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Verdict
Quantitative factor alignment verified for current market regime.
Quant Score
Rank
#4076
Positioning
Market Dominance
Transportation, Communications, Electric, Gas, And Sanitary Services
Communication
$1.6B
Vivek Shah
Ziff Davis, Inc. provides internet information and services in the United States, Canada, Ireland, and internationally. It operates in two segments, Digital Media, and Cybersecurity and Martech. The Digital Media segment operates a portfolio of web properties and apps that include IGN, RetailMeNot, Mashable, PCMag, Humble Bundle, Speedtest, Offers, Black Friday, MedPageToday, Everyday Health, BabyCenter, and What to Expect.
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| Stock | Rating | Score▼ | Quality | Value | Momentum | P/E | EV/EBITDA | ROE | ROA | Gross Mgn | Op Mgn | Net Mgn | Rev Growth | Div Yield | D/E | Mkt Cap | AUDIT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
$UGP ULTRAPAR HOLDINGS INC | 79 | 90 | 95 | 87 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$TNK TEEKAY TANKERS LTD. | 78 | 94 | 97 | 82 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$DHT DHT Holdings, Inc. | 75 | 84 | 88 | 78 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$STNG Scorpio Tankers Inc. | 75 | 86 | 95 | 74 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$NAT NORDIC AMERICAN TANKERS Ltd | 75 | 82 | 88 | 87 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$AMX AMERICA MOVIL SAB DE CV/ | 74 | 86 | 81 | 68 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$PAC Pacific Airport Group | 73 | 94 | 80 | 78 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$GSL Global Ship Lease, Inc. | 73 | 82 | 94 | 81 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$TRMD TORM plc | 73 | 86 | 94 | 65 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$VIV TELEFONICA BRASIL S.A. | 73 | 82 | 90 | 78 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$ZD ZIFF DAVIS, INC. | 35 | 44 | 52 | 15 | - | 5.2x | -0.1% | -0.1% | 85.5% | 4.9% | 0.0% | 13.4% | 0.0% | 93.0x | $1.6B | ||
| SECTOR BENCH | - | - | - | - | - | 16.9x | 6.1x | 11.9% | 3.2% | 52.6% | 14.8% | 7.7% | 4.2% | 1.4% | 1.3x | - | REF |
ZIFF DAVIS, INC. (ZD) receives a "Avoid" rating with a composite score of 35.4/100. It ranks #4076 out of 7,333 stocks in our coverage universe and carries a 1-star rating. Ratings are driven by a 6-factor quantitative model measuring quality, value, momentum, investment, stability, and short interest.
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Lagging peers — losers tend to keep underperforming
Fair valuation relative to peers
Average quality profile
High volatility — wider range of outcomes increases timing risk
Moderate investment profile
Below-average composite — caution warranted
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Relative valuation derived from Transportation, Communications, Electric, Gas, And Sanitary Services sector benchmarks. Model weights: EV/EBITDA (40%), P/B (35%), P/S (25%). Re-calculated daily.
No analyst ratings for ZD.
View All Ratings| Factor | Global | Sector | Tilt |
|---|---|---|---|
| PROFITABILITY | 44 | 47 | -3NEUTRAL |
| MOMENTUM | 15 | 10 | +5NEUTRAL |
| VALUATION | 52 | 59 | -7DRAG |
| INVESTMENT | 44 | 74 | -30DRAG |
| STABILITY | 29 | 27 | +2NEUTRAL |
| SHORT INT | 25 | 15 | +10ALPHA |
Global = full universe. Sector = relative to industry peers. Positive tilt indicates idiosyncratic strength.
ROIC 4.3% vs WACC 6.9% (spread -2.6%)
GM 86% vs sector 53%, OM 5% vs sector 15%
Capital turnover 1.00x, R&D intensity 4.6%
Rev growth 13%, 10yr history
Interest coverage N/A, Net debt/EBITDA 4.2x
Composite assessment of profitability, capital efficiency, and financial strength. Top-tier entities demonstrate sustainable cash flow generation and elite competitive moats.
Profit generated per dollar of shareholder equity
Efficiency of asset utilization
Pricing power and cost efficiency
Core business profitability
Bottom-line profitability
The Quality factor evaluates the persistence and magnitude of realized cash flows. Companies with scores >70 exhibit superior pricing power and structural financial resilience through diverse economic regimes.
Our uncertainty rating tracks the predictability of future cash flows and potential for permanent capital loss. Moderate visibility with standard industry cyclicality.
We rate ZIFF DAVIS, INC. (ZD) as Avoid with a composite score of 35.4/100 at a current price of $26.50. The stock falls in the bottom quintile, and the multi-factor weakness suggests a high probability of continued underperformance.
ZIFF DAVIS, INC. holds a top-quartile position (#0 of 50) within the Transportation, Communications, Electric, Gas, And Sanitary Services sector, based on our composite quantitative scoring across quality, value, momentum, and stability factors. The composite score of 35.4/100 places it at rank #4076 in our full universe.
