Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Ibotta, Inc. (IBTA) vs The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | TTD | 18.5% revenue growth vs IBTA's -6.8% |
| Value | TTD | Lower P/E (21.1x vs 208.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | TTD | 15.3% net margin vs IBTA's 4.7% |
| Stability / Safety | IBTA | Beta 0.88 vs TTD's 1.67, lower leverage |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | IBTA | -25.2% vs TTD's -66.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | TTD | 7.2% ROA vs IBTA's 3.1%, ROIC 21.3% vs -0.5% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Ibotta operates a digital promotions platform that connects consumer packaged goods brands with shoppers through cash-back offers. It makes money primarily from performance-based marketing fees paid by brands—typically a percentage of sales driven through its network—with additional revenue from data analytics services. The company's moat lies in its extensive network of retail partners and proprietary shopper data, creating a two-sided marketplace that's difficult for competitors to replicate.
The Trade Desk operates a cloud-based platform that enables advertisers to programmatically buy and manage digital ad campaigns across channels like connected TV, display, and video. It generates revenue primarily from platform fees—typically a percentage of media spend—with nearly all income coming from its core self-service advertising platform. Its key advantage is its independent, transparent position in the ad tech ecosystem—unlike walled gardens—which attracts major agencies and brands seeking unbiased campaign optimization.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
TTD leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). IBTA leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Risk & Volatility).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
TTD is the larger business by revenue, generating $2.9B annually — 8.5x IBTA's $342M. TTD is the more profitable business, keeping 15.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to IBTA's 4.7%. On growth, TTD holds the edge at +14.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | IBTAIbotta, Inc. | TTDThe Trade Desk, I… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $342M | $2.9B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $3M | $673M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $16M | $443M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $72M | $787M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +79.2% | +78.6% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -0.2% | +20.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +4.7% | +15.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +20.9% | +27.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -10.0% | +14.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -101.3% | +11.1% |
Valuation Metrics
At 26.2x trailing earnings, TTD trades at a 87% valuation discount to IBTA's 208.1x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, TTD's 21.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than IBTA's 210.5x.
| Metric | IBTAIbotta, Inc. | TTDThe Trade Desk, I… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $808M | $11.5B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $647M | $11.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 208.08x | 26.18x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 21.13x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.99x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 210.47x | 21.02x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.36x | 3.99x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.61x | 4.63x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 10.77x | 14.51x |
Profitability & Efficiency
TTD delivers a 17.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $18 in annual profit, vs $6 for IBTA. IBTA carries lower financial leverage with a 0.09x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to TTD's 0.18x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), TTD scores 6/9 vs IBTA's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | IBTAIbotta, Inc. | TTDThe Trade Desk, I… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +5.6% | +17.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.1% | +7.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -0.5% | +21.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -0.2% | +19.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.09x | 0.18x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$161M | -$222M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $187M | $658M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $26M | $436M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 985.25x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in TTD five years ago would be worth $2,862 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,419 for IBTA. Over the past 12 months, IBTA leads with a -25.2% total return vs TTD's -66.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors TTD at -24.8% vs IBTA's -37.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | IBTAIbotta, Inc. | TTDThe Trade Desk, I… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +9.0% | -36.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -25.2% | -66.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -75.8% | -57.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -75.8% | -71.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -75.7% | +691.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -37.7% | -24.8% |
Risk & Volatility
IBTA is the less volatile stock with a 0.88 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than TTD's 1.67 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. IBTA currently trades 39.8% from its 52-week high vs TTD's 26.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | IBTAIbotta, Inc. | TTDThe Trade Desk, I… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.88x | 1.67x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $62.74 | $91.45 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $19.10 | $21.08 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +39.8% | +26.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 68.4 | 25.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 236K | 10.7M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates IBTA as "Buy" and TTD as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 95.8% upside for TTD (target: $47) vs 4.1% for IBTA (target: $26).
| Metric | IBTAIbotta, Inc. | TTDThe Trade Desk, I… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $26.00 | $46.65 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 9 | 46 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +12.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Apr 24 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ibotta, Inc. (IBTA) | 100 | 20.63 | -79.4% |
| The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD) | 100 | 34.83 | -65.2% |
The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD) returned -71% over 5 years vs Ibotta, Inc. (IBTA)'s -76%.
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ibotta, Inc. (IBTA) | $211M | $342M | +62.5% |
| The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD) | $203M | $2.9B | +1327.3% |
The Trade Desk, Inc.'s revenue grew from $203M (2016) to $2.9B (2025) — a 34.4% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ibotta, Inc. (IBTA) | -26.0% | 4.7% | +118.1% |
| The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD) | 10.1% | 15.3% | +51.6% |
The Trade Desk, Inc.'s net margin went from 10% (2016) to 15% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD) | 38.1 | 41.7 | +9.4% |
The Trade Desk, Inc. has traded in a 38x–408x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~26x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ibotta, Inc. (IBTA) | -1.81 | 0.12 | +106.6% |
| The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD) | 0.05 | 0.91 | +1705.6% |
The Trade Desk, Inc.'s EPS grew from $0.05 (2016) to $0.91 (2025) — a 38% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Ibotta, Inc. generated $75M FCF in 2025 (+216% vs 2022). The Trade Desk, Inc. generated $796M FCF in 2025 (+150% vs 2021).
IBTA vs TTD: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is IBTA or TTD a better buy right now?
The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD) offers the better valuation at 26.2x trailing P/E (21.1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Ibotta, Inc. (IBTA) a "Buy" — based on 9 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.
02Which has the better valuation — IBTA or TTD?
On trailing P/E, The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD) is the cheapest at 26.2x versus Ibotta, Inc. at 208.1x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — IBTA or TTD?
Over the past 5 years, The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD) delivered a total return of -71.4%, compared to -75.8% for Ibotta, Inc. (IBTA). A $10,000 investment in TTD five years ago would be worth approximately $3K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: TTD returned +691.4% versus IBTA's -75.7%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — IBTA or TTD?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Ibotta, Inc. (IBTA) is the lower-risk stock at 0.88β versus The Trade Desk, Inc.'s 1.67β — meaning TTD is approximately 91% more volatile than IBTA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Ibotta, Inc. (IBTA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 9% versus 18% for The Trade Desk, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — IBTA or TTD?
The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD) is the more profitable company, earning 15.3% net margin versus 4.7% for Ibotta, Inc. — meaning it keeps 15.3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TTD leads at 20.3% versus -0.2% for IBTA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — IBTA leads at 79.2%, 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.
06Is IBTA or TTD more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TTD: 95.8% to $46.65.
07Which pays a better dividend — IBTA or TTD?
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.
08Is IBTA or TTD better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Ibotta, Inc. (IBTA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.88)). The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD) carries a higher beta of 1.67 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (IBTA: -75.7%, TTD: +691.4%), 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.
09What are the main differences between IBTA and TTD?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. 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.
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