Earnings results often indicate what direction a company will take in the months ahead. With Q2 behind us, let’s have a look at Omnicom Group (NYSE:OMC) and its peers.
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 satisfactory Q2. As a group, revenues along with next quarter’s revenue guidance were in line with analysts’ consensus estimates.
In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady. On average, they are relatively unchanged since the latest earnings results.
Omnicom Group (NYSE:OMC)
With a vast network of creative agencies that helped craft some of the most memorable ad campaigns in history, Omnicom Group (NYSE:OMC) is a strategic holding company that provides advertising, marketing, and communications services to many of the world's largest companies.
Omnicom Group reported revenues of $4.02 billion, up 4.2% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 1.2%. Overall, it was a satisfactory quarter for the company with organic revenue in line with analysts’ estimates.
"We delivered solid 3.0% organic revenue growth this quarter even in the face of ongoing macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty - underscoring once again the resilience and agility of our business," said John Wren, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Omnicom.
Interestingly, the stock is up 7.6% since reporting and currently trades at $76.16.
Is now the time to buy Omnicom Group? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Best Q2: Liberty Broadband (NASDAQ:LBRDK)
Operating across the United States, Liberty Broadband (NASDAQ:LBRDK) is a provider of high-speed internet, cable television, and telecommunications services across various markets.
Liberty Broadband reported revenues of $261 million, up 6.1% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 3.7%. The business had an exceptional quarter.
Liberty Broadband pulled off the biggest analyst estimates beat among its peers. The market seems content with the results as the stock is up 3.1% since reporting. It currently trades at $61.38.
Is now the time to buy Liberty Broadband? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Weakest Q2: Ibotta (NYSE:IBTA)
Originally launched as a way to make grocery shopping more rewarding for budget-conscious consumers, Ibotta (NYSE:IBTA) is a mobile shopping app that allows consumers to earn cash back on everyday purchases by completing tasks and submitting receipts.
Ibotta reported revenues of $86.03 million, down 2.2% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 5%. It was a softer quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.
Ibotta delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates in the group. As expected, the stock is down 23.3% since the results and currently trades at $26.12.
Read our full analysis of Ibotta’s results here.
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 $465.5 million, up 8.7% year on year. This print topped analysts’ expectations by 3.6%. It was a strong quarter as it also recorded a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and full-year revenue guidance slightly topping analysts’ expectations.
The stock is up 3.9% since reporting and currently trades at $3.33.
Read our full, actionable report on Taboola here, it’s free.
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 $262.1 million, up 32.1% year on year. This number surpassed analysts’ expectations by 0.7%. Taking a step back, it was a mixed quarter as it underperformed in some other aspects of the business.
QuinStreet achieved the fastest revenue growth among its peers. The stock is down 7.7% since reporting and currently trades at $14.95.
Read our full, actionable report on QuinStreet here, it’s free.
Market Update
In response to the Fed’s rate hikes in 2022 and 2023, inflation has been gradually trending down from its post-pandemic peak, trending closer to the Fed’s 2% target. Despite higher borrowing costs, the economy has avoided flashing recessionary signals. This is the much-desired soft landing that many investors hoped for. The recent rate cuts (0.5% in September and 0.25% in November 2024) have bolstered the stock market, making 2024 a strong year for equities. Donald Trump’s presidential win in November sparked additional market gains, sending indices to record highs in the days following his victory. However, debates continue over possible tariffs and corporate tax adjustments, raising questions about economic stability in 2025.
Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Top 6 Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.
StockStory is growing and hiring equity analyst and marketing roles. Are you a 0 to 1 builder passionate about the markets and AI? See the open roles here.