Key Takeaways The Trade Desk projects at least $717M in Q3 revenue, up 14% year over year.Growth is slowing from Q1's 25% and Q2's 18.6%, signaling a maturing trajectory.Rising operating costs, up 17.8%, are pressuring margins amid competition and uncertainty.The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD) reported second-quarter 2025 revenues of $694 million, reflecting an 18.6% year-over-year increase. The figure exceeded the company’s guidance of at least $682 million and topped the consensus estimate by 1.4%. Connected TV ( ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported revenue of $694 million for Q2, representing a 19% year-over-year growth, and approximately 20% growth when excluding political ad spend from the previous year [45][51] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q2 was approximately $271 million, or about 39% of revenue [46] - The company ended the quarter with about $1.7 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments [50] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - CTV (Connected TV) continued to be the fastest-growing channel, with video (including CTV) representing a high 40s percentage share of the business [46] - Mobile accounted for a mid-30s percentage share of spend, while display represented a low double-digit share and audio around 5% [47] - Over 70% of spend is now on the Kokai platform, with expectations for full client adoption by the end of the year [46][96] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - North America represented about 86% of spend, while international markets accounted for about 14% [47] - International growth outpaced North America, indicating a strong global execution strategy [47] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on enhancing its position in CTV, retail media, and programmatic advertising, leveraging innovations like Kokai and OpenPath to improve supply chain efficiency [6][12][20] - The company aims to define the category of a Demand-Side Platform (DSP) by emphasizing objectivity and transparency in media buying [30][31] - The strategic focus includes building partnerships and joint business plans with major advertisers, which are growing significantly faster than overall platform spend [60][89] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in navigating macroeconomic uncertainties, emphasizing that programmatic advertising offers agility and measurable results [55][88] - The company sees a significant opportunity in the evolving digital advertising landscape, particularly as large brands face pressures that could accelerate their shift to programmatic solutions [88][90] - The management highlighted the importance of AI and data assets in driving future growth and innovation [57][96] Other Important Information - The company announced leadership changes, including the transition of CFO roles and the addition of new board members to strengthen its governance [25][28] - The company is committed to maintaining a dual-class share structure to support long-term strategic goals [37][39] Q&A Session Summary Question: What gives you confidence in the evolving digital ad environment? - Management highlighted the opportunity presented by uncertainty, the measurable nature of programmatic advertising, and the supply-demand imbalance favoring the company [55][57] Question: How do you evaluate the competitive landscape with Amazon's advertising efforts? - Management stated that Amazon is not a direct competitor due to its focus on its own inventory and the inherent biases in its platform, emphasizing the company's independence and objectivity [71][73] Question: How do tariffs impact ad spend for large brands? - Management acknowledged the short-term negative impact of tariffs on large brands but expressed optimism that volatility would accelerate the shift to programmatic advertising [88][90] Question: Can you elaborate on the progress with Kokai and AI capabilities? - Management reported significant improvements in campaign performance due to Kokai, with clients seeing substantial ROI from AI-driven features [96][94]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported Q2 2025 revenue of $694 million, representing a 19% year-over-year growth, and approximately 20% growth when excluding political ad spend from the previous year [43][44] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q2 was approximately $271 million, or about 39% of revenue [44] - The company ended the quarter with about $1.7 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments [48] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - CTV (Connected TV) continued to be the fastest-growing channel, with video (including CTV) representing a high 40s percentage share of the business [44] - Mobile accounted for a mid-30s percentage share of spend, while display represented a low double-digit share and audio around 5% [44] - Over 70% of spend is now on the Kokai platform, with expectations for full client adoption by the end of the year [44][94] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - North America represented about 86% of spend, while international markets accounted for approximately 14% [45] - International growth outpaced North America, driven by CTV [45] - Double-digit growth was observed in most verticals, particularly in technology and computing and medical health [46] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on enhancing its position in CTV, retail media, and programmatic advertising, with a strong emphasis on innovation through the Kokai platform [5][10] - The introduction of AI technologies is central to the company's strategy, with significant improvements in campaign performance reported by clients using Kokai [9][92] - The company aims to maintain objectivity in advertising, positioning itself as a neutral partner in the open Internet space, contrasting with walled gardens like Google and Amazon [19][70] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in navigating macroeconomic pressures, emphasizing that uncertainty can create opportunities for growth [54][60] - The company anticipates continued strong performance in the second half of the year, with Q3 revenue expected to be at least $717 million, reflecting 14% year-over-year growth [49][50] - The management highlighted the importance of programmatic advertising in a volatile environment, which aligns with the company's strengths [85] Other Important Information - The company is undergoing leadership transitions, with a new CFO joining and a focus on strengthening the leadership team [24][41] - The company is enhancing its board of directors with experienced individuals from the ad tech industry [26] Q&A Session Summary Question: What gives confidence in the evolving digital ad environment? - Management highlighted the supply-demand imbalance favoring the company, the importance of measurable programmatic advertising, and the underappreciated data assets the company possesses [55][56][60] Question: How is the competitive landscape evolving with Amazon's advertising efforts? - Management stated that Amazon is not a direct competitor, emphasizing the company's focus on transparency and objectivity in the open Internet, while noting Amazon's challenges in being perceived as an objective partner [70][72][75] Question: How does the tariff situation impact ad spend? - Management acknowledged the short-term negative impact on large global advertisers due to tariffs but expressed optimism that volatility would accelerate the shift to programmatic advertising [84][86] Question: Progress with Kokai and AI capabilities? - Management reported significant improvements in campaign performance for clients using Kokai, with expectations for full adoption and ongoing innovation driven by AI [92][94]

