8 Best Advertising Agency Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds

In this article, we will look at some of the best advertising agencies, according to hedge funds. On March 31, ALM Corp. presented its Global Ad Growth Forecast for 2026. The firm stated that while the global ad market started 2026 on a positive note, an ongoing energy crisis may remove almost $100 billion in potential gains from the sector. A similar grim conclusion was drawn by WARC in its most recent scenario-forecasting exercise. Although the forecast growth for the sector is 10.4% (translating to $1.32 trillion), a major shock could cause a $50 billion loss in 2026, with cumulative losses of approximately $93.9 billion by 2027.

For the advertiser, the problem lies in the extent of the slowdown rather than any increase in expenditure. The travel and transport sector is the one that will be affected first due to the nature of energy prices and logistical issues associated with it. Digital powerhouses that have been able to build successful performance-based platforms are expected to fare better than others in the coming months.

In today’s climate, the brands that will sustain better are those that enter the new era with data, prioritization, value communication, and flexibility. Growth can still occur, but flexibility becomes a key prerequisite for success.

With that background, let’s explore our 8 Best Advertising Agency Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds.

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Our Methodology

To identify relevant stocks for this article, we conducted a screening of U.S.-listed advertising agencies. We only shortlisted stocks with at least 20% upside potential, according to consensus, as of the April 17 close.

Next, we identified the number of hedge funds holding positions in these stocks as of the end of the fourth quarter of 2025. Finally, we selected 8 stocks with the highest number of hedge funds holding stakes and ranked them in ascending order.

Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 498.7% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 303 percentage points (see more details here).

8. Criteo S.A. (NASDAQ:CRTO)

Criteo S.A. (NASDAQ:CRTO) is one of the 8 best advertising agency stocks to buy according to hedge funds.

Criteo S.A. (NASDAQ:CRTO) has been grabbing headlines lately because of its expansion into new markets. On April 16, the company unveiled plans to expand its relationship with DoorDash Inc. (NASDAQ:DASH) into Canada. The company will act as an extended arm of DoorDash’s advertising sales business in Canada, providing extra branding and agency demand on the platform.

This move supports the stock’s standing as one of the best advertising agency names, as per hedge funds, and is based on an increase in demand for deliveries among consumers. Statistics show that almost 19% of Canadian consumers have increased their orders through deliveries as compared to the prior years. Over 56% orders are placed through third-party apps because of the underlying convenience provided by such apps. There is already good early momentum for DoorDash marketing campaigns launched by Criteo in the United States.

In the words of Janine Flaccavento, Managing Director of Criteo, the company can now allow brands to engage with high-intent customers during their purchase journey on the platform. Advertisers will be able to access sponsored products and sponsored brands, as well as video, display, search, and social campaigns, through the DoorDash platform.

Criteo S.A. (NASDAQ:CRTO) offers platforms that help measure and keep track of business outcomes. These platforms are used for various purposes, like connecting shoppers with brands through customized ads, commerce activation monetization, and customer acquisition and retention solutions. It also offers AI-based solutions for optimization, product-level measurement, and more.

7. PubMatic Inc. (NASDAQ:PUBM)

PubMatic Inc. (NASDAQ:PUBM) is one of the 8 best advertising agency stocks to buy according to hedge funds.

On March 25, PubMatic Inc. (NASDAQ:PUBM) announced its partnership with Untapped Growth, which is a multibillion-dollar media buying consortium for independent agencies, to integrate its member agencies with AgenticOS. Such a collaboration supports a bullish argument in favor of the stock, which appears to be one of the most favored names by hedge funds across the advertising sphere.

With this partnership, member agencies will be able to launch proprietary buyer agents within PubMatic’s platform. This would allow them to build and launch campaigns using the best data partners and premium inventory across connected TV, mobile, and online video. Kyle Dozeman, the Chief Revenue Officer at PubMatic, stated that the agentic technology usually just replaces manual work and doesn’t solve the underlying issues in the supply chain. However, PubMatic’s technology only requires one connection, providing users with access to the entire dataset and premium inventory.

The results of early AgenticOS campaigns have shown a reduction of 40-50% in supply chain costs. There was a 40% increase in impressions, a 30% decrease in eCPMs, 87% increase in campaign setup speed, and a 70% increase in error troubleshooting speeds as compared to standard working methods.

PubMatic Inc. (NASDAQ:PUBM) is a provider of a cloud-based platform that allows real-time programmatic advertising transactions. It offers platforms for the sales and purchase of digital advertising inventory and header bidding. It also facilitates buyers to directly execute deals and get additional insights and data. The company is engaged in the sale of ID management systems and commerce media solutions as well.

6. NIQ Global Intelligence plc (NYSE:NIQ)

NIQ Global Intelligence plc (NYSE:NIQ) is one of the 8 best advertising agency stocks to buy according to hedge funds.

