Benchmark Co. analyst Mark Zgutowicz has reiterated their neutral stance on IAS stock, giving a Hold rating today.
Mark Zgutowicz has given his Hold rating due to a combination of factors influencing Integral Ad Science’s performance. Despite the company’s strong performance in the fourth quarter, there is an expectation of continued variability in quarterly results throughout the year. This is attributed to a weak brand demand environment at the start of the year and challenging comparisons in the first half of the year, along with growth guidance for the first quarter that falls below the company’s overall expectations.
Additionally, while there was stability in certain areas, the anticipated deceleration in growth, particularly in the open web segment, which constitutes a significant portion of measurement revenue, raises concerns. The dependency on social media amidst tough comparisons in the first half of 2025 is also noteworthy. On a positive note, publisher growth showed acceleration, driven by new features and partnerships, but more concrete contributions from Oracle-related initiatives are needed to better assess the revenue outlook for 2025. Thus, while there are positive developments, the overall outlook remains cautious, justifying the Hold rating.
In another report released today, Barclays also maintained a Hold rating on the stock with a $14.00 price target.
Based on the recent corporate insider activity of 46 insiders, corporate insider sentiment is negative on the stock. This means that over the past quarter there has been an increase of insiders selling their shares of IAS in relation to earlier this year.