Tearsheet

Trade Desk (TTD)


Market Price (5/23/2026): $22.23 | Market Cap: $10.6 Bil
Sector: Communication Services | Industry: Advertising

Trade Desk (TTD)


Market Price (5/23/2026): $22.23
Market Cap: $10.6 Bil
Sector: Communication Services
Industry: Advertising

Investment Highlights Why It Matters Detailed financial logic regarding cash flow yields vs trend-riding momentum.

0

Attractive cash flow generation
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 37%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 28%

Valuation becoming less expensive
P/S 6M Chg %Price/Sales change over 6 months. Declining P/S indicates valuation has become less expensive. is -43%

Attractive yield
FCF Yield is 7.8%

Stock buyback support
Stock Buyback 3Y Total is 2.1 Bil

Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Digital Advertising, and Social Media & Creator Economy. Themes include Ad-Tech Platforms, Programmatic Advertising, Show more.

Weak multi-year price returns
2Y Excs Rtn is -117%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -146%

Meaningful short interest
Short Interest % of Basic SharesShort Interest % of Basic Shares = (Short Interest Quantity) / (Basic Shares Outstanding). A high fraction of short interest can indicate potential risk of a short squeeze. is 16%

Significant share based compensation
SBC/Rev LTMShare Based Compensation / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 16%

Key risks
TTD key risks include [1] competition from "walled gardens" limiting access to premium ad inventory, Show more.

0 Attractive cash flow generation
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 37%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 28%
1 Valuation becoming less expensive
P/S 6M Chg %Price/Sales change over 6 months. Declining P/S indicates valuation has become less expensive. is -43%
2 Attractive yield
FCF Yield is 7.8%
3 Stock buyback support
Stock Buyback 3Y Total is 2.1 Bil
4 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Digital Advertising, and Social Media & Creator Economy. Themes include Ad-Tech Platforms, Programmatic Advertising, Show more.
5 Weak multi-year price returns
2Y Excs Rtn is -117%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -146%
6 Meaningful short interest
Short Interest % of Basic SharesShort Interest % of Basic Shares = (Short Interest Quantity) / (Basic Shares Outstanding). A high fraction of short interest can indicate potential risk of a short squeeze. is 16%
7 Significant share based compensation
SBC/Rev LTMShare Based Compensation / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 16%
8 Key risks
TTD key risks include [1] competition from "walled gardens" limiting access to premium ad inventory, Show more.

Valuation, Metrics & Events

Price Chart

Why The Stock Moved

Qualitative Assessment

AI Analysis | Feedback

Trade Desk (TTD) stock has lost about 25% since 1/31/2026 because of the following key factors:

1. Lower-than-Expected Q1 2026 Earnings Per Share (EPS). The Trade Desk reported a GAAP diluted EPS of $0.08 for Q1 2026, significantly missing the consensus estimate of $0.32 by $0.24.

2. Weak Q2 2026 Guidance. The company's financial outlook for Q2 2026 disappointed investors, with revenue guidance of at least $750 million falling 2.9% below analysts' estimates of $772.3 million. Additionally, the adjusted EBITDA guidance of approximately $260 million was below analyst expectations of $290.7 million.

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Stock Movement Drivers

Fundamental Drivers

The -26.2% change in TTD stock from 1/31/2026 to 5/22/2026 was primarily driven by a -27.2% change in the company's P/E Multiple.
(LTM values as of)13120265222026Change
Stock Price ($)30.3322.38-26.2%
Change Contribution By: 
Total Revenues ($ Mil)2,7912,9696.4%
Net Income Margin (%)15.7%14.6%-7.3%
P/E Multiple33.724.6-27.2%
Shares Outstanding (Mil)4884752.8%
Cumulative Contribution-26.2%

LTM = Last Twelve Months as of date shown

Market Drivers

1/31/2026 to 5/22/2026
ReturnCorrelation
TTD-26.2% 
Market (SPY)8.1%15.5%
Sector (XLC)-3.5%21.6%

Fundamental Drivers

The -55.5% change in TTD stock from 10/31/2025 to 5/22/2026 was primarily driven by a -58.5% change in the company's P/E Multiple.
(LTM values as of)103120255222026Change
Stock Price ($)50.2822.38-55.5%
Change Contribution By: 
Total Revenues ($ Mil)2,6792,96910.8%
Net Income Margin (%)15.6%14.6%-6.4%
P/E Multiple59.124.6-58.5%
Shares Outstanding (Mil)4914753.4%
Cumulative Contribution-55.5%

LTM = Last Twelve Months as of date shown

Market Drivers

10/31/2025 to 5/22/2026
ReturnCorrelation
TTD-55.5% 
Market (SPY)9.9%20.9%
Sector (XLC)1.2%28.2%

Fundamental Drivers

The -58.3% change in TTD stock from 4/30/2025 to 5/22/2026 was primarily driven by a -63.6% change in the company's P/E Multiple.
(LTM values as of)43020255222026Change
Stock Price ($)53.6322.38-58.3%
Change Contribution By: 
Total Revenues ($ Mil)2,4452,96921.4%
Net Income Margin (%)16.1%14.6%-9.4%
P/E Multiple67.424.6-63.6%
Shares Outstanding (Mil)4944754.1%
Cumulative Contribution-58.3%

LTM = Last Twelve Months as of date shown

Market Drivers

4/30/2025 to 5/22/2026
ReturnCorrelation
TTD-58.3% 
Market (SPY)36.0%18.7%
Sector (XLC)22.5%22.2%

Fundamental Drivers

The -65.2% change in TTD stock from 4/30/2023 to 5/22/2026 was primarily driven by a -95.8% change in the company's P/E Multiple.
(LTM values as of)43020235222026Change
Stock Price ($)64.3422.38-65.2%
Change Contribution By: 
Total Revenues ($ Mil)1,5782,96988.2%
Net Income Margin (%)3.4%14.6%330.6%
P/E Multiple589.624.6-95.8%
Shares Outstanding (Mil)4894753.1%
Cumulative Contribution-65.2%

