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Criteo SA (CRTO)
NASDAQ:CRTO

Criteo SA (CRTO) AI Stock Analysis

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CRTO

Criteo SA

(NASDAQ:CRTO)

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Neutral 67 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:67Neutral
Price Target:
$19.50
▲(6.67% Upside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:02/28/26
The score is driven by improving profitability/cash flow and a strong balance sheet, supported by an inexpensive P/E. Offsetting these positives are weak technicals (downtrend) and conservative near-term guidance due to client scope reductions and higher investment, which temper the outlook despite constructive longer-term product momentum.
Positive Factors
Margin recovery & profitability
Criteo’s substantial margin recovery (gross margin up to ~54% and net margin ~7.4% TTM) signals improved operating leverage and cost control. Durable higher margins increase cash flow generation and provide management flexibility for reinvestment, buybacks or debt neutrality even if revenue growth remains uneven.
Strong cash generation and balance sheet
Robust operating cash flow (~$311M TTM) and free cash flow (~$236M TTM) with high conversion support durable capital flexibility. Combined with low leverage and a solid equity base, this cash profile funds capex, buybacks and R&D while limiting refinancing risk across a 2–6 month horizon and beyond.
Retail & performance media market traction
Underlying Retail Media and Performance Media growth — plus rapid adoption of auction-based display and notable retailer wins — indicate durable product-market fit in commerce media. These structural gains expand advertiser demand breadth and retailer supply relationships that underpin recurring revenue streams over the medium term.
Negative Factors
Weak top-line momentum
Flat-to-declining revenue and a sharp TTM drop are a persistent structural risk: margin and cash improvements can be eroded if revenue does not stabilize or return to growth. Sustained top-line weakness would pressure per-unit economics, capex returns and management’s ability to scale investments profitably.
Client concentration / scope reductions
Material revenue sensitivity to a small number of large retail clients poses durability risk: disclosed scope reductions drove a sizable multi-quarter headwind. Such concentration can cause lumpy revenue, make forecasting harder and amplify downside if additional retail customers reduce scope or shift to lower-take-rate formats.
Investment & mix-driven margin pressure
Management’s planned higher CapEx (~$190M) and elevated AI and operating investments will compress adjusted EBITDA in 2026. Coupled with a structural mix shift into lower take-rate formats (display/CTV/off‑site), these forces reduce near-term margin sustainability and delay the cash-flow upside from new product initiatives.

Criteo SA (CRTO) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Criteo SA Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionCriteo S.A., a technology company, provides marketing and monetization services on the open Internet in North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and the Asia-Pacific. The company's Criteo Shopper Graph, which derives clients' proprietary commerce data, such as transaction activity on their digital properties. Its Criteo AI Engine solutions include lookalike finder, recommendation, and predictive bidding algorithms; bidding engine that executes campaigns based on certain objectives set by its clients; dynamic creative optimization+, which assembles customized creative advertising content by optimizing each individual creative component in the advertisement; software systems and processes, which enable data synchronization, storage, and analysis of distributed computing infrastructure in various geographies; and experimentation platform, an offline/online testing platform to enhance the capabilities and effectiveness of prediction models. The company also provides Criteo Marketing Solutions that allow commerce companies to address various marketing goals by engaging their consumers with personalized ads across the web, mobile, and offline store environments; and Criteo Retail Media solutions, which allows retailers to generate advertising revenues from consumer brands, and/or to drive sales for themselves, by monetizing their data and audiences through personalized ads, either on their own digital property or on the open Internet. In addition, it offers real-time access to advertising inventory through its publisher partners; consulting services to companies in distance sales; and business intelligence and analytics services. It serves companies in digital retail, travel, and classifieds industries. Criteo S.A. was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in Paris, France.
How the Company Makes MoneyCriteo generates revenue primarily through its performance-based advertising model, where clients pay for ads based on the outcomes they achieve, such as clicks or conversions. Key revenue streams include the sale of advertising inventory across various digital channels, including desktop, mobile, and social media platforms. Criteo also earns revenue from its data-driven marketing solutions, which offer insights and analytics to help clients optimize their advertising campaigns. The company has significant partnerships with various retailers, e-commerce platforms, and publishers, allowing it to access a wide array of inventory and consumer data, enhancing its advertising effectiveness. Additionally, Criteo's innovative use of machine learning and AI in targeting and personalization contributes to its competitive edge and revenue growth.

