Ziff Davis (ZD)
Market Price (12/4/2025): $35.46 | Market Cap: $1.4 BilSector: Communication Services | Industry: Advertising
Ziff Davis (ZD)
Market Price (12/4/2025): $35.46Market Cap: $1.4 BilSector: Communication ServicesIndustry: Advertising
Investment Highlights
Why It Matters
Which of these 2 stories sounds closer for this stock?
1. Generates cash flow
The stock generated 4% or more of the share price (called cash flow yield), and shows moderate 10-15% or more growth.
2. Riding a trend
Think Tesla during the pandemic of 2020 when EVs were riding a cultural high, or Nvidia in the current AI boom, or even Figma. These companies don’t have enough yield, or, enough growth, or both - however - they are riding a trend. They have momentum. These can be more volatile - they don’t have the floor of strong cash flow
| Attractive yieldTotal YieldTotal Yield = Earnings Yield + Dividend Yield, Earnings Yield = Net Income / Market Cap Dividend Yield = Total Dividends / Market Cap is 7.2%, ERPEquity Risk Premium (ERP) = Total Yield - Risk Free Rate, Reflects the premium above risk free assets offered by the investment. is 3.0%, FCF Yield is 17% | Weak multi-year price returns2Y Excs Rtn is -94%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -132% | |
| Attractive cash flow generationCFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 26%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 18% | Meaningful short interestShort 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 11% | |
| Low stock price volatilityVol 12M is 50% | ||
| Megatrend and thematic driversMegatrends include Digital Content & Streaming, Digital Advertising, and Digital Health & Telemedicine. Themes include Gaming Content & Platforms, Show more. |
| Attractive yieldTotal YieldTotal Yield = Earnings Yield + Dividend Yield, Earnings Yield = Net Income / Market Cap Dividend Yield = Total Dividends / Market Cap is 7.2%, ERPEquity Risk Premium (ERP) = Total Yield - Risk Free Rate, Reflects the premium above risk free assets offered by the investment. is 3.0%, FCF Yield is 17% |
| Attractive cash flow generationCFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 26%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 18% |
| Low stock price volatilityVol 12M is 50% |
| Megatrend and thematic driversMegatrends include Digital Content & Streaming, Digital Advertising, and Digital Health & Telemedicine. Themes include Gaming Content & Platforms, Show more. |
| Weak multi-year price returns2Y Excs Rtn is -94%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -132% |
| Meaningful short interestShort 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 11% |
Valuation, Metrics & Events
ZD Stock
Why The Stock Moved
Qualitative Assessment
AI Generated Analysis | Feedback
The requested time period for Ziff Davis (ZD) stock movement, from August 31, 2025, to December 4, 2025, is in the future. Therefore, I cannot provide factual information regarding specific stock performance or explanatory factors for this period. However, some search results provide analyst forecasts and news releases that are dated in the future, which reflect *expectations* or *scheduled announcements*, rather than actual events or stock movements. For example, Ziff Davis reported unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2024, on February 24, 2025, and provided 2025 guidance at that time. Additionally, Ziff Davis announced its third-quarter 2025 financial results on November 6, 2025.
Here are some general points based on available forward-looking information:
1. Ziff Davis reported strong full-year 2024 financial results, returning to revenue, adjusted diluted EPS, and free cash flow growth, and provided 2025 guidance, indicating a positive outlook moving into 2025.
2. Analyst consensus forecasts for Ziff Davis's earnings per share (EPS) for fiscal year ending December 2025 have seen a slight decrease over the past month.
Stock Movement Drivers
Return vs. Risk
Price Returns Compared
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Total [1] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Returns | |||||||
| ZD Return | 4% | 29% | -29% | -15% | -19% | -39% | -60% |
| Peers Return | 52% | 113% | -16% | 34% | 21% | 24% | 451% |
| S&P 500 Return | 16% | 27% | -19% | 24% | 23% | 16% | 112% |
Monthly Win Rates [3] | |||||||
| ZD Win Rate | 42% | 67% | 25% | 42% | 42% | 30% | |
| Peers Win Rate | 52% | 54% | 46% | 46% | 52% | 52% | |
| S&P 500 Win Rate | 58% | 75% | 42% | 67% | 75% | 70% | |
Max Drawdowns [4] | |||||||
| ZD Max Drawdown | -42% | -3% | -38% | -26% | -41% | -46% | |
| Peers Max Drawdown | -33% | -3% | -39% | -31% | -34% | -36% | |
| S&P 500 Max Drawdown | -31% | -1% | -25% | -1% | -2% | -15% | |
[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2020
[2] Peers: GSAT, TDS, CALX, CCOI, EVON.
