WallStSmart
ZD

Ziff Davis Inc

NASDAQ: ZD · COMMUNICATION SERVICES · ADVERTISING AGENCIES

$41.90
-4.46% today

Updated 2026-06-05

Market cap
$1.66B
P/E ratio
38.52
P/S ratio
1.15x
EPS (TTM)
$1.17
Dividend yield
52W range
$22 – $51
Volume
0.6M

Ziff Davis Inc (ZD) Stock Valuation Analysis

Fair value estimate, historical valuation range, and quality signals for ZD.

WallStSmart Verdict
Overvalued

Current price exceeds what fundamentals support. Risk/reward skewed unfavorably.

Smart Value Score: 46 / 100
P/E (TTM)
38.5x
vs 5Y median of 38.5x
PEG
1.53
Fair range
Margin of Safety
+75.89%
Fair value $130.51 vs $41.90
EV / EBITDA
0.0x

ZD historical valuation range

Where current P/E sits in ZD's own 5Y range.

NOW
8.9x
5Y Low
31.7x
25th
38.5x
Median
41.4x
75th
134.6x
5Y High
ZD is trading more expensive than 52% of the last 5Y.
52th percentile · Above median

ZD intrinsic value (DCF)

DCF-based fair value estimate vs current market price.

Current price
$41.90
Market value
Intrinsic value
$130.51
DCF estimate
Margin of safety
+75.89%
+211.5% upside to fair value

Intrinsic value calculated using discounted cash flow (DCF) model based on projected free cash flows, discount rate, and terminal growth assumptions. A positive margin of safety indicates the current price is below estimated fair value, providing a cushion against estimation error.

ZD valuation signals

Quick-read green flags, caution flags, and risks based on current metrics.

!
PEG in fair range
PEG of 1.53 suggests price reflects growth fairly. Neither a bargain nor overpriced.
!
P/E in mid-range
P/E sits at the 52th percentile of the 5Y range. Neither cheap nor rich historically.
Strong margin of safety
Current price 75.9% below DCF intrinsic value estimate. Meaningful downside cushion.

P/E Ratio — History

Current: 38.52x

P/S Ratio — History

Current: 1.15x

Is ZD overvalued in 2026?

Ziff Davis Inc (ZD) currently trades at $41.90 per share with a market capitalization of $1,660,172,000.00. Based on our multi-factor framework, the stock appears richly valued with a Smart Value Score of 46/100. This score blends growth quality, financial health, and price attractiveness into a single institutional-grade read.

The stock trades at a P/E ratio of 38.5x, above its 5-year median of 38.5x. The PEG ratio of 1.53 points to a price that reasonably reflects expected earnings growth.

Looking at its own history, ZD is currently trading more expensive than 52% of the last 5Y on P/E. This places it in the 52th percentile of its historical range, a reasonable but unremarkable position.

Our discounted cash flow model estimates ZD's intrinsic value at $130.51 per share, against the current market price of $41.90. This implies a margin of safety of +75.89%. A meaningful cushion exists against model error, making this a reasonable risk-adjusted entry.

The Piotroski F-Score of 4/9 puts financial quality in a middling range, neither a standout strength nor an obvious red flag.

Bottom line: ZD appears richly valued on our framework, with a Smart Value Score of 46/100. At current levels the risk/reward is skewed against the buyer. A materially lower price or significant operational improvement would be needed to change the picture.

Frequently asked questions

Is ZD overvalued?

ZD scores 46/100 on our Smart Value Score (Grade C), a weak overall profile. The DCF also shows a positive margin of safety, so price and fundamentals line up reasonably well.

What is ZD's fair value?

Our DCF model estimates ZD's intrinsic value at $130.51 per share, versus the current price of $41.90, a margin of safety of +75.89%. Fair value is the present value of the cash flows we project the business to produce, so a price below it means the market is pricing the stock below that conservative estimate.

What P/E ratio does ZD trade at?

ZD trades at a P/E of 38.5x on trailing twelve-month earnings, against a 5-year median of 38.5x. P/E is what you pay per dollar of profit, and sitting above its own median means the stock is pricier than usual relative to its earnings.

Is ZD a buy based on valuation?

Our Smart Value rating for ZD is Sell, from a Smart Value Score of 46/100 that blends growth, quality, and valuation. The profile skews cautious, and a better price or clearer operating improvement would strengthen the case. This is research to inform your decision, not personalized financial advice.

How does ZD's valuation compare to its history?

On P/E, ZD sits in the 52nd percentile of its own 5Y range, above its long-run median relative to where it has traded. A high percentile means today's multiple is near the top of its historical band.

What is ZD's Smart Value Score?

ZD's Smart Value Score is 46/100. It is a proprietary WallStSmart metric blending growth quality, financial health, and valuation into a single 0-100 read, and scores above 75 are rare, signaling strong multi-factor alignment.