Criteo SA Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Number of Clients
Number of Clients
Indicates the scale of Criteo's customer base, highlighting market penetration and the potential for revenue growth through client retention and expansion.
Chart InsightsCriteo's client base has been declining since early 2022, reflecting challenges in client acquisition and retention. Despite this, the company is pivoting towards a self-service AI-first platform, with the Commerce GO solution gaining traction among small clients. This strategic shift, alongside strong growth in Retail Media and new partnerships with tech giants, suggests a focus on enhancing service offerings and expanding market reach. However, headwinds in the fashion segment and scope changes with key clients could pose risks to reversing the client decline trend.
Data provided by:The Fly

Criteo SA Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Feb 11, 2026
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:May 06, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call conveyed a constructive long-term view supported by record 2025 financials (revenue, margins, cash flow), strong underlying Retail Media and Performance Media traction, and promising AI/agentic proof points (60% uplift in recommendation testing; Go delivering >20% higher ROAS). Near-term headwinds from two retail client scope reductions (≈$75M in 2026), category softness (fashion and department stores), mix-driven take-rate pressure, and increased 2026 investments (higher CapEx and AI spending) temper near-term growth and drive conservative 2026 guidance (flat to +2% contribution ex-TAC). Overall, the fundamentals and product momentum materially outweigh the known, disclosed near-term challenges, and management positioned the company for durable growth beyond the transitional year.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Record 2025 Revenue and Strong Profitability
Revenue of $1.9B in 2025; contribution ex-TAC $1.2B, +3.5% at constant currency; adjusted EBITDA margin of 35%; adjusted net income $253M; adjusted diluted EPS $4.62; free cash flow $211M, +16% YoY (52% of adjusted EBITDA); $891M total liquidity and no long-term debt.
Performance Media Momentum
Performance Media revenue $1.7B and contribution ex-TAC $915M, +4% at constant currency in 2025. Q4 Performance Media revenue $465M and contribution ex-TAC +2% cc. High-growth verticals: Travel +37% and Classifieds +12%; Commerce Growth Solution +5%.
Retail Media Underlying Strength (Excluding Scope Changes)
Retail Media revenue $264M; contribution ex-TAC $260M, +2% cc in 2025. Excluding two clients with scope changes, Retail Media contribution ex-TAC grew 16% in 2025 and 20% in Q4. Auction-based display media spend increased 65% in the quarter; auction-based display now ~21% of on-site media spend (vs 13% last year); 49 retailers live on auction-based display; new wins include Lidl, JB Hi‑Fi and Ulta Beauty.
AI / Agentic Commerce Traction
Agentic recommendation service outperformed baseline LLM recommendations in broad offline testing with ~60% average uplift in prioritizing products most likely to be purchased. Proof of concept with an LLM partner moved into extended testing. 'Go' AI automation: campaigns that include social deliver >20% higher ROAS vs traditional; 37% of Go campaigns include social; in the U.S. half of small-client campaigns now run through Go. Full self-service launch on track for end of Q1.
Strong Cash Returns and Capital Allocation
Generated robust cash: Q4 free cash flow $134M and cash from operations $161M. In 2025 deployed $152M to repurchases (5.4M shares), cancelled 2.2M shares in Q4. Board increased remaining buyback authorization up to $200M.
Holiday & Product Performance Highlights
Media spend grew 25% YoY in Q4 across ~4,100 global brands. Black Friday on-site display spend more than doubled YoY. Shoppable video spend +30% sequentially. Notable off-site result: Cyber Week off-site activation reached 7M Costco shoppers and delivered >2000% ROAS for a large computer brand.
Negative Updates
Near-Term Retail Client Scope Reductions
Previously communicated scope changes at two retail clients created a $25M headwind in Q4 and an expected $75M headwind in 2026 (approx $27M impact in Q1), which pressured Q4 and is a key driver of the muted 2026 outlook.
Muted 2026 Guidance and Q1 Weakness
2026 contribution ex-TAC guidance: flat to +2% at constant currency (includes the $75M retail headwind). Excluding that headwind, underlying contribution ex-TAC expected to grow high single digits. Q1 2026 guidance: contribution ex-TAC $245M–$250M, down 9%–11% cc; adjusted EBITDA expected $50M–$55M.
Category and Regional Softness
Retail vertical softness in Q4: department stores -13% and fashion -12%. Regionally, trends were softer in the U.S. and Asia Pacific while EMEA accelerated.
Mix Shift and Take Rate Pressure
Shift into more display, CTV and off-site formats (lower take-rate channels) and the large retailer contract changes compressed Retail Media take rates year-over-year; ad tech services were down (~3% in 2025) and reduced Performance Media contribution growth by ~100 bps in Q4.
Investment Load and Margin Outlook
Planned investments in agentic AI, higher CapEx (~$190M in 2026 driven by data center renewals), return-to-office costs and FX headwinds are expected to reduce adjusted EBITDA margin to ~32%–34% in 2026 (from 35% in 2025).
Agentic Monetization Still Early Stage
Agentic initiatives show promising early results (e.g., 60% uplift in testing) but monetization models are unproven today; management did not assume any revenue from agentic initiatives in 2026 guidance.
Company Guidance
For 2026 Criteo expects contribution ex-TAC to be flat to up 2% at constant currency (but, excluding a $75M headwind from two retail clients, underlying contribution ex‑TAC is expected to grow high‑single‑digits), with forex estimated to add ~$8–12M for the full year; Retail Media contribution ex‑TAC is expected to decline mid‑to‑high teens at constant currency (but excluding the two clients it should accelerate to high‑teens/≈20% vs. 16% in 2025) while Performance Media contribution ex‑TAC should grow mid‑single‑digits at constant currency. Management expects a ~32%–34% adjusted EBITDA margin for 2026, a normalized tax rate of 27%–32%, CapEx of about $190M, and free‑cash‑flow conversion of roughly 40% of adjusted EBITDA; guidance assumes no revenue from agentic commerce and a flat share count. For Q1 2026 the company guides contribution ex‑TAC of $245M–$250M (down ~9%–11% CC), reflecting an approximate $27M near‑term headwind (~10ppt drag) and an ~$8–10M positive forex impact, and adjusted EBITDA of $50M–$55M.