LTM = Last Twelve Months as of date shown

Market Drivers

4/30/2023 to 5/22/2026
ReturnCorrelation
TTD-65.2% 
Market (SPY)86.3%39.5%
Sector (XLC)99.2%40.4%

Return vs. Risk

Price Returns Compared

 202120222023202420252026Total [1]
Returns
TTD Return14%-51%61%63%-68%-44%-73%
Peers Return1%-46%81%67%11%9%99%
S&P 500 Return27%-19%24%23%16%9%98%

Monthly Win Rates [3]
TTD Win Rate50%25%67%67%33%20% 
Peers Win Rate54%33%75%68%52%56% 
S&P 500 Win Rate75%42%67%75%67%60% 

Max Drawdowns [4]
TTD Max Drawdown-46%-56%-30%-18%-71%-50% 
Peers Max Drawdown-14%-54%-20%-20%-35%-22% 
S&P 500 Max Drawdown-5%-25%-10%-8%-19%-9% 


[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2021
[2] Peers: GOOGL, AMZN, META, VZ, DSP. See TTD Returns vs. Peers.
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
[5] 2026 data is for the year up to 5/22/2026 (YTD)

How Low Can It Go

EventTTDS&P 500
2025 US Tariff Shock
  % Loss-41.0%-18.8%
  % Gain to Breakeven69.5%23.1%
  Time to Breakeven34 days79 days
2024 Yen Carry Trade Unwind
  % Loss-16.8%-7.8%
  % Gain to Breakeven20.1%8.5%
  Time to Breakeven13 days18 days
Summer-Fall 2023 Five Percent Yield Shock
  % Loss-23.8%-9.5%
  % Gain to Breakeven31.2%10.5%
  Time to Breakeven95 days24 days
2022 Inflation Shock & Fed Tightening
  % Loss-54.3%-24.5%
  % Gain to Breakeven118.7%32.4%
  Time to Breakeven368 days427 days
2020 COVID-19 Crash
  % Loss-54.2%-33.7%
  % Gain to Breakeven118.5%50.9%
  Time to Breakeven50 days140 days
Q4 2018 Fed Policy Error / Growth Scare
  % Loss-24.8%-19.2%
  % Gain to Breakeven33.0%23.8%
  Time to Breakeven25 days105 days

Compare to GOOGL, AMZN, META, VZ, DSP

In The Past

Trade Desk's stock fell -41.0% during the 2025 US Tariff Shock. Such a loss loss requires a 69.5% gain to breakeven.

Preserve Wealth

Limiting losses and compounding gains is essential to preserving wealth.

Asset Allocation

Actively managed asset allocation strategies protect wealth. Learn more.

EventTTDS&P 500
2025 US Tariff Shock
  % Loss-41.0%-18.8%
  % Gain to Breakeven69.5%23.1%
  Time to Breakeven34 days79 days
Summer-Fall 2023 Five Percent Yield Shock
  % Loss-23.8%-9.5%
  % Gain to Breakeven31.2%10.5%
  Time to Breakeven95 days24 days
2022 Inflation Shock & Fed Tightening
  % Loss-54.3%-24.5%
  % Gain to Breakeven118.7%32.4%
  Time to Breakeven368 days427 days
2020 COVID-19 Crash
  % Loss-54.2%-33.7%
  % Gain to Breakeven118.5%50.9%
  Time to Breakeven50 days140 days
Q4 2018 Fed Policy Error / Growth Scare
  % Loss-24.8%-19.2%
  % Gain to Breakeven33.0%23.8%
  Time to Breakeven25 days105 days
2016-2017 Trump Reflation Bond Selloff
  % Loss-31.7%-3.7%
  % Gain to Breakeven46.4%3.9%
  Time to Breakeven105 days6 days

Compare to GOOGL, AMZN, META, VZ, DSP

In The Past

Trade Desk's stock fell -41.0% during the 2025 US Tariff Shock. Such a loss loss requires a 69.5% gain to breakeven.

Preserve Wealth

Limiting losses and compounding gains is essential to preserving wealth.

Asset Allocation

Actively managed asset allocation strategies protect wealth. Learn more.

About Trade Desk (TTD)

Trade Desk, Inc. operates as a technology company in the United States and internationally. The company operates a self-service cloud-based platform that allows buyers to create, manage, and optimize data-driven digital advertising campaigns across various ad formats and channels, including display, video, audio, native, and social on various devices, such as computers, mobile devices, and connected TV. It also provides data and other value-added services. The company serves advertising agencies and other service providers for advertisers. The Trade Desk, Inc. was incorporated in 2009 and is headquartered in Ventura, California.

AI Analysis | Feedback

  • It's like Booking.com or Expedia, but for advertisers to buy and optimize digital ad space.
  • Salesforce for digital advertising campaigns.
  • Think of it as Google Ads or Facebook Ads, but for buying and optimizing ads across the entire open internet.

AI Analysis | Feedback

  • Cloud-Based Advertising Platform: A self-service platform enabling buyers to create, manage, and optimize data-driven digital advertising campaigns across various ad formats and channels.
  • Data and Value-Added Services: Supplementary services that provide insights and additional tools to enhance advertising campaign performance.

