Yahoo Finance report covering Ziff Davis Inc. (ZD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Why ZD Stock dropped -2.07% Today — RQD Quant Desk Flash
Ziff Davis Inc. (ZD) carries a Roarable Rating of C (Hold) with 62/100 RQD Confidence. The composite score sits in the neutral Hold band (59–69), meaning current holders don’t need to panic-sell while prospective buyers can wait for a move into the 70+ Buy zone.
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Is ZD stock a Buy, Hold, or Sell right now according to Roarable's RQD model?
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As of 2026-11-03, Ziff Davis Inc. (NASDAQ: ZD) is rated C (Hold / HOLD) by Roarable's 5-pillar RQD engine with a composite confidence score of 62/100 at a spot price of $54.79 (-2.07% 1D, market cap $1.88B). Pillar breakdown: Fundamental Cash Engine 12/20, Institutional 13F & Options Flow 10/20, Executive Insider Alignment 12/20, FRED Macro Regime Fit 14/20, and SEC Balance-Sheet Forensics 14/20. Across 132 tracked Communication Services issuers, ZD ranks #28 in composite RQD confidence.
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How does ZD compare to ATEX and IDT in the Communication Services sector?
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Within the Communication Services sector (Telecommunications Equipment), ZD carries a Roarable C (62/100 RQD), trailing P/E of 40.5x, gross margin of 85.8%, and ROIC of 7.6%. By comparison, ATEX (Anterix Inc.) holds a B+ grade (76/100 RQD, P/E N/A, ROIC 35.9%, cap $1.78B) and IDT (IDT Corporation (Class B)) posts a A- grade (81/100 RQD, P/E 25.0x, ROIC 61.2%, cap $2.04B). Among the 5-stock peer group, IDT leads on earnings multiple (25.0x) while IDT leads on capital efficiency (61.2% ROIC).
🤖 Gideon Ashmere • AI SEC 10-K Forensics (Click for Instant Brief)
What are the biggest fundamental strengths and SEC risk factors for ZD?
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Per ZD's SEC EDGAR XBRL 10-K filing (FY2025, filed 2025-12-31, CIK 0001084048), Ziff Davis Inc. generated $1.45B in revenue (+3.5% YoY), $47.4M in net income, and $287.9M in free cash flow against $3.66B in total assets and $717.8M in total debt. Key quantitative strengths: Company leadership has skin in the game with net positive insider conviction.. Primary risk factors monitored: Priced at 41x earnings—high expectations leave less room for a lukewarm quarter.. Institutional options positioning shows a 50% call / 50% put premium split.
Impersonal quantitative research (0–100 RQD rubric) — not individualized investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Full Disclaimer
FRED Regime × Technicals: 85% of 52W Range • RSI-14 at 42.5 (NEUTRAL RANGE)
SEC Form 4 / 13F Thermometer: 70% Net Buy • Cannibal Buyback (-1.80% YoY Shares)
Put hedging (50% put share) caps near-term gamma upside (-10 pts vs max)
⚔️ Adversarial Opposing Case: Why the ZD Bull Thesis Could Fail
Even with a 62/100 (C) score, ZD faces multiple-compression risk if 40.5x trailing P/E re-rate toward historical sector medians or if hyperscaler/enterprise customer concentration slows in upcoming 10-Q filings.
Priced at 41x earnings—high expectations leave less room for a lukewarm quarter.
Recent SEC filings added new risk-factor disclosures that warrant keeping an eye on margins.
Technical & Forensic Kill-Switch: A daily close below the 50D SMA ($56.48) or 200D SMA ($47.56) invalidates the momentum regime and cuts Target Base ($55.78) toward Bear Floor ($43.51).
Why ZD Stock dropped -2.07% Today — RQD Quant Desk Flash
Ziff Davis Inc. (ZD) dropped -2.07% to $54.79, trading at 85% of its 52-week range ($22.45 – $60.48). Solid 86% profit margin (8% return on capital), mixed timing at 41x P/E—hold if owned, no rush to chase.
- ▸Technical Tape: Trading at 85% of its 52-week range ($22.45 – $60.48) with RSI-14 at 42.5 (NEUTRAL RANGE).
- ▸Volatility Profile: Historical 20-day realized swing band of ±5.5% around $54.79 (no active unusual options sweep snapshot on file).
- ▸Fundamental Anchor: Roarable C (Hold) backed by 85.8% gross margin and $287.9M annual free cash flow.