Criteo SA Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Profitability and cash generation have strengthened (higher gross/EBIT margins and solid free cash flow), supported by a conservative balance sheet with low leverage. The main offset is weak top-line momentum (flat-to-declining revenue and a sharp TTM drop), which raises uncertainty about the durability of the rebound.
Income Statement
62
Positive
Profitability has improved meaningfully versus prior years: gross margin rose from ~39% (2022) to ~54% in TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months), and net margin improved from near-breakeven (2022) to ~7.4% in TTM. Operating profit also strengthened (EBIT margin ~6.8% in TTM vs ~2.4% in 2022). The key weakness is growth: revenue has been flat to down for several years and is reported down sharply in TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months), which creates uncertainty around the durability of the margin rebound.
Balance Sheet
78
Positive
The balance sheet looks conservatively financed, with low leverage (debt-to-equity ~0.10–0.12 across periods) and a solid equity base (~$1.15B in TTM). Returns have improved as profitability recovered (return on equity ~12.9% in TTM vs ~0.9% in 2022). A watch item is that total assets have trended down from 2023 to TTM, which may reflect business contraction or balance sheet optimization, but leverage remains very manageable.
Cash Flow
74
Positive
Cash generation is a clear strength: operating cash flow increased to ~$311M in TTM and free cash flow to ~$236M, with strong TTM free-cash-flow growth versus 2024. Cash conversion is decent but not perfect—free cash flow runs at ~76% of net income in TTM (and ~59–75% historically). The main weakness is variability in free cash flow growth year-to-year (including a decline in 2023), suggesting cash generation can be somewhat cyclical.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue1.94B1.93B1.95B2.02B2.25B
Gross Profit1.05B982.97M863.04M795.20M781.94M
EBITDA333.45M245.84M154.60M199.05M247.02M
Net Income144.57M111.57M53.26M8.95M134.46M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets2.20B2.27B2.43B2.35B1.98B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments365.28M316.94M342.31M398.30M565.83M
Total Debt149.72M107.02M118.45M108.83M128.96M
Total Liabilities1.02B1.19B1.32B1.27B785.27M
Stockholders Equity1.15B1.05B1.08B1.05B1.16B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow208.50M180.05M131.75M171.19M165.93M
Operating Cash Flow311.24M257.70M224.25M255.99M220.91M
Investing Cash Flow-101.13M-97.90M-108.71M-166.12M-76.37M
Financing Cash Flow-151.48M-270.50M-147.25M-113.04M-80.12M

Criteo SA Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Neutral
Last Price18.28
Price Trends
50DMA
19.38
Negative
100DMA
20.05
Negative
200DMA
22.05
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.49
Negative
RSI
48.31
Neutral
STOCH
78.40
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For CRTO, the sentiment is Neutral. The current price of 18.28 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 18.13, below the 50-day MA of 19.38, and below the 200-day MA of 22.05, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.49 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 48.31 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 78.40 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Neutral sentiment for CRTO.

