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loanDepot, Inc. (LDI)
NYSE:LDI

loanDepot (LDI) AI Stock Analysis

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LDI

loanDepot

(NYSE:LDI)

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Neutral 46 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:46Neutral
Price Target:
$1.50
▼(-3.85% Downside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:03/13/26
LDI scores low mainly due to high leverage and ongoing cash burn despite improving operating performance, which elevates liquidity and refinancing sensitivity risk. Technicals also remain bearish with the price below key moving averages and negative MACD. The earnings call adds some support via improving volumes and reduced full-year losses, but near-term margin and expense headwinds and declining cash keep the overall score subdued.
Positive Factors
Origination Scale
A sharp origination rebound to $8.0B in Q4 (+23% q/q) demonstrates restored distribution and capacity. Sustained higher volumes support diversified revenue streams and market share gains, improving the firm's ability to generate originations-driven revenue over the coming quarters.
Servicing Recapture
A 71% servicing recapture rate indicates strong customer retention and an expanding servicing portfolio that generates recurring fee income. Recapture reduces acquisition costs and creates durable, annuity-like cash flows that stabilize revenue and margins over a multi-quarter horizon.
Efficiency & EBITDA Progress
Material adjusted EBITDA improvement and management's digital/AI investments point to operating leverage and lower unit costs. These scalable efficiency gains can sustainably improve margins and cash conversion if volume trends persist and tech-driven cost savings continue to compound.
Negative Factors
High Leverage
Very high leverage (~13x debt/equity) sharply limits financial flexibility and raises refinancing and interest-rate sensitivity. Over months this amplifies earnings volatility and constrains strategic options, likely forcing priority on deleveraging or external funding over growth investments.
Weak Cash Generation
Consistent negative operating and free cash flow, combined with a $122M quarterly cash decline to $337M, creates reliance on external funding. With a leveraged balance sheet, persistent cash burn increases liquidity and rollover risk and limits capacity to sustain investments or absorb shocks.
Margin Pressure & MSR Amortization
Compression in gain-on-sale margins and a higher MSR amortization run-rate raise ongoing expense pressure. Management's mix shift toward larger refinance balances and Q1 margin guidance below Q4 suggest persistent margin headwinds that could cap sustainable profitability absent structural margin recovery.

loanDepot (LDI) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

loanDepot Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionloanDepot, Inc. engages in originating, financing, selling, and servicing residential mortgage loans in the United States. It offers conventional agency-conforming and prime jumbo, federal assistance residential mortgage, and home equity loans. The company also provides settlement services, which include captive title and escrow business; real estate services that cover captive real estate referral business; and insurance services, including services to homeowners, as well as other consumer insurance policies. The company was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in Foothill Ranch, California.
How the Company Makes MoneyloanDepot generates revenue primarily through the origination and sale of mortgage loans. When customers take out a loan, the company earns origination fees, which are charged at the time of closing the loan. Additionally, loanDepot profits from the sale of loans in the secondary mortgage market, where they can sell the loans to investors or government-sponsored enterprises. The company also earns interest income from servicing loans over their lifespan, as they manage the ongoing payments and customer interactions. Significant partnerships with financial institutions and real estate agencies further bolster their revenue streams by driving more loan applications through their platform.

loanDepot Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Total Loan Originations
Total Loan Originations
Chart Insights
Data provided by:The Fly

