Is Pinterest (PINS) in play? The Information predicts that the social media site with a user base of 600 million could become an acquisition target in 2026 with OpenAI (OPENAI) as a potential buyer.
The dynamics of an OpenAI/Pinterest merger presents interesting synergies, namely the integration of a more sophisticated search option that incorporates conversation with visual queries. The Information believes OpenAI (OPENAI) would be more interested in “the bones of Pinterest’s business like its trove of image data and existing advertising business,” both of which would enhance OpenAI’s (OPENAI) budding online shopping and ads businesses.
“Pinterest’s digital scrapbooking features could also complement OpenAI’s image- and video-generation tools,” The Information adds.
Monetizing Pinterest (PINS) more effectively could present a challenge for any suitor, however, as the company has been showing slower monthly average user (MAU) and average revenue per user (ARPU) growth in the U.S. and Canada, an issue that puts Pinterest (PINS) at a disadvantage to heavy-hitters like Meta (META), Alphabet (GOOG), and Amazon (AMZN), all of which could siphon off Pinterest’s user base with similar offerings.
“The way I see it, Pinterest management needs to present a bold new plan to revive growth back in the company, especially in its U.S. and Canada region,” Seeking Alpha analyst Amrita Roy says.
But despite some operational challenges, Pinterest (PINS) still boasts a unique niche within the social media space by combining a hybrid search engine with social media and e-commerce. And in the third quarter, outbound clicks to advertisers increased by 40% thanks to a user base that has a “high purchase intent.”
To capitalize on this, the company recently launched Pinterest Performance+ which bundles an a la carte feature like bidding, targeting, and budgets into one suite to help advertisers reach the right audience and drive better results.
“Retail advertisers that spent on Pinterest Performance+ campaigns have on average seen a 24% higher conversion lift than those spending only on traditional campaigns,” CEO William Ready noted on the company’s most recent earnings call.
Although OpenAI (OPENAI) seems like a good fit for Pinterest (PINS), it might not be the company’s only suitor in 2026. Other names have emerged over the years could resurface, including Alphabet (GOOG), Amazon (AMZN), and Microsoft (MSFT).
Pinterest (PINS) shares ended 2025 11% in the red versus a 17% gain in the S&P 500.