Criteo SA Risk Analysis

Criteo SA disclosed 1 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Criteo SA reported the most risks in the "Legal & Regulatory" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Criteo SA Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (60)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
67
Neutral
$935.06M6.9013.16%0.32%69.78%
67
Neutral
$1.96B14.4617.11%6.27%226.16%
62
Neutral
$1.05B25.312.66%5.70%97.88%
60
Neutral
$48.67B4.58-11.27%4.14%2.83%-41.78%
49
Neutral
$180.88M-0.72-29.47%-7.12%-7.75%
31
Underperform
$3.27M-0.79-194.72%-11.51%74.52%
* Communication Services Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
CRTO
Criteo SA
18.28
-19.07
-51.06%
ZD
Ziff Davis
28.01
-11.07
-28.33%
MGNI
Magnite
13.56
-1.09
-7.44%
ADV
Advantage Solutions
0.55
-1.75
-76.00%
VSME
VS Media Holdings Limited Class A
1.19
-19.01
-94.11%

Criteo SA Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyStock BuybackDelistings and Listing ChangesShareholder Meetings
Criteo Shareholders Approve Redomiciliation to Luxembourg
Positive
Feb 27, 2026

On February 27, 2026, Criteo shareholders overwhelmingly approved a cross-border conversion to shift the company’s legal domicile from France to Luxembourg, while maintaining corporate continuity and appointing Deloitte Audit as statutory auditor. Investors also backed new Luxembourg articles of association that authorize the board to issue shares from an additional 10% authorized capital, limit or withdraw pre-emptive rights, repurchase up to 11 million shares and cancel treasury stock, and empowered directors to complete the notarial steps for the redomiciliation.

Criteo’s board expects the redomiciliation and replacement of its American Depositary Shares with directly listed ordinary shares on Nasdaq in the third quarter of 2026, subject to customary conditions. The company argues the move will increase strategic and capital-management flexibility, reduce ADS-related costs and complexities, and potentially improve index eligibility and stock liquidity, broadening its shareholder base over the long term.

The most recent analyst rating on (CRTO) stock is a Hold with a $20.50 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Criteo SA stock, see the CRTO Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyDelistings and Listing ChangesShareholder Meetings
Criteo Wins Support for Redomiciliation and Nasdaq Listing
Positive
Feb 13, 2026

On February 13, 2026, Criteo S.A. announced that proxy advisory firms Glass Lewis and ISS have recommended shareholders vote in favor of its planned redomiciliation from France to Luxembourg and the replacement of its American Depositary Shares with ordinary shares directly listed on Nasdaq. A shareholder meeting to approve the cross-border conversion and related proposals is scheduled for February 27, 2026, with completion targeted for the third quarter of 2026, a move the board expects will expand access to U.S. index and passive capital, increase capital management flexibility, and improve liquidity by removing the costs and complexity of the ADS structure.

The planned shift to a Luxembourg domicile and direct ordinary share listing is designed to better align Criteo with major U.S. capital markets practices and potentially broaden its investor base. If approved, the restructuring could strengthen the company’s capital allocation options, including share repurchases and treasury share management, and enhance its competitive positioning among global ad-tech peers by making its stock more accessible and attractive to both passive and active institutional investors.

The most recent analyst rating on (CRTO) stock is a Hold with a $20.50 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Criteo SA stock, see the CRTO Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyDelistings and Listing ChangesShareholder Meetings
Criteo Plans Redomiciliation to Luxembourg and Nasdaq Listing
Positive
Jan 7, 2026

On January 7, 2026, Criteo S.A. announced that its board of directors, following a favorable opinion from the company’s works council, has approved the planned transfer of its legal domicile from France to Luxembourg via a cross-border conversion and the replacement of its American Depositary Shares structure with ordinary shares to be directly listed on Nasdaq. The company will convene a general shareholders’ meeting in Paris on February 27, 2026 to seek shareholder approval for the redomiciliation and related proposals, with record dates set for ordinary shareholders and ADS holders, and it continues to target completion of the conversion in the third quarter of 2026, positioning the group to streamline its corporate structure, enhance capital management flexibility and better align its capital markets presence with its long-term strategy, while maintaining its operational commitment to France and leaving open the option of a subsequent move of its legal domicile from Luxembourg to the United States.

The most recent analyst rating on (CRTO) stock is a Buy with a $24.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Criteo SA stock, see the CRTO Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Feb 28, 2026