Core Insights - The Trade Desk Inc. (TTD) will join the S&P 500 on July 18, 2025, replacing ANSYS Inc. (ANSS), which is being acquired by Synopsys Inc. (SNPS) [1] - Following the announcement, TTD shares rose by 6.6% to $80.40, indicating strong investor sentiment [1] - TTD operates a leading demand-side platform (DSP) focused on data-driven advertising, aiming for revenue growth and profitability through its Connected TV (CTV) offerings and flagship products [2] Company Overview - TTD is positioned to benefit from the projected growth in the global digital ad spending market, expected to reach $1,483 billion by 2034, with a CAGR of 9.47% from 2025 to 2034 [3] - The company is focusing on expanding its global footprint and partnerships while maintaining its innovation edge [2][3] Financial Performance - For Q2, TTD anticipates revenue of at least $682 million, reflecting a 17% year-over-year growth, despite macroeconomic challenges [4][10] - Adjusted EBITDA is projected to be around $259 million [4] - TTD's shares have increased by 59.9% over the past three months, outperforming the Zacks Internet-Services industry and S&P 500 composites, which rose by 20.6% and 18.2%, respectively [11] Competitive Landscape - TTD competes with major players like Amazon (AMZN) and Alphabet (GOOGL) in the ad tech space, focusing on independent, cross-channel programmatic buying [5][7] - While Amazon leverages its first-party data for targeted ads, TTD offers a neutral ad platform targeting the open internet, which is particularly relevant in ad-supported streaming [7] Valuation Metrics - TTD currently trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 12.57X, significantly higher than the industry average of 5.44X [12] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TTD's earnings has remained stable over the past 60 days, with no revisions [13][14]

Company Overview - The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD) anticipates revenues of at least $682 million for Q2 2025, reflecting approximately 17% year-over-year growth, a slowdown from the 25% growth recorded in Q1 2025, indicating a potential maturation in its growth cycle [1] - Rising operating expenses surged 21.4% year-over-year to $561.6 million, primarily due to investments in enhancing platform capabilities [3] - TTD's adjusted EBITDA is expected to be $259 million, with a margin of nearly 38%, which is 400 basis points higher than in Q1 2025, attributed to targeted investments in infrastructure and talent [6] Market Conditions - The company faces rising macroeconomic uncertainty and escalating trade tensions, which could impact advertising budgets and programmatic demand, particularly affecting large global brands [2] - The growth in Connected TV (CTV) adoption is a significant driver for TTD's growth strategy, with global ad spend projected to rise in CTV and retail media [4] Innovation and Product Development - TTD's flagship products, including Kokai, Unified ID 2.0, and OpenPath, are gaining traction, with two-thirds of clients using the AI platform Kokai, which has reduced costs per conversion by 24% and per acquisition by 20% [5] Competitive Landscape - Taboola.com Ltd. (TBLA) reported Q1 revenues of $427 million, a 3% increase, with expectations for Q2 2025 revenues between $438 million and $458 million, indicating a solid growth trajectory [7] - PubMatic, Inc. (PUBM) expects Q2 revenues between $66 million and $70 million, focusing on high-growth segments like CTV and maintaining financial discipline with projected adjusted EBITDA of $9 million to $12 million [8] Valuation Metrics - TTD's shares have decreased by 23.3% over the past year, contrasting with the Zacks Internet -Services industry's decline of 1.4% [11] - The company trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 11.86X, significantly higher than the industry's average of 5.31X [12]

