Stack Overflow operates a popular question-and-answer website for software developers and other professionals. The site receives millions of visitors each month and claims to have hosted 83 million questions and answers to date.
Like many companies, Stack Overflow is seeking to tap into the enormous potential of artificial intelligence (AI). In 2023, it launched Overflow AI to integrate generative AI into its public platform, Stack Overflow for Microsoft's (MSFT -0.56%) Teams, and other new products.
IPO
Tencent
Tencent (TCEHY +1.20%) is a Chinese technology company. It's one of the world's top video game publishers and a leading social media platform with more than 1 billion monthly active users. Naspers is also one of Tencent's top investors. Like Prosus, Tencent owns and invests in many other companies, which gives it a diversified technology portfolio.
People who want to buy one of these technology company alternatives to Stack Overflow can purchase shares in most brokerage accounts. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to invest in stocks.
- Open your brokerage account: Log in to your brokerage account where you handle your investments.
- Search for the stock: Enter the ticker or company name into the search bar to bring up the stock's trading page.
- Decide how many shares to buy: Consider your investment goals and how much of your portfolio you want to allocate to this stock.
- Select order type: Choose between a market order to buy at the current price or a limit order to specify the maximum price you're willing to pay.
- Submit your order: Confirm the details and submit your buy order.
- Review your purchase: Check your portfolio to ensure your order was filled as expected and adjust your investment strategy accordingly.
Shareholder
Is Stack Overflow profitable?
Stock Overflow's owner, Prosus, provides some financial information on the company in its annual report. In its 2025 annual report, Prosus noted that Stack Overflow had contributed $115 million in revenue and had breakeven cash flow.
However, Prosus noted that Stack Overflow was losing money, with $22 million loss in earnings before insurance and taxes (EBIT). On the bright side, that was a significant improvement from the $57 million loss in fiscal year 2024. It pointed to GenAI adoption, user behavior shifts, and reduced marketing as challenges for the business.
The bottom line on Stack Overflow
While you can't invest directly in Stack Overflow, you can buy shares of its parent, Prosus. You could also consider investing in related companies (like Udemy or Tencent) or an ETF to gain exposure to the same trends driving its growth. With lots of growth ahead for edtech, AI, and other technologies, these investments could pay off in the coming years.
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