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MediaAlpha (MAX)
NYSE:MAX
US Market

MediaAlpha (MAX) AI Stock Analysis

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MAX

MediaAlpha

(NYSE:MAX)

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Neutral 61 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:61Neutral
Price Target:
$14.00
▲(9.37% Upside)
MediaAlpha's overall score is driven by strong technical momentum and strategic corporate actions, such as the share repurchase program and board appointment. However, significant challenges in profitability and leverage, along with a negative valuation metric, weigh heavily on the score. The mixed earnings call results further contribute to a moderate outlook.
Positive Factors
Revenue Growth
Consistent revenue growth indicates a strong market position and effective business model, enhancing long-term financial stability.
AI and Technology Advancements
AI integration can improve operational efficiency and maintain competitive advantage, supporting sustainable growth and innovation.
Strategic Board Appointment
The new board member's expertise will strengthen strategic direction and market positioning, enhancing long-term value creation.
Negative Factors
Profitability Challenges
Sustained profitability issues could limit reinvestment opportunities and affect financial health, necessitating improved cost management.
High Leverage
High leverage increases financial risk and limits flexibility, potentially impacting long-term stability and growth capacity.
Health Vertical Decline
Significant decline in the health vertical could hinder overall revenue growth and diversification, impacting future performance.

MediaAlpha (MAX) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

MediaAlpha Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionMediaAlpha, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates an insurance customer acquisition platform in the United States. It optimizes customer acquisition in various verticals of property and casualty insurance, health insurance, and life insurance. The company was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. MediaAlpha, Inc. is a subsidiary of White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd.
How the Company Makes MoneyMediaAlpha generates revenue primarily through a performance-based model, where it earns money by charging insurance advertisers for leads, clicks, and impressions generated through its platform. The company typically takes a commission on each transaction facilitated through its marketplace, allowing it to scale its earnings as more advertisers utilize its services. Key revenue streams include lead generation services, cost-per-action (CPA) campaigns, and subscription fees for premium platform features. Additionally, MediaAlpha has established significant partnerships with major insurance providers and publishers, which enhance its marketplace offerings and contribute to its revenue growth.

MediaAlpha Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Oct 29, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Feb 19, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call presents a mixed picture with strong growth in the P&C vertical and record third quarter results overshadowed by challenges in the health vertical and decreased revenue and EBITDA guidance. The company shows confidence through AI advancements and share repurchase plans, but faces pressure in take rates and health vertical performance.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Record Third Quarter Results
MediaAlpha Inc. delivered record third quarter results driven by the P&C insurance vertical, with transaction value reaching $589 million, up 30% year-over-year.
Strong Growth in P&C Vertical
The P&C vertical saw a 41% year-over-year growth in transaction value, contributing significantly to the overall performance.
Efficient Operating Model
The company achieved an adjusted EBITDA of $29.1 million, an increase of 11% year-over-year, with a conversion of 64% of contribution to adjusted EBITDA.
AI and Technology Advancements
MediaAlpha is leveraging AI to enhance productivity and adapt to technology shifts, expecting to remain a key partner for publishers and advertisers as AI adoption accelerates.
Share Repurchase Authorization
A new share repurchase authorization of up to $50 million was announced, indicating confidence in the company's strategy and long-term growth opportunities.
Negative Updates
Health Vertical Challenges
Transaction value in the health vertical declined 40% year-over-year, with specific challenges in the under-65 segment leading to a significant reset.
Decreased Revenue and EBITDA Guidance
Q4 revenue is expected to decrease by 4% year-over-year, with adjusted EBITDA expected to decrease by 22% at the midpoint, largely impacted by the decline in under-65 contribution.
Take Rate Pressure
The company's take rate decreased due to a shift towards private marketplace transactions, with expectations for the take rate to remain at approximately 7% in Q4.
Company Guidance
During the MediaAlpha Inc. Third Quarter 2025 Earnings Call, the company provided financial guidance for the fourth quarter of 2025, anticipating transaction value to range between $620 million to $645 million, marking a 27% year-over-year increase at the midpoint. Revenue is projected to fall between $280 million and $300 million, representing a 4% year-over-year decrease at the midpoint. The company expects adjusted EBITDA to be between $27.5 million and $29.5 million, a 22% decrease year-over-year at the midpoint, driven by an $8 million to $9 million decline in under-65 Health contribution. The take rate for Q4 is expected to be around 7%, with private marketplace transactions constituting approximately 54% of transaction value. Looking to 2026, MediaAlpha anticipates starting the year with a take rate similar to Q4 levels, expecting an uplift as carrier demand broadens. The company also highlighted a substantial free cash flow generation, emphasizing financial flexibility to support strategic priorities, and announced a new $50 million share repurchase authorization.