Seeking Alpha report covering Ziff Davis Inc. (ZD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
MarketBeat report covering Ziff Davis Inc. (ZD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Simply Wall St report covering Ziff Davis Inc. (ZD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
The Globe and Mail report covering Ziff Davis Inc. (ZD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Stock Titan report covering Ziff Davis Inc. (ZD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
MarketBeat report covering Ziff Davis Inc. (ZD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Simply Wall St report covering Ziff Davis Inc. (ZD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Zedge now sits under a revised analyst fair value estimate of US$4.00, down from US$6.00, which represents a cut of about one third in the modeled equity value. Recent research on Ziff Davis, Zedge’s parent, links this r
Ziff Davis (ZD) is rated Hold as EPS growth is driven by buybacks, not underlying operations, despite a strong balance sheet post-Connectivity sale.
Scheduled RQD Strong Buys & Whale Accumulation Briefing (ZD Tape Review)
- ✓Breakdown of the highest-scoring RQD Green-Light breakouts across our 5,200+ rated universe
- ✓Forensic Red-Light accounting & dilution traps to review on your watchlist
- ✓Includes downloadable .ics calendar invite & nightly RQD rating-change email alerts
ZD Dilution Monitor, Expectations Hurdle, Butterfly Connections & Policy Exposure
Multi-year comparable XBRL diluted share count not disclosed (ETF or recent listing).
vs. +3.5% actual YoY revenue growth (assuming 9.25% cost of equity & 16.5x terminal multiple).
No active Ellis Vennor swing setup published on ZD today. View full Setup Ledger →
No direct multi-tier Butterfly edges indexed yet for ZD. Explore sector supply chains on /butterfly.
📊 Quantitative Sector Peer Comparison, SEC Filing Delta & Investment FAQ (ZD)
1. Head-to-Head Communication Services Peer Comparison (ZD vs. ATEX, IDT, NSSC, IHS)
Industry: Telecommunications Equipment (81 Tracked Issuers)Across 132 tracked Communication Services securities in the Roarable RQD universe, Ziff Davis Inc. (ZD) ranks #28 by composite RQD confidence (62/100, grade C) and #57 by equity capitalization ($1.88B). Within this direct 5-issuer industry benchmark cohort, IDT leads on earnings valuation at 25.0x trailing P/E, while IDT leads on capital efficiency and profitability with 61.2% ROIC and 36.2% gross margin. IDT currently holds the highest overall quantitative score in the immediate peer group at 81/100 (A-) compared with ZD at 62/100 (C).
| Ticker / Company | Roarable Grade | RQD Score | Trailing P/E | Gross Margin | ROIC | 1D Change | Market Cap | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZD
ACTIVE
Ziff Davis Inc. | C | 62/100 | 40.5x | 85.8% | 7.6% | -2.07% | $1.88B | Benchmark Subject |
| ATEX Anterix Inc. | B+ | 76/100 | — | — | 35.9% | -1.24% | $1.78B | /atex-vs-zd → |
| IDT IDT Corporation (Class B) | A- | 81/100 | 25.0x | 36.2% | 61.2% | +0.34% | $2.04B | /idt-vs-zd → |
| NSSC NAPCO Security Technologies Inc. | B- | 71/100 | 32.9x | 55.6% | 45.7% | -1.58% | $1.41B | /nssc-vs-zd → |
| IHS IHS Holding Limited | D+ | 58/100 | — | — | — | -0.24% | $2.84B | /ihs-vs-zd → |
2. Multi-Year SEC XBRL Revenue, Cash Flow & Balance-Sheet Trajectory (FY2023–FY2025)
SEC EDGAR 10-K • FILED 2025-12-31 • CIK 0001084048In its most recent audited fiscal period (FY2025, filed 2025-12-31), Ziff Davis Inc. (ZD) reported GAAP revenue of $1.45B (+3.5% vs. FY2024 revenue of $1.40B , and +6.4% cumulative change since FY2023) , GAAP net income of $47.4M, operating cash flow of $407.1M, and free cash flow of $287.9M (+1.5% YoY). On the balance sheet, ZD closed FY2025 with $3.66B in total assets against $717.8M in total debt (Altman Z-Score: 1.77, Piotroski F-Score: 7/9).
| Fiscal Period | Filing Date | Revenue | Net Income | Operating Cash Flow | Free Cash Flow | Total Assets | Total Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 (FY) | 2025-12-31 | $1.45B | $47.4M | $407.1M | $287.9M | $3.66B | $717.8M |
| FY2024 (FY) | 2024-12-31 | $1.40B | $63.0M | $390.3M | $283.7M | $3.70B | $864.3M |
| FY2023 (FY) | 2023-12-31 | $1.36B | $41.5M | $320.0M | $320.0M | — | — |
3. ZD Data-Verified Investor FAQ (RQD Rating, Sector Peers, SEC Forensics & Technicals)
✓ SCHEMA.ORG FAQPAGE JSON-LD ENABLEDIs ZD stock a Buy, Hold, or Sell right now according to Roarable's RQD model?