AI Analysis | Feedback

The Trade Desk (TTD) primarily sells its cloud-based advertising platform and services to other companies, specifically **advertising agencies and other service providers for advertisers**. These entities use TTD's platform to manage digital advertising campaigns on behalf of their advertiser clients. While Trade Desk serves thousands of individual advertising agencies globally, many of these agencies are subsidiaries of larger, publicly traded advertising holding companies. These holding companies represent a significant portion of the global advertising spend and therefore, their networks of agencies constitute a major part of Trade Desk's customer base. The major customer companies (or the parent companies of the agencies that are direct customers) include:
  • WPP plc (Symbol: WPP)
  • Omnicom Group Inc. (Symbol: OMC)
  • Publicis Groupe S.A. (Symbol: PUBGY - ADR; PUB.PA - Euronext Paris)
  • Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (Symbol: IPG)
  • Dentsu Group Inc. (Symbol: DNTUY - ADR; 9697.T - TSE)
  • Accenture Song (a division of Accenture plc, Symbol: ACN)

AI Analysis | Feedback

The Trade Desk (TTD) relies on several major suppliers to operate its demand-side platform and facilitate digital advertising campaigns. These include cloud infrastructure providers and supply-side platforms (SSPs) that provide access to ad inventory.

  • Microsoft (MSFT)
  • Magnite (MGNI)
  • PubMatic (PUBM)
  • Google (GOOGL)

AI Analysis | Feedback

Jeff Green
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Founder

Jeff Green is the co-founder, chairman, and CEO of The Trade Desk, which he founded in 2009. Prior to The Trade Desk, he co-founded AdECN, an online advertising exchange, in 2004. AdECN was acquired by Microsoft in 2007, after which Green spent two years leading the Microsoft Online Services Division.

Laura Schenkein
Chief Financial Officer

Laura Schenkein is the Chief Financial Officer at The Trade Desk, Inc. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing the company's financial operations, including financial planning, risk management, record-keeping, and financial reporting. She brings extensive experience in finance and leadership, having held prominent roles in both public and private companies across the technology sector.

Dave Pickles
Chief Technology Officer and Founder

Dave Pickles is the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of The Trade Desk, overseeing all engineering, product innovation, and data science. He co-founded the company with Jeff Green in 2009. Earlier in his career, he was a senior engineer at the internet telephony startup CallWave, Inc. He later joined AdECN (which was acquired by Microsoft), where he and his team built the federated exchange for real-time bidding.

Samantha Jacobson
Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Vice President

Samantha Jacobson serves as Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Vice President at The Trade Desk, managing strategic investments and cross-functional initiatives. She joined The Trade Desk after six years at Oracle, where she managed the global business development and strategy team. Before Oracle, Jacobson was at Datalogix, where she developed partnerships with major industry players such as Twitter, Pinterest, Microsoft, Google, and Apple. She also held various business development, partner management, and strategy positions at companies including eBay and American Express prior to Datalogix.

Ian Colley
Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President

Ian Colley is the Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President at The Trade Desk, leading global communications, editorial content, content marketing, and social media. Before joining The Trade Desk, Colley spent over 20 years at IBM, where he led communications for various divisions, including IBM Cloud, IBM Finance, IBM Global Services, and IBM Europe.

AI Analysis | Feedback

The key risks for The Trade Desk (TTD) are primarily concentrated in the highly dynamic and competitive digital advertising technology sector.

  1. Intense Competition from "Walled Gardens" and Consolidation of Ad Spend: The Trade Desk operates as an independent demand-side platform (DSP) in an industry facing significant competition from large, integrated technology companies often referred to as "walled gardens," such as Google, Meta (Facebook), and Amazon. These companies control vast amounts of first-party data and have proprietary advertising platforms, incentivizing advertisers to keep their spending within these ecosystems. This dynamic poses a continuous challenge to independent platforms like The Trade Desk in terms of market share, access to inventory, and overall growth prospects. For instance, Amazon's aggressive expansion in advertising, particularly in the Connected TV (CTV) market, and its partnerships with streaming platforms like Netflix, have intensified competitive pressures for TTD.
  2. Evolving Data Privacy Regulations and Cookie Deprecation: The Trade Desk's core business of enabling data-driven digital advertising campaigns is highly dependent on the collection and utilization of user data. The ongoing shift in the digital advertising landscape, driven by stricter global data privacy regulations (like GDPR and CCPA) and the impending deprecation of third-party cookies, presents a significant risk. While The Trade Desk has invested in privacy-centric identity solutions such as Unified ID 2.0 (UID2), their effectiveness, widespread adoption, and compliance with evolving privacy laws are subject to continuous scrutiny and potential legal challenges, including class-action lawsuits alleging privacy violations.
  3. Ad Fraud, Brand Safety, and Lack of Transparency in the Programmatic Supply Chain: As a programmatic advertising platform, The Trade Desk is exposed to inherent industry risks related to ad fraud and brand safety. Ad fraud, which includes tactics like fake impressions, bot traffic, pixel stuffing, and ad stacking, can deplete advertiser budgets with no real engagement. Furthermore, brand safety concerns arise when automated ad placements result in advertisements appearing alongside inappropriate, offensive, or irrelevant content, potentially harming a brand's reputation. The complex and sometimes opaque nature of the programmatic advertising supply chain can also lead to a lack of transparency for advertisers regarding ad placements and associated costs, which The Trade Desk must continuously address to maintain client trust and platform integrity.

AI Analysis | Feedback

Evolving privacy regulations and platform policies from major technology companies. This includes the impending deprecation of third-party cookies in web browsers like Google Chrome, as well as increased restrictions on app tracking and data usage from platforms like Apple (e.g., App Tracking Transparency framework). These shifts fundamentally challenge the data-driven targeting and measurement capabilities upon which The Trade Desk's self-service cloud-based advertising platform relies, potentially favoring "walled garden" ecosystems that control their own first-party data. While TTD is actively developing alternative identity solutions, the successful adoption and effectiveness of these solutions across the fragmented digital advertising landscape represent a significant, ongoing threat to its core business model.

