HSBC trimmed its recommendation on Pinterest Inc. (NYSE: PINS) from Buy to Hold on Friday and lowered its price target to $24.90 from $34.50. The shares were trading at $22.22, after a recent slide of 13.7% in the past week and a decline of 41.6% over the last six months.
The downgrade reflects HSBC’s view that Pinterest’s renewed push into artificial intelligence is being pursued "without any indication of cost savings or revenue acceleration, and requiring a trade-off in resources." That assessment stands in contrast to InvestingPro data showing Pinterest retains a "GREAT" overall financial health score.
HSBC characterizes Pinterest as a "tier-2 player struggling to keep up with larger and better resourced peers that are running ahead," while still acknowledging the competitive value of the company’s differentiated user data set. The bank trimmed its revenue forecasts for 2026-2027 by roughly 2-3% and reduced its FY26 adjusted EBITDA estimate to $1,460 million from $1,519 million.
HSBC’s revised price target implies about 11% upside from Pinterest’s January 29 closing price. The bank noted that an "increasingly challenging operating environment" is offset to some degree by "a valuation we judge to be undemanding," with Pinterest trading at approximately 2.6 times next-twelve-months sales.
Separately, Pinterest announced a global restructuring plan that will include a reduction in its workforce affecting less than 15% of employees and a pullback in office space. The company said it expects pre-tax restructuring charges in the range of $35 million to $45 million, primarily in cash. Management described the moves as part of a strategy to shift resources into roles focused on artificial intelligence and to prioritize AI-powered products, while accelerating changes to its sales and go-to-market approach.
Despite HSBC’s downgrade, other sell-side firms maintained more bullish stances. BofA Securities reiterated its Buy rating and kept a $39.00 price target heading into Pinterest’s fourth-quarter results. BofA expects the company to report fourth-quarter revenue of $1,332 million, a touch above the consensus estimate of $1,330 million, representing year-over-year growth of 15%.
Stifel also reiterated its Buy rating, reflecting continued support from some analysts for Pinterest’s repositioning even as the company implements workforce reductions and shifts toward AI initiatives.
Taken together, HSBC’s downgrade and Pinterest’s restructuring underscore a period of strategic reallocation for the company. Market reactions to the news have been reflected in the share price volatility over recent periods, and analysts differ on how effectively Pinterest can translate an AI focus into measurable financial benefits.