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Roku is ushering in its "Roku 2.0" phase—a strategic evolution focused less on user growth

Roku is ushering in its "Roku 2.0" phase—a strategic evolution focused less on user growth

What's happening?

Roku is ushering in its "Roku 2.0" phase—a strategic evolution focused less on user growth and more on monetization and increased engagement. With over 90 million active accounts and a staggering 125 billion streaming hours recorded in 2024, the company is capitalizing on its large user base to build more solid and sustainable financial growth.

What does this shift mean?

The new strategy no longer relies solely on acquiring new users, but instead aims to increase revenue through deeper platform usage. Roku is leveraging the global rise in streaming and connected TV advertising, improving ad fill rates through targeted third-party partnerships. As challenges in the media sector gradually ease, Roku is well positioned to seize new opportunities.

Why should I care?

For markets: Roku is turning up the volume on financials.

UBS Bank has renewed its confidence in Roku, forecasting a 12% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in revenue, an impressive 37% annual EBITDA growth, and a 50% increase in free cash flow over the next three years. Supporting this optimistic outlook, UBS reiterated a "buy" rating and set a $100 price target per share, despite the stock recently falling to $77.63.

As Roku shifts from a phase of pure expansion to a more mature, strategic phase, it's aiming to redefine its role in the streaming ecosystem. The combination of growing demand and a strong position in the TV advertising market places Roku as a key player in the industry's evolution. This strategic shift highlights not only the company’s dynamic potential but also the beginning of a profound financial transformation.

Il quadro generale: un gigante dello streaming pronto per un nuovo capitolo.

As it transitions from a phase of pure expansion to a more mature and strategic stage, Roku aims to redefine its role within the streaming ecosystem. The combination of growing demand and a strong position in the TV advertising market places Roku as a central player in the industry's evolution. This shift in strategy highlights not only the company’s dynamic potential but also the beginning of a phase of profound financial transformation.

Main strategic Leves

Connected TV (CTV) Advertising

CTV Investment Boom: Global CTV ad spending is expected to grow from $36 billion in 2023 to $48 billion in 2025 (+33%).

Efficient Ad Fill: Through strategic partnerships (The Trade Desk, Amazon Ads, Yahoo DSP), Roku is improving ad fill rates—its ability to fill ad inventory effectively.

Amazon Ads Ecosystem

Partnership enables access to ~80 million U.S. households via Amazon DSP.

Early Results: +40% increase in unique reach and −30% in ad repetition.

Platform Revenue Growth

Q4 2024: Platform revenue surpassed $1 billion, up +25% YoY.

FY 2024 Total: $3.5 billion, up +18% YoY.

Q1 2025: Platform revenue reached $881 million, +17% YoY; The Roku Channel became the 2nd most engaging app.

FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) Content

The Roku Channel reached 145 million viewers by the end of 2024 and ranked as the 5th most-watched streaming platform in the U.S., with streaming hours up +84% YoY.

Low Fraudulent Traffic: IVT (Invalid Traffic) around ~14%, nearly half that of many competing apps.

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