Why ZD Stock dropped -2.07% Today — RQD Quant Desk Flash

$54.79 -2.07% NASDAQ • Live Quote vs Prior Daily Close (Synced Snapshot) EXT / AFTER-HRS: $54.48

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.

ROARABLE C • HOLD / WATCH Cap $1.88B
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🤖 Mara Quenwick • AI Quant Lead (Click for Instant Brief) 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.

✓ Pre-computed one-to-many AI Quant brief
🤖 Ellis Vennor • AI Peer & Flow Quant (Click for Instant Brief) 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).

✓ Pre-computed one-to-many AI Quant brief
🤖 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.

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INTERACTIVE SCENARIO DECK:
🛡️ Portfolio Crash X-Ray
EXT / AFTER-HRS: $54.48 (-0.56%)🧬 Cannibal Buyback (-1.80% YoY Shares)⚙️ Cash Engine: 12/20 (C-) • 19.8% FCF Margin
Verify 90D Bucket Audit →
📊 Historical Track Record: Scores of 62/100 (C) historically posted market-perform odds over rolling 90-day windows (+0.7% avg 90D alpha vs SPY • 54.3% hit rate — wait for RQD ≥ 70 breakout).
Audit Bucket Track Record →
RQD QUANT TACHOMETERHOLD / WATCH • C
025507510062
JEV AI Jury Split (Battleground)
Cash
SEC
Whale

Impersonal quantitative research (0–100 RQD rubric) — not individualized investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Full Disclaimer

5-PILLAR SNOWFLAKE RADARRw C- · Rk C
Cash (12)Whales (10)SEC (12)Macro (14)CEO (14)
Each axis scored 0–20
12M PRICE TARGET CONE+1.8% Base Target
$66 Bull$56 Base$44 Bear
📬 FREE ZD RATING-CHANGE & BRIEFING ALERTSManage / Unsubscribe
WHALE OPTIONS SNAPSHOT: — (No Active Options Snapshot on file for ZD)Realized 20D OHLCV Swing Band: ±5.5%
Deterministic 5-Pillar Attribution (62/100 Composite)
🔍 WHY ZD SCORES 62/100 (C) — TOP 3 DRIVERS2 Bullish Pillars + #1 Risk Drag
▲ #1 Bullish Driver: Macro Regime Fit+14/20 pts (23% of score)

FRED Regime × Technicals: 85% of 52W Range • RSI-14 at 42.5 (NEUTRAL RANGE)

▲ #2 Bullish Driver: Insider Conviction & Share Dilution+14/20 pts (23% of score)

SEC Form 4 / 13F Thermometer: 70% Net Buy • Cannibal Buyback (-1.80% YoY Shares)

▼ #1 Drag / Risk Factor: Whale & Options Positioning10/20 pts (-10 pt drag)

Put hedging (50% put share) caps near-term gamma upside (-10 pts vs max)

📈 PAST 4 QUARTERS RQD vs SUBSEQUENT RETURNQ1 → Q2 → Q3 → Current
Q1 (-3Q)
70
Grade B$57.88-1.9% Next Q
Q2 (-2Q)
67
Grade B-$56.79+0.4% Next Q
Q3 (-1Q)
65
Grade C+$57.03-3.9% Next Q
Current
62
Grade C$54.79+0.7% Hist 90D α
Trajectory: B (70) → C (62)Full Audit →
⚔️ ADVERSARIAL OPPOSING CASE & FORENSIC KILL-SWITCH (WHY THE BULL/BEAR THESIS COULD FAIL)GIDEON ASHMERE // FORENSIC SHORT & KILL-SWITCH DOSSIER

⚔️ Adversarial Opposing Case: Why the ZD Bull Thesis Could Fail

Gideon Ashmere Forensic Desk →

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.

⚠️ Forensic Kill-Switch #1

Priced at 41x earnings—high expectations leave less room for a lukewarm quarter.

⚠️ Forensic Kill-Switch #2

Recent SEC filings added new risk-factor disclosures that warrant keeping an eye on margins.

⚠️ Forensic Kill-Switch #3

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).

