The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD) Intrinsic Value & DCF Valuation
Advertising Agencies · NASDAQ
Current Price
$13.18
Intrinsic Value
$16.29
+19.1% margin of safety
What Is The Trade Desk, Inc.'s Intrinsic Value?
As of 2026-08-21, the base-case DCF model estimates the intrinsic value of The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD) at $16.29 per share, compared with a market price of $13.18, a margin of safety of +19.1%. The base case assumes 1.9% annual free cash flow growth and a 10.0% discount rate.
Across the sensitivity grid the estimate spans $11.66 to $21.75. Intrinsic value is an estimate built on assumptions, not a fact. A higher discount rate or slower growth pushes the estimate down, while stronger cash flow growth lifts it.
How the DCF works · Recalculate with your own assumptions · What is intrinsic value?
Is The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD) Undervalued?
At $13.18, TTD trades about 19.1% below the base-case intrinsic value estimate. That is a real discount, but it stays short of the 30% margin of safety required before calling a stock undervalued.
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
TTD base case valuation
Intrinsic Value
$16.29
Margin of safety
+19.1%
Expected annual return
+4.3%
Base case assumptions: 1.9% annual growth, 10.0% discount rate, 7.2x exit multiple, 5 year projection. Data as of 2026-08-21.
This base case uses default assumptions and is not financial advice. The intrinsic value changes significantly when the growth rate or discount rate changes. Open the calculator to set your own assumptions and see the full sensitivity range.
Customize the TTD valuation
Adjust the growth rate, discount rate, and exit multiple to see how the intrinsic value and margin of safety for The Trade Desk, Inc. respond.
Open DCF Calculator for TTDCompany Overview
The 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.
Financial Metrics — TTD Stock Valuation Data
Revenue/Share (TTM)
$6.38
FCF/Share (TTM)
$1.84
ROIC (TTM)
12.2%
ROE (TTM)
16.1%
P/FCF
7.2x
EV/EBITDA
6.9x
FCF Yield
13.89%
Debt/Equity
0.17x
Based on trailing twelve-month data, TTD shows a free cash flow per share of $1.84 and a ROIC of 12.2%, key inputs for stock valuation using the DCF method. The P/FCF ratio of 7.2x and FCF yield of 13.89% are important context metrics when evaluating TTD's stock valuation relative to peers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the intrinsic value of TTD?
The Trade Desk, Inc. currently generates $1.84 in free cash flow per share. At the current price of $13.18, a DCF model would discount these cash flows at an appropriate WACC and apply a terminal growth rate to arrive at an intrinsic value. The result depends heavily on your growth and discount rate assumptions — a 1% change in WACC typically shifts the fair value estimate by 10-15%. In MiniValuator the model uses a single discount rate that you can edit directly, 10% by default, rather than a computed WACC.
Is TTD undervalued?
TTD trades at a P/FCF ratio of 7.2x with a free cash flow yield of 13.89%. A low P/FCF means investors are paying less per dollar of free cash flow; whether that is cheap depends on the company's growth, cyclicality, and capital intensity. However, whether TTD is truly undervalued requires comparing the DCF intrinsic value to the current market price and evaluating whether the margin of safety is sufficient for your risk tolerance.
How do I value TTD stock using DCF?
To perform a DCF valuation on The Trade Desk, Inc.: (1) Start with the trailing free cash flow per share ($1.84) as the base, (2) project future FCF growth over 5-10 years based on Advertising Agencies industry trends and company fundamentals, (3) apply a discount rate (WACC) reflecting TTD's risk profile — with a debt-to-equity of 0.17x, capital structure is an important factor, and (4) add a terminal value for cash flows beyond the projection period.
What is DCF valuation and how does it apply to TTD?
DCF (Discounted Cash Flow) estimates what a company is worth today based on its future cash generation. For The Trade Desk, Inc., this means projecting how much free cash flow the company will produce over the next 5-10 years, shaped by Advertising Agencies trends, then discounting those amounts to today's dollars. TTD's ROIC of 12.2% shows moderate capital returns.
How does WACC affect TTD stock valuation?
WACC (Weighted Average Cost of Capital) is the discount rate in a DCF model — it reflects the minimum return investors require. For TTD, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17x, the capital structure directly influences WACC. A 1% increase in WACC typically reduces the intrinsic value by 10-15%. At an EV/EBITDA of 6.9x, the market's implied discount rate can be reverse-engineered for comparison. In MiniValuator you set this discount rate yourself as a single editable number, 10% by default, instead of computing a formal WACC.
Learn More
- See TTD PE Valuation → — Earnings-based stock valuation using PE ratio analysis
- DCF Methodology — Step-by-step guide to discounted cash flow analysis
- PE Methodology — Guide to PE ratio stock valuation
- WACC — Understanding the discount rate used in DCF
- Margin of Safety — How to evaluate downside protection
- Intrinsic Value — How to evaluate stock fair value
- How to Calculate Intrinsic Value — Complete guide for investors
Related Valuations
All Communication Services valuationsDCF and P/E value TTD with different methods and assumptions, so the two conclusions can differ. Compare the P/E fair 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.