Criteo Stock Plunges 29% YTD: Should You Buy the Dip or Wait?

Criteo CRTO shares have lost 29.2% in the year-to-date period, underperforming the Zacks Computer and Technology sector’s decline of 1.4% and the S&P 500 index’s return of 0.7%. The stock has also underperformed the Zacks Internet - Software and Services industry’s growth of 17.2% in the same time frame.

The stock’s underperformance can be attributed to the effect of tariffs and inflation surrounding the industry. Criteo, although showing a dip at the moment, is poised for long-term growth even amid the macroeconomic uncertainties. The company is taking strategic steps to drive its prospects. Let’s take a closer look at how CRTO is laying the foundation for sustained growth.

Strategic Shifts to Reinforce Retail Media and Monetization

Criteo has been transitioning from its legacy retargeting business toward high-growth areas, such as Retail Media and Commerce Audiences. In the first quarter of 2025, Retail Media on-platform revenues grew 21% year over year, driven by increased advertiser and retailer demand. Off-platform monetization also grew, supported by a 60% increase in supply partners. This can be attributed to the company’s work with retailers like Michaels, Dollar Tree and Meijer, and its expansion of on-site monetization and self-service platforms.

Commerce Audiences is another area of focus, with more than 250 brands onboarded to its expanded platform to date. With more first-party data integrations and growing demand for performance-based upper-funnel targeting, this business is positioned to scale throughout 2025.

Criteo S.A. Price and Consensus

Criteo S.A. price-consensus-chart | Criteo S.A. Quote

Criteo’s Competition and How CRTO Stands Out

Criteo operates in a crowded space, competing with tech giants like Amazon AMZN, Google GOOGL, and The Trade Desk TTD. Amazon uses its shopper data to sell ads directly on its platform, while The Trade Desk helps brands buy ads across the open Internet with data-driven tools. Google rivals Criteo with ads across Search, YouTube and websites, using its vast user data. Shares of Amazon, Google and The Trade Desk have lost 6%, 12.1% and 35.1%, respectively, in the year-to-date period. 

While these players dominate in various channels, Criteo differentiates itself by providing retailer-direct access and a transparent, demand-driven platform that aligns with first-party data needs. With its broad retail network, proprietary Shopper Graph, and AI-based performance engine, Criteo offers measurable returns to brands and retailers, an advantage it plans to expand upon through continued platform investment and innovation.

CRTO’s Earnings Estimate Revisions Show Upward Trend

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CRTO’s 2025 earnings is currently pegged at $3.46 per share, which has been revised upward by 8.46% over the past 30 days. The estimate suggests a year-over-year increase of 16.98%. The consensus mark for revenues is pegged at $1.15 billion, indicating year-over-year growth of 2.41%.

CRTO beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, with the average surprise being 45.42%.

Here’s Why You Should Buy CRTO Stock Now

Criteo is now focusing on high-growth areas like Retail Media and Commerce Audiences. In the first quarter of 2025, the company expanded its advertiser base by 11% year over year and drove strong platform adoption across key retailers like Michaels and Meijer. New features such as dynamic sponsored products and video ads have strengthened its product suite, while recent wins in categories like grocery and home improvement reflect growing market traction. With more than 250 brands using Commerce Audiences and self-service adoption rising, Criteo is building momentum. Backed by a clear product roadmap, the company is positioning itself for long-term success.

CRTO currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and has a Growth Score of A, a favorable combination that offers a strong investment opportunity, per the Zacks proprietary methodology. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

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This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

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