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CMPR vs ZD
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Cimpress (CMPR) vs. Ziff Davis (ZD) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- Cimpress (CMPR) delivered approximately 96% total return over the past 12 months, while Ziff Davis (ZD) posted a roughly 72% gain over the same period, reflecting strong momentum in both names but a wider performance gap.
- Cimpress just reported fiscal Q4 2026 results with revenue growing 9% year-over-year and issued bullish FY2027 guidance, while Ziff Davis has deferred guidance as it evaluates strategic alternatives including potential division sales.
- Valuation metrics diverge meaningfully: CMPR trades at a trailing P/E (price-to-earnings) ratio near 54 but a forward P/E of roughly 19, whereas ZD commands a trailing P/E near 47 and a notably lower forward P/E of approximately 10.
- Cimpress carries a higher beta of 1.79 versus Ziff Davis at 1.02, indicating greater sensitivity to broader market swings and a different risk profile for portfolio positioning.
- Both companies generate substantial free cash flow, but ZD's nearly $288 million in FY2025 free cash flow on $1.45 billion in revenue reflects a higher cash conversion rate than CMPR's recent profile.
- Analyst consensus rates both stocks as a Buy, yet CMPR's average price target implies double-digit upside while ZD's target sits below its current trading price, signaling diverging near-term sentiment.
Introduction
Investors seeking exposure to digitally driven business models often encounter two distinct mid-cap names: CMPR (Cimpress plc), a global leader in mass customization of print and promotional products, and ZD (Ziff Davis, Inc.), a diversified digital media and internet company. Though they operate in different industries, both stocks compete for attention among growth-oriented and value-conscious market participants. This comparison examines how each company has navigated the recent market environment, what key developments have shaped sentiment, and how their respective risk-return profiles stack up for those monitoring relative performance and market positioning.
CMPR Overview and Recent Performance
CMPR, headquartered in Dundalk, Ireland, operates a portfolio of mass customization brands including VistaPrint, WIRmachenDRUCK, Pixartprinting, National Pen, and BuildASign. The company serves millions of small businesses and consumers globally by producing customized marketing materials, signage, promotional products, apparel, and packaging at scale. Cimpress has built its competitive advantage around a proprietary Mass Customization Platform that automates production and logistics for individually small-sized but high-volume orders.
In recent weeks, CMPR shares have traded in the mid-to-high $90s range, consolidating after a powerful rally that lifted the stock roughly 96% over the trailing 12 months. The company reported its Q4 fiscal 2026 results on July 29, with revenue reaching $945 million — a 9% year-over-year increase on a reported basis and 3% organic constant-currency growth. Full-year FY2026 revenue climbed 10% to $3.74 billion, while net income rebounded to $97.1 million from just $12.9 million in FY2025. Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) grew 6% to $458.5 million. A newly announced strategic partnership with Canva and upgraded FY2028 profitability targets have added to positive sentiment, though the recent earnings release showed a modest top-line miss relative to consensus expectations, contributing to some post-report volatility.
ZD Overview and Recent Performance
ZD, based in New York, operates as a digital media and internet company with a portfolio spanning technology (PCMag, CNET, Spiceworks), shopping (RetailMeNot, Offers.com), gaming and entertainment, health and wellness, connectivity, and cybersecurity and martech (marketing technology). The company generates revenue primarily through digital advertising, subscription services, and performance-based marketing across its diverse brand ecosystem.
