Stock Analysis on Net

Trade Desk Inc. (NASDAQ:TTD)

$24.99

Economic Value Added (EVA)

Microsoft Excel

EVA is registered trademark of Stern Stewart.

Economic value added or economic profit is the difference between revenues and costs,where costs include not only expenses, but also cost of capital.

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Economic Profit

Trade Desk Inc., economic profit calculation

US$ in thousands

Microsoft Excel
12 months ended: Dec 31, 2025 Dec 31, 2024 Dec 31, 2023 Dec 31, 2022 Dec 31, 2021
Net operating profit after taxes (NOPAT)1
Cost of capital2
Invested capital3
 
Economic profit4

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2025-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31).

1 NOPAT. See details »

2 Cost of capital. See details »

3 Invested capital. See details »

4 2025 Calculation
Economic profit = NOPAT – Cost of capital × Invested capital
= × =


The financial trajectory from 2021 to 2025 indicates a transition from consistent economic value destruction to the achievement of positive economic profit. For the majority of the analyzed period, the returns generated by the operating assets were insufficient to cover the cost of the capital employed, resulting in negative economic profit. However, a significant inflection point is observed in 2025, marking the first instance of value creation within this timeframe.

Net Operating Profit After Taxes (NOPAT) Trends
NOPAT exhibited significant volatility in the early years, dropping sharply from 127,366 thousand US$ in 2021 to 27,018 thousand US$ in 2022. Following this trough, a period of aggressive growth occurred, with NOPAT rising to 73,055 thousand US$ in 2023, 264,450 thousand US$ in 2024, and peaking at 579,226 thousand US$ in 2025. This rapid acceleration in operating profitability served as the primary driver for the eventual turnaround in economic profit.
Invested Capital and Cost of Capital Dynamics
Invested capital showed a fluctuating trend, increasing from 1,539,599 thousand US$ in 2021 to a peak of 2,455,827 thousand US$ in 2024, before declining to 2,114,481 thousand US$ in 2025. The cost of capital remained remarkably stable, hovering around 18.7% for four consecutive years before slightly decreasing to 18.27% in 2025. The combination of a high hurdle rate and an expanding capital base contributed to the sustained negative economic profit between 2021 and 2024.
Economic Profit and Value Creation
Economic profit reached its lowest point in 2022 at -321,871 thousand US$, reflecting a period where the gap between NOPAT and the capital charge was widest. A steady recovery followed, with losses narrowing to -257,401 thousand US$ in 2023 and -194,699 thousand US$ in 2024. The transition to a positive economic profit of 192,855 thousand US$ in 2025 was achieved through the simultaneous increase in NOPAT and a reduction in the total amount of invested capital, indicating improved capital efficiency and the successful coverage of the cost of capital.


Net Operating Profit after Taxes (NOPAT)

Trade Desk Inc., NOPAT calculation

US$ in thousands

Microsoft Excel
12 months ended: Dec 31, 2025 Dec 31, 2024 Dec 31, 2023 Dec 31, 2022 Dec 31, 2021
Net income
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)1
Increase (decrease) in allowance for credit losses2
Increase (decrease) in equity equivalents3
Interest expense
Interest expense, operating lease liability4
Adjusted interest expense
Tax benefit of interest expense5
Adjusted interest expense, after taxes6
Interest income
Investment income, before taxes
Tax expense (benefit) of investment income7
Investment income, after taxes8
Net operating profit after taxes (NOPAT)

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2025-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31).

1 Elimination of deferred tax expense. See details »

2 Addition of increase (decrease) in allowance for credit losses.

3 Addition of increase (decrease) in equity equivalents to net income.

4 2025 Calculation
Interest expense on capitalized operating leases = Operating lease liability × Discount rate
= × =

5 2025 Calculation
Tax benefit of interest expense = Adjusted interest expense × Statutory income tax rate
= × 21.00% =

6 Addition of after taxes interest expense to net income.

7 2025 Calculation
Tax expense (benefit) of investment income = Investment income, before tax × Statutory income tax rate
= × 21.00% =

8 Elimination of after taxes investment income.


Net operating profit after taxes (NOPAT) exhibited significant fluctuations over the five-year period. While net income demonstrated volatility, the trend in NOPAT presents a more pronounced pattern of initial decline followed by substantial recovery and growth.

