Wrapping up Q4 earnings, we look at the numbers and key takeaways for the advertising & marketing services stocks, including Taboola (NASDAQ: TBLA) and its peers.

The sector is on the precipice of both disruption and growth as AI, programmatic advertising, and data-driven marketing reshape how things are done. For example, the advent of the Internet broadly and programmatic advertising specifically means that brand building is not a relationship business anymore but instead one based on data and technology, which could hurt traditional ad agencies. On the other hand, the companies in the sector that beef up their tech chops by automating the buying of ad inventory or facilitating omnichannel marketing, for example, stand to benefit. With or without advances in digitization and AI, the sector is still highly levered to the macro, and economic uncertainty may lead to fluctuating ad spend, particularly in cyclical industries.

The 7 advertising & marketing services stocks we track reported a satisfactory Q4. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 4% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was 0.8% below.

Luckily, advertising & marketing services stocks have performed well with share prices up 12.3% on average since the latest earnings results.

Taboola (NASDAQ: TBLA)

Often appearing as those "You May Also Like" or "Recommended For You" boxes at the bottom of news articles, Taboola (NASDAQ: TBLA) operates a digital platform that recommends personalized content to users across publisher websites, helping both publishers monetize their sites and advertisers reach target audiences.

Taboola reported revenues of $522.3 million, up 6.4% year on year. This print fell short of analysts’ expectations by 2.9%. Overall, it was a slower quarter for the company with a significant miss of analysts’ revenue estimates and revenue guidance for next quarter slightly missing analysts’ expectations.

Taboola achieved the highest full-year guidance raise of the whole group. Unsurprisingly, the stock is up 1.6% since reporting and currently trades at $3.19.

Is now the time to buy Taboola? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Best Q4: QuinStreet (NASDAQ: QNST)

Founded during the dot-com era in 1999 and specializing in high-intent consumer traffic, QuinStreet (NASDAQ: QNST) operates digital performance marketplaces that connect clients in financial and home services with consumers actively searching for their products.

QuinStreet reported revenues of $287.8 million, up 1.9% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 4.2%. The business had a stunning quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and revenue guidance for next quarter exceeding analysts’ expectations.

The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 8.7% since reporting. It currently trades at $12.03.

Is now the time to buy QuinStreet? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Slowest Q4: Magnite (NASDAQ: MGNI)

Born from the 2020 merger of Rubicon Project and Telaria, Magnite (NASDAQ: MGNI) operates the world's largest independent sell-side advertising platform that automates the buying and selling of digital advertising inventory across all channels and formats.

Magnite reported revenues of $205.4 million, up 5.9% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 2.8%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ revenue estimates and a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.

Interestingly, the stock is up 7.1% since the results and currently trades at $12.82.

Read our full analysis of Magnite’s results here.

Clear Channel Outdoor (NYSE: CCO)

With thousands of digital and traditional displays lighting up America's highways, city streets, and airports, Clear Channel Outdoor (NYSE: CCO) operates billboards, street furniture, and airport displays, connecting advertisers with millions of consumers across the US.

Clear Channel Outdoor reported revenues of $461.5 million, up 8.2% year on year. This print beat analysts’ expectations by 2.8%. It was a stunning quarter as it also produced EPS in line with analysts’ estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ revenue estimates.

The stock is flat since reporting and currently trades at $2.38.

Read our full, actionable report on Clear Channel Outdoor here, it’s free.

Omnicom Group (NYSE: OMC)

With a vast network of creative agencies that helped craft some of the most memorable ad campaigns in history, Omnicom Group (NYSE: OMC) is a strategic holding company that provides advertising, marketing, and communications services to many of the world's largest companies.

Omnicom Group reported revenues of $5.53 billion, up 27.9% year on year. This number surpassed analysts’ expectations by 22.8%. Taking a step back, it was a slower quarter as it logged a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.

Omnicom Group pulled off the biggest analyst estimates beat and fastest revenue growth among its peers. The stock is up 7.6% since reporting and currently trades at $75.51.

Read our full, actionable report on Omnicom Group here, it’s free.

Market Update

Late in 2025 into early 2026, there was hand wringing around artificial intelligence. For software companies, the fear was that AI would erode pricing power and compress margins as new tools made it easier to replicate what once required expensive enterprise platforms. Crypto investors had their own version of the same anxiety: if AI agents could trade, allocate capital, and manage wallets autonomously, what exactly was the long-term value of today’s crypto infrastructure?

These concerns triggered a noticeable rotation away from these sectors and into safer havens. But markets rarely dwell on one narrative for long. Spring 2026 came, and the focus shifted abruptly from technological disruption to geopolitical risk. The US’ conflict with Iran became the dominant driver of market psychology, and when geopolitics takes center stage, the script changes quickly. Investors stop debating growth rates and start worrying about oil supply, inflation, and global stability.

Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Strong Momentum Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.