AI Analysis | Feedback

The Trade Desk (symbol: TTD) operates within substantial addressable markets for its digital advertising platform and services. The company itself estimates its total addressable market to be approximately $1 trillion globally. Here's a breakdown of the addressable markets for its main products and services:
  • Global Digital Advertising Market: The global digital advertising market is projected to reach approximately $786.22 billion by 2026 and is expected to surpass $850 billion in 2026. Another estimate suggests the global online advertising market size will grow from $416.65 billion in 2026 to $1344.68 billion by 2034. The broader total addressable market for digital advertising is projected to expand from approximately $700 billion to $1.5 trillion by 2034.
  • Global Programmatic Advertising Market: The global programmatic advertising market size is estimated to be approximately $0.72 trillion (USD 720 billion) in 2026, with projections to reach $1.17 trillion by 2031. Another report indicates the global programmatic advertising market is likely to be valued at US$273.7 billion in 2026 and is projected to reach US$975.1 billion by 2033. Global programmatic ad spend is also forecast to surpass US$200 billion in 2026.
  • Connected TV (CTV) Advertising Market: Global CTV ad spending is projected to surpass $45 billion by the end of 2026. For the U.S. specifically, CTV ad spending is projected to reach approximately $38 billion in 2026. Another estimate for U.S. CTV advertising spending projects it will reach $32.57 billion in 2026.

AI Analysis | Feedback

The Trade Desk (TTD) is expected to drive future revenue growth over the next two to three years through several key initiatives and market trends:

  • Growth in Connected TV (CTV) Advertising: Connected TV remains a significant growth driver, with the company consistently reporting strong performance in this channel. The Trade Desk's platform is strategically positioned to benefit from the increasing adoption of CTV, which is central to its long-term growth strategy.
  • Advancements in AI-driven Innovation with the Kokai Platform: The Trade Desk's AI-powered platform, Kokai, is crucial for future performance and innovation. Nearly all clients are currently running campaigns through Kokai, and the company aims to demonstrate that its AI consistently delivers superior results in an open, multi-publisher environment. Potential partnerships, such as those reportedly explored with OpenAI for AI-driven ad inventory, further underscore the importance of AI in its growth trajectory.
  • Expansion in Retail Media and Optimization of the Open Internet Supply Chain: The company is focused on expanding its retail data marketplace and simplifying measurement, user experience, and billing. The Trade Desk is also dedicated to improving the overall supply chain of the open internet, positioning itself to capture a larger share of the global advertising market. The increasing ad supply further strengthens the value proposition of independent, inventory-neutral platforms like The Trade Desk.
  • Increasing Advertiser Demand and Programmatic Advertising Adoption: The Trade Desk benefits from the ongoing shift of advertisers towards data-driven programmatic and streaming-first channels. As brands increasingly rely on automated ad buying to manage campaigns and optimize spending with real-time data, The Trade Desk's robust position in programmatic advertising is expected to fuel continued revenue expansion.

AI Analysis | Feedback

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Capital Allocation Decisions (Last 3-5 Years)

Share Repurchases

  • The Trade Desk utilized approximately $1.4 billion of cash to repurchase its Class A common stock in the year ended December 31, 2025, at an average repurchase price of $52.60.
  • As of February 25, 2026, the board of directors authorized an additional $350 million for share repurchases, bringing the total amount available for future repurchases of Class A common stock to $500 million.
  • Annual share buybacks amounted to $646.597 million in 2023 and $234.784 million in 2024.

Share Issuance

  • Stock-based compensation for the twelve months ending December 31, 2025, was $1.259 billion, showing a 4.47% increase year-over-year.
  • Stock-based compensation was $494.7 million in 2024 and $491.6 million in 2023.

Capital Expenditures

  • Capital expenditures for fiscal year 2025 reached $197 million, marking a peak in the last five years.
  • Capital expenditures were $98.238 million in 2024 and $46.79 million in 2023, the latter being a five-year low.
  • Expected capital expenditures are $187.6 million for 2026 and $196.6 million for 2027, primarily focused on funding long-term assets and infrastructure.
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Better Bets vs. Trade Desk (TTD)

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Trade Ideas

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Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
CMCSA_4242026_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield04242026CMCSAComcastDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
-1.9%-1.9%-2.9%
TTD_4022026_Dip_Buyer_High_CFO_Margins_ExInd_DE04022026TTDTrade DeskDip BuyDB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow Margins
Buying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap
7.0%7.0%-8.9%
META_3272026_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy03272026METAMeta PlatformsDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
16.4%16.4%0.0%
CARG_3062026_Insider_Buying_GTE_1Mil_EBITp+DE_V203062026CARGCarGurusInsiderInsider Buys | Low D/EStrong Insider Buying
Companies with strong insider buying in the last 1 month, positive operating income and reasonable debt / market cap
8.3%8.3%-8.3%
YELP_2132026_Dip_Buyer_High_CFO_Margins_ExInd_DE02132026YELPYelpDip BuyDB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow Margins
Buying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap
31.6%31.6%-5.7%
TTD_10032025_Dip_Buyer_High_CFO_Margins_ExInd_DE10032025TTDTrade DeskDip BuyDB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow Margins
Buying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap
-57.2%-54.2%-61.0%
TTD_3312025_Dip_Buyer_High_CFO_Margins_ExInd_DE03312025TTDTrade DeskDip BuyDB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow Margins
Buying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap
-9.3%-58.5%-61.1%
TTD_5312022_Dip_Buyer_High_CFO_Margins_ExInd_DE05312022TTDTrade DeskDip BuyDB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow Margins
Buying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap
-6.5%34.6%-23.4%

Recent Active Movers

Peer Comparisons

Peers to compare with:

