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Medifast (MED)
:MED

Medifast (MED) AI Stock Analysis

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MEMedifast
(NYSE:MED)
55Neutral
Medifast's overall stock score reflects a company grappling with significant challenges in reversing revenue and profit declines. The strong balance sheet provides some reassurance, but high P/E valuation and bearish technical indicators weigh heavily. While cost-saving measures and new product launches are positives, the ongoing decline in coach productivity and customer acquisition issues must be addressed for a more favorable outlook.

Medifast (MED) vs. S&P 500 (SPY)

Medifast Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionMedifast, Inc. is a health and wellness company that specializes in weight loss and healthy living products. The company operates primarily through its OPTAVIA brand, which offers a range of meal replacement products, dietary supplements, and health coaching services. Medifast's mission is to help individuals achieve optimal health and wellness through a comprehensive and scientifically backed approach. The company is headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, and serves a broad customer base in the United States and internationally.
How the Company Makes MoneyMedifast generates revenue primarily through the sale of its OPTAVIA-branded products, which include meal replacements such as shakes, bars, and snacks, as well as dietary supplements designed to support weight loss and overall health. The company employs a direct sales model, leveraging a network of independent OPTAVIA Coaches who provide personalized support and guidance to clients. These coaches earn commissions based on their sales, which incentivizes product promotion and customer acquisition. Additionally, Medifast benefits from a recurring revenue stream as customers typically purchase products on a subscription basis to maintain their weight loss and health goals. Key factors contributing to Medifast's earnings include its effective marketing strategies, the quality and efficacy of its products, and the strength of its coaching network, which fosters a community-oriented approach to health and wellness.

Medifast Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Medifast's financial performance reflects challenges in revenue and profitability, with notable declines in income statement metrics. However, the balance sheet remains strong, characterized by low leverage and high equity, providing a cushion against financial volatility. Cash flow generation, while diminished, remains positive and supports operational needs. Overall, the company displays resilience but faces headwinds in reversing its revenue and profit declines.
Income Statement
58
Neutral
Medifast's income statement reveals a significant decrease in revenue for the most recent annual period, which is concerning. The gross profit margin remains healthy at approximately 73.8%, but net profit margin has decreased to about 0.35%, indicating pressure on net income. The EBIT and EBITDA margins have also contracted considerably. Despite these challenges, the company maintained positive net income, showcasing resilience in a difficult environment.
Balance Sheet
75
Positive
Medifast's balance sheet is strong with a low debt-to-equity ratio of approximately 0.08, indicating low leverage and financial stability. The equity ratio is robust at about 73.9%, suggesting a highly capitalized structure. Return on equity, however, has decreased to 1%, reflecting reduced profitability. Overall, the balance sheet shows a solid financial foundation with ample equity and minimal debt.
Cash Flow
65
Positive
The cash flow statement highlights a decline in free cash flow compared to prior periods, but it remains positive at $17.02 million. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is strong, indicating efficient cash generation relative to net earnings. The decrease in free cash flow growth rate is a concern, yet operating cash flow continues to support ongoing operations effectively.
Breakdown
Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income StatementTotal Revenue
602.46M1.07B1.60B1.53B934.84M
Gross Profit
444.62M775.85M1.14B1.13B697.82M
EBIT
2.88M126.40M184.81M216.24M134.16M
EBITDA
2.88M139.51M201.84M223.05M134.16M
Net Income Common Stockholders
2.09M99.42M143.57M164.03M102.86M
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
90.93M150.04M87.69M109.54M174.47M
Total Assets
284.21M309.91M316.21M398.33M276.08M
Total Debt
16.13M22.01M26.05M32.54M11.16M
Net Debt
-74.80M-72.43M-61.64M-71.64M-152.56M
Total Liabilities
74.10M108.43M161.17M195.85M118.84M
Stockholders Equity
210.11M201.48M155.04M202.47M157.25M
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
17.02M141.17M177.89M60.34M139.31M
Operating Cash Flow
24.48M147.66M194.57M94.55M145.20M
Investing Cash Flow
-26.52M-61.05M-11.41M-29.06M-1.28M
Financing Cash Flow
-1.51M-79.79M-199.58M-125.13M-57.14M

Medifast Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price14.23
Price Trends
50DMA
15.79
Negative
100DMA
17.28
Negative
200DMA
18.75
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.51
Positive
RSI
39.42
Neutral
STOCH
26.97
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For MED, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 14.23 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 14.93, below the 50-day MA of 15.79, and below the 200-day MA of 18.75, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -0.51 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 39.42 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 26.97 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for MED.