MediaAlpha Financial Statement Overview

Summary
MediaAlpha shows positive revenue growth and strong cash flow generation, but faces challenges in profitability and leverage. The negative net profit margin and high debt levels pose risks to financial stability. Improving cost efficiency and reducing leverage are crucial for enhancing the company's financial position.
Income Statement
60
Neutral
MediaAlpha's revenue has shown a positive growth trend, with a TTM growth rate of 4.41%. However, profitability is a concern, as indicated by a negative net profit margin of -0.61% in the TTM. The gross profit margin is relatively low at 15.53%, and the EBIT and EBITDA margins are also modest at 0.78% and 1.10%, respectively. The company needs to improve its cost management and profitability to enhance its financial health.
Balance Sheet
45
Neutral
The balance sheet reveals significant leverage issues, with a negative debt-to-equity ratio of -41.87 in the TTM, indicating high financial risk. The return on equity is positive at 14.28%, suggesting some efficiency in generating returns from equity. However, the negative stockholders' equity is a critical concern, reflecting potential solvency issues.
Cash Flow
70
Positive
Cash flow analysis shows a strong free cash flow growth rate of 21.68% in the TTM, indicating improved cash generation. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is 0.48, and the free cash flow to net income ratio is 0.99, suggesting effective cash flow management. Despite the positive cash flow trends, the company needs to address its profitability challenges to sustain cash generation.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue1.12B864.70M388.15M459.07M645.27M584.81M
Gross Profit171.71M143.57M66.71M70.06M101.52M85.38M
EBITDA89.81M60.50M-28.35M-29.24M5.50M23.02M
Net Income-1.14M16.63M-40.42M-57.67M-5.28M14.80M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets266.23M262.45M153.93M170.08M289.80M210.34M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments72.34M43.27M17.27M14.54M50.56M23.55M
Total Debt155.69M162.44M174.30M186.29M190.78M182.67M
Total Liabilities332.01M308.68M248.35M256.17M351.37M315.45M
Stockholders Equity-29.75M2.38M-10.29M-15.99M-4.34M-33.77M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow87.23M45.62M20.16M28.18M27.97M51.11M
Operating Cash Flow87.58M45.87M20.23M28.27M28.62M51.41M
Investing Cash Flow-347.00K-654.00K-73.00K-49.77M-650.00K-10.30M
Financing Cash Flow-47.19M-19.22M-17.43M-14.52M-961.00K-27.59M

MediaAlpha Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price12.80
Price Trends
50DMA
12.28
Positive
100DMA
11.79
Positive
200DMA
10.78
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.16
Positive
RSI
50.64
Neutral
STOCH
17.13
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For MAX, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 12.8 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 12.88, above the 50-day MA of 12.28, and above the 200-day MA of 10.78, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 0.16 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 50.64 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 17.13 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for MAX.

MediaAlpha Risk Analysis

MediaAlpha disclosed 59 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. MediaAlpha 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

MediaAlpha Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (60)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
77
Outperform
$964.70M18.7536.81%57.83%293.63%
72
Outperform
$1.16B55.162.63%10.96%
64
Neutral
$649.67M10.9410.76%7.22%13.06%66.19%
61
Neutral
$834.20M-592.5964.86%-112.92%
60
Neutral
$48.67B4.58-11.27%4.14%2.83%-41.78%
60
Neutral
$444.52M-37.92-1.56%-28.29%-126.12%
58
Neutral
$854.80M-13.44-14.07%6.65%50.32%
* Communication Services Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
MAX
MediaAlpha
12.80
2.09
19.51%
PERI
Perion Network
9.87
1.53
18.35%
SSTK
Shutterstock
18.29
-10.08
-35.53%
EVER
EverQuote
26.83
9.13
51.58%
TBLA
Taboola.com
4.01
0.17
4.43%
NXDR
Nextdoor Holdings
2.18
-0.24
-9.92%

MediaAlpha Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyRegulatory Filings and Compliance
MediaAlpha Updates Bylaws for Improved Governance
Neutral
Dec 16, 2025

On December 10, 2025, MediaAlpha, Inc. announced that its Board of Directors approved significant amendments and restatements to the company’s by-laws. These changes, effective immediately, include updates to stockholder meeting procedures, director election and compensation provisions, and reflect recent amendments to Delaware law. The revisions aim to streamline corporate governance and enhance compliance with legal standards, potentially impacting the company’s operational efficiency and stakeholder engagement.

Executive/Board Changes
MediaAlpha Board Member Resigns Amid Transition
Neutral
Dec 5, 2025

On December 4, 2025, Christopher Delehanty resigned from the Board of Directors of MediaAlpha, Inc., a move that is part of a broader Board transition process after the company ceased being a controlled company in 2024. His resignation was not due to any disagreements with the company’s operations, policies, or practices.

Executive/Board ChangesBusiness Operations and Strategy
MediaAlpha Appoints Ramon Jones to Board of Directors
Positive
Nov 13, 2025

On November 10, 2025, MediaAlpha, Inc. appointed Ramon Jones to its Board of Directors, filling a vacancy in Class I. Jones, formerly the Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, brings over 25 years of experience in the property and casualty insurance industry. His expertise in digital marketing and customer acquisition is expected to bolster MediaAlpha’s market-leading position. The appointment reflects MediaAlpha’s commitment to enhancing its strategic direction and value creation strategy.

Stock BuybackBusiness Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
MediaAlpha Announces $50M Share Repurchase Program
Positive
Oct 29, 2025

On October 28, 2025, MediaAlpha‘s Board of Directors authorized a new $50 million Share Repurchase Program for Class A common stock, highlighting the company’s strategy to enhance shareholder value. The announcement follows MediaAlpha’s strong third quarter 2025 financial results, which saw an 18% increase in revenue and a 30% rise in transaction value, driven by robust growth in the P&C insurance vertical. The company anticipates continued growth in this sector, despite a projected decline in the health insurance vertical. The repurchase program is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, but may be adjusted based on market conditions.

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: Dec 09, 2025