Zillow Group Stock Declines Due to Legal Costs and Mixed Earnings
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 11 2026
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Should l Buy ZG?
Source: Newsfilter
Zillow Group's stock has declined significantly, hitting a 52-week low, as the company faces challenges from rising legal costs and mixed earnings performance.
The recent earnings report revealed that while Zillow's revenue of $654 million exceeded expectations, adjusted earnings fell short, raising concerns about profitability. Additionally, the company anticipates that ongoing legal expenses will continue to impact earnings negatively, leading to a cautious outlook from analysts regarding competitive risks and future growth prospects.
As investors react to these developments, the stock's decline reflects a broader market sentiment that is wary of Zillow's ability to navigate its legal challenges while maintaining profitability.
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Analyst Views on ZG
Wall Street analysts forecast ZG stock price to rise
17 Analyst Rating
9 Buy
7 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 43.700
Low
66.00
Averages
85.00
High
100.00
Current: 43.700
Low
66.00
Averages
85.00
High
100.00
About ZG
Zillow Group, Inc. helps people find and get the home they want by connecting them with digital solutions, dedicated partners and agents, and buying, selling, financing, and renting experiences. The Company’s affiliates, subsidiaries, and brands include Zillow, Zillow Premier Agent, Zillow Home Loans, Zillow Rentals, Trulia, Out East, StreetEasy, HotPads, ShowingTime+, Spruce, and Follow Up Boss. It helps renters, buyers, sellers, and real estate professionals across all their residential real estate needs through its housing super app, which serves as an ecosystem of connected solutions for the tasks and services related to moving. It provides integrated transaction experience for movers through Zillow, its network of partners, its affiliated brands, and through a comprehensive suite of marketing software and technology solutions for the real estate industry, including ShowingTime+, Follow Up Boss and Spruce. It offers multifamily property managers a variety of advertising products.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Increased Buyer Demand: The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index increased by 7.8%, 11% higher than the same week last year, demonstrating heightened buyer activity as winter weather improves.
- Refinancing Applications Slightly Up: Refinance applications rose by just 0.5% last week but were 81% higher than the same week a year ago, suggesting that borrowers are still seeking lower rates despite market fluctuations.
- Popularity of Adjustable-Rate Loans: The share of adjustable-rate mortgage applications increased to nearly 9%, reflecting consumer interest in lower rates, albeit with higher associated risks.
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Chenier Energy's Performance: Chenier Energy has seen its shares rise over 250% in the past five years, benefiting from strong demand for liquefied natural gas, and has recently increased its buyback capacity to $10.2 billion.
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See More
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- Interest Rate Impact: Although the average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage has risen from 5.99% to 6.14%, it remains lower than last year's 6.79%, and this gradual decline still enables buyers to save about $1,000 annually, enhancing their purchasing power.
- Income Requirement Changes: The NAR's affordability index indicates that buyers need an annual income of $94,032 to afford a median-priced single-family home at $400,300, which is a decrease from last year, reflecting slight market improvement but still below actual home prices.
- Market Supply and Demand: Despite a 6% increase in available homes, a broader housing shortage persists, and more potential buyers entering the market could drive prices up, as noted by NAR's chief economist, emphasizing the need for increased housing supply to prevent further price hikes.
See More
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- Mortgage Rate Decline: The current 30-year fixed mortgage rate stands at 6%, down approximately 80 basis points from a year ago, providing greater affordability for homebuyers, especially as price growth slows, which may stimulate a recovery in the real estate market.
- Household Net Worth Growth: A report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York indicates that home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) rose for the 15th consecutive quarter in Q4 2025, totaling $434 billion, a 36% increase over the past four years, reflecting improved household financial conditions and enhanced consumer spending capacity.
- Importance of Historical Data: Since 1928, the S&P 500 has lost more than 10% in only 12 calendar years, meaning the market has been profitable or lost less than 10% in nearly 88% of calendar years, emphasizing the significance of historical data in investment decisions to help investors grasp market trends.
See More