Financials

TTDGOOGLAMZNMETAVZDSPMedian
NameTrade De.Alphabet Amazon.c.Meta Pla.Verizon .Viant Te. 
Mkt Price22.38382.97266.32610.2648.3511.19157.34
Mkt Cap10.64,633.62,861.11,546.4203.30.2874.9
Rev LTM2,969422,499742,776214,962139,146362177,054
Op Inc LTM602138,12985,42288,59329,5231357,472
FCF LTM82964,429-2,47248,25319,8614110,345
FCF 3Y Avg68669,47421,34650,10117,8263219,586
CFO LTM1,093174,353148,531124,00037,3396080,670
CFO 3Y Avg845138,013120,52798,82337,0734967,948

Growth & Margins

TTDGOOGLAMZNMETAVZDSPMedian
NameTrade De.Alphabet Amazon.c.Meta Pla.Verizon .Viant Te. 
Rev Chg LTM15.5%17.5%14.2%26.2%2.8%18.1%16.5%
Rev Chg 3Y Avg21.8%14.1%12.3%22.4%0.7%22.8%18.0%
Rev Chg Q11.8%21.8%16.6%33.1%2.9%25.3%19.2%
QoQ Delta Rev Chg LTM2.5%4.9%3.6%7.0%0.7%5.2%4.2%
Op Inc Chg LTM32.8%17.5%19.2%21.2%1.3%201.1%20.2%
Op Inc Chg 3Y Avg82.4%24.3%108.4%50.4%-0.8%135.7%66.4%
Op Mgn LTM20.3%32.7%11.5%41.2%21.2%3.6%20.7%
Op Mgn 3Y Avg16.7%31.5%10.2%40.5%21.4%-0.2%19.1%
QoQ Delta Op Mgn LTM-0.1%0.7%0.3%-0.2%0.0%0.1%0.1%
CFO/Rev LTM36.8%41.3%20.0%57.7%26.8%16.6%31.8%
CFO/Rev 3Y Avg32.9%37.3%18.1%55.9%27.2%16.2%30.1%
FCF/Rev LTM27.9%15.2%-0.3%22.4%14.3%11.5%14.8%
FCF/Rev 3Y Avg27.0%19.3%3.5%29.3%13.1%10.5%16.2%

Valuation

TTDGOOGLAMZNMETAVZDSPMedian
NameTrade De.Alphabet Amazon.c.Meta Pla.Verizon .Viant Te. 
Mkt Cap10.64,633.62,861.11,546.4203.30.2874.9
P/S3.611.03.97.21.50.63.7
P/Op Inc17.733.533.517.56.915.417.6
P/EBIT17.323.724.217.06.815.417.2
P/E24.628.931.521.911.722.023.3
P/CFO9.726.619.312.55.43.311.1
Total Yield4.1%3.7%3.2%4.9%14.2%4.6%4.3%
Dividend Yield0.0%0.2%0.0%0.3%5.7%0.0%0.1%
FCF Yield 3Y Avg3.8%3.2%1.1%3.6%9.2%16.5%3.7%
D/E0.00.00.10.11.00.10.1
Net D/E-0.1-0.00.00.00.9-0.8-0.0

Returns

TTDGOOGLAMZNMETAVZDSPMedian
NameTrade De.Alphabet Amazon.c.Meta Pla.Verizon .Viant Te. 
1M Rtn-5.0%12.9%4.3%-9.6%5.2%3.8%4.0%
3M Rtn-10.8%21.7%26.8%-6.8%-0.4%17.8%8.7%
6M Rtn-43.6%28.0%20.7%2.9%21.1%14.1%17.4%
12M Rtn-69.9%124.9%31.1%-3.8%19.7%-19.3%7.9%
3Y Rtn-66.5%215.1%131.6%149.3%63.3%145.9%138.8%
1M Excs Rtn-6.2%7.9%-0.7%-12.6%-2.7%4.9%-1.7%
3M Excs Rtn-16.7%13.7%20.4%-13.5%-10.5%17.4%1.6%
6M Excs Rtn-56.8%18.5%7.1%-9.0%8.7%6.1%6.6%
12M Excs Rtn-97.8%100.1%4.5%-31.5%-9.9%-47.4%-20.7%
3Y Excs Rtn-145.9%139.8%50.9%73.9%-16.1%63.0%57.0%

Financials

Segment Financials

Revenue by Segment
$ Mil20252024202320222021
Advertising technology platform2,4451,9461,5781,196836
Total2,4451,9461,5781,196836


Price Behavior

Price Behavior
Market Price$22.38 
Market Cap ($ Bil)10.7 
First Trading Date09/21/2016 
Distance from 52W High-75.1% 
   50 Days200 Days
DMA Price$22.65$36.86
DMA Trenddowndown
Distance from DMA-1.2%-39.3%
 3M1YR
Volatility66.4%63.0%
Downside Capture29.43129.00
Upside Capture-21.46-51.50
Correlation (SPY)7.1%15.1%
TTD Betas & Captures as of 4/30/2026

 1M2M3M6M1Y3Y
Beta0.880.390.921.041.091.54
Up Beta0.771.001.251.361.841.60
Down Beta8.381.361.431.342.001.98
Up Capture60%-11%-1%-16%-15%68%
Bmk +ve Days15223166141428
Stock +ve Days12192551122386
Down Capture259%5%144%159%104%110%
Bmk -ve Days4183056108321
Stock -ve Days10243873126362

[1] Upside and downside betas calculated using positive and negative benchmark daily returns respectively
Based On 1-Year Data
Annualized
Return
Annualized
Volatility
Sharpe
Ratio
Correlation
with TTD
TTD-70.1%63.2%-1.62-
Sector ETF (XLC)16.0%13.2%0.8722.4%
Equity (SPY)29.5%12.0%1.8615.8%
Gold (GLD)35.5%26.8%1.11-4.0%
Commodities (DBC)42.9%18.7%1.77-1.2%
Real Estate (VNQ)15.2%13.1%0.827.6%
Bitcoin (BTCUSD)-29.5%41.7%-0.7317.3%