Core Insights - The Trade Desk (TTD) is experiencing growth due to increased adoption of Connected TV (CTV), which is central to its growth strategy [1][10] - Video advertising, including CTV, accounted for a high-40s percentage of TTD's total business in the last reported quarter [2][10] - TTD's new Ventura Operating System aims to enhance efficiency and transparency in CTV advertising [3][10] Company Performance - TTD is capitalizing on the shift from linear to programmatic CTV, with CTV being referred to as the "kingpin of the open internet" [2] - The current ad landscape shows supply outpacing demand, creating a buyer's market, particularly in CTV [2] - TTD's shares have declined by 40.6% year to date, compared to a 9.3% decline in the Internet – Services industry [11] Competitive Landscape - Competitors like PubMatic and Magnite are also benefiting from the growth in CTV, with PubMatic's CTV revenues increasing over 50% year over year [5][6] - Magnite reported a 15% increase in CTV's contribution, representing 43% of its total contribution ex-TAC [7][10] - The competitive environment is intensifying, with major players investing heavily in CTV capabilities [5][7] Economic Context - Increasing macroeconomic uncertainty and trade tensions may negatively impact TTD and its competitors by squeezing advertising budgets [4][10] - TTD has noted the potential impact of macroeconomic conditions on large global brands, which could affect revenue growth if conditions worsen [4][10] Valuation Metrics - TTD's shares are currently trading at a forward price/earnings ratio of 35.58X, significantly higher than the Internet Services industry's ratio of 17.8X [13] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TTD's earnings for 2025 has remained unchanged over the past 30 days [14]

Core Insights - The Trade Desk (TTD) has achieved significant international growth, outpacing North America for the ninth consecutive quarter, with North America still accounting for 88% of advertising spend [1][9] - Connected TV (CTV) is a major growth driver for TTD, with over 90 million households reached and strong performance in international markets, particularly in Europe and Asia [2][9] - TTD's AI platform, Kokai, is gaining traction, with two-thirds of clients using it, leading to a reduction in costs per conversion and acquisition [3][9] Company Performance - TTD expects revenues of at least $682 million for Q2 2025, reflecting a 17% year-over-year growth, assuming stable market conditions [4] - Adjusted EBITDA is projected to be around $259 million for the same quarter [4] - TTD's shares have decreased by 28.7% over the past year, contrasting with a 4.3% decline in the Zacks Internet-Services industry [10] Market Outlook - The global digital ad spending market is projected to reach $1,483 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 9.47% from 2025 to 2034, with TTD well-positioned to benefit from this growth [5] - The rise of CTV and retail media is expected to drive increased ad spending, providing TTD with opportunities to expand its international revenue base [5] Competitive Landscape - Competitors like Magnite Inc. and PubMatic, Inc. are also experiencing growth in the CTV space, with significant contributions to their revenues from programmatic ad spending [6][7] - Magnite reported a 19% year-over-year increase in CTV contribution, while PubMatic has achieved over 80% adoption among top streaming platforms [6][7] Valuation Metrics - TTD trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 10.79X, which is higher than the industry average of 5.01X [11] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TTD's earnings has remained unchanged over the past 30 days [12]