loanDepot Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Mar 10, 2026
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:May 12, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The call presented a mix of clear operational progress and near-term financial pressures. Positives include strong sequential origination growth (Q4 originations +23% q/q), pull-through lock volume growth (+4% q/q), a 71% servicing recapture rate, full-year 2025 adjusted revenue up 10% YoY, and a 31% YoY reduction in adjusted net loss driven by revenue growth and tight expense control. Management highlighted successful early AI/digital initiatives and provided constructive Q1 guidance. Offsetting these gains, Q4 showed a wider adjusted net loss vs. Q3, a modest q/q revenue decline, gain-on-sale margin compression (down 15 bps q/q), higher MSR amortization and growing personnel costs, along with a $122 million q/q cash draw. Management emphasized investments for scale and profitability but acknowledged near-term margin and expense headwinds. Overall, the operational and strategic improvements are meaningful but balanced by short-term profitability and margin challenges.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Highest Quarterly Originations Since 2022
Loan origination volume of $8.0 billion in Q4, a 23% increase from the prior quarter's $6.5 billion and within prior guidance of $6.5B–$8.5B.
Pull-Through Weighted Lock Volume Growth
Pull-through weighted lock volume of $7.3 billion in Q4, up 4% from $7.0 billion in Q3 and within prior guidance of $6B–$8B.
Gain on Sale Margin at High End of Guidance
Pull-through weighted gain on sale margin of 324 basis points in Q4, at the high end of guidance (300–325 bps).
Strong Servicing Recapture
In-house servicing platform recapture rate of 71%, indicating strong customer retention from servicing.
Full-Year Revenue Growth and Expense Control
For full-year 2025, adjusted revenue increased 10% year-over-year while total expenses grew by less than 1%, contributing to a 31% reduction in adjusted net loss year-over-year.
Servicing Income Growth
Servicing fee income increased modestly from $112 million in Q3 to $113 million in Q4, reflecting growth in unpaid principal balances.
Investments in Digital/AI and Operating Efficiency
Management reported early positive impacts from AI and digital initiatives on lead acquisition, conversion, underwriting and reduced volume-related marketing costs despite higher volumes.
Solid Liquidity and Strategic Uses of Cash
Ending cash balance of $337 million at quarter-end; use of cash (-$122 million q/q) primarily attributed to loan inventory investment and full repayment of 2025 unsecured notes.
Positive Outlook and Forward Guidance
Q1 guidance: pull-through weighted lock volume $7.75B–$8.75B, origination volume $6.75B–$7.75B, and gain on sale margin 270–300 bps, indicating expectations for continued scale and activity.
Negative Updates
Wider Adjusted Net Loss in Q4
Adjusted net loss of $21 million in Q4 versus an adjusted net loss of $3 million in Q3 2025, driven by lower pull-through weighted gain on sale margin, higher MSR amortization and higher expenses.
Quarterly Revenue Decline
Adjusted total revenue of $316 million in Q4, down from $325 million in Q3 (approximately -2.8% q/q).
Gain on Sale Margin Compression Quarter-over-Quarter
Pull-through weighted gain on sale margin declined from 339 bps in Q3 to 324 bps in Q4 (down 15 bps), partially due to product and loan-purpose mix shifts toward larger refinance loan balances.
Higher MSR Amortization Run-Rate
Amortization expense rose to approximately $52 million in the quarter, driven by higher refinance volumes and increasing the period expense run-rate; management noted it could moderate but remains rate-dependent.
Rising Personnel and G&A Costs
Total expenses increased $8 million (3% q/q) in Q4, primarily due to higher personnel costs and commissions tied to increased funded volume and loan officer hiring.
Cash Decline Quarter-over-Quarter
Cash decreased by $122 million from Q3 to $337 million at quarter-end, attributable to investments in loan inventory and repayment of unsecured notes, reducing near-term liquidity headroom.
Margin Impact from Product Mix
Intentional mix shift to capture refinance share resulted in fewer higher-margin second trust deeds and FHA/VA loans, producing larger average loan balances but lower margin percentages.
Wholesale Re-Entry Execution Risk
Plan to re-enter wholesale channel introduces third-party origination volume but carries execution and customer-experience risk (loss of direct control) and uncertain margins during ramp.
Guidance Reflects Potential Margin Pressure
Q1 gain on sale margin guidance of 270–300 bps implies potential downward pressure from the Q4 level of 324 bps.
Company Guidance
Management guided first-quarter 2026 pull-through weighted lock volume of $7.75–$8.75 billion, origination volume of $6.75–$7.75 billion and a pull-through weighted gain-on-sale margin of 270–300 basis points, and said total expenses should increase (driven by personnel and G&A) partly offset by lower volume-related costs. This follows fourth-quarter results of $7.3 billion pull-through weighted lock volume (within prior $6–$8 billion guidance), $8.0 billion origination volume (vs prior $6.5–$8.5 billion guidance), a 324 bp gain-on-sale margin (high end of prior 300–325 bp), adjusted total revenue of $316 million (vs $325M in Q3), an adjusted net loss of $21 million (vs $3M loss in Q3), servicing fee income of $113 million, total expenses up $8 million (+3% QoQ), and $337 million cash (down $122M QoQ). Management noted the guidance reflects market volatility, seasonality, housing affordability/availability and mortgage rates, and is consistent with a strategy targeting larger average refinance loan balances.