Overall Trend
NOPAT decreased considerably from 2021 to 2022, then experienced a period of moderate growth in 2023. A substantial increase occurred between 2023 and 2024, and this upward trajectory continued into 2025, resulting in the highest NOPAT value within the observed timeframe.
Year-over-Year Changes
A significant decrease in NOPAT is observed from US$127,366 thousand in 2021 to US$27,018 thousand in 2022, representing a substantial contraction. The subsequent year, 2023, showed improvement, with NOPAT reaching US$73,055 thousand. However, the most dramatic change occurred between 2023 and 2024, with NOPAT increasing to US$264,450 thousand. This growth continued in 2025, with NOPAT reaching US$579,226 thousand.
Relationship to Net Income
While both net income and NOPAT experienced fluctuations, NOPAT’s decline in 2022 was more pronounced than that of net income. Conversely, the growth in NOPAT from 2024 to 2025 outpaced the growth in net income, suggesting increasing operational efficiency or changes in the capital structure impacting the calculation of NOPAT. The difference between net income and NOPAT remained consistent throughout the period, indicating a stable relationship between non-operating items and net income.

The substantial recovery and growth in NOPAT from 2023 onwards suggest a positive shift in the company’s operational performance and profitability. Further investigation into the factors driving these changes would be beneficial for a comprehensive understanding of the company’s financial health.



Cash Operating Taxes

Trade Desk Inc., cash operating taxes calculation

US$ in thousands

Microsoft Excel
12 months ended: Dec 31, 2025 Dec 31, 2024 Dec 31, 2023 Dec 31, 2022 Dec 31, 2021
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes
Less: Deferred income tax expense (benefit)
Add: Tax savings from interest expense
Less: Tax imposed on investment income
Cash operating taxes

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2025-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31).


The provision for (benefit from) income taxes and cash operating taxes exhibit distinct trends over the observed period. The provision for income taxes demonstrates a significant shift from a benefit in 2021 to substantial provisions in subsequent years, indicating increasing tax liabilities. Conversely, cash operating taxes show a more volatile pattern, peaking in 2023 and declining sharply in 2025.

Provision for Income Taxes
A substantial benefit from income taxes was recorded in 2021, amounting to negative US$15.726 million. This was followed by a marked increase in provisions, reaching US$73.985 million in 2022, US$89.055 million in 2023, US$114.226 million in 2024, and further increasing to US$215.451 million in 2025. This consistent upward trend suggests growing taxable income and potentially changes in applicable tax rates or available tax credits.
Cash Operating Taxes
Cash operating taxes began at US$4.359 million in 2021, increasing significantly to US$98.789 million in 2022. This growth continued into 2023, reaching US$137.273 million, and then to US$175.853 million in 2024. However, a considerable decrease is observed in 2025, with cash operating taxes falling to US$32.711 million. This decline could be attributed to various factors, including changes in tax payment schedules, utilization of tax loss carryforwards, or adjustments to estimated tax payments.

The divergence between the provision for income taxes and cash operating taxes is noteworthy. While the provision for income taxes consistently increased, cash operating taxes peaked in 2024 and then decreased substantially in 2025. This difference suggests a timing mismatch between the recognition of taxable income and the actual cash outflow for taxes. Further investigation would be required to determine the specific reasons for this discrepancy, such as deferred tax assets or liabilities, or changes in the timing of tax payments.



