Ziff Davis Inc. (ZD) — RQD Stock Rating Cockpit

Per the Roarable RQD rating, ZD scores 64 out of 100, a letter grade of C, with the verdict label "Roarable Hold — Fair / Balanced Risk-Reward." The five pillars are: Fundamental Cash Engine 12/20 (ROIC 7.6%; FCF yield 15.01%), Whale 13F Flow 12/20 (institutional accumulation and options positioning), Insider Conviction 14/20 (SEC Form 4 and Congressional PTR cluster flow), Macro Regime Fit 14/20 (Beta 1.0; sector sensitivity), and Forensic Balance Sheet 12/20 (Altman Z 1.77; Piotroski F 7/9; Debt/Equity 0.41). Taken together, the pillars sit in the middle band with no single standout strength. The cash-yield figure is the most notable upside driver the rating cites, but it is paired with a 40.5x trailing P/E, which signals that earnings currently carry little weight in the valuation relative to cash generation. The forensic scores indicate a balance sheet that is serviceable but not pristine, and the Altman Z of 1.77 sits in a range that warrants attention to leverage and liquidity over time. For a prospective investor, the rating frames ZD as a balanced setup rather than a clear accumulation or avoidance signal, with the outcome dependent on whether cash generation translates into sustained earnings growth.

Ziff Davis Inc. (ZD) is a NASDAQ-listed issuer classified under the Communication Services sector and the Telecommunications Equipment industry, per the profile. Not available in source data for detailed product lines, customer base, or revenue mix. The profile identifies a market capitalization of $1.9B. The source data does not describe how the company makes money beyond its reported revenue, gross margin of 85.8%, and operating margin of 12.6%.

Per the SEC financials, revenue rose from $1364.0M (FY 2023) to $1451.3M (FY 2025), and operating income moved from $132.6M to $183.1M across the same period, though net income was $47.4M in FY 2025 versus $63.0M in FY 2024. Per the market data, net margin is 3.3% against an operating margin of 12.6%, and ROIC is 7.6%. Per the Roarable RQD rating, the Altman Z-Score is 1.77 and the Piotroski F-Score is 7/9, with Debt/Equity of 0.41. Reported debt declined from $864.3M in FY 2024 to $717.8M in FY 2025 while cash rose from $505.9M to $573.8M.

Per the recent news feed, six items reference ZD, with signal labels as follows:

• Yahoo Finance (1h ago, YELLOW, MARKET WIRE): A general stock forecast report covering market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
• Seeking Alpha (3h ago, GREEN, CATALYST): Headline "Buybacks Are Not An Operating Recovery," framing share repurchases as distinct from operating improvement.
• MarketBeat (6h ago, YELLOW, MARKET WIRE): Report that the stock crossed above its 200-day moving average.
• Simply Wall St (9h ago, GREEN, CATALYST): Question on whether an antivirus product launch changes the bull case.
• The Globe and Mail (12h ago, YELLOW, MARKET WIRE): RBC Capital maintained a Buy rating on ZD.
• Stock Titan (15h ago, YELLOW, MARKET WIRE): RetailMeNot birthday giveaway promotion.

Per the Butterfly Supply-Chain Graph, the supply chain is listed as NONE, with no butterfly links and no proprietary signals. Risk watch items drawn from the feed include the buyback-versus-operating-recovery debate and the question of whether new product launches alter the investment case.

• What drives the gap between 15.01% FCF yield and 3.3% net margin, and how much of free cash flow is sustainable against reported earnings?
• What portion of the FY 2025 operating income increase is attributable to operations versus the share repurchases referenced in the news feed?
• What is the composition of the $717.8M debt and its maturity profile, given Debt/Equity of 0.41 and an Altman Z of 1.77?
• What are ZD's product lines, customer base, and revenue mix, which the source data does not describe?
• What is the detailed basis for the reported EPS as N/A across all three periods while the market data shows EPS (TTM) of 1.38?