Core Insights - The Trade Desk (TTD) and PubMatic (PUBM) are key players in the programmatic advertising ecosystem, with TTD as a demand-side platform (DSP) and PUBM as a sell-side platform (SSP) [1][2] The Case for TTD - TTD is optimistic about its market growth due to strong execution in connected TV (CTV), retail media, international expansion, and the integration of Sincera's data insights [3][4] - The Kokai platform has achieved 66% client adoption ahead of schedule, delivering significant cost efficiencies with a 24% lower cost per conversion and 20% lower cost per acquisition [4] - TTD reported first-quarter revenues of $616 million, a 25% year-over-year increase, with adjusted EBITDA of $208 million (34% margin) [5] - CTV accounted for 40% of digital spend, while customer retention exceeded 95% [5] - However, TTD faces challenges from macroeconomic uncertainties and competition from major players like Alphabet and Amazon, which could impact revenue growth [6][7] The Case for PUBM - PUBM's underlying business grew 21% year-over-year in Q1 2025, driven by growth in CTV and Supply Path Optimization (SPO) [8][10] - CTV revenues surged 50% year-over-year, although total sales fell 4% due to a shift from a large DSP client [8][11] - PUBM is investing in technologies like Activate for SPO and Convert for commerce media, and is expanding its international presence, particularly in India, Europe, Australia, and Japan [12] - Despite strong growth in CTV, PUBM's revenues declined 4% year-over-year, raising concerns about its competitive position [13] Share Performance and Valuation - Year-to-date, PUBM and TTD have lost 24.7% and 41.6% respectively, amid macroeconomic uncertainties [14] - TTD is considered overvalued with a forward P/E ratio of 10.87X, while PUBM has a lower ratio of 1.74X, indicating a more favorable valuation [16][17] Analyst Estimates - Analysts have made significant downward revisions for PUBM's earnings estimates, while TTD has seen relatively lower revisions [18][19] - Both companies currently hold a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) [20] Conclusion - TTD is positioned as a stronger investment case due to its leading DSP role and innovation, while PUBM's potential is tempered by revenue declines and estimate revisions [21][23]

Core Insights - The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD) utilized $386 million in cash for share buybacks in Q1 2025, supported by a strong balance sheet and consistent cash flow [1][10] - TTD's balance sheet showed approximately $1.7 billion in cash and equivalents with no debt, and a total repurchase authorization of $1 billion [2][10] - The company is optimistic about future growth opportunities in connected TV, retail media, and international expansion, emphasizing a balanced cost structure [3] Financial Performance - Operating cash flow for Q1 2025 was $291 million, while free cash flow was $230 million, indicating that buybacks exceeded cash generation for the quarter [1][10] - TTD anticipates Q2 2025 revenues of at least $682 million, reflecting a 17% year-over-year growth, assuming stable macroeconomic conditions [5][10] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q2 is expected to be around $259 million [5] Strategic Initiatives - TTD continues to innovate in advertising with new partnerships and product launches, including an expanded partnership with HOY and the introduction of Deal Desk within its Kokai platform [4] - The company plans to continue opportunistic buybacks to offset dilution from employee stock grants [6] Market Position - TTD's shares have decreased by 29.5% over the past year, contrasting with the Zacks Internet -Services industry's growth of 0.6% [9] - The company trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 10.88X, which is higher than the industry average of 5.18X [11]

Industry Overview - The ad tech industry is experiencing solid growth and has significant upside potential, driven by advancements in connected TV, retail media, better ad targeting, and AI improvements [2] - Major players like Alphabet and Meta Platforms are leading the industry, but there are other companies also benefiting from this growth [2] Company: Roku - Roku's stock price has declined over 80% from its peak in 2021 due to a post-pandemic slowdown in the streaming industry [4] - The company has undergone layoffs and a business reset but is now positioned for growth, with a 16% year-over-year revenue increase to $1.02 billion in the first quarter [6] - Roku's stock price surged after announcing an exclusive integration with Amazon's demand-side platform, indicating potential market share gains [7] - With a market cap of $11 billion, Roku is well-positioned to capitalize on the growth in connected TV, with the potential for significant stock price appreciation [8] Company: The Trade Desk - The Trade Desk is a leading independent demand-side ad tech platform known for its innovative technologies, including its AI platform Kokai and cookieless tracking protocol [9] - The stock is currently trading down 50% from its peak, presenting a buying opportunity, despite a disappointing earnings report in February [10] - In the first quarter, The Trade Desk reported a 25% year-over-year revenue growth to $616 million, demonstrating resilience in various market conditions [11] - The company is well-positioned for continued growth, supported by its cookieless tracking solution and expanding customer ecosystem [12]