Analyst Reiterates Hold Rating Amid Cautious Outlook
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 11 2026
0mins
Should l Buy ZG?
Source: Benzinga
- Earnings Power Outlook: The analyst expects that in 2025, the company could achieve 50% incremental margins excluding legal costs, but with those costs included, margins are projected to remain in the 30%-40% range, indicating uncertainty in short-term profitability.
- Revenue Growth Potential: Although revenue growth is expected to slow from 16% in 2026 to 11% in 2027, the analyst notes that a recovery in the housing market could serve as the most significant revenue catalyst, likely leading to gradual revenue increases.
- Impact of Legal Costs: The analyst believes that rising legal expenses are putting pressure on the company's short-term profitability, although a decline in these costs is anticipated by 2027, which could improve earnings visibility.
- Quarterly Results and Guidance: The fourth-quarter adjusted EBITDA fell 2% short of expectations, while first-quarter guidance was 5% below projections primarily due to rising costs; however, the analyst has improved expectations for the second half of 2026, indicating enhanced operating leverage.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy ZG?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
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: 41.000
Low
66.00
Averages
85.00
High
100.00
Current: 41.000
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.
Meta's AI Model Launch Sparks 9% Stock Surge
- Meta AI Model Launch: Meta Platforms unveiled its new AI model, Muse Spark, leading to a stock surge of over 9%, as this model will power the digital assistant in the Meta AI app and desktop website, with a rollout planned for Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger in the coming weeks, thereby enhancing user experience and platform attractiveness.
- Kimberly-Clark Stock Rebound: Kimberly-Clark's shares rebounded by 3% after a previous drop of over 4% due to a warehouse fire in California, with the company confirming no injuries, alleviating market concerns about supply chain disruptions and likely restoring investor confidence.
- Housing Market Stocks Rise: Stocks linked to the housing market saw gains as Treasury yields retreated, with the 10-year yield dropping about 7 basis points to 4.273%, resulting in Zillow Group shares rising over 2% and Rocket Companies gaining 4%, indicating a growing optimism about housing demand.
- Travel Stocks Surge: Travel-related stocks surged as oil prices fell, with United Airlines and Carnival Corporation shares jumping over 10%, reflecting increased market confidence in consumer spending recovery and signaling a potential rebound in the travel industry.
See More
Growth Investors Face Challenges and Opportunities
- Nvidia's Strong Growth: Nvidia reported a 73% revenue increase in its latest quarter, showcasing its robust competitiveness in the AI chip market with a net margin of 56%, despite facing trade restrictions and geopolitical pressures, which may attract more investor interest in the future.
- Reddit's User Growth: Reddit's daily active users reached 121.4 million, a 19% year-over-year increase, with a 70% revenue growth in the latest quarter, indicating a successful business model transformation in the AI era, although it faces competitive pressure from search engines.
- Zillow's Market Challenges: Despite achieving 15% to 16% revenue growth over the past two years, Zillow is constrained by high mortgage rates and economic uncertainty, placing its future growth potential at the mercy of macroeconomic factors in a sluggish real estate market.
- Investor Caution: In the current market environment, investors are cautious about the prospects of these growth stocks, particularly in light of potential market volatility and increasing competition, making the timing of investment decisions crucial.
See More
Analysis of Growth Potential for Nvidia, Reddit, and Zillow
- Nvidia Growth Momentum: Nvidia's latest quarter saw a 73% year-over-year revenue increase, achieving over 53% annual growth in five of the last six fiscal years, demonstrating strong demand and competitive advantage in the AI chip market despite trade restrictions and geopolitical challenges.
- Reddit Revenue Acceleration: Reddit's daily active users reached 121.4 million, a 19% increase year-over-year, with a 70% revenue growth in the latest quarter, showcasing its strong monetization capabilities by keeping the platform free for users and attracting sponsors.
- Zillow Market Performance: Despite high mortgage rates impacting the U.S. real estate market, Zillow has achieved 15% to 16% revenue growth over the past two years, with analysts expecting this trend to continue into 2026, reinforcing its leadership position in the real estate sector.
- Investment Risks and Opportunities: While Nvidia, Reddit, and Zillow each exhibit strong growth potential, attention must be paid to the competitive landscape in the AI market and fluctuations in the real estate sector, as these factors could impact their future profitability and market performance.
