Analyst Ratings February 3, 2026

Canaccord Cuts Roblox Price Target to $140 Citing Margin Pressure as Engagement Rises

Analyst keeps Buy stance while flagging infrastructure investment could weigh on profitability amid strong user and revenue growth forecasts

By Maya Rios RBLX
Canaccord Cuts Roblox Price Target to $140 Citing Margin Pressure as Engagement Rises
RBLX

Canaccord Genuity reduced its price target for Roblox Corp. to $140 from $160 while retaining a Buy rating, pointing to potential margin strain as the platform increases infrastructure spending to support higher engagement and product diversification. The firm projects substantial year-over-year growth in daily active users, gross bookings and net revenue for Q4, yet highlights recent share weakness after cautious fiscal 2026 guidance.

Key Points

  • Canaccord Genuity lowered its price target for Roblox to $140 from $160 but maintained a Buy rating, citing possible margin pressure from increased infrastructure investments.
  • Canaccord forecasts Q4 DAUs of 145 million (up 70% year-over-year) with a sequential decline of 6.2 million due to seasonality, along with 58% year-over-year global gross booking growth and 50% year-over-year net revenue growth—both above consensus.
  • Operational gains have been driven by AI-enabled search and discovery and monetization initiatives, while new ad formats and programmatic partnerships aim to expand revenue channels.

Canaccord Genuity has trimmed its price target on Roblox Corp. to $140.00 from $160.00 but continues to carry a Buy rating on the stock. The firm says its adjustment reflects concerns that margin expansion could be limited as Roblox steps up infrastructure investments aimed at supporting elevated engagement and enabling genre diversification through product innovation.

Despite what Canaccord describes as robust operating momentum, Roblox shares have traded under pressure following the company’s third-quarter earnings report, which included cautious guidance for fiscal 2026. The analyst note underscores the tension between top-line growth and near-term margin dynamics as management prioritizes capital deployment to scale the platform.

On user metrics, Canaccord expects daily active users, or DAUs, to increase 70% year-over-year to 145 million in the fourth quarter. The firm also projects a sequential decline of 6.2 million DAUs from the prior quarter, attributing that fall to typical seasonal patterns rather than structural deterioration.

For Q4, Canaccord forecasts 58% year-over-year growth in global gross booking value and 50% year-over-year growth in net revenue. The firm notes both projected gains exceed consensus estimates, signaling that analysts still see strong demand and monetization upside even as margins face pressure from higher investment levels.

The company’s recent acceleration in daily active users, engagement and bookings is credited in part to improvements in search and discovery powered by artificial intelligence, which Canaccord says have supported global viral hits. The note highlights strategic investments intended to foster a more vibrant in-platform economy and improve app performance—actions the firm links to rising user activity and monetization in important international markets.

Roblox has also rolled out new advertising formats and partner integrations designed to expand monetization. At CES in January, the platform introduced a premium ad unit embedded on the app homepage that displays video content within an immersive 3D environment. The company has also announced programmatic advertising partnerships with Amazon DSP, Magnite and PubMatic.

Outside of the company’s operational developments, Roblox faces regulatory and competitive considerations that could influence its trajectory. The Netherlands’ consumer protection authority, ACM, has opened an investigation into whether the platform sufficiently protects minors in the European Union. Such probes could affect product requirements or introduce compliance costs depending on findings.

Analyst coverage around Roblox remains mixed. TD Cowen has reiterated a Sell rating with a $70.00 price target, citing a parent survey that indicated increased usage limits being imposed on children. BTIG lowered its price target to $141.00 from $174.00, attributing the reduction to engagement and monetization challenges while still maintaining a Buy rating. Benchmark has held its rating at Hold, pointing to potential risks from AI-driven game creation tools that could contribute to content saturation and heightened competition within the platform ecosystem.

The broader gaming-adjacent sector is also in flux. Deutsche Bank has observed a shift in AppLovin’s risk-reward profile following a notable share selloff tied to Google’s Project Genie announcement, which raised concerns over potential disruptions for gaming engine developers. These developments illustrate an evolving competitive landscape that carries implications for monetization, developer relations and ad revenue across the gaming industry.

Investors and market participants weighing Roblox’s outlook will need to balance the company’s clear user and revenue momentum against the potential for near-term margin pressure as infrastructure and product investments ramp. The mix of regulatory scrutiny, divergent analyst views and industry-level shifts underscores a range of outcomes investors should monitor as Roblox executes on growth and monetization initiatives.


Where to find more detailed metrics

Comprehensive financial metrics, analyst notes and deeper model assumptions are available through subscription research services and premium equity research platforms for investors seeking granular data and visualized analysis on Roblox’s performance and forecasts.

Risks

  • Margin compression risk as Roblox increases infrastructure and product investments to support higher engagement - impacts technology and internet sectors.
  • Regulatory uncertainty in the EU with the Netherlands’ ACM investigating protections for minors on the platform - impacts compliance costs and product controls in digital services and gaming.
  • Competitive and content-saturation risk from AI-driven game creation tools and broader industry shifts such as Google’s Project Genie, which may alter developer economics and ad monetization strategies.

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