The online advertising market is showing signs of recovery, but the spoils are far from evenly distributed. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, surprised investors with strong fourth-quarter earnings, while Snap, its smaller rival, fell short, causing a significant drop in its stock. Meta’s ad business grew by 24% compared to the previous year, marking its fastest rate of expansion since mid-2021. In contrast, Snap reported a mere 5% increase year-over-year, continuing its trend of single-digit growth or decline in sales for the sixth consecutive quarter. This sluggish growth puts Snap behind competitors like Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta. As a result, Snap is poised to experience one of its worst days on the market since its debut seven years ago, with its stock plummeting by 33% in extended trading.
The Rise and Fall of Snap
Snap’s performance contrasts sharply with Meta’s flourishing business. Meta experienced a remarkable 20% surge in stock value after announcing a tripling of profits, exceeding expectations in both revenue and earnings, providing an optimistic forecast, and announcing its first dividend payment. According to Jasmine Enberg, a principal analyst at Insider Intelligence, “We’re seeing the bigger companies get bigger, and smaller companies are slower to rebound. Snap is one of those.” This sentiment is echoed by Snap’s projection for the first quarter, which estimates revenue growth of 11% to 15%, falling slightly short of analysts’ average estimate.
An Uneven Rebound
The digital ad market is gradually recovering from the challenges of 2022, including inflation and rising interest rates that compelled brands to cut back on advertising spending. However, this rebound has been far from uniform, with giant tech companies like Alphabet, Amazon, and Meta reaping double-digit advertising growth in the fourth quarter. The market’s uneven recovery is partly attributed to the stability of these tech giants, along with upcoming major events such as the 2024 Olympics and the presidential election. Nevertheless, smaller companies like Snap have struggled to regain their momentum in this tenuous advertising landscape.
During Snap’s recent earnings call, CEO Evan Spiegel faced questions about the company’s lagging performance compared to competitors. Spiegel countered by highlighting Snap’s significant size as one of the largest internet services. However, there is concern that this does not address the fundamental long-term issue of Snap’s growth potential. Snap’s CEO also discussed the progress the company has made in its lower funnel business, referring to improved capabilities in its online advertising platform. While acknowledging some level of disappointment, Spiegel emphasized that Snap is investing in machine learning and AI technologies to enhance its ad platform. Despite progress, Snap’s rebuilding efforts appear to be moving slower than Meta’s, as Meta benefits from its vast user base and data resources.
Snap has attempted to differentiate itself from the broader social media landscape by positioning itself as a messaging company. This strategy is exemplified by its Snapchat+ subscription service, which it disclosed sales figures for the first time. The service currently has 7 million subscribers, up from 5 million in the previous quarter, with an annualized revenue run rate of $249 million in 2023. While this shows promise, ad revenue remains Snap’s primary focus, as it competes for the same social advertising budgets as its counterparts. However, concerns persist regarding investor confidence in Snap moving forward.
Both Meta and Snap faced challenges in 2022 due to a weakened ad market and the impact of Apple’s iOS privacy update. To counteract these obstacles, both companies are investing heavily in rebuilding their ad technology infrastructure and prioritizing artificial intelligence. However, Meta’s larger size and platform dominance have provided a clear advantage, enabling faster development and implementation. Snap, on the other hand, is making progress but requires more time to fully recover and catch up.
The battle for dominance in the online ad market has clearly favored Meta, leaving Snap in its wake. While Meta experiences significant growth and investor praise, Snap struggles to regain its footing and faces questions about its long-term potential. The uneven recovery of the digital ad market further compounds these challenges. As both companies continue to invest in innovation and technological advancements, the path ahead remains uncertain for Snap as it seeks to bridge the gap with its larger competitors.
Leave a Reply