Advertising & marketing services stocks Q3 recap: Benchmarking QuinStreet
Looking back on advertising & marketing services stocks’ Q3 earnings, we examine this quarter’s best and worst performers, including QuinStreet NASDAQ:QNST 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 5 advertising & marketing services stocks we track reported a favorable Q3. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 5.7% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was 2.5% above.
Thankfully, share prices of the companies have been resilient as they are up 6.6% on average since the latest earnings results.
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 $416.7 million, up 45.8% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 11.3%. Overall, it was an impressive quarter for the company with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and revenue guidance for next quarter exceeding analysts’ expectations.
“We saw continued strength and broadening of carrier demand in Auto Insurance and made good progress expanding our footprint for future growth in that important client vertical. Strong momentum also continued across our Home Services platform, including HomeBuddy, whose integration continues to go well. Our overall footprint for Company growth, and expectations for continued strong performance – short and long term – have never been greater.”
QuinStreet achieved the biggest analyst estimate beat and highest full-year guidance raise of the whole group. The results were likely priced in, however, and the stock is flat since reporting. It currently trades at $19.12.
Is now the time to buy QuinStreet? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Best Q3: 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 $97.83 million, up 17.5% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 10.3%. The business had an exceptional quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and revenue guidance for next quarter exceeding analysts’ expectations.
The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 16.1% since reporting. It currently trades at $58.13.
Is now the time to buy Ibotta? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Weakest 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 $462.3 million, down 6.9% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 1%. It was a sluggish quarter as it posted revenue guidance for next quarter missing analysts’ expectations significantly and EPS in line with analysts’ estimates.
Taboola delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates, weakest guidance update, and slowest revenue growth in the group. As expected, the stock is down 38.3% since the results and currently trades at $2.10.
Read our full analysis of Taboola’s results here.
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 $6.42 billion, up 59.1% year on year. This print surpassed analysts’ expectations by 4.3%. It was a favorable quarter as it also logged a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.
Omnicom Group scored the fastest revenue growth among its peers. The stock is up 5.2% since reporting and currently trades at $86.84.
Read our full, actionable report on Omnicom Group here, it’s free.
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 $375.9 million, up 22.7% year on year. This result topped analysts’ expectations by 7.2%. It was a very strong quarter as it also put up revenue guidance for next quarter exceeding analysts’ expectations and a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.
MediaAlpha delivered the highest guidance raise of the whole group. The stock is up 28.8% since reporting and currently trades at $15.10.
Read our full, actionable report on MediaAlpha here, it’s free.
Market update
Over the past year, investors have been forced to repeatedly answer the same question: What is the market’s biggest risk? The answer has changed several times, and each shift has reshaped market leadership.
Late in 2025 and early 2026, artificial intelligence became the market’s primary uncertainty. Investors questioned whether AI would erode software pricing power and weaken competitive moats as AI made it easier to replicate once-differentiated products.
By the spring, technology took a back seat to geopolitics. The U.S. conflict with Iran briefly became the market’s dominant narrative, raising concerns about oil prices, inflation, and global growth. But as energy markets remained orderly and fears of a prolonged supply disruption faded, investors quickly turned their focus back to fundamentals.
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.