CDLX vs APPS vs MGNI vs PUBM vs TTD

For growth investors, The Trade Desk, Inc.

(TTD) is the stronger pick with 18. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -16. 2% for Cardlytics, Inc. (CDLX). Magnite, Inc. (MGNI) offers the better valuation at 14. 7x trailing P/E (13. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Magnite, Inc. (MGNI) a "Buy" — based on 31 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Magnite, Inc.

(MGNI) is the cheapest at 14. 7x versus The Trade Desk, Inc. at 25. 8x. On forward P/E, Digital Turbine, Inc. is actually cheaper at 10. 1x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Magnite, Inc.

(MGNI) delivered a total return of -60. 9%, compared to -99. 2% for Cardlytics, Inc. (CDLX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: TTD returned +680. 4% versus CDLX's -94. 2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), The Trade Desk, Inc.

(TTD) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 06β versus Cardlytics, Inc. 's 3. 18β — meaning CDLX is approximately 200% more volatile than TTD relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, PubMatic, Inc. (PUBM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 17% versus 3% for Digital Turbine, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), The Trade Desk, Inc.

(TTD) is pulling ahead at 18. 5% versus -16. 2% for Cardlytics, Inc. (CDLX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Magnite, Inc. grew EPS 493. 8% year-over-year, compared to -234. 8% for PubMatic, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, TTD leads at 22. 4% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Magnite, Inc.

(MGNI) is the more profitable company, earning 20. 3% net margin versus -44. 4% for Cardlytics, Inc. — meaning it keeps 20. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TTD leads at 20. 3% versus -20. 2% for CDLX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — TTD leads at 78. 6%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, Digital Turbine, Inc.

(APPS) trades at 10. 1x forward P/E versus 21. 2x for The Trade Desk, Inc. — 11. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for APPS: 150. 6% to $10. 00.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, The Trade Desk, Inc.

(TTD) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 06), +680. 4% 10Y return). Cardlytics, Inc. (CDLX) carries a higher beta of 3. 18 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (TTD: +680. 4%, CDLX: -94. 2%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

These companies operate in different sectors (CDLX (Communication Services) and APPS (Technology) and MGNI (Communication Services) and PUBM (Technology) and TTD (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: CDLX is a small-cap quality compounder stock; APPS is a small-cap quality compounder stock; MGNI is a small-cap deep-value stock; PUBM is a small-cap quality compounder stock; TTD is a mid-cap high-growth stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.