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HUBS: Future Share Momentum Will Be Driven By AI Demand And Partner Strength

Published
24 Apr 25
Updated
17 Dec 25
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AnalystConsensusTarget's Fair Value
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1Y
-45.8%
7D
3.7%

Author's Valuation

US$579.5532.7% undervalued intrinsic discount

AnalystConsensusTarget Fair Value

Last Update 17 Dec 25

Fair value Decreased 1.01%

HUBS: AI-Driven Multi-Hub Adoption Will Support Long-Term Upside Despite Sector Headwinds

Analysts have modestly reduced their fair value estimate for HubSpot to approximately $580 from about $585 per share, reflecting a wave of lowered price targets as they balance still-strong double digit growth and AI driven opportunities against softer reacceleration expectations, competitive AI headwinds, and broader software multiple compression.

Analyst Commentary

Street research reflects a constructive but more measured stance on HubSpot, with many firms trimming price targets while reiterating positive long term views on growth, profitability, and AI optionality.

Bullish Takeaways

  • Bullish analysts emphasize that HubSpot continues to deliver solid double digit revenue growth and margin execution, with recent quarters modestly exceeding consensus on both the top and bottom line.
  • Several research notes highlight HubSpot's integrated platform, multi hub adoption, and upmarket motion as durable growth drivers that can support sustained reacceleration and justify premium valuation multiples over time.
  • AI is framed as a structural tailwind, with HubSpot viewed as well positioned to monetize AI capabilities across its suite and to serve as a key partner in customers' AI strategies.
  • Despite near term volatility, some bullish analysts argue that HubSpot's technology stack and installed base could make it an attractive strategic asset for larger software vendors, providing an additional support for valuation.

Bearish Takeaways

  • Bearish analysts question the near term reacceleration narrative, pointing to Q3 results that fell short of elevated expectations and Q4 guidance that implies only mid teens revenue growth, which they see as insufficient to sustain prior valuation levels.
  • There is concern that HubSpot may be less resilient to AI disruption than peers more focused on large enterprises, especially as new AI native marketing tools emerge and intensify competitive pressures on HubSpot's core SMB and mid market segments.
  • Some notes flag investor disappointment that accelerating ARR commentary has not yet translated into visible 20 percent plus constant currency revenue and billings growth, leading to downward revisions to outer year estimates.
  • Multiple compression across the software sector, combined with AI related headline risk and fears around tools like Tailor Assist, is seen as a headwind for HubSpot's valuation even if fundamentals remain broadly healthy.

What's in the News

  • HubSpot completed its previously announced $500 million share repurchase program, buying back 996,708 shares in total, including 780,111 shares (about 1.48 percent of shares outstanding) between July 1 and September 30, 2025 (company filing).
  • The company reaffirmed its fourth quarter 2025 guidance, projecting total revenue of $828 million to $830 million, described as up 18 percent year over year as reported and 16 percent in constant currency, with net income per share expected between $0.77 and $0.80 (company guidance).
  • For full year 2025, HubSpot provided guidance for revenue of $3.113 billion to $3.115 billion, described as implying 19 percent as reported growth and 18 percent constant currency, while expecting near breakeven operating results and net income of roughly $34 million, or $0.64 to $0.67 per share (company guidance).

Valuation Changes

  • The fair value estimate has edged down slightly to about $580 per share from roughly $585, reflecting a modest recalibration of long-term assumptions.
  • The discount rate has risen slightly to approximately 8.47 percent from about 8.44 percent, indicating a marginally higher required return for HubSpot's equity.
  • Revenue growth has increased fractionally and is now roughly 16.37 percent, leaving the long-term top-line outlook effectively unchanged.
  • The net profit margin has ticked down marginally and is now around 9.17 percent, implying a negligible adjustment to profitability expectations.
  • The future P/E has declined slightly to roughly 90.8x from about 91.6x, suggesting a modest reduction in the multiple applied to forward earnings.

Key Takeaways

  • Expansion into integrated cloud platforms, AI capabilities, and upmarket enterprise clients is driving higher recurring revenue, larger deals, and improved margins.
  • Accelerated international growth and adaptation to evolving buyer behavior are broadening customer reach and supporting durable, long-term business expansion.
  • Disruption from AI, economic sensitivity of its core market, rising competition, unproven monetization models, and international hurdles all threaten HubSpot's sustained growth and margins.

