One man’s loss is another man’s (big) gain.
Thanks to some musical chairs in the S&P 500—and a whole lot of hard work from the team—DSP The Trade Desk has officially joined the index, replacing software maker Ansys, which was recently acquired.
It’s a major milestone for TTD, which went public back in 2016. Nearly a decade later, it’s being rewarded. As is typical when a company joins the S&P 500, the stock got a nice boost, jumping nearly 9% over the past week. On the year, it now sits at $80.40, rebounding after a sharp drop following its Q4 2024 earnings report back in February.
Why This Matters:
This is a big moment for an independent ad tech company. Now, we could be wrong (adtech OGs, feel free to fact-check us), but as far as we can tell, no other independent, publicly traded ad tech company has joined the S&P 500 in the last 20 years. Most of the notable names in ad tech history have either been acquired or failed to reach the growth, resilience, and scale required to make the cut.
So, yeah, this is rarified air and whether you’re a competitor or a fan of TTD, you’ve got to tip your cap. It’s a clear win for the category, at large.
Experts React:
CEO and chairman Jeff Green marked the moment on LinkedIn (yes, he’s still posting!) and reflected thoughtfully on the company’s journey. He also added that TTD is “just getting started.”
Our Take:
It’s a well-earned recognition for TTD. The stock continues to rally, recovering from a low of $46.34 earlier this year. Of course, there’s still plenty of work ahead, with growing pressure from competitors (Amazon and Roku?) and ongoing questions about initiatives/products like Ventura and Kokai. But for now, at this moment, the momentum seems real—and it may just carry into the second half of the year.
(By the way, that The Trade Desk has an existing product called Sellers & Publishers 500 speaks to the power of willing something into existence.)
