate the new Fed chair's policy stance, suggesting persistent economic strength, while significant weakness could allow for a dovish approach [1] Market Reactions and Economic Context - February begins with a volatile market following January's trading, influenced by unexpected inflation data and the new Federal Reserve chair nominee [2] - Precious metals, particularly silver, experienced significant selloffs, with silver dropping over 27% after a rally, indicating market turbulence [2] - The upcoming week features critical employment data and earnings reports from major companies, creating a complex backdrop for market positioning [2] Technology Sector Insights - Earnings reports from Alphabet and Amazon are critical for evaluating the health of digital advertising and cloud infrastructure investments [3] - Alphabet's performance will be analyzed for trends in search advertising and YouTube, while Amazon's results will provide insights into e-commerce margins and AWS performance [3] - Both companies' commentary on AI integration and enterprise cloud spending will be vital for technology sector sentiment [3] Pharmaceutical Sector Developments - Earnings from Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk will shed light on the GLP-1 weight loss drug market, which has significantly impacted their market capitalizations [4] - Key metrics such as patient demand, production capacity, and insurance coverage trends will be scrutinized to assess market sustainability [4] - Broader pharmaceutical earnings from Pfizer and Merck will provide context on drug pricing and healthcare spending trends [4] Semiconductor Sector Analysis - Earnings from AMD, Qualcomm, and Arm Holdings will offer insights into the semiconductor sector following recent volatility in AI infrastructure [5] - AMD's results will be critical for understanding its competitive position against Nvidia in the data center GPU market [5] - The earnings will also provide perspectives on consumer electronics demand through smartphone and mobile computing trends [6] Manufacturing and Services Sector Data - The ISM Manufacturing PMI and Manufacturing PMI will provide initial economic data for February, focusing on industrial sector health and pricing pressures [7] - Services sector assessments through Services PMI and ISM Non-Manufacturing PMI will offer insights into the economy's largest sector [7] - The convergence of manufacturing and services data will help determine the economic momentum entering 2026, influencing Fed policy considerations [7]

Core Insights - The tech sector has significantly expanded over the past two decades, leading to the recommendation of investing in tech exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for efficient exposure to various industries [1] Group 1: Investment Strategy - A well-chosen tech ETF serves as a convenient option for investors seeking exposure to tech companies without the complexity of selecting individual stocks [2] - The Invesco Nasdaq 100 ETF (NASDAQ: QQQM) is highlighted as a suitable investment choice, particularly for those with $2,000 to invest, due to its built-in hedge and alignment with investor needs [2] Group 2: ETF Composition - QQQM mirrors the Nasdaq-100 index, which tracks approximately 100 of the largest non-financial companies on the Nasdaq stock exchange, excluding banks, insurance companies, and REITs [4] - The tech sector constitutes over 63% of QQQM, with nine of its top ten holdings being tech companies, indicating a strong focus on leading tech firms [4] - The top holdings in QQQM include Nvidia (8.63%), Apple (7.19%), Microsoft (6.65%), and Amazon (4.85%), among others, showcasing a concentration in major tech players [5] Group 3: Performance History - The Nasdaq-100 has delivered an average annual return of over 19% over the past decade, with a $2,000 investment growing to approximately $12,250 by January 27 [7] - Since its inception in October 2020, QQQM has averaged 15.5% annual returns, positioning it as a potentially consistent market-beating ETF [7] - A hypothetical average return of 10% annually would result in doubling the investment every 7.2 years, although past performance does not guarantee future results [8]

Core Insights - Meta Platforms is the world's largest social media company with a significant advertising-based business model, encompassing platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp [1][2] - The company is heavily investing in artificial intelligence to enhance ad targeting and user engagement, with advertising accounting for 95% of total revenue [3][5] Financial Performance - In Q4 2025, Meta reported revenues of approximately $59.89 billion, a 24% year-over-year increase, and earnings per share (EPS) of $8.88, surpassing estimates by $0.66 [6][7] - R&D expenses reached over $17 billion in Q4, up nearly 41% year-over-year, impacting net profit despite revenue growth [8] - Average revenue per user increased by 16% year-over-year, with daily active users rising to about 3.58 billion, a 7% increase [9][10] Market Position and Competition - Meta faces competition from major players like Alphabet (Google), TikTok (ByteDance), Microsoft (LinkedIn), and Amazon in digital advertising and AI development [4][5] - The company's unique value proposition lies in its extensive ecosystem of interconnected apps, which enhances user engagement and monetization [5] Capital Expenditures and AI Investments - Meta's capital expenditures are projected to be between $162 billion and $169 billion in 2026, reflecting aggressive investments in AI infrastructure [10][12] - The company's AI initiatives are expected to drive future growth and improve ad performance, contributing to a robust advertising business [11][13] Profitability Metrics - Meta maintains a gross margin of around 82%, significantly higher than the sector median of approximately 54%, and a net income margin close to 31% [15][16] - Despite high capital expenditures, the company remains profitable and is expected to grow sales by approximately 19% over the next four quarters [14][20] Technical Analysis - Meta's stock has shown strong momentum with year-to-date gains of over 9%, indicating bullish sentiment among investors [18][19] - The stock is trading above both the 100 and 200-day moving averages, suggesting improved technical conditions [19] Long-term Outlook - Analysts expect positive returns for investors as Meta continues to leverage its AI capabilities for monetization and user engagement [21][20] - The company is positioned to maintain its dominance in the social media industry while expanding its global influence [21]

Core Viewpoint - Amazon.com Inc. has been a significant success in the stock market, with a stock price prediction for 2030 presenting bullish, bearish, and baseline scenarios based on various growth metrics and market conditions [1]. Group 1: Historical Performance - Amazon's stock has surged over 1,025% from 2014 to 2024, rising from $19.94 to $223.75, with a notable increase of 150.70% from March 2020 to December 2024 [1]. - Revenue increased from $89 billion to $638 billion, a growth of over 616%, while net income grew from $0.241 billion to $59.2 billion, a staggering increase of 24,664.3% [1]. Group 2: Key Drivers of Future Performance - E-commerce: Amazon accounted for 41% of all U.S. e-commerce sales in 2025, despite e-commerce representing only 17% of total retail sales [1]. - Amazon Web Services (AWS): AWS generated $107.6 billion in sales in 2024, remaining the largest cloud provider, although facing competition from Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud [1]. - Advertising: Amazon's advertising revenue reached $56.2 billion in 2024, nearly doubling from the previous three years, and is expected to be a high-margin business line [1]. Group 3: Price Predictions for 2030 - Bull Case: Amazon's stock could reach $431 per share, assuming continued growth in advertising, e-commerce, and AWS, leading to an estimated $150 billion in operating profits [2]. - Bear Case: In a less favorable scenario, the stock could drop to $77 per share due to unsustainable investments and competition, applying a lower P/E ratio of 20x [2]. - Baseline Case: Analysts predict a share price of about $250, with revenue expected to rise from $710 billion in 2025 to $1.153 trillion by 2030, and net income projected to grow from $48.9 billion to $100 billion [2].