NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–$IAS #CLASSACTIONLAWSUIT–The law firm of Kirby McInerney LLP reminds investors of the March 31, 2025, deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action filed on behalf of investors who acquired Integral Ad Science Holding Corp. (“IAS” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ:IAS) securities during the period from March 2, 2023, through February 27, 2024 (“the Class Period”).
[LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CLASS ACTION]
IAS is a global software company specializing in digital advertising and offers a suite of digital ad verification and optimization solutions. The ad verification industry is dominated by IAS and its main competitor DoubleVerify, Inc. (“DoubleVerify”), constituting a “virtual duopoly”. As such, concerns over a potential pricing war with DoubleVerify have led the Company to reassure investors about its ability to defend pricing.
Unbeknownst to investors, by February 23, 2023, senior management at IAS was aware that demand had started to slow. In a non-public presentation, senior management told the Board of Directors (“Board”) of the Company was experiencing “pricing pressure” in its ad verification and optimization businesses, and that the Company had resorted to cutting rates when renewing and securing new contracting, leading to fee compression.
On August 3, 2023, after the market closed, IAS reported its second quarter financial results revealing that the growth of its optimization revenue had meaningfully slowed. On this news, the price of IAS shares declined by $3.66 per share, or approximately 19.4%, from $18.83 per share on August 3, 2023, to close at $15.17 on August 4, 2023.
However, the Company continued to conceal that pricing pressure was a key factor underlying the Company’s slowing revenue growth. During an August 3, 2023, earnings call to discuss second quarter results, analysts asked about the Company’s pricing. CFO Tania Secor pivoted, instead blaming “maturing Context Control growth” and “slower demand from tech/telco clients.”
On February 27, 2024, after the market closed, IAS reported fourth quarter financial results for 2023 and announced lackluster revenue guidance below analysts’ estimates. On an earnings call that same day, the Company admitted that these disappointing revenue numbers resulted from pricing cuts issued to customers across the Company’s measurement and optimization businesses. CEO Lisa Utzchneider stated, “we are seeing more competitive pricing in measurement on a select group of large contract renewals in exchange for increased volume commitments and multi-year exclusive agreements.” On this news, the price of IAS shares declined by $7.09 per share, or approximately 41%, from $17.10 per share on February 27, 2024, to close at $10.01 per share on February 28, 2024.
The complaint alleges that defendants, throughout the Class Period, misrepresented and/or failed to disclose that: (1) that IAS was experiencing a new material trend of increased competitive pricing pressures and that, as a result, IAS had been forced to cut prices to compensate for weakening demand and slowing revenue growth; (2) that IAS’s pricing function was no longer ‘favorable’ and IAS could not sustain its pricing and drive price increases; (3) that pricing had become a key differentiator between IAS and its competitor necessary to close major renewals and new deals; and (4) that the risk that competition “could result in increased pricing pressure” or “could put pressure on us to change our prices” had in fact transpired.
If you purchased or otherwise acquired IAS securities, have information, or would like to learn more about this investigation, please contact Thomas W. Elrod of Kirby McInerney LLP by email at investigations@kmllp.com, or fill out the form below, to discuss your rights or interests with respect to these matters without any cost to you.
Kirby McInerney LLP is a New York-based plaintiffs’ law firm concentrating in securities, antitrust, whistleblower, and consumer litigation. The firm’s efforts on behalf of shareholders in securities litigation have resulted in recoveries totaling billions of dollars. Additional information about the firm can be found at Kirby McInerney LLP’s website.
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Contacts
Kirby McInerney LLP
Thomas W. Elrod, Esq.
212-699-1180
https://www.kmllp.com
investigations@kmllp.com
