This story was originally published on Marketing Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Marketing Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Ad-tech company PubMatic said its use of Nvidia technology for automated programmatic ad buying across the open internet has resulted in processing that is up to five-times faster than traditional systems, per a press release. Using Nvidia’s artificial intelligence (AI) tools, PubMatic’s system significantly reduces latency and leads to fewer auc ...

Core Viewpoint - The Trade Desk Inc. has experienced significant volatility in 2025, with a 70% drop followed by a 110% rally, leading to mixed investor sentiment regarding its recovery potential [1]. Group 1: Stock Performance and Technical Analysis - The stock opened around $50, remaining over 10% above September's low, with support at $43 holding for the second time this year, indicating a potential base for recovery [2]. - A bounce of over 10% from early September lows has strengthened the technical setup, with $43 acting as a hard floor, building investor confidence [3]. - The MACD has crossed into a bullish pattern, suggesting a trend reversal, while the RSI has rebounded from oversold territory, indicating potential for a sustained rally [4]. Group 2: Product and Market Developments - The Trade Desk announced its Audience Unlimited data marketplace, described as a "major upgrade," leveraging AI to enhance advertisers' understanding of data relevance [6]. - Following the announcement, shares jumped as much as 7%, reflecting Wall Street's continued interest in The Trade Desk's innovation pipeline [7]. - The broader digital advertising market is stabilizing, with analysts from Guggenheim, Needham, and UBS reiterating bullish stances on The Trade Desk [8]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape - The Trade Desk faces significant competition from larger peers like Alphabet and Amazon, which could pressure its margins and necessitate increased spending on innovation [9][10]. - Analysts express concerns over slowing growth and intensifying competition, with Morgan Stanley moving to the sidelines and JMP Securities highlighting the saturation in the ad-tech industry [11][12].

Core Insights - The Trade Desk has launched Audience Unlimited, a significant upgrade aimed at making third-party audience data more accessible and cost-effective for advertisers, with AI integration at its core [2][11] Group 1: Changes in Data Marketplace - The new structure shifts from a la carte segment fees to a predictable pricing model, allowing advertisers to access AI-scored audience selections across thousands of segments without the complexity of choosing individual segments [3][4] - The goal is to enhance the value and usability of third-party data, encouraging advertisers to utilize more high-quality data for improved campaign performance [4] Group 2: Pricing and Access - Audience Unlimited features tiered pricing of 3.3% and 4.4% of impression costs in Control Mode, while Performance Mode includes it at no additional cost, promoting broader data adoption [5] - A la carte pricing remains available for teams preferring existing workflows, ensuring transparency and predictability in costs [5] Group 3: New Trading Modes - The introduction of Koa adaptive trading modes includes Performance Mode, which optimizes bids and allocations using AI, and Control Mode, allowing traders to manage their campaigns manually with AI suggestions [6][7] - This dual approach caters to both hands-on traders and those seeking automated solutions, enhancing the platform's versatility [7] Group 4: Rollout Timeline - Audience Unlimited and Koa adaptive trading modes will be rolled out to select agencies in late 2025, with a broader launch planned for early 2026, allowing for performance validation and workflow adjustments [8] Group 5: Business Context - The launch follows a challenging period for The Trade Desk's stock, which saw a significant decline due to macroeconomic pressures on brand advertisers, yet the company's fundamentals remain strong with a 19% revenue increase year-over-year in Q2 [10] - Audience Unlimited represents a strategic effort to integrate third-party data into programmatic advertising, potentially stabilizing advertiser spending and enhancing platform loyalty over time [11][12]

Core Viewpoint - AppLovin has experienced significant stock price appreciation, joining the S&P 500, and is preparing for a new product launch that could further enhance its growth potential [2][6][10]. Business Performance - In Q2 2025, AppLovin's revenue increased by 77% year-over-year to $1.26 billion, with adjusted EBITDA nearly doubling to $1.02 billion, resulting in an 81% margin [3]. - The company generated net cash from operating activities of $772 million and free cash flow of $768 million during the same quarter [3]. - Management repurchased 0.9 million shares at a total cost of $341 million [3]. Future Guidance - For Q3 2025, AppLovin projects revenue between $1.32 billion and $1.34 billion, maintaining an adjusted EBITDA margin of 81% [4]. - The sale of its first-party Apps business for $400 million in cash and equity is expected to enhance focus on high-margin software and marketplace operations [4]. Product Launch - AppLovin plans to launch Axon Ads Manager on October 1, aimed at reducing onboarding friction for non-gaming and smaller advertisers, which could broaden demand and facilitate international expansion [5]. Valuation Concerns - The company's market value is approximately $243 billion, with a forward price-to-earnings ratio around 40, indicating a high premium that assumes flawless execution and sustained margins [6]. - The stock's rapid ascent raises concerns about whether current valuations can be justified by financial performance [10]. Market Dynamics - AppLovin's growth is supported by robust revenue generation and strong cash flow, but the company must demonstrate that its self-serve platform can deliver results [7]. - The ad-tech industry faces risks from concentration in mobile performance advertising and competition from large platforms investing in AI-driven tools [8]. Sentiment and Stock Performance - Following its S&P 500 inclusion and record highs, market sentiment could shift if the adoption of Axon Ads Manager is slower than anticipated or if growth normalizes [9]. - The current stock price reflects high expectations, and any minor setbacks could lead to significant declines in valuation [10].

