Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD) vs DoubleVerify Holdings, Inc. (DV) 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 DV's 13.9% |
| Value | DV | Lower P/E (20.2x vs 21.1x), PEG 1.11 vs 1.60 |
| Quality / Margins | TTD | 15.3% net margin vs DV's 6.8% |
| Stability / Safety | DV | Beta 1.00 vs TTD's 1.67, lower leverage |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | DV | -24.2% vs TTD's -66.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | TTD | 7.2% ROA vs DV's 3.7%, ROIC 21.3% vs 6.4% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Valuation efficiency (growth/$)
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
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.
DoubleVerify is a digital media measurement and analytics platform that helps advertisers verify the quality and effectiveness of their online advertising. It generates revenue primarily through subscription fees for its verification services — including fraud detection, brand safety, viewability, and contextual targeting solutions — with most revenue coming from advertisers and agencies. The company's key advantage is its independent, third-party verification status which creates trust and objectivity in an industry plagued by fraud and opaque metrics.
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
TTD leads in 2 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). DV leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Risk & Volatility). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
TTD is the larger business by revenue, generating $2.9B annually — 3.9x DV's $748M. TTD is the more profitable business, keeping 15.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to DV's 6.8%. On growth, TTD holds the edge at +14.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | TTDThe Trade Desk, I… | DVDoubleVerify Hold… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $2.9B | $748M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $673M | $136M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $443M | $51M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $787M | $173M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +78.6% | +82.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +20.3% | +10.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +15.3% | +6.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +27.2% | +23.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +14.3% | +7.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +11.1% | +28.6% |
Valuation Metrics
At 26.2x trailing earnings, TTD trades at a 25% valuation discount to DV's 35.1x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), DV offers better value at 1.93x vs TTD's 1.99x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | TTDThe Trade Desk, I… | DVDoubleVerify Hold… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $11.5B | $1.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $11.3B | $1.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 26.18x | 35.13x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 21.13x | 20.19x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.99x | 1.93x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 21.02x | 11.39x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.99x | 2.28x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 4.63x | 1.55x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 14.51x | 9.88x |
Profitability & Efficiency
TTD delivers a 17.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $18 in annual profit, vs $4 for DV. DV 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 DV's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | TTDThe Trade Desk, I… | DVDoubleVerify Hold… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +17.8% | +4.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +7.2% | +3.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +21.3% | +6.4% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +19.2% | +6.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.18x | 0.09x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$222M | -$159M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $658M | $259M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $436M | $100M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 985.25x | 26.89x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in DV five years ago would be worth $2,928 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,862 for TTD. Over the past 12 months, DV leads with a -24.2% total return vs TTD's -66.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors TTD at -24.8% vs DV's -26.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | TTDThe Trade Desk, I… | DVDoubleVerify Hold… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -36.8% | -2.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -66.1% | -24.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -57.4% | -59.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -71.4% | -70.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +691.4% | -69.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -24.8% | -26.2% |
Risk & Volatility
DV is the less volatile stock with a 1.00 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. DV currently trades 61.7% from its 52-week high vs TTD's 26.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | TTDThe Trade Desk, I… | DVDoubleVerify Hold… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.67x | 1.00x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $91.45 | $17.09 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $21.08 | $7.64 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +26.0% | +61.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 25.4 | 43.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 10.7M | 1.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates TTD as "Buy" and DV as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 95.8% upside for TTD (target: $47) vs 34.2% for DV (target: $14).
| Metric | TTDThe Trade Desk, I… | DVDoubleVerify Hold… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $46.65 | $14.14 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 46 | 33 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +12.0% | +0.1% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | May 21 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD) | 100 | 42.4 | -57.6% |
| DoubleVerify Holdin… (DV) | 99.33 | 29.44 | -70.4% |
DoubleVerify Holdin… (DV) returned -71% over 5 years vs The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD)'s -71%.
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD) | $203M | $2.9B | +1327.3% |
| DoubleVerify Holdin… (DV) | $104M | $748M | +617.4% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD) | 10.1% | 15.3% | +51.6% |
| DoubleVerify Holdin… (DV) | 3.0% | 6.8% | +122.2% |
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% |
| DoubleVerify Holdin… (DV) | 184.9 | 38.1 | -79.4% |
The Trade Desk, Inc. has traded in a 38x–408x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~26x. DoubleVerify Holdings, Inc. has traded in a 38x–185x P/E range over 5 years; current trailing P/E is ~35x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD) | 0.05 | 0.91 | +1705.6% |
| DoubleVerify Holdin… (DV) | 0.02 | 0.3 | +1363.4% |
The Trade Desk, Inc.'s EPS grew from $0.05 (2016) to $0.91 (2025) — a 38% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
The Trade Desk, Inc. generated $796M FCF in 2025 (+150% vs 2021). DoubleVerify Holdings, Inc. generated $173M FCF in 2025 (+135% vs 2021).
TTD vs DV: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is TTD or DV 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 The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD) a "Buy" — based on 46 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 — TTD or DV?
On trailing P/E, The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD) is the cheapest at 26.2x versus DoubleVerify Holdings, Inc. at 35.1x. On forward P/E, DoubleVerify Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 20.2x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: DoubleVerify Holdings, Inc. wins at 1.11x versus The Trade Desk, Inc.'s 1.60x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.
03Which is the better long-term investment — TTD or DV?
Over the past 5 years, DoubleVerify Holdings, Inc. (DV) delivered a total return of -70.7%, compared to -71.4% for The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD). A $10,000 investment in DV 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 DV's -69.7%. 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 — TTD or DV?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), DoubleVerify Holdings, Inc. (DV) is the lower-risk stock at 1.00β versus The Trade Desk, Inc.'s 1.67β — meaning TTD is approximately 68% more volatile than DV relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, DoubleVerify Holdings, Inc. (DV) 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 — TTD or DV?
The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD) is the more profitable company, earning 15.3% net margin versus 6.8% for DoubleVerify Holdings, 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 10.6% for DV. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — DV leads at 82.2%, 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 TTD or DV more undervalued right now?
The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential. By this metric, DoubleVerify Holdings, Inc. (DV) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1.11x versus The Trade Desk, Inc.'s 1.60x. A PEG below 1.5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, DoubleVerify Holdings, Inc. (DV) trades at 20.2x forward P/E versus 21.1x for The Trade Desk, Inc. — 0.9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TTD: 95.8% to $46.65.
07Which pays a better dividend — TTD or DV?
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 TTD or DV better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, DoubleVerify Holdings, Inc. (DV) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.00)). 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 (DV: -69.7%, 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 TTD and DV?
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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