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Based On 5-Year Data
Annualized
Return
Annualized
Volatility
Sharpe
Ratio
Correlation
with TTD
TTD-15.1%67.1%0.04-
Sector ETF (XLC)9.7%20.6%0.3853.5%
Equity (SPY)14.0%17.0%0.6449.9%
Gold (GLD)18.8%18.0%0.851.2%
Commodities (DBC)10.4%19.4%0.429.4%
Real Estate (VNQ)3.8%18.8%0.1033.4%
Bitcoin (BTCUSD)12.2%55.3%0.4230.7%

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Based On 10-Year Data
Annualized
Return
Annualized
Volatility
Sharpe
Ratio
Correlation
with TTD
TTD21.5%68.5%0.59-
Sector ETF (XLC)9.6%22.2%0.5053.4%
Equity (SPY)15.7%17.9%0.7546.5%
Gold (GLD)13.0%16.0%0.671.3%
Commodities (DBC)7.8%17.9%0.3513.6%
Real Estate (VNQ)5.5%20.7%0.2330.6%
Bitcoin (BTCUSD)67.2%66.9%1.0617.6%

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Short Interest

Short Interest: As Of Date4302026
Short Interest: Shares Quantity73.8 Mil
Short Interest: % Change Since 41520262.3%
Average Daily Volume16.6 Mil
Days-to-Cover Short Interest4.4 days
Basic Shares Quantity474.7 Mil
Short % of Basic Shares15.5%

Earnings Returns History

Expand for More
 Forward Returns
Earnings Date1D Returns5D Returns21D Returns
5/7/2026-1.7%-13.1% 
1/26/2026-7.5%-17.0%-31.8%
11/6/2025-6.3%-6.6%-14.2%
8/7/2025-38.6%-42.5%-41.1%
5/8/202518.6%29.4%19.3%
2/12/2025-33.0%-38.0%-55.9%
11/7/2024-5.6%-5.0%1.7%
8/8/202412.5%13.9%12.5%
...
SUMMARY STATS   
# Positive111114
# Negative141410
Median Positive17.5%14.3%13.7%
Median Negative-6.0%-10.5%-13.8%
Max Positive36.2%46.4%41.0%
Max Negative-38.6%-42.5%-55.9%

SEC Filings

Expand for More
Report DateFiling DateFiling
03/31/202605/07/202610-Q
12/31/202502/27/202610-K
09/30/202511/06/202510-Q
06/30/202508/07/202510-Q
03/31/202505/08/202510-Q
12/31/202402/21/202510-K
09/30/202411/07/202410-Q
06/30/202408/08/202410-Q
03/31/202405/10/202410-Q
12/31/202302/15/202410-K
09/30/202311/09/202310-Q
06/30/202308/09/202310-Q
03/31/202305/10/202310-Q
12/31/202202/15/202310-K
09/30/202211/09/202210-Q
06/30/202208/09/202210-Q

Recent Forward Guidance [BETA]

Latest: Q4 2025 Earnings Reported 2/25/2026

Forward GuidanceGuidance Change
MetricLowMidHigh% Chg% DeltaChangePrior
Q1 2026 Revenue 678.00 Mil -19.3% Lower NewGuidance: 840.00 Mil for Q4 2025
Q1 2026 Adjusted EBITDA 195.00 Mil -48.0% Lower NewGuidance: 375.00 Mil for Q4 2025

Prior: Q3 2025 Earnings Reported 11/6/2025

Forward GuidanceGuidance Change
MetricLowMidHigh% Chg% DeltaChangePrior
Q4 2025 Revenue 840.00 Mil 17.2% Higher NewGuidance: 717.00 Mil for Q3 2025
Q4 2025 Adjusted EBITDA 375.00 Mil 35.4% Higher NewGuidance: 277.00 Mil for Q3 2025

Insider Activity

Expand for More
#OwnerTitleHoldingActionFiling DatePriceSharesTransacted
Value
Value of
Held Shares
Form
1Falberg, Kathryn E DirectSell309202630.45102,8283,131,11359,256Form
2Falberg, Kathryn E Family TrustSell309202630.4850,000  Form
3Green, Jeffrey TerryPresident and CEOLimited PartnershipBuy304202625.082,314,30458,042,744150,480,000Form
4Green, Jeffrey TerryPresident and CEOLimited PartnershipBuy304202624.971,685,69642,091,82992,031,829Form
5Green, Jeffrey TerryPresident and CEOLimited PartnershipBuy304202623.982,000,00047,966,69347,966,693Form

TTD Trade Sentinel


Stock Conviction

MARKET WEIGHT (Score 5-6)

CONVICTION RATIONALE

The stock presents a high-risk, high-reward scenario. While the upside potential from a re-acceleration is significant (~2.8x the downside), the path is fraught with risk. The competitive moat is actively being contested by a formidable rival (Amazon), and a major customer dispute threatens its pricing power. The valuation remains speculative, requiring a return to stronger growth that has not yet materialized. This balance of a compelling long-term secular story against severe near-term competitive and execution risks warrants a neutral, 'Market Weight' rating.

STOCK ARCHETYPE
Primary: High-Beta Compounder, Secondary: Transition / Profit Pivot

The market primarily values TTD on its future growth potential (Type A), making it highly sensitive to revenue deceleration. However, given the recent slowdown to low double-digit growth, increasing competition, and a mature margin profile, it is also exhibiting traits of a former high-flyer pivoting to a more mature operational focus (Type F).

Looking for high-conviction positions with a better risk/reward profile? See what's currently in the Trefis High Quality Portfolio.
INVESTMENT THESIS
CTV & Retail Media Share Gains via UID2 Adoption

The Trade Desk is the leading independent demand-side platform (DSP), uniquely positioned to capture the secular shift of advertising budgets from linear TV to Connected TV (CTV) and the growth of retail media. Its Unified ID 2.0 (UID2) solution is becoming a critical industry standard for the post-cookie 'open internet,' creating a durable competitive advantage.

