The Trade Desk vs Tradedoubler

The Trade Desk Expands Healthcare Measurement and Optimization Integrations for Pharma Advertisers

The Trade Desk announced new healthcare measurement and optimization integrations for pharma advertisers, expanding its capabilities in the healthcare vertical.

Wall Street's Disillusionment with The Trade Desk

The Trade Desk has suffered a dramatic decline, with its stock down 90% from its peak and market cap dropping to roughly one-tenth of its December 2024 high of $70 billion, leading to its removal from the S&P 500. The company faces multiple headwinds: a 15% companywide layoff after disappointing Q3 earnings, lowered forecasts, and near-total C-suite turnover. Analysts attribute the downturn to increased competition from challenger DSPs like Viant and Pontiac Intelligence, the shift of ad budgets to walled gardens (Google, Meta, Amazon), and the potential disintermediation of DSPs by agentic platforms like Google's Buyer Direct. Investor concerns over CEO Jeff Green's super-majority control add to skepticism, making an acquisition unlikely despite a sub-$10 billion valuation. The broader ad tech industry now favors large, media-owning platforms over independent players.

• The Trade Desk's stock is down 90% from its high, with market cap at about one-tenth of its December 2024 peak of $70 billion, and it is slated for removal from the S&P 500.
• The company announced a 15% companywide layoff following disappointing Q3 earnings and a lowered forecast.
• Nearly the entire C-suite has turned over in the past year.

Trade Desk Layoffs, Market Cap Drop Spark Turnaround Doubts

The Trade Desk's recent layoffs of about 585 jobs (15% of global headcount) on September 4, 2026, have raised concerns about its future. The market cap has fallen over 80% from its 2024 peak to under $7 billion, and the S&P 500 removed the company effective September 21. CEO Jeff Green called the cuts a reorganization, citing $1.5 billion in cash and zero debt, but analysts doubt the 'independence' pitch. Some see a need for a major bet or acquisition. Meanwhile, competitors like Magnite are catching up, while AI-native platforms like StackAdapt and Basis Technology are seen as performing well. The article also covers Meta's Muse AI launch, Salesforce's talks to buy Listen Labs, and other industry moves.

• The Trade Desk laid off about 585 employees (15% of global headcount) on September 4, 2026.
• The company's market capitalization has fallen from $69 billion in 2024 to under $7 billion.
• The S&P 500 will remove The Trade Desk effective September 21, 2026.

New blog post: La afiliación como clave del éxito de MediaMarkt en Black Friday

A new blog post has been added to the Tradedoubler blog feed, discussing the role of affiliate marketing in MediaMarkt's Black Friday success.

BuildLab Competition: Seven Affiliate Firms Build AI Time-Saving Tools

At PI LIVE Europe, the BuildLab competition brings together seven affiliate marketing companies to develop next-generation partnership tools that address time-consuming manual tasks, approval chasing, and data fragmentation in the affiliate channel. Teams from Tradedoubler, Awin, Impact.com, Optimise, Everflow, Adtraction, and Bravo Savings Network will build working prototypes in a single day, using AI tools, models, and MCP integrations. The winner will be announced at the AIP Summit on October 21. This initiative highlights the industry's focus on leveraging AI to streamline operations and enhance strategic work.

• PI LIVE is hosting BuildLab, a competition to create next-gen partnership tools.
• Seven companies participate: Tradedoubler, Awin, Impact.com, Optimise, Everflow, Adtraction, and Bravo Savings Network.
• Each team builds a working prototype in one day using AI tools and MCP integrations.

Content's Role Grows in Affiliate Marketing Amid AI-Driven Discovery

The article discusses the expanding role of content publishers in affiliate marketing, driven by changes in consumer discovery influenced by generative AI. It argues that last-click attribution undervalues content's contribution to brand discovery, consideration, and confidence, and calls for evolving measurement models to recognize influence. It cites industry data showing content publishers account for about 21% of affiliate spend, and highlights examples from the Tradedoubler network, including MediaMarkt and Intermundial, where content strategies drove growth. The piece also touches on emerging measurement models like retrieval tracking and licensing, and references EMNA AI for improving AI visibility.

• Content publishers account for around 21% of affiliate spend, according to APMA's State of the Affiliate Nation.
• MediaMarkt's Spanish affiliate programme delivered 15% year-on-year growth in confirmed sales, 18% revenue growth, and an 11% uplift in conversion rate.
• Inter mundial's affiliate programme generated more than 20,000 confirmed sales, 9% revenue growth, and a 9% increase in affiliate ROI.