Invested Capital

Trade Desk Inc., invested capital calculation (financing approach)

US$ in thousands

Microsoft Excel
Dec 31, 2025 Dec 31, 2024 Dec 31, 2023 Dec 31, 2022 Dec 31, 2021
Operating lease liability1
Total reported debt & leases
Stockholders’ equity
Net deferred tax (assets) liabilities2
Allowance for credit losses3
Equity equivalents4
Accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss, net of tax5
Adjusted stockholders’ equity
Construction in progress6
Short-term investments, net7
Invested capital

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2025-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31).

1 Addition of capitalized operating leases.

2 Elimination of deferred taxes from assets and liabilities. See details »

3 Addition of allowance for doubtful accounts receivable.

4 Addition of equity equivalents to stockholders’ equity.

5 Removal of accumulated other comprehensive income.

6 Subtraction of construction in progress.

7 Subtraction of short-term investments, net.


The reported invested capital exhibited a fluctuating pattern over the five-year period. Initially, a growth trajectory was observed, followed by a decline and subsequent increase, culminating in a final decrease. A detailed examination of the components contributing to invested capital reveals further insights.

Total Invested Capital Trend
Invested capital increased from US$1,539,599 thousand in 2021 to US$1,865,761 thousand in 2022, representing a growth of approximately 21.1%. A subsequent decrease was noted in 2023, with invested capital falling to US$1,764,443 thousand. This was followed by a significant increase in 2024, reaching US$2,455,827 thousand. Finally, invested capital decreased to US$2,114,481 thousand in 2025.
Debt & Leases
Total reported debt and leases generally decreased from 2021 to 2023, moving from US$284,598 thousand to US$235,893 thousand. However, a substantial increase occurred in 2024, rising to US$312,215 thousand, and continued into 2025, reaching US$436,330 thousand. This suggests a shift towards increased reliance on debt financing in the later years of the period.
Stockholders’ Equity
Stockholders’ equity demonstrated a consistent increase from 2021 to 2024. It rose from US$1,527,306 thousand in 2021 to US$2,949,145 thousand in 2024. However, a decrease was observed in 2025, with equity falling to US$2,484,391 thousand. This suggests potential factors impacting equity value in the most recent year, such as share repurchases or changes in retained earnings.

The interplay between debt and equity significantly influences the overall invested capital. The increase in debt in 2024 and 2025, coupled with the decrease in equity in 2025, contributed to the overall decline in invested capital observed in the final year. The fluctuations in invested capital warrant further investigation to understand the underlying drivers and their implications for the company’s financial performance and risk profile.


Cost of Capital

Trade Desk Inc., cost of capital calculations

Capital (fair value)1 Weights Cost of capital
Equity2 ÷ = × =
Operating lease liability3 ÷ = × × (1 – 21.00%) =
Total:

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2025-12-31).

1 US$ in thousands

2 Equity. See details »

3 Operating lease liability. See details »

Capital (fair value)1 Weights Cost of capital
Equity2 ÷ = × =
Operating lease liability3 ÷ = × × (1 – 21.00%) =
Total:

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31).

1 US$ in thousands

2 Equity. See details »

3 Operating lease liability. See details »

Capital (fair value)1 Weights Cost of capital
Equity2 ÷ = × =
Operating lease liability3 ÷ = × × (1 – 21.00%) =
Total:

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31).

1 US$ in thousands

2 Equity. See details »

3 Operating lease liability. See details »

Capital (fair value)1 Weights Cost of capital
Equity2 ÷ = × =
Operating lease liability3 ÷ = × × (1 – 21.00%) =
Total:

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31).

1 US$ in thousands

2 Equity. See details »

3 Operating lease liability. See details »

Capital (fair value)1 Weights Cost of capital
Equity2 ÷ = × =
Operating lease liability3 ÷ = × × (1 – 21.00%) =
Total:

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31).

