On Thursday, Truist Securities adjusted its outlook on DoubleVerify (NYSE: NYSE:DV) shares, a software platform for digital media measurement and analytics. The firm reduced the price target on the company's stock to $23.00 from the previous $26.00 while maintaining a Buy rating. The decision comes after DoubleVerify reported third-quarter results for 2024 that were in line with expectations but provided a mixed fourth-quarter guidance.
The company's near-term challenges are attributed to a slower growth rate at Meta (NASDAQ:META), as advertisers are holding off for the expected pre-bid solution set to launch early next year. Moreover, brand spending has been impacted by the influx of political ads during the period, and pricing concessions have been made to secure major accounts, including those with Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL) and Procter & Gamble.
Despite these headwinds, Truist Securities anticipates that DoubleVerify will experience revenue growth in the low double digits in 2025, with an increased AEBITDA margin of over 33% due to improved cost efficiencies. The growth is expected to be driven by various business segments, including Social, Connected TV (CTV), the Retail Media Network (RMN), and international expansion.
The revised estimates and price target reflect these factors, with Truist Securities noting that DoubleVerify's stock is currently trading at 11.5 times the enterprise value to EBITDA based on their 2025 estimates. The firm's stance suggests confidence in the company's potential for growth and profitability despite the short-term challenges it faces.
In other recent news, DoubleVerify has been the subject of several analyst adjustments following its third-quarter earnings report. Loop Capital cut DoubleVerify's target to $24 while maintaining a Buy rating, despite a downward revision in the full-year 2024 guidance.
DoubleVerify delivered a robust performance in the third quarter, aligning with revenue forecasts and achieving earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) that surpassed management's guidance.
On the other hand, Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC) initiated coverage with an Underweight rating, citing concerns about shifting ad spend from programmatic display to social media and Connected TV (CTV). This shift, along with internal challenges, resulted in a deceleration of revenue growth from 29% to 17%.
Meanwhile, Truist Securities maintained a Buy rating on DoubleVerify with a steady price target of $26.00, while Needham also maintained a Buy rating but lowered the price target to $22 from $33. The adjustments reflect a shift in growth projections, particularly for DoubleVerify's Measurement and Activation segments.
Analysts from Canaccord Genuity, and Needham expect DoubleVerify to continue outperforming its closest peer and the overall digital advertising industry, despite the revised stock price targets. These are the recent developments for DoubleVerify.
InvestingPro Insights
Recent data from InvestingPro sheds additional light on DoubleVerify's financial position and market performance. The company's market capitalization stands at $3.32 billion, reflecting its significant presence in the digital media measurement space. DoubleVerify's impressive gross profit margin of 82.42% for the last twelve months as of Q3 2024 aligns with one of the InvestingPro Tips, which highlights the company's "impressive gross profit margins." This robust profitability metric underscores the company's efficiency in delivering its software solutions.
Despite the recent challenges noted in the article, DoubleVerify has shown strong short-term market performance. InvestingPro data reveals a significant 14.66% return over the last week and a 16.23% return over the last month. These figures support another InvestingPro Tip indicating a "significant return over the last week." However, investors should note that the stock is trading at a high P/E ratio of 54.13, which corroborates the InvestingPro Tip suggesting it is "trading at a high earnings multiple."
For those seeking a more comprehensive analysis, InvestingPro offers 14 additional tips for DoubleVerify, providing deeper insights into the company's financial health and market position.
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