• In June 2026, Smartly announced a partnership with Roku to plug its platform directly into Roku Ads Manager via the Roku Ads API, allowing marketers to extend social-style campaigns into connected TV while reusing existing creative assets.
• This connection effectively blurs the line between social and TV streaming ad buying, potentially making Roku’s ecosystem more accessible to performance-focused advertisers.
• Next, we’ll explore how this Smartly–Roku integration could influence Roku’s investment narrative, particularly around scaling higher-margin, performance-oriented advertising.

Capitalize on the AI infrastructure supercycle with our selection of the 51 best 'picks and shovels' of the AI gold rush converting record-breaking demand into massive cash flow.

Roku Investment Narrative Recap

To own Roku today you need to believe connected TV can keep taking ad dollars from linear TV and that Roku’s tools will matter to performance marketers, not just brand advertisers. The Smartly integration plugs directly into Roku Ads Manager but does not materially change the near term catalyst, which remains scaling higher margin, outcomes based ad spend, or the key risk, which is Roku’s reliance on an often volatile advertising market.

The Smartly news ties most closely to Roku Ads Manager, which bearish analysts already flagged as a way to reach “underpenetrated advertiser markets” such as performance focused and SMB buyers. Before this partnership, the lowest analyst cohort still expected revenue to reach about US$6.8 billion and earnings about US$550 million by 2029, so any sustained traction from social style CTV campaigns could pressure that more cautious view if advertisers follow through with budgets.

Yet the biggest thing investors should be aware of is how Roku’s dependence on digital ad budgets could suddenly become a problem if...

Roku's narrative projects $7.2 billion revenue and $836.9 million earnings by 2029.

Uncover how Roku's forecasts yield a $151.68 fair value, a 10% upside to its current price.

Exploring Other Perspectives

Some of the lowest ranked analysts were far more cautious, even while forecasting roughly US$6.8 billion of revenue and US$550 million of earnings by 2029, so as you weigh what Smartly on Roku might unlock for performance advertisers, remember that these more pessimistic views highlight how quickly sentiment can swing and why it is worth exploring several very different viewpoints before you decide what Roku’s ad story really looks like.

Explore 8 other fair value estimates on Roku - why the stock might be worth 38% less than the current price!

Form Your Own Verdict

Disagree with existing narratives? Extraordinary investment returns rarely come from following the herd, so go with your instincts.

• A great starting point for your Roku research is our analysis highlighting 3 key rewards that could impact your investment decision.
• Our free Roku research report provides a comprehensive fundamental analysis summarized in a single visual - the Snowflake - making it easy to evaluate Roku's overall financial health at a glance.

Want Some Alternatives?

Our daily scans reveal stocks with breakout potential. Don't miss this chance:

• The best AI stocks today may lie beyond giants like Nvidia and Microsoft. Find the next big opportunity with these 15 smaller AI-focused companies with strong growth potential through early-stage innovation in machine learning, automation, and data intelligence that could fund your retirement.
• We've uncovered the 10 dividend fortresses yielding 5%+ that don't just survive market storms, but thrive in them.
• Find 43 companies with promising cash flow potential yet trading below their fair value.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.