On Thursday, Ziff Davis Inc. (NASDAQ:ZD) had its price target lowered by Evercore ISI, a notable financial firm. The new target is set at $75.00, down from the previous $80.00, while the Outperform rating remains unchanged. The adjustment follows the company's first-quarter earnings report which presented mixed financial results.
Ziff Davis reported a year-over-year revenue increase of 2% in the first quarter, totaling $314.5 million. This figure was in line with expectations from both Evercore ISI and Wall Street. The company's EBITDA for the quarter was $100.8 million, reflecting a 32% margin, which is an increase of 130 basis points compared to the same period last year. This margin improvement was slightly higher than what analysts had anticipated.
The company's subscription revenue saw a 5% year-over-year growth, which the firm attributed to strong connectivity performance. However, this positive aspect was somewhat dampened by ongoing weaknesses in the VPN segment. On the advertising revenue front, there was no year-over-year growth, which Evercore ISI pointed out as a softer aspect of the report. Despite a high single-digit percentage growth in the technology sector, declines were noted in the shopping category, influenced by changes in a distribution partnership and reduced commission rates from a major merchant. The recent acquisition of The Daily Slash (TDS) provided only a modest contribution to the overall figures.
Evercore ISI's statement highlighted the balance of strengths and weaknesses in Ziff Davis's performance. "Our View: We maintain our Outperform rating, trimming PT to $75 (from $80) on ZD in the wake of a largely In-Line Q1 EPS Results," the firm commented on the company's quarterly outcome.
InvestingPro Insights
As Ziff Davis Inc. (NASDAQ:ZD) navigates through its financial quarters, real-time data from InvestingPro offers additional insights into the company's standing. With a market capitalization of $2.54 billion and a robust gross profit margin of 85.5% in the last twelve months as of Q1 2024, Ziff Davis's financial health appears solid. The company's impressive ability to generate profit from its revenues is further underlined by an operating income margin of 15.11% during the same period.
InvestingPro Tips highlight that Ziff Davis is expected to see net income growth this year, a testament to its operational efficiency and market strategy. Additionally, the company's liquidity position is strong, with liquid assets surpassing short-term obligations, ensuring financial stability. These factors contribute to the company's favorable outlook, despite not offering dividends to shareholders.
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