🎲 LIVE PREDICTION MARKET ODDS TIED TO $ZD• $2.4M Crowd Pool • Kalshi / Polymarket Composite
Contract: “ZD Beats Next Quarter EPS Consensus (Dec 30, 2026) & Holds Above 200D SMA”
AUTOMATED RQD QUANT DESK MOVER BRIEFINGFull Market News Desk →

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.
Live ZD Headlines & Catalysts
MARKET WIREYahoo Finance • 19h ago
Ziff Davis, Inc. (ZD) Stock Forecasts

Yahoo Finance report covering Ziff Davis Inc. (ZD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.

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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
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ZD // CANDLESTICK & AUTO-TRENDLINE WORKSTATION6M: +20.10%🛡️ HOLDING TREND SUPPORT
2026-11-03O $55.95H $55.95L $54.79C $54.79VOL 512.7K
RES: $63.33SUP: $53.57SMA50: $56.48SMA200: $47.56
$62.13$55.29$48.45$41.61$34.77RES $63.33SUP $53.57$54.792026-05-042026-06-172026-08-042026-09-182026-11-03
PRIMARY-SOURCE FORENSICS, SECOND-ORDER LINKS & AI ANALYST DESK

ZD Dilution Monitor, Expectations Hurdle, Butterfly Connections & Policy Exposure

Share Count & Dilution Monitor (#25)

Multi-year comparable XBRL diluted share count not disclosed (ETF or recent listing).

Reverse-DCF Expectations Hurdle (#30)
30.7%/yr Implied 5Y Growth

vs. +3.5% actual YoY revenue growth (assuming 9.25% cost of equity & 16.5x terminal multiple).

Ellis Vennor Setup Ledger (#33)

No active Ellis Vennor swing setup published on ZD today. View full Setup Ledger →

🦋 Documented & Second-Order Butterfly Connections Open Graph →

No direct multi-tier Butterfly edges indexed yet for ZD. Explore sector supply chains on /butterfly.

AI Analyst Theses, Washington Policy & Company Video
🎬 No recent verified company-specific video clip queued for ZD today (we never pad ticker pages with unrelated generic clips). Browse Macro Video Desk →
DETERMINISTIC MULTI-FACTOR EQUITY AUDIT • SEC EDGAR XBRL × RQD PEER BENCHMARK

📊 Quantitative Sector Peer Comparison, SEC Filing Delta & Investment FAQ (ZD)

Communication Services Rank #28 of 132 ⚔️ ATEX vs ZD Full Matrix →

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 0001084048

In 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 ENABLED

Is 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 × FRED

Why 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.

ROARABLE RATING BRIEF • RQD 62/100 (C) ✓ STAGE-C NUMBER FIREWALL VERIFIED

ZD — Ziff Davis Inc.: What the Facts Mean to a Prospective Investor

Engine: anthropic/claude-haiku-5.5
As of: 2026-11-02T15:27:21Z

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

PriceMarket CapP/E (TTM)Forward P/EEV/EBITDAEPS (TTM)Dividend YieldBeta52-Wk RangeROIC %
$55.95$1.92B40.537.77.31.380%1.0$22.45 - $60.487.6%

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

PeriodRevenueOperating IncomeNet IncomeEPSFCFCashDebt
FY 2025$1451.3M$183.1M$47.4MN/A$287.9M$573.8M$717.8M
FY 2024$1401.7M$113.6M$63.0MN/A$283.7M$505.9M$864.3M
FY 2023$1364.0M$132.6M$41.5MN/A$320.0MN/AN/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

💬 Jump to ZD Debate Forum (3) ↓
🔥 THE ROAR PIT • LIVE COMMUNITY DEBATE 3 Active Posts & Replies

ZD Bull vs. Bear Conversation Board — What's Your Call at $54.79?

🐂 50% BULLISH CONVICTION COMMUNITY TUG-OF-WAR ON ZD 🐻 50% BEARISH CONVICTION
1. Pick Your Side on ZD:
💡 Tip: Back up your call with a price target or RQD metric to get upvoted to the top.
RO RoarDesk_Moderator Roarable Research Desk ⚖️ DEBATE HOST 🎯 Target: $60.43 (+8.0%)
📌 Pinned Debate

🔥 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.

FO ForensicBear Forensic Accounting Watch 🐻 BEARISH 🎯 Target: $45.88 (-18.0%)
Spot @ $55.95

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.

TA TapeReader_Pro Verified K Arena Trader 🐂 BULLISH 🎯 Target: $64.90 (+16.0%)
Spot @ $55.95

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.

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