The Trade Desk has seen a notable rise of 5.8% in its shares over the last month, surpassing the overall Zacks Computer & Technology sector and the Zacks Internet Services industry. While the sector experienced a decline of 2.2%, the industry dropped 4.4% during the same period.
Driving this positive trend is the substantial growth in The Trade Desk’s top-line revenue, fueled by an expanding client base. Revenues surged by 27% in the first half of 2024 compared to the previous year, largely due to increased spending from both new and existing clients.
The Trade Desk’s self-service cloud-based platform, offering automation in ad buying, has enabled its clients to tap into a fragmented audience as media digitization progresses. The company’s global expansion, ongoing development of omnichannel ad inventory, and the strong adoption of programmatic advertising have further bolstered its performance.
This impressive growth has propelled TTD shares to hit a 52-week high of $109.5 on Sept. 18, marking a remarkable year-to-date increase of 50.1%.
The Trade Desk’s Strong Year-to-Date Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The technical outlook remains bullish for The Trade Desk as its shares are trading above the 50-day and 200-day moving averages, indicating robust upward momentum.
The Trade Desk’s Strong Technical Position
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Can The Trade Desk maintain this momentum? Let’s delve into its strengths and weaknesses.
Factors Driving The Trade Desk’s Growth
The Trade Desk has been benefiting from increased demand for its advertising services, particularly in the Connected TV (CTV) segment. Initiatives like UID2, OpenPass, and Kokai have gained traction, with major players like Roku, DIRECTV, and Pandora Media adopting UID2.
The prevailing strong demand in the CTV and retail media sectors is expected to buoy The Trade Desk’s revenues in the near term. With CTV being its fastest-growing channel, reaching millions of households and devices, the company is well-positioned to capitalize on the growing digital advertising market.
Furthermore, The Trade Desk’s expanding international presence, along with a diverse partner base comprising entities like Netflix, Disney, Amazon, and LG Electronics, has been a key growth driver, opening up new avenues for revenue generation.
Positive Revenue Estimates for 2024
The Trade Desk anticipates third-quarter revenues to exceed $618 million, reflecting a growth rate of around 25% compared to the previous year. Adjusted EBITDA is projected to be approximately $248 million.
The consensus estimates portray a positive outlook for The Trade Desk in 2024, with revenue and earnings expected to show robust year-over-year growth.
The Trade Desk’s Revenue and Earnings Estimates
The Trade Desk price-consensus-chart | The Trade Desk Quote
The Trade Desk’s Valuation
Despite its strong performance, The Trade Desk’s stock valuation appears stretched, with a forward 12-month Price/Sales ratio of 18.85X as compared to the industry average of 5.19X, signifying that TTD stock may be overvalued at present.
The Trade Desk’s Price-to-Sales Ratio
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Summary
The Trade Desk’s strong market position and expansive partner network are driving its growth momentum. Despite concerns about its current valuation, the positive trajectory of TTD shares is expected to continue, supported by these fundamentals.
With a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold), investors may consider waiting for a more opportune entry point, but existing shareholders can look forward to the company’s promising growth prospects in the long run.