New York, Feb 25, 2026, 04:57 EST — Premarket
- Zeta Global jumped 4.8% ahead of the open, trading at $17.80.
- The company bumped its 2026 revenue target to a range of $1.749 billion to $1.762 billion.
- Zeta posted a 25% jump in Q4 revenue to $395 million and told investors it’s targeting positive GAAP net income by 2026.
Zeta Global Holdings Corp. jumped almost 5% in early premarket action Wednesday, after the marketing software firm lifted its targets for 2026 and posted its fourth-quarter numbers. Shares traded at $17.80 around 5 a.m. EST, up 4.8% from Tuesday’s $16.98 close. (Public)
This update lands as investors grow choosier with smaller software stocks—growth alone isn’t cutting it; cash flow and profits are moving to the foreground. Zeta is shifting gears, pitching a 2026 narrative anchored on bigger projections and targeting real GAAP profitability, rather than just adjusted numbers.
Zeta’s marketing “cloud” platform connects brands with consumers across everything from email to connected TV. The key for traders? Gauging if the latest results point to real, lasting demand—or just another strong quarter in a volatile ad-spend environment.
Zeta reported a 25% jump in fourth-quarter revenue, hitting $395 million, and booked GAAP net income of $6.5 million. Revenue for all of 2025 landed at $1.305 billion. Operating cash flow reached $199 million; free cash flow was $165 million. Its tally of “super-scaled” customers—each bringing in at least $1 million in the past year—grew to 184. CEO David A. Steinberg described this as Zeta’s “18th consecutive beat-and-raise quarter.” CFO Chris Greiner pointed to higher 2026 guidance, citing “the momentum we are seeing in the business.” (Zeta Global)
Zeta bumped its full-year 2026 revenue outlook, now calling for $1.749 billion to $1.762 billion. Adjusted EBITDA guidance edged up too, to between $389.9 million and $392.1 million. Free cash flow is set a bit higher, projected at $230.7 million to $231.7 million. The company still expects to post positive GAAP net income for 2026, but says reconciling its non-GAAP forecasts to GAAP results would take unreasonable effort. (Business Wire)
Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP metric, excluding things like interest, taxes, depreciation, and select costs—though approaches to calculating it can differ from company to company. Free cash flow? That’s what’s left after capital expenditures, and investors often eye it as a clearer read on whether growth efforts are actually covering their own costs.
Wall Street was looking for fourth-quarter EPS of $0.24 on $378.09 million in revenue, Investing.com data showed. But Zeta delivered $0.28 per share, with sales climbing to $394.6 million. Revenue guidance for both Q1 and the full year 2026 topped analyst forecasts as well, per the same figures. (Investing)
Investors are likely to zero in on Zeta’s so-called “underlying” growth—numbers that strip out revenue linked to political candidates and segments from acquisitions. Those figures offer a read on the core trend, but keep in mind: reported growth might bounce around as election activity ramps up or as deals close.
But this setup has its snags. Ad and marketing budgets are quick to shrink, and big marketing clouds and ad-tech giants keep a firm grip on enterprise clients. If demand pulls back or expenses outrun forecasts, that road to steady GAAP profitability may get tougher, despite the upbeat top-line guidance.
Traders are eyeing whether that premarket pop sticks around as liquidity builds after the bell. The stock’s bigger moves will probably hinge on evidence that large-customer growth and cash flow are matching the company’s loftier goals.
Zeta’s upcoming earnings—first quarter—are due May 12, according to Investing.com. The site lists that date as the next scheduled release. (Investing)
