Let’s dig into the relative performance of MediaAlpha (NYSE:MAX) and its peers as we unravel the now-completed Q3 advertising & marketing services earnings season.
The sector is on the precipice of both disruption and growth as AI, programmatic advertising, and data-driven marketing reshape how things are done. For example, the advent of the Internet broadly and programmatic advertising specifically means that brand building is not a relationship business anymore but instead one based on data and technology, which could hurt traditional ad agencies. On the other hand, the companies in the sector that beef up their tech chops by automating the buying of ad inventory or facilitating omnichannel marketing, for example, stand to benefit. With or without advances in digitization and AI, the sector is still highly levered to the macro, and economic uncertainty may lead to fluctuating ad spend, particularly in cyclical industries.
The 7 advertising & marketing services stocks we track reported a strong Q3. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 2.8% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was 0.9% below.
In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady as they are up 3.8% on average since the latest earnings results.
MediaAlpha (NYSE:MAX)
Powering nearly 10 million consumer referrals each month in the insurance marketplace, MediaAlpha (NYSE:MAX) operates a technology platform that connects insurance carriers with high-intent consumers shopping for property, casualty, health, and life insurance products.
MediaAlpha reported revenues of $306.5 million, up 18.3% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 7.6%. Overall, it was a strong quarter for the company with an impressive beat of analysts’ revenue and EPS estimates.
MediaAlpha scored the biggest analyst estimates beat and fastest revenue growth of the whole group. Unsurprisingly, the stock is up 6.6% since reporting and currently trades at $11.86.
Best Q3: Taboola (NASDAQ:TBLA)
Often appearing as those "You May Also Like" or "Recommended For You" boxes at the bottom of news articles, Taboola (NASDAQ:TBLA) operates a digital platform that recommends personalized content to users across publisher websites, helping both publishers monetize their sites and advertisers reach target audiences.
Taboola reported revenues of $496.8 million, up 14.7% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 6.3%. The business had a stunning quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS and revenue estimates.
The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 31.8% since reporting. It currently trades at $4.39.
Is now the time to buy Taboola? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free for active Edge members.
Slowest Q3: Clear Channel Outdoor (NYSE:CCO)
With thousands of digital and traditional displays lighting up America's highways, city streets, and airports, Clear Channel Outdoor (NYSE:CCO) operates billboards, street furniture, and airport displays, connecting advertisers with millions of consumers across the US.
Clear Channel Outdoor reported revenues of $405.6 million, up 8.1% year on year, exceeding analysts’ expectations by 0.9%. Still, it was a mixed quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.
Interestingly, the stock is up 18.4% since the results and currently trades at $2.12.
Read our full analysis of Clear Channel Outdoor’s results here.
QuinStreet (NASDAQ:QNST)
Founded during the dot-com era in 1999 and specializing in high-intent consumer traffic, QuinStreet (NASDAQ:QNST) operates digital performance marketplaces that connect clients in financial and home services with consumers actively searching for their products.
QuinStreet reported revenues of $285.9 million, up 2.4% year on year. This result topped analysts’ expectations by 2.1%. More broadly, it was a satisfactory quarter as it also produced a solid beat of analysts’ revenue estimates but revenue guidance for next quarter meeting analysts’ expectations.
The stock is up 5% since reporting and currently trades at $14.57.
Read our full, actionable report on QuinStreet here, it’s free for active Edge members.
Magnite (NASDAQ:MGNI)
Born from the 2020 merger of Rubicon Project and Telaria, Magnite (NASDAQ:MGNI) operates the world's largest independent sell-side advertising platform that automates the buying and selling of digital advertising inventory across all channels and formats.
Magnite reported revenues of $179.5 million, up 10.8% year on year. This print beat analysts’ expectations by 0.9%. Overall, it was a satisfactory quarter as it also recorded a narrow beat of analysts’ revenue estimates.
The stock is down 6% since reporting and currently trades at $16.79.
Read our full, actionable report on Magnite here, it’s free for active Edge members.
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