On April 7, NIQ Global Intelligence plc (NYSE:NIQ) and Sun Pacific agreed to a partnership that will leverage NIQ’s retail analytics to help Sun Pacific gain a larger share of the produce market. NIQ will deliver data-driven insights into consumer retail behavior, seasonal trends, and benchmarks across fresh categories.

By leveraging its consumer panel, NIQ will be able to find out areas to improve in consumer demand based on geographical location and retailers, and it will use analytics to give an improved assortment strategy to Sun Pacific in Citrus, Mandarins, Kiwis, and Table Grapes.

On April 1, NIQ Global Intelligence plc (NYSE:NIQ) introduced the Ask Arthur Chat, a brand-new AI-powered conversational interface created especially to substantially enhance how customers access and utilize core NIQ data. The deployment of this interface represents a major strategic move in the company’s ongoing investment in artificial intelligence innovation, which makes it stand out as an investment prospect within the advertising space.

This platform allows increasing access to data and opens up whole new avenues for deep client connection, especially among limited to medium-sized organizations. Chief Product Officer Troy Treangen stated:

“Ask Arthur Chat expands how we bring NIQ to market. By combining AI with our trusted datasets, we are making insights more accessible while creating new opportunities to engage clients and support their growth.”

NIQ Global Intelligence plc (NYSE:NIQ) is a developer of analytical solutions and software applications. It provides an AI-based application that helps gather, harmonize, and enhance consumer buying data. It also offers omni-channel measurement, retail solutions, and analysis on pricing, promotion strategy, target audience, new product introduction, and more.

5. MNTN Inc. (NYSE:MNTN)

MNTN Inc. (NYSE:MNTN) is one of the 8 best advertising agency stocks to buy according to hedge funds.

On April 14, Canaccord Genuity reaffirmed its Buy rating on MNTN Inc. (NYSE:MNTN). The firm, however, cut the stock’s target price from $20 to $18, which still implies an adjusted upside potential of more than 78% despite the downward revision. This makes it one of the most compelling prospects in the advertising segment.

Back on March 10, MNTN Inc. (NYSE:MNTN) announced two major executive appointments that are aimed at driving growth in the company’s performance television segment. Garland Hill was appointed Chief Revenue Officer and comes with vast experience working at TikTok, where he led the small and midmarket business segment to grow revenues by over $1 billion.

Peter Blacker has been hired as the Global Head of Premium Content following his 20-year career at NBCUniversal as the Head of Streaming and Data Products, where he played a critical role in driving the launch of Peacock, among other products. According to Chief Executive Mark Douglas, connected TV is perhaps the greatest revolution in advertising that has ever occurred, and this move is geared towards ensuring that the company’s growth in momentum continues and delivers performance on a larger scale.

MNTN Inc. (NYSE:MNTN) works as a technology platform that connects performance marketing with Connected TV. It provides self-serve technology to its consumers, which allows broadcasting TV commercials as simply as using search and social media. This platform helps to drive measurable conversions, site visits, revenue, and more.

4. DoubleVerify Holdings Inc. (NYSE:DV)

DoubleVerify Holdings Inc. (NYSE:DV) is one of the 8 best advertising agency stocks to buy according to hedge funds.

On April 16, DoubleVerify Holdings Inc. (NYSE:DV) introduced the DV AI Verification platform, which includes DV’s AI SlopStopper for social. This enables advertisers to block the appearance of lesser quality content created by artificial intelligence to preserve their brand reputation on social and video networks.

CEO Mark Zagorski mentioned that the advent of generative AI has resulted in an exponential rise in content generation, thus calling for increased visibility and control on behalf of companies. DV AI Verification was launched in November 2025, whereas SlopStopper is currently available on YouTube and will soon be integrated into other platforms as well.

Apart from introducing such value-added features, what is also driving an optimistic view around DoubleVerify Holdings Inc. (NYSE:DV) as one of the most attractive advertising stocks is the company’s recent strategic collaborations. On March 25, it announced a partnership with Spectrum Reach. This collaboration is driven by shared ambitions to significantly increase the program-level transparency across broader streaming TV and CTV campaigns. Due to this collaboration, Spectrum Reach formally became the first partner to integrate into the company’s Certified Transparent Streaming program. This marked a major industry milestone.

The leadership teams have emphasized that securing advertisers’ trust requires show-level reporting. Concurrently, this privacy-focused integration gives brands immediate access to verified, post-bid visibility throughout the DV Authentic Streaming TV ecosystem. Ultimately, by leveraging a highly controlled clean room infrastructure, the company has empowered publishers to securely incentivize continued ad spending and increase yield while maintaining strict data compliance.

