Viant(US:DSP)2025-11-10 23:02Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for Q3 2025 was $85.6 million, representing a 7% year-over-year increase and a 10% quarter-over-quarter increase, exceeding the midpoint of guidance [32] - Contribution XTAC totaled $53 million, up 12% year-over-year and 10% sequentially, reaching the high end of guidance [32] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q3 was $16 million, growing 9% year-over-year and 42% sequentially, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 30% [38] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Excluding political ad spend from the prior year, Q3 revenue increased 19% year-over-year, and contribution XTAC increased 22% year-over-year on a pro forma basis [33] - CTV accounted for a record high of 46% of total platform spend, with nearly half running through Direct Access premium publishers [36] - Revenue attached to the Iris ID more than doubled sequentially versus the prior quarter, indicating strong demand for contextually targeted campaigns [15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Spend across emerging digital channels, including CTV, streaming audio, and digital out of home, represented approximately 56% of total platform spend in Q3, up from 50% in 2024 and 43% in 2023 [36] - The majority of leading streaming services have joined the Direct Access program, enhancing the platform's capabilities [12] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to maintain its dominant position in the mid-market while expanding up-market with major U.S. advertisers and down-market to performance advertisers [23] - The launch of AI Decisioning is expected to enhance the self-service capabilities of the platform, making it more accessible for SMBs and direct-to-consumer e-commerce companies [29] - The partnership with Molson Coors highlights the company's ability to attract major U.S. brands seeking data-driven campaigns [25] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the underlying performance of the business, with expectations for accelerating growth in 2026 driven by new client onboarding [44] - The company anticipates significant EBITDA margin expansion in 2026, supported by improved operational efficiencies and the integration of recent acquisitions [44] Other Important Information - The company ended Q3 with $161 million in cash and cash equivalents, no debt, and full access to a $75 million credit facility [39] - The share repurchase program has returned $59.6 million to shareholders since its launch, signaling confidence in long-term value [40] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the difference with the third AI product launching in Q4? - Management indicated that AI Decisioning will complete the Viant AI suite, enabling full self-driving capabilities for ad campaigns, reducing the need for human intervention [51][52] Question: Is the 600 basis point headwind from a merger client a one-time issue? - Management clarified that the headwind is primarily from a seasonal client and will not significantly impact other quarters [48] Question: How does the company plan to grow awareness among SMB advertisers? - The strategy includes channel partnerships and a self-service sign-up flow to attract direct-to-consumer e-commerce companies [58][60] Question: What is the expected incremental spend from the Molson Coors partnership? - While specific figures cannot be disclosed, management expects the partnership to scale over time, contributing to the $250 million incremental spend pipeline [62] Question: How does the competitive environment look with companies like Amazon and Google? - Management noted that competition remains consistent, with Viant's objective buy-side approach differentiating it from competitors who have conflicts of interest [64][66]