Mechanism: TTD earns revenue by charging a percentage (take rate) of the gross advertising spend on its platform. As high-value spend shifts to CTV and retail media, and as UID2 increases the value of open internet inventory, TTD's revenue base expands.
Supporting Evidence:
  • CTV represents over 50% of the business and is the fastest-growing channel.
  • Customer retention has been consistently above 95% for over ten years, indicating a sticky platform.
  • New Joint Business Partnership (JBP) signings surged 55% YoY in Q1 2026, a leading indicator of strong future client commitment and spend.
  • The U.S. CTV ad market is projected to grow at ~14%, more than double the pace of overall digital advertising.
PRIMARY RISK
Walled Garden Encroachment and Agency Pricing Pressure

Intensifying competition from 'walled gardens' like Google (DV360) and especially Amazon (DSP), who leverage massive proprietary first-party data, threatens to erode TTD's market share on the open internet. This is amplified by recent disputes with major agency partners, like Publicis Groupe, who are scrutinizing TTD's fee structures and transparency, potentially leading to structural pricing pressure.

Mechanism: Increased competition and agency pushback could force The Trade Desk to lower its take rate to defend volume, directly compressing revenue and margins. A sustained loss of trust or volume from a major agency holding company would materially impact gross spend on the platform.
Supporting Evidence:
  • Publicis Groupe, estimated to be >10% of gross billings, advised clients to pause spending in March 2026, alleging issues with fee structures.
  • Amazon's advertising revenue grew 24% YoY in its latest quarter, significantly outpacing TTD's growth and indicating share shifts.
  • Guidance for Q2 2026 revenue implies ~8% YoY growth, a significant deceleration from the 25% growth seen in Q1 2025.
Key KPI Watchlist
KPI Threshold Rationale
YoY Revenue GrowthStabilization above 10%, re-acceleration to 15%+The primary driver of the stock's negative performance has been decelerating growth. A reversal of this trend is required for the bull thesis to play out.
Major Agency RelationshipsResolution of Publicis dispute, signing/expansion of new JBPsThe dispute with a key partner is a major overhang. A positive resolution or new major partnerships would de-risk the 'Anti-Alpha' thesis about pricing pressure.
Connected TV (CTV) Spend GrowthContinued growth significantly outpacing overall company growthThis is the core of the 'Alpha Driver'. Strong, durable growth in CTV is necessary to offset maturity and competition in other channels.
Core Investment Debate

Pricing Power vs. Competitive Encroachment

BULL VIEW

The 55% YoY surge in Joint Business Partnerships (JBPs) proves clients are committing to TTD's platform for the long term, making the Publicis dispute a temporary negotiation.

CORE TENSION

Can TTD's tech (UID2) and CTV leadership defend its premium take-rate against structural pressure from walled gardens (Amazon) and major agency partners (Publicis) pushing back?


PREVAILING SENTIMENT
BEARISH

Guidance for Q2 2026 revenue implies ~8% YoY growth, a significant deceleration from the 25% growth seen in Q1 2025, validating the bear case on slowing momentum.

BEAR VIEW

The Publicis dispute (>10% of billings) and Amazon's 24% YoY ad growth signal a permanent structural challenge to TTD's pricing power and market share.

Next 6 months: Risks and Catalysts
Timeline Event & Metric To Watch
Early August 2026
Q2 2026 Earnings Call
Watch: Q2 Revenue Growth vs. the ~8.1% guided floor. Any commentary on the Publicis relationship and client spending trends is critical.
July & October 2026
Amazon Q2 & Q3 Earnings
Watch: Amazon's advertising revenue growth rate. A continued ~24% YoY growth rate would confirm ongoing market share loss for TTD.
Early November 2026
Q3 2026 Earnings & Q4 Guidance
Watch: Q4 revenue guidance. Will the 2H 2026 re-acceleration, suggested by prior JBP growth, materialize? The market needs to see a return to double-digit growth.
Ongoing (Next 6 months)
EU Digital Markets Act (DMA) Ruling
Watch: A formal decision against a major partner like Google that restricts advertising data signals, potentially impairing TTD's targeting effectiveness.
Key Events in Last 6 Months
Date Event Stock Impact
Nov 6, 2025
Q3 2025 Earnings Report
Details: The company reported its third-quarter 2025 financial results. Details from the provided data are limited, but the negative stock reaction suggests potential concerns from investors.
Fell notably by -3.77%
$47.70 -> $45.90
Jan 26, 2026
Interim CFO Appointed
Details: The Trade Desk announced the appointment of Tahnil Davis as Interim CFO, following the abrupt termination of the previous CFO in January after a brief five-month tenure.
Plummeted -7.50%
$36.55 -> $33.81
Feb 25, 2026
Q4 2025 Earnings Report
Details: Reported revenue of $846.8M (+14.3% YoY) and EPS of $0.59. Despite the beat, the report noted near-term headwinds from CPG and auto verticals.
Modest 0.88% gain
$24.94 -> $25.16
Mar 17, 2026
Securities Lawsuit Advancement
Details: A U.S. District Court denied TTD's motion to dismiss a securities fraud class-action lawsuit related to disclosures about the 'Kokai' ad-buying platform.
Plummeted -7.42%
$27.08 -> $25.07
Mar 19, 2026
Publicis Dispute & Executive Departures
Details: Reports confirmed Publicis Groupe (>10% of billings) advised clients to pause spending. Separately, the company disclosed multiple board member resignations, leading to noncompliance with Nasdaq rules.
Muted (-0.17%)
$23.55 -> $23.51
May 7, 2026
Q1 2026 Earnings & Guidance
Details: Reported 12% YoY revenue growth to $689M. Despite a revenue beat, stock fell after guidance for Q2 revenue of at least $750M implied significant deceleration to ~8% YoY.
Fell notably by -2.17%
$24.01 -> $23.49
Risk Management
Position Sizing

1% - 3%

CONSERVATIVE

Stock is in an Explosive Volatility regime (4.15x S&P). The Bearish sentiment, Contested moat, and Low visibility from decelerating growth mandate a Conservative sizing to manage drawdown risk.

