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Pinterest Shares Plunge 18% as Ad Competition and Tariff Pressures Hit Growth Outlook

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Pinterest shares tumbled 18% on Wednesday after the company issued a weaker-than-expected revenue forecast, raising concerns that the image-sharing platform is losing ground to larger digital advertising rivals amid growing tariff-related pressures. If losses hold, the drop would wipe about $4.36 billion off Pinterest’s market value.

The sharp decline contrasts with strong third-quarter results from advertising heavyweights Alphabet, Meta, and Reddit, all of which reported robust ad spending fueled by AI-powered targeting and larger global reach. Analysts said Pinterest’s smaller scale and slower innovation pace are limiting its ability to compete effectively.

Chief Financial Officer Julia Donnelly cited weaker ad spending in the United States and Canada — Pinterest’s biggest markets — as retailers face thinner margins due to new tariffs. “Larger U.S. retailers are navigating tariff-related margin pressure,” Donnelly said, adding that China-based e-commerce giants such as Temu and Shein have also reduced marketing budgets after the removal of the “de minimis” import exemption.

Pinterest now expects revenue between $1.31 billion and $1.34 billion for the current quarter, with the midpoint slightly below analyst expectations of $1.34 billion, according to LSEG data.

“Performance has been fine, but we struggle to see a catalyst for growth,” said analysts at Piper Sandler. Morgan Stanley added that Pinterest “failed to deliver” in a market increasingly rewarding innovation and upward earnings revisions.

Despite Wednesday’s steep loss, Pinterest shares remain up 13.6% for the year — outpacing Meta’s 7.2% gain over the same period.

Pinterest Profit Miss Overshadows Strong Gen Z User and AI-Driven Growth

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Pinterest reported second-quarter results that missed profit expectations, causing shares to drop over 11% in after-hours trading despite strong revenue and user growth. The company posted adjusted earnings per share of 33 cents, below analysts’ estimate of 35 cents.

Pinterest’s revenue grew 17% year-over-year to $998.2 million, surpassing expectations of $974.8 million. The platform’s user base has expanded significantly, with Gen Z now making up more than half of its users, fueling growth. Additionally, Pinterest’s AI-powered advertising suite, Performance+, has gained traction among mid-market advertisers, cutting campaign creation times by half.

Looking ahead, Pinterest forecast third-quarter revenue between $1.03 billion and $1.05 billion, roughly in line with analyst expectations but signaling no acceleration from the previous quarter’s growth rate. Analysts noted that high market expectations may have contributed to the selloff following the earnings report.

The company faces competitive pressure from peers like Meta and Reddit, which reported strong quarterly results, while Snap saw its slowest revenue growth in over a year. Changes in U.S. import duty rules also tightened advertising budgets for smaller platforms like Snap, indirectly benefiting larger platforms like Pinterest.

Pinterest’s ad pricing fell 25% year-over-year, impacted by a growing share of international ad impressions where rates are lower. The company’s monthly active users (MAUs) reached 578 million, up 11% year-over-year and beating estimates, though user growth slowed compared to the previous quarter.

Analysts suggest that Pinterest’s user base may be nearing saturation despite ongoing AI enhancements aimed at driving growth.

Pinterest Shares Soar 11% as Strong Ad Spend, AI Strategy Offset Tariff Uncertainty

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Pinterest (PINS) surged more than 11% on Friday, adding nearly $2 billion to its market capitalization, as investors welcomed a stronger-than-expected revenue forecast that defied broader concerns about advertising pullbacks amid geopolitical and trade volatility.

The visual discovery platform joins Reddit and Meta in delivering upbeat revenue figures for the quarter, at a time when U.S. trade policy shifts and rising global tensions have cast doubt over the marketing budgets of many digital firms.

Despite these headwinds, Pinterest’s AI-powered ad tools and expanding Gen Z user base are proving to be effective growth levers. Analysts praised the platform’s focus on delivering personalized and performance-driven ads, boosting advertiser confidence.

“AI is helping to serve up the right type of ads for different audience segments,” said Dan Coatsworth of AJ Bell. “There’s a greater propensity to click when the ad feels relevant.”

Key Metrics:

  • Global Monthly Active Users (MAUs): Up 10% YoY to 570 million, beating LSEG analyst estimates.

  • Forward P/E Ratio: Pinterest trades at 14.51x, more attractive compared to Reddit (67.65x) and Snap (22.19x).

While Asian e-commerce advertisers such as Temu and Shein pulled back spending due to the rollback of the “de minimis” import exemption, Pinterest’s international diversification and AI enhancements helped mitigate the impact.

“Pinterest’s strategic focus on AI improvements and international expansion is yielding results,” said Angelo Zino, senior equity analyst at CFRA.

Still, Barclays analysts cautioned that e-commerce ad trends could worsen later in the year if tariffs begin to directly hit consumer spending. Yet for now, Pinterest is outpacing competitors in converting ad impressions into meaningful business performance.

Pinterest’s stock performance and relatively modest valuation suggest it may be one of the more resilient digital ad plays as global marketing strategies adapt to economic uncertainty.