Stock Analysis

Stock Analysis · Ziff Davis Inc (ZD)

Overview

Ziff Davis, Inc. (ZD) is a digital media and internet company that owns well-known brands and tools used by consumers and businesses. Its activities generally fall into two broad areas: (1) publishing and monetizing content and audiences (for example, product reviews and technology guidance) and (2) providing subscription-style services, particularly in marketing technology and other digital services. The company’s model combines advertising and affiliate-style monetization (earning a fee when a reader takes an action such as clicking through and buying) with recurring revenue products that are paid for over time.

In its SEC filings, Ziff Davis describes its business through operating segments rather than a single product line. Revenue typically comes from a mix of advertising/marketing services, subscriptions, and performance-based arrangements tied to user actions. The exact split can change from year to year based on market conditions and acquisitions, and the most reliable breakdown is in the company’s annual report segment discussion.

From 2021 to 2025, total revenue shown in the chart is relatively stable overall (about $1.37B–$1.45B), while operating income is meaningfully lower than 2021 levels and then improves versus 2023–2024 levels. Interest expense also appears lower in 2024 than in 2021, which can reduce pressure on earnings when other costs are steady.

Key Figures

Metric	Value	Industry ⓘ
Date	Feb 27, 2026
Context
Sector	Communication Services
Industry	Advertising Agencies
Market Cap ⓘ	$1.13B
Beta ⓘ	1.38
Fundamental
P/E Ratio ⓘ	10.76	29.63
Profit Margin ⓘ	3.26%	2.69%
Revenue Growth ⓘ	-1.50%	10.80%
Debt to Equity ⓘ	40.93%	59.16%
PEG ⓘ	0.84
Free Cash Flow ⓘ	$287.87M

Ziff Davis’s market capitalization is about $1.13B, placing it in the small-to-mid public company range. The stock’s beta of 1.38 indicates it has historically moved more than the overall market on average (in either direction), which can matter for investors who prefer smoother price swings.

On valuation and profitability metrics, the company shows a P/E ratio of 10.76 versus an industry median of 29.63 (based on the industry grouping provided), while the profit margin is 3.26% versus an industry median of 2.69%. The latest year-over-year revenue growth is -1.50%, below the industry median of 10.80%, suggesting slower recent top-line momentum than peers at that point in time.

Balance sheet leverage appears moderate relative to the same peer set: debt-to-equity is 40.93% versus an industry median of 59.16%. The company also shows free cash flow (TTM) of about $287.9M, which is a key figure for a business that often grows through acquisitions and needs flexibility to reinvest, repay debt, or repurchase shares.

Growth (Medium)

Ziff Davis operates in digital advertising and online publishing, plus subscription-based digital services. These markets are large and still evolving, but they are also competitive and sensitive to shifts in advertiser spending, search and social platform algorithms, and consumer behavior. Over time, the parts of the business tied to subscriptions and longer-term customer relationships may be less volatile than pure advertising, while still depending on the company’s ability to maintain product value and keep churn under control.

The revenue growth pattern shown is uneven, with multiple quarters near flat or negative growth and a few stronger periods. The latest point shown is slightly negative (-1.50% year over year), which highlights that recent growth has not been consistently positive. For a long-term view, this makes the company’s execution—especially its ability to expand recurring revenue lines and integrate acquisitions—more important than a single-quarter change.

The free cash flow trend shows a decline from 2021 into 2024 (from roughly $462M to $173M), followed by a rebound in 2025 (to roughly $231M on the chart, and $287.9M on the latest TTM metric). For a business that mixes media and subscription services, sustained free cash flow can be a practical indicator of resilience—because it reflects cash left after operating costs and necessary investment.

Potential catalysts for future growth described in filings typically include a stronger advertising environment, successful expansion of subscription offerings, improved monetization of existing audiences (including commerce-related revenue), and the impact of acquisitions if integration is effective and synergies materialize.