Tech Investors Shift Their Stance on Zillow, Yet Wall Street Remains Optimistic About the Stock.
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 10 2026
0mins
Should l Buy Z?
Source: Barron's
- Zillow's Financial Milestone: Zillow Group is set to report its first GAAP profitable year in over ten years.
- Stock Market Reaction: Despite the positive financial news, Zillow's stock performance does not reflect this anticipated profitability.
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Analyst Views on Z
Wall Street analysts forecast Z stock price to rise
8 Analyst Rating
3 Buy
5 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 44.980
Low
70.00
Averages
87.40
High
100.00
Current: 44.980
Low
70.00
Averages
87.40
High
100.00
About Z
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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- Improved Affordability: In January 2026, the typical rent in the U.S. was $1,895, up just 2% from a year ago, allowing median-income households to spend only 24.3% of their income on rent, down from 25% in February 2020, indicating reduced economic pressure on renters.
- Increased Market Competition: Nearly 40% of rental listings offered at least one concession, such as a free month of rent or reduced deposits, highlighting intensified competition among property managers for tenants, although this figure is slightly below last year's record of 41.1%, it remains elevated compared to historical norms.
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- Improved Affordability: In January 2026, the typical rent in the U.S. was $1,895, up just 2% from a year ago, allowing median-income households to spend only 24.3% of their income on rent, down from 25% in February 2020, indicating reduced economic pressure on renters.
- Increased Market Competition: Nearly 40% of rental listings offered at least one concession, such as a free month of rent or reduced deposits, highlighting intensified competition among property managers for tenants, although this figure is slightly below last year's record of 41.1%, it remains elevated compared to historical norms.
- Supply Increase Impacting Market: Although the peak of newly completed apartment buildings occurred in the summer of 2024, the stock of available rental units continues to grow, and with a cooling labor market leading to higher vacancy rates, renters now have significantly enhanced negotiating power for renewals and new leases.
See More
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- Data Platform Advantage: CoStar's commercial data platform, built on nearly four decades of data collection and a 93% renewal rate, creates a deep lock-in effect that is difficult to replicate; despite its stock price being nearly halved in the past six months, its commercial core remains robust.
- Residential Investment Dilemma: CoStar invested $850 million into Homes.com in 2025, resulting in a net operating loss, and although management plans to cut over $300 million in investment, breakeven for this segment is not expected until 2030.
- Margin Improvement: The information and marketplace segment achieved a 47% profit margin in Q3 2025, up 400 basis points year-over-year, driven by a 23% increase in CRE transaction volume, showcasing the strength of its core business.
- Stock Buyback Plan: CoStar's board authorized a $1.5 billion stock buyback and holds $942 million in net cash, with the stock currently trading at about 23 times the 2026 EBITDA forecast, indicating relative attractiveness.
See More
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- Stock Decline: CoStar Group's stock has nearly halved over the past six months, currently priced at $48.97 with a market cap of $21 billion, reflecting investor concerns over its residential business despite the stability of its commercial core.
- Data Network Effects: CoStar has established a robust data network by connecting 8.5 million properties with over 230,000 professionals, facilitating deal closures and demonstrating its competitive edge in the commercial real estate sector.
- High Renewal Rates: CoStar boasts a 93% quarterly renewal rate, with its multifamily marketplace Apartments.com achieving a remarkable 99% renewal rate, underscoring the platform's significance and customer stickiness in the industry.
- Investment and Buyback: Despite an $850 million investment in Homes.com leading to net operating losses, CoStar plans to cut $300 million in spending and has authorized a $1.5 billion stock buyback, projecting an EBITDA of approximately $770 million for 2026, indicating confidence in future profitability.
See More
Zillow Partners with Blizzard to Launch In-Game Housing Experience
- In-Game Housing Launch: Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft officially introduces player housing, marking a significant upgrade in gameplay that is expected to attract more players and enhance user engagement.
- Zillow Collaboration: Zillow partners with Blizzard to launch Zillow for Warcraft®, a dedicated microsite that allows players to browse a curated selection of in-game homes from Azeroth, enhancing the immersive experience of the game.
- Enhanced User Experience: With Zillow's custom experience, players can explore in-game homes more intuitively, increasing their engagement with the virtual world while also opening new market opportunities for Zillow.
- Market Potential: This collaboration not only showcases Zillow's innovative capabilities in the gaming sector but may also attract a crossover audience of real estate enthusiasts and gamers, further expanding its user base and brand influence.
See More
Zillow Partners with Blizzard to Launch Player Housing in World of Warcraft
- Player Housing Launch: Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft officially introduces player housing, with Zillow collaborating to launch the Zillow for Warcraft microsite, allowing players to browse a curated selection of in-game homes from Azeroth, fulfilling nearly two decades of player anticipation and significantly enhancing immersion and community belonging.
- Virtual Home Exploration: Zillow for Warcraft features 3D home tours and SkyTour-style visuals, showcasing player-created and Blizzard-designed homes, which not only boosts player creativity and self-expression but also provides Zillow with a new platform to enhance its brand presence in the gaming sector.
- Marketing Collaboration: This partnership is supported by a co-branded campaign across social media, Reddit, and TikTok, encouraging players to share their virtual homes, which further elevates Zillow's brand visibility and attracts the attention of younger audiences.
- Brand Strategy Alignment: Zillow's “Someday Starts Today” brand campaign complements this collaboration by emphasizing its mission to help people realize their housing dreams in the real world, while also showcasing its cultural and gaming influence, thereby reinforcing its market leadership.
See More
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- Medpace Holdings: Medpace Holdings (NASDAQ:MEDP) experienced a slump of 20.69% this week, driven by disappointing fourth-quarter results and multiple analyst firms lowering their price targets, which intensified negative sentiment around the stock.
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