Diversification Alternatives
PUBM
SECTOR

Unlike TTD, PubMatic's narrative is not currently impaired by a major client dispute. It has a clean balance sheet (no debt) and owns its infrastructure, offering a more efficient, profitable model.

Core Thesis: A well-run, consistently profitable sell-side platform gaining share in CTV. Its owned infrastructure provides a durable cost advantage and operating leverage.
How Is The Market Pricing TTD?

The Trade Desk is solidifying its position as the primary independent platform for advertising on the open internet, leveraging the industry's shift away from cookies (via UID2 adoption) and towards data-driven, premium channels like Connected TV (CTV) and Retail Media.

Filter all news through the lens of TTD's strategic position as the default demand-side platform (DSP) for the non-walled garden internet, focusing on CTV and retail media growth.

What will confirm the thesis

Sustained customer retention >95%; major new Joint Business Partnership (JBP) signings with large advertisers or agencies; announcements of exclusive inventory partnerships in CTV or retail media; wider industry adoption of UID2 as the post-cookie identity standard.

What will damage the thesis

Deceleration in revenue growth below management's guidance; significant customer churn or loss of a major agency holding company; aggressive competitive moves by walled gardens (Google, Amazon) into TTD's core CTV market; regulatory challenges to UID2 or data privacy frameworks.

Noise: Real but irrelevant to thesis

Quarterly fluctuations in ad spend from specific verticals (e.g., CPG, Auto) - these are cyclical and already discussed by management; minor competitive feature announcements from smaller DSPs; executive departures that don't alter the core strategy (e.g., CSO to OpenAI, but remains on board).

Repricing Catalyst

The primary catalyst is the accelerating shift of advertising budgets from linear television to programmatic CTV, where TTD has a leading position. This is coupled with the growth of retail media and the adoption of its UID2 identity solution, which positions it as a key beneficiary of the internet's move away from third-party cookies.

What TTD Makes & Who Pays
TTM figures based on Q1 2026 Earnings Press Release, May 7 2026
Programmatic Advertising Platform
$2.8B TTM (100% of Total) · 70% Margin
What It Is

A unified demand-side platform (DSP) for omnichannel advertising campaigns. Key technologies include Koa (AI for bidding optimization), Kokai (updated AI/ML platform), and Unified ID 2.0 (UID2), a post-cookie identity solution.

Who Pays & How

Advertising agencies (e.g., Publicis, Omnicom) and large brand advertisers pay a percentage of their media spend to use the platform for its independence from 'walled gardens', access to broad open internet inventory (especially CTV), and advanced data-driven targeting capabilities.

Platform fees are charged as a percentage of a client's advertising spend (take rate).
Competition
Google — Display & Video 360 (DV360)
DV360 has exclusive access to Google's vast inventory, including YouTube, and deep integration with the Google Marketing Platform stack.
TTD's moat is its independence and neutrality, operating only on the buy-side without owning media, which contrasts with Google's 'walled garden'. TTD offers broader access to the entire open internet, especially in premium CTV, and greater data flexibility.
TTD Evolution: Price Return by Era
2009–2016 · Founding & IPO
Pioneering Real-Time Bidding
Co-founded by Jeff Green and Dave Pickles, the company focused on building a self-service platform for ad buyers. It was an early partner in Facebook's RTB exchange in 2012 and established itself as a key technology layer for agencies, culminating in its IPO in September 2016.
2017–2023 · CTV & Scale
Dominating the Shift to Streaming ~+1,500% (Sep 2016 – Dec 2023)
This era was defined by explosive growth driven by the pivot to Connected TV (CTV). TTD integrated CTV buying directly into its platform in 2017, capturing the massive shift of ad dollars from linear TV to streaming services. The company scaled rapidly, expanding internationally and consistently maintaining >95% customer retention.
2024–Present · Post-Cookie & AI
Architecting the Open Internet's Future -45% peak-to-trough (Dec 2024 – May 2026)
Facing the deprecation of third-party cookies, TTD led the industry with its Unified ID 2.0 (UID2) framework for a new identity standard. The company also heavily invested in AI with its Kokai platform to enhance bidding efficiency. This era focuses on cementing TTD's role as the core infrastructure for the independent, privacy-conscious open internet.
Market Appears To Be Acting Against Core Thesis
Price structure is in a downtrend. Multiple SMA levels broken and declining. Thesis requires reclaiming 200D before any bull case is credible. Relative to SPY: Significantly underperforming and deteriorating. Potential evidence of capital being actively rotating away. Volume and momentum are deeply bearish. The sustained distribution is evident across multiple volume metrics. Earnings history is clearly negative. The market punished the print and the drift confirms distribution. Thesis is under pressure.
① Structure
-4
Structural pillar score (-4 to +4). Driven by trend regime, SMA cross events, proximity to 52W high, and relative strength vs SPY.
② Volume / Momentum
-4
Volume/Momentum pillar score (-4 to +4). Driven by institutional footprint score, OBV divergence, and momentum character.
③ Catalyst
-2
Catalyst pillar score (-4 to +4). Driven by earnings day reaction, 20D post-earnings drift, and post-earnings volume character.
Combined Score
-10 / 12
1 Price Structure & Trend Downtrend · -
2 Momentum Deteriorating
3 Relative Strength vs. SPY Strong Underperformance
4 Institutional Footprint & Volume Strong Distribution
5 Volatility Normal
6 Key Price Levels Range · Vol Flat
7 Earnings Reaction History Consistent Pressure
8 How the Verdict Is Derived Three Pillars