Zeta Global raises revenue outlook as EPS trails consensus

By Amara Osei

Zeta Global's $1.9 billion FY 2026 revenue guidance exceeds the $1.8 billion consensus by $100 million, while its $0.22-$0.24 EPS range trails the $0.80 estimate.

The company lifted the midpoint of full-year revenue guidance to $1.855 billion and projected GAAP EPS of $0.23. It also refreshed Q4 2026 guidance, including revenue of $521 million to $525 million, but disclosed no revised Q4 EPS figure.

Management's higher outlook signals confidence in continued growth. That leaves the operating target above consensus while the earnings target remains below it.

What did the latest quarter show?

Zeta Global last issued earnings results on Monday, November 9. It posted adjusted EPS of $0.38, beating the $0.28 consensus by $0.10, and revenue of $492.66 million, above the $471.08 million estimate.

Revenue rose 46.1% from the same quarter a year earlier, when EPS was $0.18. The company reported a negative net margin of 0.15% and return on equity of 5.32%. Zeta also said it generated positive GAAP net income in Q3 and year to date.

The earnings beat and faster revenue underpin the higher outlook. For the current year, the analyst group expects $0.21 EPS, a separate figure from the $0.80 consensus cited for the FY 2026 guide.

Where do the shares and valuation stand?

Zeta shares rose 4.3% on Tuesday and opened at $32.36. The opening price stood above the company's $31.72 fifty-day moving average and $22.83 two-hundred-day moving average, but below its $35.75 one-year high.

The broader valuation and balance-sheet measures were:

• $8.12 billion market capitalization and a 1.25 beta.
• A P/E ratio of -1,617.80 and a PEG ratio of 4.48.
• A one-year low of $14.36 and a one-year high of $35.75.
• Debt-to-equity of 0.21; both current and quick ratios of 2.38.

The negative P/E sits alongside the negative quarterly net margin, while the 5.32% return on equity shows a more favorable result on that measure.

What do analysts expect?

Research notes span August and October:

• Needham & Company LLC reiterated a “buy” rating on Tuesday.
• Craig Hallum set a $38.00 price objective on Monday, October 12.
• Freedom Capital cut its rating from strong buy to hold on Thursday, August 6.
• Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a sell (d-) rating on Thursday, October 15.
• William Blair set a $29.00 target price on Thursday, August 6.

Across the broader coverage, 12 analysts rate the shares Buy, two Hold and one Sell. MarketBeat lists a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating and a $37.19 consensus price target.

The $29 William Blair target sits below Tuesday's $32.36 open, while the $38 Craig Hallum objective and $37.19 consensus target sit above it. The spread leaves the forward debate tied to two deliverables: meeting the raised revenue guide and converting that growth into GAAP earnings.

What does Zeta Global sell?

Founded in 2007 and headquartered in New York, Zeta Global is a marketing technology company serving businesses in multiple markets. It helps organizations use consumer data and artificial intelligence to plan and deliver digital marketing.

Its platform combines data, analytics and campaign tools to identify audiences and engage customers throughout the marketing lifecycle. The products support customer acquisition, engagement and retention across email, mobile, social media and the web.

Two offerings carry the core proposition: the Zeta Marketing Platform and Zeta Data Cloud. They help clients manage audience insights and coordinate campaigns.

In plain terms, Zeta sells tools for finding customers and running campaigns; the forecast asks those tools to produce more revenue.

The next checkpoints are concrete: $521 million to $525 million of Q4 revenue, a $1.855 billion full-year revenue midpoint and $0.23 of GAAP EPS. Q3 delivered the growth and beat; the annual earnings guide still sits below consensus.

Revenue has cleared the near-term bar. Earnings still must.