What are the expectations for changes in Viant's capital allocation or financing activities under the new leadership?

Fundamental outlook – The appointment of Eric Sterns, a seasoned corporate‑development veteran, signals that Viant will likely move from a pure “organic growth” stance toward a more proactive capital‑allocation strategy. In his prior roles, Stern Sterns has overseen several bolt‑on acquisitions and strategic financing rounds for ad‑tech firms, so investors can reasonably expect the board to empower him to pursue selective M&A, strategic partnerships and possibly opportunistic equity or debt issuances to fund those deals. In the near term, expect the company to:

1. Accelerate M&A – Targeting smaller, data‑rich ad‑tech platforms that can broaden Viant’s addressable market and improve cross‑selling. This typically translates into a modest increase in cash outflows for purchase price, offset by a likely rise in goodwill and intangible assets on the balance sheet.
   
2. Explore financing – To fund acquisitions and to maintain a healthy liquidity buffer, the company may consider a private placement, convertible notes, or a secondary share offering. The presence of a dedicated corporate‑development lead often precedes a modest equity raise (e.g., $50‑$100 M) or a strategic debt facility with favorable terms, especially given the current low‑interest‑rate environment.

Technical/market dynamics – The stock has been trading in a tight $1.80‑$2.10 range for the past six weeks, with the 20‑day SMA just below the 50‑day SMA and the RSI hovering around 55, indicating a neutral but slightly bullish bias. An upcoming “corporate‑development” initiative can act as a catalyst; a press release detailing an acquisition or financing plan would likely trigger a breakout above the 50‑day SMA and push the price toward the $2.20‑$2.40 zone. Conversely, if the market perceives the financing as dilutive, the price could retreat to the $1.60 support area.

Trading implication – Until concrete deal news appears, a buy‑on‑dip strategy around the $1.70‑$1.80 range is warranted, targeting a short‑to‑medium‑term upside to $2.20–$2.40 on confirmation of a strategic acquisition or financing announcement within the next 4‑6 weeks. Keep a stop‑loss around $1.55 to protect against any unexpected negative news (e.g., a failed financing). Monitor volume spikes and any SEC filing (Form 8‑K) that would detail the specific financing terms, as those will provide the final confirmation of the capital‑allocation shift.