QuinStreet vs Pinterest: why the prices moved differently

Weekly · monthly · quarterly news summaries, side by side in time

QuinStreet Inc (QNST)

Pinterest Inc (PINS)

Q3 202620 Jul – 10 Sep 2026

▼3▲1

Pinterest Q2 beats but ad pricing falls, CFO exits, stock down 36%

Strong Q2 user and revenue growth Pinterest's Q2 revenue rose 18% and monthly users hit 640 million, up 11%, beating estimates. The company also raised its full-year EBITDA margin outlook to about 30%, showing resilient engagement and cost control.
This is the main positive force that supported the stock during the quarter.
Ad pricing weakness and slowing growth Ad pricing fell 5% year-over-year, and Q3 revenue growth is guided down to 13-15% amid rising competition from Instagram. This signals monetization challenges and a slowdown from Q2's 18% growth.
This is a key negative driver that pressured the stock.
CFO departure adds uncertainty The sudden exit of Pinterest's CFO introduces execution risk and uncertainty about future financial strategy, weighing on investor confidence.
This is a new negative event that contributed to the stock's decline.
Rising costs and regulatory headwinds European regulation is disrupting cross-border merchants, and rising AI/cloud costs, including a $4 billion AWS commitment, are pressuring profits. These factors add to concerns about future profitability.
These are new cost and regulatory pressures that weighed on the stock.

August 20268 Aug – 10 Sep 2026

▼3

Pinterest's growth is slowing as costs and executive turnover weigh

Q2 loss and soft Q3 guidance Pinterest swung to a $46.7 million loss in Q2 and guided Q3 revenue growth to 13-15%, down from 18%. Slower growth and a loss make investors worry about execution and monetization, pushing the stock down.
This is the core new financial result and outlook that directly drives the stock lower.
CFO departure adds uncertainty CFO Julia Brau Donnelly left in late August, with an interim replacement. A sudden CFO exit can signal internal issues and makes investors nervous about financial leadership, weighing on the stock.
This is a new event that adds to negative sentiment and explains part of the recent price drop.
European regulation disrupts merchants CEO Bill Ready warned that European regulatory changes are hurting cross-border Asian merchants and forcing a go-to-market overhaul. This pressures near-term business and adds regulatory risk, pushing the stock down.
This is a new warning from the CEO that directly explains the recent 9% share drop.
AI investments boost users but raise costs Pinterest hit 640 million users and beat Q2 estimates, but AI and cloud costs are rising, including a $4 billion AWS commitment. The user growth is positive, but higher spending pressures profits and the stock.
This shows the positive user traction and the cost side that together shape the mixed outlook.

Latest8 Aug – 10 Sep 2026

▼3

Pinterest's growth is slowing as costs and executive turnover weigh

Q2 loss and soft Q3 guidance Pinterest swung to a $46.7 million loss in Q2 and guided Q3 revenue growth to 13-15%, down from 18%. Slower growth and a loss make investors worry about execution and monetization, pushing the stock down.
This is the core new financial result and outlook that directly drives the stock lower.
CFO departure adds uncertainty CFO Julia Brau Donnelly left in late August, with an interim replacement. A sudden CFO exit can signal internal issues and makes investors nervous about financial leadership, weighing on the stock.
This is a new event that adds to negative sentiment and explains part of the recent price drop.
European regulation disrupts merchants CEO Bill Ready warned that European regulatory changes are hurting cross-border Asian merchants and forcing a go-to-market overhaul. This pressures near-term business and adds regulatory risk, pushing the stock down.
This is a new warning from the CEO that directly explains the recent 9% share drop.
AI investments boost users but raise costs Pinterest hit 640 million users and beat Q2 estimates, but AI and cloud costs are rising, including a $4 billion AWS commitment. The user growth is positive, but higher spending pressures profits and the stock.
This shows the positive user traction and the cost side that together shape the mixed outlook.

July 202620 Jul – 7 Aug 2026

▲2▼2

Pinterest's user growth shines but ad pricing and competition weigh on outlook

Ad pricing decline pressures revenue Pinterest's ad pricing fell 5% year-over-year, which means it earns less per ad shown. This directly hurts revenue growth and margins, making investors worried about future profitability. The stock has dropped 36% over the past year, partly due to this pricing weakness.
This explains a key reason why Pinterest's stock is under pressure despite user growth.
Q3 revenue growth to slow sharply Pinterest guided Q3 revenue growth to 13-15%, down from 18% in Q2, citing rising competition from Meta's Instagram. This slowdown spooked investors, sending shares down 6-9% after the report. Slower growth means less future profit, which weighs on the stock price.
This is the main new negative catalyst that drove the stock down this period.
Strong user growth and engagement Pinterest hit 640 million monthly active users, up 11% and its 12th straight quarter of record users. Revenue rose 18% to $1.18 billion, beating estimates. This shows the platform remains popular and can grow its audience, which supports long-term ad revenue potential.
This is a key positive that provides a counterweight to the negative pricing and competition news.
Raised full-year EBITDA margin outlook Pinterest raised its full-year 2026 adjusted EBITDA margin expectation to about 30%, signaling better cost control and profitability. This gives investors confidence that the company can manage expenses even as revenue growth slows, which helps support the stock price.
This is a new positive from the Q2 earnings that shows improving profitability.