ZD shares have rallied approximately 72% over the past year, recently trading near $54 and approaching the upper end of their 52-week range. Full-year 2025 results, reported in February 2026, showed revenue of $1.45 billion (up 3.5%), adjusted EBITDA of $495.1 million, and nearly $288 million in free cash flow. Notably, Ziff Davis deployed $174 million toward share repurchases during the year, signaling management's conviction that the stock was undervalued. However, the company has since engaged outside advisors to evaluate value-creating opportunities, including the potential sale of entire divisions, and has deferred issuing FY2026 guidance while the strategic review remains ongoing. This uncertainty around corporate structure has introduced a nuanced dynamic into the stock's recent market activity.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
Despite drawing attention from similar segments of the market, CMPR and ZD represent fundamentally different business models and risk exposures. Cimpress is an industrial-technology hybrid: it manufactures and ships physical goods globally, making it sensitive to raw material costs, tariffs, shipping expenses, and small-business spending cycles. Ziff Davis, by contrast, is an asset-light digital media and internet platform — its operating leverage comes from content and audience scale, with revenue tied to digital advertising trends, affiliate commerce, and subscription growth.
On growth trajectories, Cimpress has demonstrated stronger top-line momentum, with FY2026 organic constant-currency revenue growth of 4% and reported growth of 10%, alongside explicit FY2027 guidance calling for at least 7% reported revenue expansion. Ziff Davis posted more modest 3.5% revenue growth in FY2025 and has paused forward guidance amid its strategic review, creating an information gap for investors.
Profitability profiles also diverge. ZD generates substantially higher free cash flow relative to its revenue base and has used excess capital for aggressive share buybacks. CMPR's free cash flow has been constrained by elevated capital expenditures tied to its North American manufacturing expansion, though management projects a meaningful inflection to approximately $200 million in adjusted free cash flow for FY2027.
Risk factors differ markedly. Cimpress carries a beta of 1.79, reflecting amplified sensitivity to macroeconomic swings — particularly those affecting small and medium-sized business sentiment. Ziff Davis, with a beta of 1.02, trades more closely in line with the broader market. On the other hand, ZD's ongoing strategic review introduces event-driven uncertainty, whereas CMPR's outlook is underpinned by concrete financial targets and operational milestones.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Based on the observable data and current market positioning, Tickeron's AI would likely favor CMPR at this juncture, though the preference is not without nuance. Cimpress offers a clearer forward trajectory: explicit multi-year guidance, upgraded profitability targets extending into FY2028, a newly announced strategic partnership with Canva, and robust organic revenue growth trends. The stock's higher beta may appeal to trend-following algorithms in a market environment where momentum signals remain constructive. Ziff Davis, while generating impressive cash flow and trading at an optically lower forward earnings multiple, faces an unresolved strategic review process that introduces ambiguity around future revenue composition and growth rates. Until the outcome of that process becomes clearer, the probability-weighted assessment tilts toward the stock with greater visibility into its operating roadmap. That said, ZD's depressed valuation multiples and aggressive capital return program could present a compelling contrarian case under different algorithmic parameters — a reminder that AI-driven analysis is inherently multi-factored and probabilistic rather than absolute.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer.
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is CMPR is a Hold and ZD is a Buy.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
CMPR’s FA Score shows that 3 FA rating(s) are green whileZD’s FA Score has 1 green FA rating(s).
- CMPR’s FA Score: 3 green, 2 red.
- ZD’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
CMPR’s TA Score shows that 5 TA indicator(s) are bullish while ZD’s TA Score has 3 bullish TA indicator(s).
- CMPR’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 5 bearish.
- ZD’s TA Score: 3 bullish, 5 bearish.
Price Growth
CMPR (@Office Equipment/Supplies) experienced а +0.94% price change this week, while ZD (@Advertising/Marketing Services) price change was +2.87% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Office Equipment/Supplies industry was +1.89%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -1.17%, and the average quarterly price growth was -3.40%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Advertising/Marketing Services industry was +5.73%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -7.32%, and the average quarterly price growth was -4.12%.
Reported Earning Dates
CMPR is expected to report earnings on Oct 28, 2026.
ZD is expected to report earnings on Aug 06, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Office Equipment/Supplies (+1.89% weekly)The industry produces equipment regularly used in offices by businesses and other organizations, and could range from items like Blank sheet paper, calendars, Label and adhesive paper, paper clips, janitorial supplies, to larger /higher cost products like computers, printers, photocopiers, office furniture and so on. Many businesses in the office supply industry have been expanding into related markets like business cards, plus printing and binding of high quality, high volume business and engineering documents. Some companies in this industry also offer shipping services, including packaging and bulk mailing. Herman Miller, Inc., Steelcase Inc. and HNI Corporation.
