Advertising Agencies · NASDAQ
Current Price
$19.28
PE Ratio (TTM)
21.2x
Intrinsic Value
$34.18
+43.6% margin of safety
As of 2026-06-12, applying a 21.0x earnings multiple to The Trade Desk, Inc.'s (TTD) earnings per share of $0.91 yields a fair value estimate of $34.18 per share, versus a market price of $19.28.
Fair value from earnings multiples is sensitive to the multiple you choose. Across the sensitivity grid the estimate spans $27.85 to $41.37. 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 our PE model works · Recalculate in PE mode · TTD intrinsic value (DCF view)
At $19.28, TTD trades below its PE-based fair value estimate by a wide margin. By this model the stock looks cheap relative to its earnings power, but check whether earnings are sustainable before reading too much into it.
COMPETITIVE MOAT
↑Unified Data Platform
TTD's unified platform integrates vast datasets, offering advertisers unparalleled audience insights and campaign optimization. This network effect makes it difficult for competitors to replicate.
↑CTV Leadership
The Trade Desk is a dominant player in Connected TV advertising, a rapidly growing and complex channel. Their early investment and expertise create a significant advantage.
↑Independent Neutrality
As an independent ad-tech platform, TTD avoids conflicts of interest inherent in walled gardens. This neutrality attracts advertisers seeking unbiased reach and transparency.
INVESTMENT RISKS
↓Ad-Tech Sector Volatility
The ad-tech sector is experiencing significant downturns, as evidenced by recent stock performance. This cyclical nature and investor sentiment pose a broad risk.
↓Regulatory Scrutiny
Increased scrutiny on data privacy and advertising practices could lead to new regulations impacting TTD's business model. Potential insider duty breaches also raise governance concerns.
↓Competition from Walled Gardens
Large tech companies with their own ad platforms (walled gardens) continue to exert significant market power. They can leverage their ecosystems to compete directly.
Base case
Intrinsic Value
$34.18
Margin of safety
+43.6%
Expected annual return
+12.1%
Base case assumptions: 19.1% annual earnings growth, 21x target PE, 10% discount rate, 5 year projection. Data as of 2026-06-12.
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)
21.2x
PEG Ratio
2.93
Earnings Yield
4.73%
ROE (TTM)
16.9%
Revenue/Share (TTM)
$6.26
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 21.2x combined with a PEG ratio of 2.93 provides a growth-adjusted perspective. A PEG above 2.0 suggests TTD may be richly valued even accounting for growth. 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 (21.2x) against the Advertising Agencies median to assess relative pricing, (2) check the PEG ratio (2.93) 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 2.93, calculated by dividing the PE ratio (21.2x) by the expected earnings growth rate. A PEG above 2.0 often signals the stock is priced aggressively relative to its growth trajectory. 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 16.9%, 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 2026-06-12. Financial data from Financial Modeling Prep (trailing twelve months) · Valuation methodology by Charlie Wang.
This is an estimate, not investment advice.