Advertising Agencies · NASDAQ
Current Price
$13.18
PE Ratio (TTM)
15.7x
Intrinsic Value
$12.46
-5.8% margin of safety
As of 2026-08-21, applying a 15.2x earnings multiple to The Trade Desk, Inc.'s (TTD) earnings per share of $0.87 yields a fair value estimate of $12.46 per share, versus a market price of $13.18.
Fair value from earnings multiples is sensitive to the multiple you choose. Across the sensitivity grid the estimate spans $9.81 to $15.53. This is a relative estimate anchored to earnings, not a statement of fact. For a cash flow based view, see the intrinsic value estimate on the DCF page.
How the PE model works · Recalculate in PE mode · TTD intrinsic value (DCF view)
At $13.18, TTD trades about 5.8% above its PE-based fair value estimate, a modest premium over the applied earnings multiple. Check whether earnings growth justifies the price.
COMPETITIVE MOAT
↑Unified Independent Demand-Side Platform
TTD operates the largest independent demand-side platform, offering advertisers a single interface to access diverse ad inventory. This neutrality fosters trust and broad adoption.
↑Data and Analytics Advantage
The platform's ability to ingest and analyze vast amounts of data provides sophisticated targeting and measurement capabilities. This creates a feedback loop for improved campaign performance.
↑CTV and Retail Media Ecosystem
TTD has established a strong position in the growing Connected TV and retail media markets. These emerging channels offer significant long-term growth potential and network effects.
INVESTMENT RISKS
↓Macroeconomic Headwinds
Slowing revenue growth and weakened advertiser demand are linked to broader economic uncertainty. This can directly impact TTD's top-line performance.
↓Intensifying Competition
The digital advertising landscape is highly competitive. New entrants and established players are constantly innovating, posing a threat to TTD's market share.
↓Regulatory Scrutiny
The digital advertising industry faces increasing regulatory oversight regarding data privacy and ad practices. New regulations could impact TTD's data utilization and business model.
Base case
Intrinsic Value
$12.46
Margin of safety
-5.8%
Expected annual return
-1.1%
Base case assumptions: 1.9% annual earnings growth, 15.15x target PE, 10% discount rate, 5 year projection. Data as of 2026-08-21.
This base case uses default assumptions and is not financial advice. The fair value changes significantly when the target PE or earnings growth rate changes. Open the calculator to set your own assumptions and see the full sensitivity range.
Adjust the target PE, earnings growth, and discount rate to see how the fair value and margin of safety for The Trade Desk, Inc. respond.
Open PE Calculator for TTDThe Trade Desk, Inc. is a global technology company that provides a self-service, cloud-based platform. This platform enables advertising buyers to efficiently create, manage, and optimize data-driven digital ad campaigns across diverse formats and channels, including display, video, audio, native, and social media, reaching audiences on computers, mobile devices, and connected TVs. In addition to the platform, the company offers various data and value-added services. Their primary clients are advertising agencies and other service providers who represent advertisers. The Trade Desk was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Ventura, California.
PE Ratio (TTM)
15.7x
PEG Ratio
0.16
Earnings Yield
6.59%
ROE (TTM)
16.1%
Revenue/Share (TTM)
$6.38
Debt/Equity
0.17x
The trailing twelve-month PE ratio of TTD reflects how much investors pay per dollar of The Trade Desk, Inc.'s earnings. This metric is most useful when compared to Advertising Agencies peers and the company's own historical range.
TTD's PE of 15.7x combined with a PEG ratio of 0.16 provides a growth-adjusted perspective. A PEG below 1.0 means the P/E is low relative to the earnings growth rate. Keep in mind that PE-based valuation works best for profitable, mature companies — for high-growth or cyclical Advertising Agencies, a DCF analysis may be more appropriate.
To value The Trade Desk, Inc. using PE: (1) Compare the current PE (15.7x) against the Advertising Agencies median to assess relative pricing, (2) check the PEG ratio (0.16) to adjust for growth expectations, (3) review the 5-year PE range to identify where the stock sits historically, and (4) estimate fair value by multiplying a target PE by forward EPS estimates. This relative approach complements DCF's absolute valuation.
TTD's PEG ratio is 0.16, calculated by dividing the PE ratio (15.7x) by the expected earnings growth rate. A PEG below 1.0 means the P/E is low relative to the expected earnings growth rate. Note that PEG accuracy depends on the reliability of growth estimates.
PE ratio gives a quick relative read — how TTD is priced versus Advertising Agencies peers. DCF provides an absolute value based on projected free cash flows. For TTD, with a strong ROE of 16.1%, both methods are worth using — PE for a market-relative check, DCF to stress-test whether fundamentals justify the price. Each method has blind spots: PE ignores capital structure and cash flow quality, while DCF is sensitive to growth and discount rate assumptions.
P/E and DCF value TTD with different methods and assumptions, so the two conclusions can differ. Compare the DCF intrinsic value.
Price as of 2026-08-21. Financial data from Financial Modeling Prep (trailing twelve months) · Valuation methodology by Charlie Wang.
This is an estimate, not investment advice.