@Advertising/Marketing Services (+5.73% weekly)Making a brand known to people, garnering more clients/consumers for its product and solidifying the brand’s position in an industry – all of these are essential to a company’s growth, and that’s where marketing/advertising come in as one of the key catalysts. Advertising industry is a global multibillion-dollar business of public relations and marketing companies, media services and advertising agencies – entities that help to connect manufacturers/producers with customers. Digital media has played a big role in the growth of global advertising, and agencies invest substantially to integrate advanced technologies into their business operations. According to some estimates, the U.S. advertising industry is expected to generate revenue of $52.6 billion by 2023, up from almost $40 billion in 2015 . Omnicom Group Inc., Trade Desk, Inc. and Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. are some of the major U.S. companies in the industry.
| CMPR | ZD | CMPR / ZD | |
| Capitalization | 2.39B | 1.96B | 122% |
| EBITDA | 382M | 322M | 119% |
| Gain YTD | 48.220 | 51.010 | 95% |
| P/E Ratio | 26.04 | 45.37 | 57% |
| Revenue | 3.66B | 1.45B | 253% |
| Total Cash | 189M | 520M | 36% |
| Total Debt | 1.75B | 867M | 201% |
CMPR | ZD | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 50 | 50 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 19 Undervalued | 81 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 100 | 100 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 2 | 89 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 42 | 39 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 6 | 6 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 85 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
CMPR's Valuation (19) in the Commercial Printing Or Forms industry is somewhat better than the same rating for ZD (81) in the Internet Software Or Services industry. This means that CMPR’s stock grew somewhat faster than ZD’s over the last 12 months.
CMPR's Profit vs Risk Rating (100) in the Commercial Printing Or Forms industry is in the same range as ZD (100) in the Internet Software Or Services industry. This means that CMPR’s stock grew similarly to ZD’s over the last 12 months.
CMPR's SMR Rating (2) in the Commercial Printing Or Forms industry is significantly better than the same rating for ZD (89) in the Internet Software Or Services industry. This means that CMPR’s stock grew significantly faster than ZD’s over the last 12 months.
ZD's Price Growth Rating (39) in the Internet Software Or Services industry is in the same range as CMPR (42) in the Commercial Printing Or Forms industry. This means that ZD’s stock grew similarly to CMPR’s over the last 12 months.
ZD's P/E Growth Rating (6) in the Internet Software Or Services industry is in the same range as CMPR (6) in the Commercial Printing Or Forms industry. This means that ZD’s stock grew similarly to CMPR’s over the last 12 months.
| CMPR | ZD | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 78% | 3 days ago 81% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 74% | 3 days ago 70% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 70% | 3 days ago 79% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 76% | 3 days ago 78% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 78% | 3 days ago 64% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 77% | 3 days ago 66% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 6 days ago 79% | 5 days ago 64% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 79% | 10 days ago 75% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 80% | 7 days ago 83% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 81% | 3 days ago 56% |
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CMPR and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, CMPR has been loosely correlated with DLX. These tickers have moved in lockstep 47% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if CMPR jumps, then DLX could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To CMPR | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CMPR | 100% | +4.22% | ||
| DLX - CMPR | 47% Loosely correlated | -0.42% | ||
| ZD - CMPR | 42% Loosely correlated | +0.89% | ||
| BOC - CMPR | 37% Loosely correlated | +0.93% | ||
| STGW - CMPR | 36% Loosely correlated | -0.47% | ||
| OMC - CMPR | 35% Loosely correlated | -1.14% | ||
More | ||||
ZD and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, ZD has been loosely correlated with DLX. These tickers have moved in lockstep 58% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if ZD jumps, then DLX could also see price increases.