Group 1: Market Overview - Companies are expected to benefit from double-digit earnings growth in the coming years [1] - The third quarter is nearing its end, leading to an influx of earnings reports and preparations for the holiday season [1] Group 2: Alphabet - Alphabet has reached an all-time high following the resolution of antitrust litigation, allowing it to continue its business operations without drastic penalties [4] - The company's cloud business is thriving due to AI demand, and its AI application, Gemini, is performing well on Apple's App Store [5] - Alphabet trades at a P/E ratio of 24, with anticipated annualized earnings growth of approximately 15% over the next three to five years [6] Group 3: Netflix - Netflix ended last year with over 301 million paid subscribers and has a net profit margin of 24.7% [7] - The company is expected to double its ad revenue this year through its new ad-supported membership and is expanding into live sports streaming [8] - Analysts project Netflix will grow earnings by nearly 23% annually over the next three to five years, justifying its current stock price of 45 times its 2025 earnings estimates [9] Group 4: The Trade Desk - The Trade Desk operates in a $1 trillion global advertising industry, focusing on digital ad placements and performance tracking [10] - The stock has fallen nearly 70% from its high, but its current valuation at 25 times estimated 2025 earnings is more reasonable [11] - The Trade Desk has historically outperformed the S&P 500 and is expected to achieve 20% annualized earnings growth over the next three to five years [12]

Core Viewpoint - The Trade Desk's premium valuation is increasingly difficult to justify due to competitive pressures and slowing growth [2][3][11]. Financial Performance - In Q2 2025, The Trade Desk reported a revenue increase of 19% year-over-year to $694 million, with adjusted EBITDA of approximately $271 million, reflecting a 39% margin [5]. - The first quarter of 2025 saw a revenue increase of 25% to $616 million, while full-year 2024 revenue grew by 26% [7]. - For Q3 2025, management guided revenue of at least $717 million, implying a 14% year-over-year growth [7]. Growth Dynamics - Connected TV (CTV) remains the fastest-growing channel for The Trade Desk, with no signs of slowing down [6]. - However, growth is decelerating, with a drop from 25% in Q1 to 19% in Q2, and guidance suggesting mid-teens growth for the upcoming quarter [7][11]. Competitive Landscape - Netflix's announcement to allow programmatic ad purchases through Amazon's DSP poses significant competitive risks for The Trade Desk [2][9]. - The entry of Amazon into the programmatic advertising space could pressure The Trade Desk's pricing power and market share, as large buyers may prefer Amazon's tools [10]. - The Trade Desk remains the leading independent DSP, with a customer retention rate above 95% and a strong product roadmap [11]. Valuation Concerns - The stock trades at a price-to-earnings multiple in the high 50s, which assumes sustained growth and market share gains without significant pressure from larger platforms [11]. - A more appropriate price-to-earnings ratio in the 30s may better reflect the competitive and execution risks associated with connected TV [12].

TORONTO, July 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Sabio Holdings (TSXV: SBIO) (OTCQB: SABOF) (the "Company" or "Sabio"), a Los Angeles-based ad-tech company specializing in helping top global brands reach, engage, and validate (R.E.V.) streaming TV audiences, today announced that its Creator Television® (Creator TV) free ad-supported television (FAST) channel is now available on Amazon Fire TV Channels. Sabio consists of a proprietary ad-serving technology platform that partners with the top ad-supported streaming pla ...

Group 1 - Block Inc. will join the S&P 500 index, replacing Hess, effective before the opening bell on July 23, 2025, leading to an 8.5% increase in its shares during extended trading on July 18, 2025 [1] - The S&P 500 index saw recent changes, with The Trade Desk replacing Ansys, and Hess exiting due to Chevron's $54 billion acquisition [2] - Companies added to the S&P 500 typically experience stock price boosts due to fund managers and index-tracking ETFs rebalancing their holdings [3] Group 2 - Block's addition enhances the tech presence in the S&P 500, as the company, originally known as Square, has diversified into various financial services and rebranded to Block in 2021 to emphasize its commitment to blockchain technologies [4] - Despite a 16% year-to-date decline, Block's stock has surged 14.5% over the past month, with a market capitalization of approximately $45 billion, positioning it above the median company in the index [5] - Several ETFs, including Twin Oak Endure ETF (SPYA) and VanEck Digital Transformation ETF (DAPP), have significant investments in Block, with SPYA allocating about 7% of its weight to Block shares [6]