No Moat
High
Poor
Fair Value
Gross margins of 86% signal strong pricing power.
Stable competitive position in a defensive sector.
Weak momentum suggests persistent institutional selling pressure.
Vulnerability to macroeconomic shocks and interest rate volatility.
ZIFF DAVIS, INC. represents a avoid based on multi-factor quantitative performance.
Our quantitative model flags ZIFF DAVIS, INC. with an Avoid rating, assigning a composite score of 35.4/100 and 1 out of 5 stars. Ranked #4076 of 7,333 stocks, ZD falls in the bottom tier across key factors. Historically, stocks with this profile have faced elevated risk of underperformance and capital loss.
ZD's quality score of 44/100 is below average, suggesting challenges with profitability or capital efficiency. The company reports a return on equity of -0.1% (sector avg: 11.9%), gross margins of 85.5% (sector avg: 52.6%), net margins of 0.0% (sector avg: 7.7%). Investors should examine whether management is actively addressing these weaknesses or if they reflect structural industry headwinds.
ZD's value score of 52/100 indicates the stock is fairly valued based on its current fundamentals. Key valuation metrics include an EV/EBITDA of 5.20x, a P/B ratio of 0.69x. At this level, neither a clear bargain nor overpriced, the stock's attractiveness depends more on forward growth expectations and qualitative factors.
With an investment score of 44/100, ZD exhibits moderate growth-oriented spending. Key growth metrics include revenue growth of 13.4% vs. a sector average of 4.2% and a return on assets of -0.1% (sector: 3.2%). The company appears to be balancing growth investments with capital returns, though the pace of investment may not be enough to accelerate top-line growth meaningfully.
ZIFF DAVIS, INC. is experiencing notably weak momentum with a score of just 15/100. The stock has underperformed its peers and is trending below major moving averages. Revenue growth stands at 13.4% year-over-year, while a beta of 1.34 reflects its sensitivity to broader market moves. While deep momentum weakness can occasionally present value opportunities, it often reflects deteriorating fundamentals or structural headwinds that may persist.
ZD's stability score of 29/100 signals elevated volatility and/or leverage concerns. Key stability metrics include a beta of 1.34 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 93.00x (sector avg: 1.3x). Investors should be prepared for wider-than-average price swings and consider position sizing accordingly to manage portfolio risk.
ZIFF DAVIS, INC.'s short interest score of 25/100 reveals significant bearish positioning, suggesting institutional investors are actively betting against the stock. Specific risk factors include above-average market sensitivity (beta: 1.34), elevated leverage (D/E: 93.00x), small-cap liquidity risk. At $1.6B (small-cap), ZD carries meaningful risk and is best suited for investors with high risk tolerance who have thoroughly evaluated the bear thesis.
ZIFF DAVIS, INC. is a small-cap company in the Transportation, Communications, Electric, Gas, And Sanitary Services sector, ranked #0 of 50 in its sector (100th percentile) and #4076 of 7,333 overall (44th percentile). Key comparisons include ROE of -0.1% trailing the 11.9% sector median and operating margins of 4.9% below the 14.8% sector average. This top-quartile standing reflects exceptional competitive strength relative to Transportation, Communications, Electric, Gas, And Sanitary Services peers.
While ZD currently exhibits a AVOID profile, superior opportunities exist within the TRANSPORTATION, COMMUNICATIONS, ELECTRIC, GAS, AND SANITARY SERVICES sector. Our model identifies several "Strong Buy" candidates with higher quality scores and more attractive valuations among direct industry competitors.
View Top Transportation, Communications, Electric, Gas, And Sanitary Services Alpha →Quant Factor Profile
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Improvement in Momentum (15) would have the largest impact on the composite score.
EV/EBITDA 15% BELOW SECTOR MEDIAN (FAVORABLE)
ROE 101% BELOW SECTOR MEDIAN
Gross Margin 63% ABOVE SECTOR MEDIAN (FAVORABLE)
Above 50MA
37.18%
Net New Highs
+51081
Ziff Davis Inc (ZD) reports a 3.5% full-year revenue growth, with strategic focus on segment performance and share repurchases despite Q4 challenges.
Ziff Davis (ZD) Q4 2025 earnings call: revenue, free cash flow, buybacks, and 2026 outlook amid AI/SEO headwinds in Tech & Shopping—read key takeaways.
In February 2026, Ziff Davis, Inc. reported fourth-quarter 2025 results showing sales of US$406.71 million and net income of US$0.37 million, with full-year 2025 sales of US$1.45 billion and net income of US$47.35 million, both compared with slightly higher profit levels a year earlier. The sharp year-on-year drop in quarterly earnings per share, from US$1.43 diluted to US$0.01, contrasts with modest full-year revenue growth and raises questions about cost pressures, one-off items, or...
Digital media company Ziff Davis (NASDAQ:ZD) missed Wall Street’s revenue expectations in Q4 CY2025, with sales falling 1.5% year on year to $406.7 million. Its non-GAAP profit of $2.56 per share was 5.1% below analysts’ consensus estimates.