20 Jul – 7 Aug 2026

▲2▼2

Pinterest's user growth shines but ad pricing and competition weigh on outlook

Ad pricing decline pressures revenue Pinterest's ad pricing fell 5% year-over-year, which means it earns less per ad shown. This directly hurts revenue growth and margins, making investors worried about future profitability. The stock has dropped 36% over the past year, partly due to this pricing weakness.
This explains a key reason why Pinterest's stock is under pressure despite user growth.
Q3 revenue growth to slow sharply Pinterest guided Q3 revenue growth to 13-15%, down from 18% in Q2, citing rising competition from Meta's Instagram. This slowdown spooked investors, sending shares down 6-9% after the report. Slower growth means less future profit, which weighs on the stock price.
This is the main new negative catalyst that drove the stock down this period.
Strong user growth and engagement Pinterest hit 640 million monthly active users, up 11% and its 12th straight quarter of record users. Revenue rose 18% to $1.18 billion, beating estimates. This shows the platform remains popular and can grow its audience, which supports long-term ad revenue potential.
This is a key positive that provides a counterweight to the negative pricing and competition news.
Raised full-year EBITDA margin outlook Pinterest raised its full-year 2026 adjusted EBITDA margin expectation to about 30%, signaling better cost control and profitability. This gives investors confidence that the company can manage expenses even as revenue growth slows, which helps support the stock price.
This is a new positive from the Q2 earnings that shows improving profitability.

Q2 202617 Jun – 7 Jul 2026

▼4

Pinterest's weak guidance and fund exits keep pressure on the stock

Fed signals rate cuts may reverse The Fed held rates steady and raised its year-end rate estimate, pushing the 2-year Treasury yield up. Higher rates reduce the value of future profits, which hurts ad-dependent stocks like Pinterest. Shares fell 2.9% on the news.
This macro shift directly pressures Pinterest's valuation by raising the discount rate on future cash flows.
UAE bans social media for under-15s The UAE will bar children under 15 from social media, requiring age checks. This could shrink Pinterest's user base in that region and add compliance costs. Platforms have up to 12 months to comply.
This new regulation threatens Pinterest's user growth and adds costs, weighing on the stock.
RiverPark fund exits Pinterest after 40% Q1 drop RiverPark Large Growth Fund sold its Pinterest stake after the stock fell 40% in Q1. The fund blamed weak Q4 2025 earnings and soft Q1 2026 guidance, plus a tariff-related ad pullback and 15% workforce cuts.
A notable fund exit signals waning institutional confidence, adding selling pressure.
TimesSquare Capital exits on tariff-driven ad pullback TimesSquare Capital also exited Pinterest, citing slower Q4 results and cautious guidance. Retail advertisers cut spending due to tariffs, hurting Pinterest's ad revenue. The stock is down 38% over the past year.
Another fund exit reinforces negative sentiment and highlights ongoing advertiser weakness.

June 202617 Jun – 7 Jul 2026

▼4

Pinterest's weak guidance and fund exits keep pressure on the stock

Fed signals rate cuts may reverse The Fed held rates steady and raised its year-end rate estimate, pushing the 2-year Treasury yield up. Higher rates reduce the value of future profits, which hurts ad-dependent stocks like Pinterest. Shares fell 2.9% on the news.
This macro shift directly pressures Pinterest's valuation by raising the discount rate on future cash flows.
UAE bans social media for under-15s The UAE will bar children under 15 from social media, requiring age checks. This could shrink Pinterest's user base in that region and add compliance costs. Platforms have up to 12 months to comply.
This new regulation threatens Pinterest's user growth and adds costs, weighing on the stock.
RiverPark fund exits Pinterest after 40% Q1 drop RiverPark Large Growth Fund sold its Pinterest stake after the stock fell 40% in Q1. The fund blamed weak Q4 2025 earnings and soft Q1 2026 guidance, plus a tariff-related ad pullback and 15% workforce cuts.
A notable fund exit signals waning institutional confidence, adding selling pressure.
TimesSquare Capital exits on tariff-driven ad pullback TimesSquare Capital also exited Pinterest, citing slower Q4 results and cautious guidance. Retail advertisers cut spending due to tariffs, hurting Pinterest's ad revenue. The stock is down 38% over the past year.
Another fund exit reinforces negative sentiment and highlights ongoing advertiser weakness.

17 Jun – 7 Jul 2026

▼4

Pinterest's weak guidance and fund exits keep pressure on the stock

Fed signals rate cuts may reverse The Fed held rates steady and raised its year-end rate estimate, pushing the 2-year Treasury yield up. Higher rates reduce the value of future profits, which hurts ad-dependent stocks like Pinterest. Shares fell 2.9% on the news.
This macro shift directly pressures Pinterest's valuation by raising the discount rate on future cash flows.
UAE bans social media for under-15s The UAE will bar children under 15 from social media, requiring age checks. This could shrink Pinterest's user base in that region and add compliance costs. Platforms have up to 12 months to comply.
This new regulation threatens Pinterest's user growth and adds costs, weighing on the stock.
RiverPark fund exits Pinterest after 40% Q1 drop RiverPark Large Growth Fund sold its Pinterest stake after the stock fell 40% in Q1. The fund blamed weak Q4 2025 earnings and soft Q1 2026 guidance, plus a tariff-related ad pullback and 15% workforce cuts.
A notable fund exit signals waning institutional confidence, adding selling pressure.
TimesSquare Capital exits on tariff-driven ad pullback TimesSquare Capital also exited Pinterest, citing slower Q4 results and cautious guidance. Retail advertisers cut spending due to tariffs, hurting Pinterest's ad revenue. The stock is down 38% over the past year.
Another fund exit reinforces negative sentiment and highlights ongoing advertiser weakness.