Catalysts

About HubSpot
    Provides a cloud-based customer relationship management (CRM) platform for businesses in the Americas, Europe, and the Asia Pacific.
What are the underlying business or industry changes driving this perspective?
  • HubSpot is a direct beneficiary of the rapid digitization of SMBs and enterprises, as more customers consolidate their marketing, sales, and service stacks onto integrated cloud platforms like HubSpot-evidenced by rising multi-hub adoption and seat upgrades, which should drive recurring revenue and higher average revenue per customer over time.
  • The company's quick pivot to adapt to shifting buyer behavior-such as declining traditional SEO and the rise of AI-powered search-positions HubSpot to capture new sources of lead generation (YouTube, social, newsletters, LLM citations), supporting customer growth and improving the durability of top-line expansion.
  • Rapid adoption and expansion of AI-based functionality-such as Customer Agent, Prospecting Agent, and connectors to leading LLMs-are driving higher customer engagement, sticky workflows, and early-stage monetization opportunities (especially via credit-based AI features), setting the stage for stronger net dollar retention and potentially higher net margins in 2026 and beyond.
  • Ongoing movement upmarket into larger enterprise customers, combined with a seat-based pricing model and cross-sell of premium platform capabilities (Core Seat, Smart CRM), is leading to larger deals and higher gross margins, which should boost earnings power as operating leverage increases.
  • Accelerated international growth-reflected in international revenue expansion outpacing domestic and now accounting for nearly half of total revenue-diversifies the business, reduces geographic concentration risk, and provides a long runway for sustained revenue and earnings growth as HubSpot localizes and scales abroad.

HubSpot Earnings and Revenue Growth

HubSpot Future Earnings and Revenue Growth

Assumptions

How have these above catalysts been quantified?
  • Analysts are assuming HubSpot's revenue will grow by 17.1% annually over the next 3 years.
  • Analysts assume that profit margins will increase from -0.4% today to 8.5% in 3 years time.
  • Analysts expect earnings to reach $388.4 million (and earnings per share of $6.41) by about September 2028, up from $-11.9 million today. However, there is some disagreement amongst the analysts with the more bearish ones expecting earnings as low as $189 million.
  • In order for the above numbers to justify the analysts price target, the company would need to trade at a PE ratio of 127.8x on those 2028 earnings, up from -2089.3x today. This future PE is greater than the current PE for the US Software industry at 36.6x.
  • Analysts expect the number of shares outstanding to grow by 2.07% per year for the next 3 years.
  • To value all of this in today's terms, we will use a discount rate of 8.43%, as per the Simply Wall St company report.

HubSpot Future Earnings Per Share Growth

HubSpot Future Earnings Per Share Growth

Risks

What could happen that would invalidate this narrative?
  • The ongoing disruption of SEO and organic search due to generative AI and declining global organic traffic may challenge HubSpot's historical customer acquisition strategies, risking slower top-of-funnel growth and impacting long-term lead generation and revenue.
  • HubSpot's heavy focus on the SMB and mid-market segments exposes it to higher churn risk and revenue instability during macroeconomic downturns, as these customers are often the first to reduce software spend when faced with economic uncertainty.
  • Rising competition from larger, consolidated SaaS providers and emerging Agentic/AI-powered platforms could lead to downward pricing pressure, higher customer acquisition costs, and increased difficulty in sustaining market share growth, all of which may compress net margins and earnings.
  • The company's new AI agent and credit-based monetization model is in very early stages, with unclear adoption rates and monetization patterns; prolonged or unsuccessful monetization of these new products could limit durable revenue growth and delay improvements in net profit.
  • HubSpot's international expansion may face obstacles due to localization requirements, regulatory complexities, and diverse go-to-market needs; slower growth outside North America could cap TAM expansion, thereby constraining long-term revenue and earnings growth.

Valuation

How have all the factors above been brought together to estimate a fair value?
  • The analysts have a consensus price target of $695.33 for HubSpot based on their expectations of its future earnings growth, profit margins and other risk factors. However, there is a degree of disagreement amongst analysts, with the most bullish reporting a price target of $910.0, and the most bearish reporting a price target of just $589.88.
  • In order for you to agree with the analyst's consensus, you'd need to believe that by 2028, revenues will be $4.6 billion, earnings will come to $388.4 million, and it would be trading on a PE ratio of 127.8x, assuming you use a discount rate of 8.4%.
  • Given the current share price of $472.71, the analyst price target of $695.33 is 32.0% higher.
  • We always encourage you to reach your own conclusions though. So sense check these analyst numbers against your own assumptions and expectations based on your understanding of the business and what you believe is probable.

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Disclaimer

AnalystConsensusTarget is a tool utilizing a Large Language Model (LLM) that ingests data on consensus price targets, forecasted revenue and earnings figures, as well as the transcripts of earnings calls to produce qualitative analysis. The narratives produced by AnalystConsensusTarget are general in nature and are based solely on analyst data and publicly-available material published by the respective companies. These scenarios are not indicative of the company's future performance and are exploratory in nature. Simply Wall St has no position in the company(s) mentioned. Simply Wall St may provide the securities issuer or related entities with website advertising services for a fee, on an arm's length basis. These relationships have no impact on the way we conduct our business, the content we host, or how our content is served to users. The price targets and estimates used are consensus data, and do not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and they do not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Note that AnalystConsensusTarget's analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.

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