DoubleVerify Holdings Inc. (NYSE:DV) is a seller of a media effectiveness platform. It provides AI-based digital campaign optimization solutions, metrics for digital media quality, and marketing mix modeling services to optimize the impact of advertising. It also provides platforms for identifying lost or unfilled sales, driving campaign performance, and unifying cross-channel conversion and more.

3. Magnite Inc. (NASDAQ:MGNI)

Magnite Inc. (NASDAQ:MGNI) is one of the 8 best advertising agency stocks to buy according to hedge funds.

On April 15, Magnite Inc. (NASDAQ:MGNI) entered into a partnership agreement with AMC Global Media to expand the services of the company, which includes a combination of linear and streaming products programmatically available for buyers. With the help of ClearLine technology, an activation and curation platform offered by Magnite, brands can buy AMC’s television products through a single entry point.

The new partnership will offer buyers better visibility to millions of active viewers on AMC’s linear channels, FAST channels, and flagship streaming channel, AMC+. TNA Wrestling’s TNA iMPACT, a live event that airs weekly, launched by AMC this year, is also using Magnite’s Live Scheduler product for better optimization of live linear addressable inventory, ensuring a common framework to cut through fragmentation within live streams while helping marketers better measure results.

Back on March 12, Magnite Inc. (NASDAQ:MGNI) revealed partnering with Nova Entertainment, which would enable programmatic advertising over the broader Nova Retail Network. This retail network offers tailored audio content and targeted advertising to consumers at the point of purchase, reaching millions of active shoppers nationwide. The collaboration is considered to be a significant advancement in media accessibility.

Magnite Inc. (NASDAQ:MGNI) runs a global independent omni-channel sell-side advertising platform. Its product portfolio includes services and apps to manage digital advertising inventory and to monetize inventory for different buyers, advertisers, and agencies. It also offers demand-side platforms along with an independent marketplace to bridge the gap between sellers and buyers.

2. Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE:OMC)

Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE:OMC) is one of the 8 best advertising agency stocks to buy according to hedge funds.

On April 1, Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE:OMC) announced that its consultancy for transformation, Credera, has launched an Adobe practice with a view to catering to the needs of enterprise businesses. Nik DeBenedetto, who once worked as CEO of LeapPoint, an organization acquired by Omnicom in 2024, will become the Global Managing Director of the newly established business practice, with LeapPoint being subsumed within Credera.

Such developments support bullish views for Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE:OMC), which is viewed by hedge funds as one of the most appealing stocks across the advertising category. The company is growing increasingly dominant due to the accolades won by LeapPoint in 2025, such as being named the Adobe Digital Experience Partner of the Year in the Americas and the UK & Ireland territories. According to DeBenedetto, this combination will allow valued clients to capitalize on their investment in Adobe to its fullest extent.

The future of marketing is being defined by Omnicom using automated content supply chains personalized through data and identity, and new operating models driven by humans with agent-enabled solutions. The unified Practice will be launched at the Adobe Summit as a Diamond Sponsor in April.

Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE:OMC) is a media, communications, sales, and marketing company that operates through its various subsidiaries. They deliver services such as advertising, branding, precision marketing, content marketing, CSR consulting, public relations support, and more. They integrate their technical expertise with data management and analytics to deliver superior value to customers.

1. The Trade Desk Inc. (NASDAQ:TTD)

The Trade Desk Inc. (NASDAQ:TTD) is one of the 8 best advertising agency stocks to buy according to hedge funds.

On April 13, Mark Kelley from Stifel reduced the price target on The Trade Desk Inc. (NASDAQ:TTD) from $26 to $25. The analyst maintained his Hold rating on the stock, which still offers double-digit upside potential despite the downward price target revision.

This valuation adjustment is mainly driven by a broader reassessment of prevailing market sentiment across the internet segment. The analyst systematically revised his baseline financial projections across his coverage scope to incorporate the potential macroeconomic implications of the Iran conflict.

Back on March 20, Mark Mahaney from Evercore ISI reduced the price target on The Trade Desk Inc. (NASDAQ:TTD) from $35 to $32, resulting in a revised upside potential of more than 42%. The analyst maintained an Outperform rating on the stock.

Mahaney said that Publicis Groupe S.A. (OTC:PUBGY) is no longer recommending TTD’s platform to clients amid an issue with its compliance and billing audit. He acknowledged that this has adversely affected the stock performance. However, he feels that the market reaction appears to be highly exaggerated. Nevertheless, The Trade Desk Inc. (NASDAQ:TTD) continues to be a highly favored advertising stock in the eyes of hedge fund managers.

The Trade Desk Inc. (NASDAQ:TTD) is the largest independent technology company offering cloud-based ad-purchasing solutions. It helps brands and advertising agencies to optimize their campaigns through data-driven digital content. Such content is compatible with different formats such as audio, video, display, and connected TV. It covers several media, including mobile & streaming devices, televisions, and PCs.

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