See More
Buffett Teams Up with Curry for Charity Lunch Revival
- Surging Oil Prices Impact Markets: The average price of gasoline in the U.S. has surpassed $4 per gallon for the first time since 2022, leading Wall Street to face its worst monthly and quarterly losses since 2022, prompting investors to consider the potential impact of oil prices on the stock market.
- Fed's Stabilizing Signal: Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell reassured investors at Harvard University that rising oil prices would not necessitate interest rate hikes, resulting in a significant drop in market expectations for future rate increases, reflecting confidence in economic stability.
- Opendoor Acquires Doma: Opendoor is acquiring parts of Doma to lower real estate transaction costs, particularly as mortgage refinancing applications decline, demonstrating the real estate market's adaptability amid rising rates due to geopolitical tensions.
- Novo Nordisk Launches Long-Term Subscriptions: Novo Nordisk has introduced multi-month subscriptions for Wegovy in an effort to compete with Eli Lilly, offering more cost-effective options that could attract additional users and enhance market share in the GLP-1 segment.
See More
Single Women Outpace Men in Homebuying Trends
- Income Disparity Reversal: According to the National Association of Realtors, first-time single women homebuyers have a median income of $73,000, surpassing single men's $66,400, marking a potential shift in long-term homebuying trends favoring women.
- Rising Homebuyer Proportion: Single women account for 25% of first-time homebuyers compared to 10% for single men, a significant increase from 11% and 9% in 1985, indicating a growing recognition of homeownership as a wealth-building tool among women.
- Mismatch of Home Prices and Income: From 2000 to 2024, median household income rose by approximately 155%, while home prices surged by about 207%, creating substantial challenges for single buyers, particularly women relying on a single income to qualify for mortgages.
- Financial Sacrifices for Goals: Among single women buyers, 41% reported making financial sacrifices to save for a down payment, compared to 31% of men, highlighting women's commitment to achieving homeownership and financial independence despite economic hurdles.
See More
Impact of Iran War on US Housing Market
- Rising Mortgage Rates: The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage has surged from 5.99% to 6.5% due to the war with Iran, severely undermining the anticipated improvement in housing affordability and leading to a 5% drop in mortgage applications.
- Sales Forecast Downgrade: Zillow initially projected a 4.3% increase in existing home sales for 2026, but rising energy prices and inflation concerns have introduced new uncertainties, potentially reducing the sales growth to just 1.21%.
- New Construction Market Struggles: KB Home has lowered its full-year sales forecast following disappointing quarterly earnings, citing that net orders in Q1 fell below necessary levels, reflecting heightened consumer challenges exacerbated by the Middle East conflict.
- Supply-Demand Imbalance: The cancellation rate of home contracts has reached its highest since 2017, with approximately 13.7% of contracts canceled in February, resulting in over 600,000 more sellers than buyers in the market, creating a precarious and unstable housing environment.
See More
Meta's AI Model Launch Sparks 9% Stock Surge
- Meta AI Model Launch: Meta Platforms unveiled its new AI model, Muse Spark, leading to a stock surge of over 9%, as this model will power the digital assistant in the Meta AI app and desktop website, with a rollout planned for Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger in the coming weeks, thereby enhancing user experience and platform attractiveness.
- Kimberly-Clark Stock Rebound: Kimberly-Clark's shares rebounded by 3% after a previous drop of over 4% due to a warehouse fire in California, with the company confirming no injuries, alleviating market concerns about supply chain disruptions and likely restoring investor confidence.
- Housing Market Stocks Rise: Stocks linked to the housing market saw gains as Treasury yields retreated, with the 10-year yield dropping about 7 basis points to 4.273%, resulting in Zillow Group shares rising over 2% and Rocket Companies gaining 4%, indicating a growing optimism about housing demand.
- Travel Stocks Surge: Travel-related stocks surged as oil prices fell, with United Airlines and Carnival Corporation shares jumping over 10%, reflecting increased market confidence in consumer spending recovery and signaling a potential rebound in the travel industry.
See More
Growth Investors Face Challenges and Opportunities
- Nvidia's Strong Growth: Nvidia reported a 73% revenue increase in its latest quarter, showcasing its robust competitiveness in the AI chip market with a net margin of 56%, despite facing trade restrictions and geopolitical pressures, which may attract more investor interest in the future.
- Reddit's User Growth: Reddit's daily active users reached 121.4 million, a 19% year-over-year increase, with a 70% revenue growth in the latest quarter, indicating a successful business model transformation in the AI era, although it faces competitive pressure from search engines.
