Stock Markets February 25, 2026

GoDaddy Shares Drop After Management Lowers 2026 Revenue Outlook

Guidance for fiscal 2026 points to slower top-line growth; analysts split on AI-related upside and near-term estimates

By Maya Rios GDDY
GoDaddy Shares Drop After Management Lowers 2026 Revenue Outlook
GDDY

GoDaddy’s stock slid about 9% after the company set fiscal year 2026 total revenue guidance between $5.19 billion and $5.28 billion. Analysts at Barclays and William Blair interpreted the range as indicating growth slowing to below 7% and flagged investor concerns around AI adoption metrics and near-term estimate risk despite ongoing product development.

Key Points

  • GoDaddy set fiscal 2026 total revenue guidance between $5.19 billion and $5.28 billion, prompting a roughly 9% drop in the stock.
  • Barclays interprets the guidance as implying growth slowing to below 7% and cautions that estimates may be lowered, creating a challenging near-term backdrop.
  • William Blair notes valuation around 7 times 2027 free cash flow based on an aftermarket price of $84.70, acknowledges product progress on Airo/Airo.ai, and highlights the potential margin benefit as A&C revenue mix increases.

GoDaddy (NYSE:GDDY) saw its shares fall roughly 9% after the company issued fiscal 2026 revenue guidance that fell short of investor expectations.

The web services firm placed its total revenue target for fiscal 2026 in a range from $5.19 billion to $5.28 billion.

Analysts at Barclays said the guidance suggests growth will decelerate to below 7%, a pace they described as "tough for bulls to defend in this market backdrop, even if bookings should accelerate as the year progresses off a first quarter low point." That view reflects concern that slower top-line momentum could make it harder for share prices to advance in the near term.

William Blair analysts provided a valuation frame, noting that "GoDaddy is trading at 7 times our 2027FCF estimate based on the aftermarket price of $84.70." The firm highlighted progress in the company’s Airo and Airo.ai initiatives and in its pricing and packaging efforts, though it said pricing and packaging were not a primary focus of the most recent earnings release.

William Blair also pointed to the shifting revenue mix within GoDaddy’s A&C segment. As A&C contribution grows, the analysts said this could support margin improvement because that segment carries a relatively stronger margin profile. Still, they cautioned that the market has categorized GoDaddy as high risk within the AI trade amid intensifying competition in the website-building space. While website building remains a small portion of GoDaddy’s current revenue, William Blair described it as a sizable potential growth avenue going forward.

Investors, the firm added, will be seeking concrete adoption metrics for the Airo AI product family and evidence of acceleration in A&C growth. William Blair said the recent quarter represented "a step back on that front," and until adoption trends become clearer, shares are likely to trade in a constrained range. The analysts nonetheless stated they remain optimistic about the planned Airo.ai launch later this year.

Barclays, while acknowledging "a few bright spots" in the company’s results and commentary, signaled it expects analyst estimates to move lower and sees "a tougher path for shares to work near-term."


Taken together, the guidance and subsequent analyst commentary underline two competing dynamics: product development and margin potential on one hand, and near-term growth deceleration and estimate risk on the other. Market participants will be watching for clearer adoption data on Airo and shifts in A&C revenue mix before adjusting their longer-term stance.

Risks

  • Near-term revenue growth may slow to below 7% based on the fiscal 2026 guidance, affecting investor sentiment and share performance - impacts the technology and web services sectors.
  • Unclear adoption metrics for the Airo AI family could leave shares range-bound until meaningful user uptake is demonstrated - impacts AI-related product investment and web-building competition.
  • Analyst estimates appear vulnerable to downward revisions, creating a tougher path for the stock to appreciate in the near term - impacts equity markets and investor positioning in tech growth names.

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