• by Wayne Friedman , April 26, 2018

Nielsen Holdings posted slim revenue increases -- mostly thanks to its Watch segment gains -- but lower overall analyst estimates.

Revenue was up 5.5% to $1.6 billion, with its Watch segment -- its media-measurement services -- gaining 8.5% to $834 million.

Watch's audience measurement of video and text revenues gained 12%, “primarily due to our ongoing investments and continued client adoption of our Total Audience Measurement system,” according to the company. 

Nielsen’s Buy unit -- its marketing consumer-data division -- slipped 2% to $776 million. On a constant currency basis, Buy revenues were 2.1% lower versus the same period a year ago. While revenues for emerging markets increased 10.1%, revenues in developed markets were flat for the quarter.

Revenues for Nielsen Marketing Effectiveness business unit increased 24.6%.

Brian Wieser, senior research analyst at Pivotal Research Group, says: “Nielsen reported 1Q earnings that were slightly soft versus expectations, although full-year guidance for the business was essentially unchanged.”

Nielsen first-quarter income inched up 1.4% to $75 million.

In mid-Thursday trading, Nielsen's stock was down 2.4% to $33.51. For the year so far, the stock is down 8% and, year-over-year, 19% lower.