loanDepot Financial Statement Overview

Summary
2025 shows a clear operational rebound (revenue up ~27% YoY and operating profit turning positive), but the company still posted a net loss. The balance sheet is the key drag with very high leverage (debt-to-equity ~13x), and cash flow remains a major concern with deeply negative operating and free cash flow in 2025, indicating ongoing cash burn and funding risk.
Income Statement
46
Neutral
Revenue rebounded strongly in 2025 (up ~27% year over year) and profitability improved materially, with operating profit turning positive and solid gross and operating margins. However, the company still reported a net loss in 2025, and the multi-year backdrop shows meaningful volatility with steep revenue declines and sizable losses in 2022–2024. Overall, the income statement shows a clear near-term recovery, but not yet consistent bottom-line profitability.
Balance Sheet
22
Negative
Leverage remains very high, with debt far exceeding equity in 2025 (debt-to-equity ~13x), which limits financial flexibility and raises refinancing/earnings sensitivity risk. Equity is relatively small versus the asset base, and returns on equity have been negative for most of the recent period, reflecting ongoing losses. While assets are sizable, the capital structure is the key weakness and is the main constraint on the balance sheet score.
Cash Flow
18
Very Negative
Cash generation is a major pressure point: both operating cash flow and free cash flow were deeply negative in 2025, following negative results again in 2023–2024 and 2020–2021. Although 2022 showed a large positive cash flow swing, the overall pattern is inconsistent and the most recent year indicates cash burn, which can increase reliance on external funding given the already leveraged balance sheet.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue1.54B1.12B1.04B1.41B3.76B
Gross Profit1.36B787.45M731.09M1.00B3.45B
EBITDA229.43M-195.73M-222.88M-627.01M724.67M
Net Income-62.65M-98.33M-110.14M-273.02M113.52M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets6.86B6.34B6.15B6.61B11.81B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments337.23M421.58M660.71M863.96M419.57M
Total Debt5.04B5.43B4.98B5.13B9.52B
Total Liabilities6.47B5.84B5.45B5.69B10.18B
Stockholders Equity386.01M272.89M353.18M433.50M523.56M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-734.61M-891.81M-194.83M4.42B-1.52B
Operating Cash Flow-707.51M-865.42M-174.22M4.46B-1.47B
Investing Cash Flow14.51M495.05M165.66M667.76M296.78M
Financing Cash Flow566.80M151.74M-226.09M-4.77B1.30B

loanDepot Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price1.56
Price Trends
50DMA
2.18
Negative
100DMA
2.43
Negative
200DMA
2.32
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.15
Positive
RSI
28.08
Positive
STOCH
3.33
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For LDI, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 1.56 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 1.85, below the 50-day MA of 2.18, and below the 200-day MA of 2.32, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -0.15 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 28.08 is Positive, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 3.33 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for LDI.

loanDepot Risk Analysis

loanDepot disclosed 66 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. loanDepot reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

loanDepot Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (68)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
68
Neutral
$18.00B11.429.92%3.81%9.73%1.22%
54
Neutral
$4.55B16.0412.18%0.90%25.42%190.85%
52
Neutral
$40.13B-376.48-0.68%22.56%
49
Neutral
$5.90B33.8215.25%8.64%-8.66%
46
Neutral
$654.38M-6.97-24.39%3.91%27.78%
* Financial Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
LDI
loanDepot
1.51
0.09
6.34%
PFSI
PennyMac Financial
87.21
-11.15
-11.34%
UWMC
UWM Holding
3.69
-1.87
-33.63%
RKT
Rocket Companies
14.23
0.13
0.92%

loanDepot Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
loanDepot reports 2025 results with higher revenue, lower losses
Positive
Mar 10, 2026

loanDepot reported its year-end and fourth-quarter 2025 results on March 10, 2026, highlighting a 12% rise in full-year revenue to $1.19 billion and a 10% increase in adjusted revenue to $1.21 billion as higher pull-through weighted lock volumes and margins helped narrow its net loss. Full-year expenses edged up just 1% to $1.31 billion, contributing to a 47% reduction in net loss to $108 million and a 31% improvement in adjusted net loss to $66 million, while adjusted EBITDA climbed 46% to $122 million, underscoring the benefits of technology and efficiency investments.

In the fourth quarter, the lender posted its highest quarterly loan origination volume since 2022 at $8.04 billion and expanded market share 19% to 1.4%, even as revenue slipped 4% sequentially to $310 million and pull-through weighted gain-on-sale margin compressed to 3.24%. The period saw expenses rise 3% to $342 million and net loss widen to $33 million, while cash fell to $337 million from $459 million after investing in loan inventory and fully repaying 2025 unsecured notes, as management emphasized ongoing efforts to harness automation and AI-driven digital capabilities to capture share in a consolidating yet fragmented mortgage market.

The most recent analyst rating on (LDI) stock is a Sell with a $2.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on loanDepot stock, see the LDI Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and Strategy
loanDepot Simplifies Capital Structure With Share Class Conversion
Neutral
Feb 12, 2026

On February 11, 2026, loanDepot, Inc. completed the automatic conversion of all outstanding shares of its Class C and Class D common stock into Class B and Class A common stock, respectively, pursuant to its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation dated February 11, 2021. Following the conversion, the company reported 228,569,593 Class A shares and 106,207,433 Class B shares outstanding, with no remaining Class C or Class D shares, consolidating its equity structure while maintaining one-vote-per-share rights for holders of Class A and Class B stock on all general stockholder matters.

The most recent analyst rating on (LDI) stock is a Sell with a $2.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on loanDepot stock, see the LDI Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Mar 13, 2026