1 US$ in thousands

2 Equity. See details »

3 Operating lease liability. See details »


Economic Spread Ratio

Trade Desk Inc., economic spread ratio calculation, comparison to benchmarks

Microsoft Excel
Dec 31, 2025 Dec 31, 2024 Dec 31, 2023 Dec 31, 2022 Dec 31, 2021
Selected Financial Data (US$ in thousands)
Economic profit1
Invested capital2
Performance Ratio
Economic spread ratio3
Benchmarks
Economic Spread Ratio, Competitors4
Alphabet Inc.
Comcast Corp.
Meta Platforms Inc.
Netflix Inc.
Walt Disney Co.

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2025-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31).

1 Economic profit. See details »

2 Invested capital. See details »

3 2025 Calculation
Economic spread ratio = 100 × Economic profit ÷ Invested capital
= 100 × ÷ =

4 Click competitor name to see calculations.


The financial trajectory from 2021 to 2025 indicates a transition from a period of value destruction to a state of economic value creation. While the entity operated with a negative economic profit for four consecutive years, a consistent recovery trend emerged after 2022, resulting in a positive economic outcome by the end of the period.

Economic Spread Ratio
The ratio experienced a notable deterioration in 2022, falling to its lowest point of -17.25%. Following this trough, a steady upward trend was observed, with the ratio improving to -14.59% in 2023 and -7.93% in 2024. By 2025, the ratio reached 9.12%, signaling that the returns on invested capital have finally exceeded the cost of capital.
Economic Profit
Economic profit mirrored the movement of the spread ratio, with losses widening significantly in 2022 to -321,871 thousand USD. A gradual recovery followed, with losses narrowing to -257,401 thousand USD in 2023 and -194,699 thousand USD in 2024. The trend culminated in a shift to positive territory in 2025, with an economic profit of 192,855 thousand USD.
Invested Capital
Invested capital showed overall growth with some volatility, rising from 1,539,599 thousand USD in 2021 to a peak of 2,455,827 thousand USD in 2024. A subsequent decrease to 2,114,481 thousand USD in 2025 coincided with the achievement of positive economic profit, suggesting an improvement in capital efficiency or a strategic reduction in the capital base to optimize value generation.

Economic Profit Margin

Trade Desk Inc., economic profit margin calculation, comparison to benchmarks

Microsoft Excel
Dec 31, 2025 Dec 31, 2024 Dec 31, 2023 Dec 31, 2022 Dec 31, 2021
Selected Financial Data (US$ in thousands)
Economic profit1
Revenue
Performance Ratio
Economic profit margin2
Benchmarks
Economic Profit Margin, Competitors3
Alphabet Inc.
Comcast Corp.
Meta Platforms Inc.
Netflix Inc.
Walt Disney Co.

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2025-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31).

1 Economic profit. See details »

2 2025 Calculation
Economic profit margin = 100 × Economic profit ÷ Revenue
= 100 × ÷ =

3 Click competitor name to see calculations.


The financial performance between 2021 and 2025 is characterized by sustained revenue expansion and a transition from negative to positive economic value creation.

Revenue Growth Trends
A consistent upward trajectory in revenue is observed, rising from 1.196 billion USD in 2021 to 2.896 billion USD by 2025. This represents steady growth across the entire analyzed period.
Economic Profit Trajectory
Economic profit exhibited significant volatility before achieving a turnaround. Following an initial loss of 160.7 million USD in 2021, the deficit deepened to 321.8 million USD in 2022. A recovery phase followed, with losses narrowing to 257.4 million USD in 2023 and 194.6 million USD in 2024, eventually shifting to a positive economic profit of 192.8 million USD in 2025.
Economic Profit Margin Analysis
The economic profit margin followed a similar pattern of contraction and subsequent recovery. After reaching a trough of -20.40% in 2022, the margin improved steadily to -13.23% in 2023 and -7.96% in 2024. The trend culminated in a positive margin of 6.66% in 2025, signaling that the entity successfully transitioned to generating returns in excess of its cost of capital relative to its revenue base.