Criteo: No Light At The End Of The Tunnel As Top Line Deteriorates (Rating Downgrade)

Criteo is downgraded to a sell after a dismal Q2 and sharp guidance cut, signaling a value trap. CRTO now expects a -10% to -12% decline in contribution ex-TAC, with both Retail Media and Performance Media segments deteriorating. Adjusted EBITDA margin guidance drops to 30%, but recent trends make even this lowered target appear at risk. Despite a new partnership with OpenAI, CRTO's execution issues and client churn outweigh any AI-driven upside; I recommend avoiding the stock.