[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] 2025 data is for the year up to 12/3/2025 (YTD)
How Low Can It Go
| Event | ZD | S&P 500 |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 Inflation Shock | ||
| % Loss | -56.2% | -25.4% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 128.1% | 34.1% |
| Time to Breakeven | Not Fully Recovered days | 464 days |
| 2020 Covid Pandemic | ||
| % Loss | -47.5% | -33.9% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 90.3% | 51.3% |
| Time to Breakeven | 183 days | 148 days |
| 2018 Correction | ||
| % Loss | -28.1% | -19.8% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 39.0% | 24.7% |
| Time to Breakeven | 212 days | 120 days |
| 2008 Global Financial Crisis | ||
| % Loss | -63.1% | -56.8% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 171.0% | 131.3% |
| Time to Breakeven | 1569 days | 1480 days |
Compare to GSAT, TDS, CALX, CCOI, EVON
In The Past
Ziff Davis's stock fell -56.2% during the 2022 Inflation Shock from a high on 11/9/2021. A -56.2% loss requires a 128.1% gain to breakeven.
Preserve Wealth
Limiting losses and compounding gains is essential to preserving wealth over time.
Asset Allocation
Actively managed asset allocation strategies protect wealth. Learn more.
Latest Trefis Analyses
| Title | |
|---|---|
| ARTICLES |
Trade Ideas
Select past ideas related to ZD. For more, see Trefis Trade Ideas.
| Date | Ticker | Company | Category | Trade Strategy | 6M Fwd Rtn | 12M Fwd Rtn | 12M Max DD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11302025 | PINS | Monopoly | MY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S DeclineLarge cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple | 4.9% | 4.9% | 0.0% | |
| 11212025 | TMUS | T-Mobile US | Monopoly | MY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S DeclineLarge cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple | 0.0% | 0.0% | -1.2% |
| 11212025 | Z | Zillow | Monopoly | MY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S DeclineLarge cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple | 6.8% | 6.8% | 0.0% |
| 11072025 | IRDM | Iridium Communications | Dip Buy | DB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow MarginsBuying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap | 2.1% | 2.1% | -5.6% |
| 10032025 | TTD | Trade Desk | Dip Buy | DB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow MarginsBuying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap | -25.1% | -25.1% | -25.6% |
| 04302025 | ZD | Ziff Davis | Dip Buy | DB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow MarginsBuying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap | 14.2% | 21.4% | -1.1% |
| 12312022 | ZD | Ziff Davis | Dip Buy | DB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High MarginBuying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin | -11.4% | -15.1% | -26.3% |
| 04302022 | ZD | Ziff Davis | Dip Buy | DB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High MarginBuying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin | -11.1% | -17.2% | -22.5% |
| Date | Ticker | Company | Category | Trade Strategy | 6M Fwd Rtn | 12M Fwd Rtn | 12M Max DD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11302025 | PINS | Monopoly | MY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S DeclineLarge cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple | 4.9% | 4.9% | 0.0% | |
| 11212025 | TMUS | T-Mobile US | Monopoly | MY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S DeclineLarge cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple | 0.0% | 0.0% | -1.2% |
| 11212025 | Z | Zillow | Monopoly | MY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S DeclineLarge cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple | 6.8% | 6.8% | 0.0% |