As of 2026-11-03, Ziff Davis Inc. (NASDAQ: ZD) is rated C (Hold / HOLD) by Roarable's 5-pillar RQD engine with a composite confidence score of 62/100 at a spot price of $54.79 (-2.07% 1D, market cap $1.88B). Pillar breakdown: Fundamental Cash Engine 12/20, Institutional 13F & Options Flow 10/20, Executive Insider Alignment 12/20, FRED Macro Regime Fit 14/20, and SEC Balance-Sheet Forensics 14/20. Across 132 tracked Communication Services issuers, ZD ranks #28 in composite RQD confidence.
How does ZD compare to ATEX and IDT in the Communication Services sector?
Within the Communication Services sector (Telecommunications Equipment), ZD carries a Roarable C (62/100 RQD), trailing P/E of 40.5x, gross margin of 85.8%, and ROIC of 7.6%. By comparison, ATEX (Anterix Inc.) holds a B+ grade (76/100 RQD, P/E N/A, ROIC 35.9%, cap $1.78B) and IDT (IDT Corporation (Class B)) posts a A- grade (81/100 RQD, P/E 25.0x, ROIC 61.2%, cap $2.04B). Among the 5-stock peer group, IDT leads on earnings multiple (25.0x) while IDT leads on capital efficiency (61.2% ROIC).
What are the biggest fundamental strengths and SEC risk factors for ZD?
Per ZD's SEC EDGAR XBRL 10-K filing (FY2025, filed 2025-12-31, CIK 0001084048), Ziff Davis Inc. generated $1.45B in revenue (+3.5% YoY), $47.4M in net income, and $287.9M in free cash flow against $3.66B in total assets and $717.8M in total debt. Key quantitative strengths: Company leadership has skin in the game with net positive insider conviction.. Primary risk factors monitored: Priced at 41x earnings—high expectations leave less room for a lukewarm quarter.. Institutional options positioning shows a 50% call / 50% put premium split.
Where is ZD trading relative to its 50-day, 200-day, and 52-week technical levels?
ZD last traded at $54.79 (-2.07% on volume of 512,658 shares), positioning the stock -2.99% below its 50-day simple moving average ($56.48) and +15.20% above its 200-day simple moving average ($47.56). Across its 52-week range of $22.45 to $60.48, ZD sits at the 85.0% percentile with a 14-day RSI of 42.5 (NEUTRAL RANGE) and an implied next-earnings move of ±5.5% ($51.78 to $57.80).
ZD Investor FAQ & Complete 8-Part Research Index
100% OPEN ACCESS • SEC EDGAR × CBOE × FREDWhy is ZD stock moving today?
Why ZD Stock dropped -2.07% Today — RQD Quant Desk Flash. Solid 86% profit margin (8% return on capital), mixed timing at 41x P/E—hold if owned, no rush to chase.
ZD — Ziff Davis Inc.: What the Facts Mean to a Prospective Investor
Roarable Rating Brief: What This Means to a Prospective Investor
Per the Roarable RQD rating, ZD scores 64 out of 100, a letter grade of C, with the verdict label "Roarable Hold — Fair / Balanced Risk-Reward." The five pillars are: Fundamental Cash Engine 12/20 (ROIC 7.6%; FCF yield 15.01%), Whale 13F Flow 12/20 (institutional accumulation and options positioning), Insider Conviction 14/20 (SEC Form 4 and Congressional PTR cluster flow), Macro Regime Fit 14/20 (Beta 1.0; sector sensitivity), and Forensic Balance Sheet 12/20 (Altman Z 1.77; Piotroski F 7/9; Debt/Equity 0.41). Taken together, the pillars sit in the middle band with no single standout strength. The cash-yield figure is the most notable upside driver the rating cites, but it is paired with a 40.5x trailing P/E, which signals that earnings currently carry little weight in the valuation relative to cash generation. The forensic scores indicate a balance sheet that is serviceable but not pristine, and the Altman Z of 1.77 sits in a range that warrants attention to leverage and liquidity over time. For a prospective investor, the rating frames ZD as a balanced setup rather than a clear accumulation or avoidance signal, with the outcome dependent on whether cash generation translates into sustained earnings growth.
Snapshot
Business
Ziff Davis Inc. (ZD) is a NASDAQ-listed issuer classified under the Communication Services sector and the Telecommunications Equipment industry, per the profile. Not available in source data for detailed product lines, customer base, or revenue mix. The profile identifies a market capitalization of $1.9B. The source data does not describe how the company makes money beyond its reported revenue, gross margin of 85.8%, and operating margin of 12.6%.
