Pinterest (PINS) raised its second-quarter revenue outlook on Thursday, citing strong advertiser demand fueled by AI-powered tools and continued engagement from its growing Gen Z user base. The upbeat forecast pushed shares up 16% in after-hours trading, signaling renewed investor confidence despite macroeconomic uncertainty.
The company expects Q2 revenue between $960 million and $980 million, beating analysts’ average forecast of $966.3 million, according to LSEG data. First-quarter revenue came in at $855 million, surpassing expectations of $846.6 million, though adjusted earnings per share of 23 cents missed the consensus estimate of 26 cents.
Pinterest’s strength lies in its “Performance+” automation and AI features, which help advertisers create more targeted, personalized campaigns. This, combined with Pinterest’s focus on direct response ads — such as those driving shopping or app downloads — has positioned the platform as a reliable marketing channel, even amid tightening ad budgets.
Key Growth Drivers:
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Gen Z users are the platform’s fastest-growing and most engaged demographic.
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Global monthly active users grew 10% year-over-year, reaching 570 million — well above the expected 564 million.
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Pinterest is expanding ad partnerships with third parties like Magnite, adding to existing deals with Google and Amazon to aggregate demand from smaller advertisers.
Finance chief Julia Donnelly acknowledged that broader economic pressures — including the end of the U.S. “de minimis” import exemption and ongoing trade tensions — have impacted some advertisers, especially Asia-based e-commerce firms. However, she noted that many of those advertisers are shifting focus to European and other international audiences on Pinterest.
Compared to rivals, Pinterest is faring well. While Meta and Reddit also reported strong Q1 revenues, Snap declined to provide guidance due to market volatility, highlighting Pinterest’s relative resilience.
eMarketer’s Jeremy Goldman summed up the performance, saying,
“The results show Pinterest can sustain momentum without the holiday tailwind.”
As Pinterest sharpens its ad-tech offering and diversifies its advertiser base, the platform appears well-positioned to navigate market headwinds and tap into new growth regions.