| 11072025 | IRDM | Iridium Communications | Dip Buy | DB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow MarginsBuying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap | 2.1% | 2.1% | -5.6% |
| 10032025 | TTD | Trade Desk | Dip Buy | DB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow MarginsBuying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap | -25.1% | -25.1% | -25.6% |
| 04302025 | ZD | Ziff Davis | Dip Buy | DB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow MarginsBuying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap | 14.2% | 21.4% | -1.1% |
| 12312022 | ZD | Ziff Davis | Dip Buy | DB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High MarginBuying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin | -11.4% | -15.1% | -26.3% |
| 04302022 | ZD | Ziff Davis | Dip Buy | DB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High MarginBuying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin | -11.1% | -17.2% | -22.5% |
Research & Analysis
Invest in Strategies
Wealth Management
Peer Comparisons for Ziff Davis
| Peers to compare with: |
Financials
| Median | |
|---|---|
| Name | |
| Mkt Price | 39.32 |
| Mkt Cap | 3.5 |
| Rev LTM | 988 |
| Op Inc LTM | 11 |
| FCF LTM | 72 |
| FCF 3Y Avg | 47 |
| CFO LTM | 374 |
| CFO 3Y Avg | 323 |
Growth & Margins
| Median | |
|---|---|
| Name | |
| Rev Chg LTM | 5.7% |
| Rev Chg 3Y Avg | 11.7% |
| Rev Chg Q | 2.1% |
| QoQ Delta Rev Chg LTM | 0.6% |
| Op Mgn LTM | 4.1% |
| Op Mgn 3Y Avg | 0.7% |
| QoQ Delta Op Mgn LTM | 0.2% |
| CFO/Rev LTM | 11.8% |
| CFO/Rev 3Y Avg | 20.8% |
| FCF/Rev LTM | 8.2% |
| FCF/Rev 3Y Avg | 5.2% |
Valuation
| Median | |
|---|---|
| Name | |
| Mkt Cap | 3.5 |
| P/S | 1.8 |
| P/EBIT | 8.4 |
| P/E | -79.7 |
| P/CFO | 5.9 |
| Total Yield | 0.1% |
| Dividend Yield | 0.0% |
| FCF Yield 3Y Avg | 1.0% |
| D/E | 0.3 |
| Net D/E | 0.1 |
Returns
| Median | |
|---|---|
| Name | |
| 1M Rtn | -0.7% |
| 3M Rtn | -3.7% |
| 6M Rtn | 15.0% |
| 12M Rtn | 15.0% |
| 3Y Rtn | -24.9% |
| 1M Excs Rtn | -0.6% |
| 3M Excs Rtn | -9.4% |
| 6M Excs Rtn | 0.3% |
| 12M Excs Rtn | 2.0% |
| 3Y Excs Rtn | -90.5% |
Segment Financials
Revenue by Segment
| $ Mil | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health & Wellness | 362 | ||||
| Technology & Shopping | 331 | ||||
| Cybersecurity and Martech | 291 | 313 | |||
| Connectivity | 212 | ||||
| Gaming & Entertainment | 169 | ||||
| Corporate | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Digital Media | 1,079 | 711 | |||
| Elimination of inter-segment revenues | -1 | -0 | |||
| Cloud Services | 662 | ||||
| Total | 1,364 | 1,391 | 1,372 |
| $ Mil | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connectivity | 71 | ||||
| Health & Wellness | 64 | ||||
| Gaming & Entertainment | 57 | ||||
| Cybersecurity and Martech | 43 | 50 | |||
| Technology & Shopping | -50 | ||||
| Corporate | -52 | -50 | -48 | ||
| Digital Media | 199 | 77 | |||
| Cloud Services | 248 | ||||
| Total | 133 | 199 | 277 |
Returns Analyses
SEC Filings
Expand for More| Report Date | Filing Date | Filing |
|---|---|---|
| 9302025 | 11072025 | 10-Q 9/30/2025 |
| 6302025 | 8072025 | 10-Q 6/30/2025 |
| 3312025 | 5092025 | 10-Q 3/31/2025 |
| 12312024 | 2252025 | 10-K 12/31/2024 |
| 9302024 | 11082024 | 10-Q 9/30/2024 |
| 6302024 | 8082024 | 10-Q 6/30/2024 |
| 3312024 | 5092024 | 10-Q 3/31/2024 |
| 12312023 | 2262024 | 10-K 12/31/2023 |
| 9302023 | 11092023 | 10-Q 9/30/2023 |
| 6302023 | 8042023 | 10-Q 6/30/2023 |
| 3312023 | 5102023 | 10-Q 3/31/2023 |
| 12312022 | 3012023 | 10-K 12/31/2022 |
| 9302022 | 11092022 | 10-Q 9/30/2022 |
| 6302022 | 8092022 | 10-Q 6/30/2022 |
| 3312022 | 5102022 | 10-Q 3/31/2022 |
| 12312021 | 3152022 | 10-K 12/31/2021 |
External Quote Links
| Y Finance | Barrons |
| TradingView | Morningstar |
| SeekingAlpha | ValueLine |
| Motley Fool | Robinhood |
| CNBC | Etrade |
| MarketWatch | Unusual Whales |
| YCharts | Perplexity Finance |
| FinViz |