- Zillow's Market Challenges: Despite achieving 15% to 16% revenue growth over the past two years, Zillow is constrained by high mortgage rates and economic uncertainty, placing its future growth potential at the mercy of macroeconomic factors in a sluggish real estate market.
- Investor Caution: In the current market environment, investors are cautious about the prospects of these growth stocks, particularly in light of potential market volatility and increasing competition, making the timing of investment decisions crucial.
See More
Analysis of Growth Potential for Nvidia, Reddit, and Zillow
- Nvidia Growth Momentum: Nvidia's latest quarter saw a 73% year-over-year revenue increase, achieving over 53% annual growth in five of the last six fiscal years, demonstrating strong demand and competitive advantage in the AI chip market despite trade restrictions and geopolitical challenges.
- Reddit Revenue Acceleration: Reddit's daily active users reached 121.4 million, a 19% increase year-over-year, with a 70% revenue growth in the latest quarter, showcasing its strong monetization capabilities by keeping the platform free for users and attracting sponsors.
- Zillow Market Performance: Despite high mortgage rates impacting the U.S. real estate market, Zillow has achieved 15% to 16% revenue growth over the past two years, with analysts expecting this trend to continue into 2026, reinforcing its leadership position in the real estate sector.
- Investment Risks and Opportunities: While Nvidia, Reddit, and Zillow each exhibit strong growth potential, attention must be paid to the competitive landscape in the AI market and fluctuations in the real estate sector, as these factors could impact their future profitability and market performance.
See More
Buffett Teams Up with Curry for Charity Lunch Revival
- Surging Oil Prices Impact Markets: The average price of gasoline in the U.S. has surpassed $4 per gallon for the first time since 2022, leading Wall Street to face its worst monthly and quarterly losses since 2022, prompting investors to consider the potential impact of oil prices on the stock market.
- Fed's Stabilizing Signal: Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell reassured investors at Harvard University that rising oil prices would not necessitate interest rate hikes, resulting in a significant drop in market expectations for future rate increases, reflecting confidence in economic stability.
- Opendoor Acquires Doma: Opendoor is acquiring parts of Doma to lower real estate transaction costs, particularly as mortgage refinancing applications decline, demonstrating the real estate market's adaptability amid rising rates due to geopolitical tensions.
- Novo Nordisk Launches Long-Term Subscriptions: Novo Nordisk has introduced multi-month subscriptions for Wegovy in an effort to compete with Eli Lilly, offering more cost-effective options that could attract additional users and enhance market share in the GLP-1 segment.
See More
Single Women Outpace Men in Homebuying Trends
- Income Disparity Reversal: According to the National Association of Realtors, first-time single women homebuyers have a median income of $73,000, surpassing single men's $66,400, marking a potential shift in long-term homebuying trends favoring women.
- Rising Homebuyer Proportion: Single women account for 25% of first-time homebuyers compared to 10% for single men, a significant increase from 11% and 9% in 1985, indicating a growing recognition of homeownership as a wealth-building tool among women.
- Mismatch of Home Prices and Income: From 2000 to 2024, median household income rose by approximately 155%, while home prices surged by about 207%, creating substantial challenges for single buyers, particularly women relying on a single income to qualify for mortgages.
- Financial Sacrifices for Goals: Among single women buyers, 41% reported making financial sacrifices to save for a down payment, compared to 31% of men, highlighting women's commitment to achieving homeownership and financial independence despite economic hurdles.
See More
Impact of Iran War on US Housing Market
- Rising Mortgage Rates: The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage has surged from 5.99% to 6.5% due to the war with Iran, severely undermining the anticipated improvement in housing affordability and leading to a 5% drop in mortgage applications.
- Sales Forecast Downgrade: Zillow initially projected a 4.3% increase in existing home sales for 2026, but rising energy prices and inflation concerns have introduced new uncertainties, potentially reducing the sales growth to just 1.21%.
- New Construction Market Struggles: KB Home has lowered its full-year sales forecast following disappointing quarterly earnings, citing that net orders in Q1 fell below necessary levels, reflecting heightened consumer challenges exacerbated by the Middle East conflict.
- Supply-Demand Imbalance: The cancellation rate of home contracts has reached its highest since 2017, with approximately 13.7% of contracts canceled in February, resulting in over 600,000 more sellers than buyers in the market, creating a precarious and unstable housing environment.
See More