Financial Trend
| Period | Revenue | Operating Income | Net Income | EPS | FCF | Cash | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2025 | $1451.3M | $183.1M | $47.4M | N/A | $287.9M | $573.8M | $717.8M |
| FY 2024 | $1401.7M | $113.6M | $63.0M | N/A | $283.7M | $505.9M | $864.3M |
| FY 2023 | $1364.0M | $132.6M | $41.5M | N/A | $320.0M | N/A | N/A |
Per the SEC financials, revenue rose from $1364.0M (FY 2023) to $1451.3M (FY 2025), and operating income moved from $132.6M to $183.1M across the same period, though net income was $47.4M in FY 2025 versus $63.0M in FY 2024. Per the market data, net margin is 3.3% against an operating margin of 12.6%, and ROIC is 7.6%. Per the Roarable RQD rating, the Altman Z-Score is 1.77 and the Piotroski F-Score is 7/9, with Debt/Equity of 0.41. Reported debt declined from $864.3M in FY 2024 to $717.8M in FY 2025 while cash rose from $505.9M to $573.8M.
Recent Catalysts & News Wire Analysis
Per the recent news feed, six items reference ZD, with signal labels as follows:
- Yahoo Finance (1h ago, YELLOW, MARKET WIRE): A general stock forecast report covering market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
- Seeking Alpha (3h ago, GREEN, CATALYST): Headline "Buybacks Are Not An Operating Recovery," framing share repurchases as distinct from operating improvement.
- MarketBeat (6h ago, YELLOW, MARKET WIRE): Report that the stock crossed above its 200-day moving average.
- Simply Wall St (9h ago, GREEN, CATALYST): Question on whether an antivirus product launch changes the bull case.
- The Globe and Mail (12h ago, YELLOW, MARKET WIRE): RBC Capital maintained a Buy rating on ZD.
- Stock Titan (15h ago, YELLOW, MARKET WIRE): RetailMeNot birthday giveaway promotion.
Per the Butterfly Supply-Chain Graph, the supply chain is listed as NONE, with no butterfly links and no proprietary signals. Risk watch items drawn from the feed include the buyback-versus-operating-recovery debate and the question of whether new product launches alter the investment case.
Open Questions
- What drives the gap between 15.01% FCF yield and 3.3% net margin, and how much of free cash flow is sustainable against reported earnings?
- What portion of the FY 2025 operating income increase is attributable to operations versus the share repurchases referenced in the news feed?
- What is the composition of the $717.8M debt and its maturity profile, given Debt/Equity of 0.41 and an Altman Z of 1.77?
- What are ZD's product lines, customer base, and revenue mix, which the source data does not describe?
- What is the detailed basis for the reported EPS as N/A across all three periods while the market data shows EPS (TTM) of 1.38?
ZD Live News Feed, Press Releases & Catalyst Wire
Real-time company headlines, analyst actions, and sector developments for Ziff Davis Inc. (ZD) • Click "Debate This Headline" to argue it in the Roar Pit below
Yahoo Finance report covering Ziff Davis Inc. (ZD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Seeking Alpha report covering Ziff Davis Inc. (ZD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
MarketBeat report covering Ziff Davis Inc. (ZD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Simply Wall St report covering Ziff Davis Inc. (ZD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
The Globe and Mail report covering Ziff Davis Inc. (ZD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Stock Titan report covering Ziff Davis Inc. (ZD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
MarketBeat report covering Ziff Davis Inc. (ZD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Simply Wall St report covering Ziff Davis Inc. (ZD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
ZD Bull vs. Bear Conversation Board — What's Your Call at $54.79?
🔥 Official Bull vs. Bear Debate: Is ZD (C • RQD 64/100) a Buy at $55.95?
Welcome to the ZD (Ziff Davis Inc.) Roar Pit. Current RQD Composite is 64/100 (Roarable Hold — Fair / Balanced Risk-Reward) in Telecommunications Equipment. Bulls point to operating leverage and sector positioning, while bears focus on valuation multiple compression (40.5x trailing P/E). Pick your side (🐂 Bull or 🐻 Bear) and drop your price target below.
Pump the brakes on ZD — check the valuation vs. margin headwinds
Everyone in here is repeating the bull case on ZD, but look at what you are paying: 40.5x trailing P/E with 85.8% gross margins. Unless Ziff Davis Inc. expands free cash flow yield next quarter, I would rather wait for a pullback closer to the 200-day moving average before touching this.
ZD cash flow & RQD setup is being underpriced by the Street here
Looking at the 5-pillar RQD breakdown on ZD, the market is fixating on short-term headline noise in Telecommunications Equipment and ignoring the balance sheet and cash flow trajectory. At $55.95 (52-wk range $22.45 - $60.48), any beat on forward guidance forces shorts and underweight funds to chase.