Medifast Risk Analysis

Medifast disclosed 28 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Medifast 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

Medifast 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
$311.44M24.3118.39%18.27%61.95%
73
Outperform
$571.41M13.5110.19%-7.10%-8.45%
68
Neutral
$4.00B-3.98%3.81%-6.05%-1677.05%
HLHLF
61
Neutral
$822.73M3.26-31.74%-1.37%75.47%
60
Neutral
$13.01B10.450.79%3.53%1.60%-22.47%
MEMED
55
Neutral
$155.65M75.211.00%-43.80%-97.89%
WWWW
39
Underperform
$37.34M31.02%-11.65%-174.54%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
MED
Medifast
14.23
-23.81
-62.59%
HLF
Herbalife
8.13
-0.18
-2.17%
LWAY
Lifeway Foods
21.02
9.10
76.34%
PRGO
Perrigo Company
29.29
2.28
8.44%
USNA
USANA Health
29.60
-17.98
-37.79%
WW
WW International
0.50
-2.36
-82.52%

Medifast Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date: Feb 18, 2025 | % Change Since: -11.78% | Next Earnings Date: May 5, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Negative
The call highlighted positive developments like the successful launch of OPTAVIA ASCEND and cost-saving initiatives. However, these were overshadowed by significant challenges, including a steep decline in revenue and active earning coaches, and ongoing customer acquisition difficulties due to the rise of GLP-1 medications. While there are signs of stabilization in coach productivity, the overall sentiment leans towards concern over the company's current trajectory.
Highlights
OPTAVIA ASCEND Launch and Positive Reception
The OPTAVIA ASCEND product line launched in December 2024, targeting GLP-1 medication users and those managing weight loss. It was well received, with 17% of customer orders in January including ASCEND products, indicating strong initial traction.
Cost Reduction Success
The Fuel for the Future initiative delivered $21 million in cost savings in 2024, exceeding initial targets, with an expectation of an additional $15 million to $20 million in savings in 2025.
Improvement in Coach Productivity
There was a third consecutive quarter of moderating declines in revenue per active earning coach, improving from a negative 22.2% in Q1 2024 to a negative 5.5% in Q4 2024.
Lowlights
Significant Revenue Decline
Q4 2024 revenue decreased by 37.7% year-over-year to $119 million, primarily driven by a 34.1% decrease in the number of active earning OPTAVIA coaches and lower coach productivity.
Decrease in Active Earning Coaches
The quarter ended with approximately 27,100 active earning OPTAVIA coaches, a decrease of 34.1% from the fourth quarter of 2023.
Continued Customer Acquisition Challenges
Customer acquisition continues to be impacted by the growing adoption of GLP-1 medications, leading to pressure on coach productivity and overall revenue.
Company Guidance
During the Medifast Fourth Quarter 2024 Earnings Conference Call, guidance for 2025 focused on several key metrics and priorities. The company emphasized the importance of coach productivity, noting a sequential improvement in revenue per active earning coach, which declined by 5.5% in Q4 2024 compared to a 22.2% decline in Q1 2024. Medifast aims to accelerate customer acquisition and improve coach productivity, leveraging new education resources. They also plan to advance clinical research on the outcomes of customers using OPTAVIA programs alongside GLP-1 medications. The launch of OPTAVIA ASCEND, which featured in 17% of customer orders in January, aims to support customers on GLP-1 medications. Medifast is targeting an additional $15 million to $20 million in cost savings for 2025, following $21 million saved in 2024 through their Fuel for the Future initiatives. Financially, Q4 2024 revenue was $119 million with an EPS of $0.07. The company expects Q1 2025 revenue between $100 million to $120 million and anticipates an EPS range from $0.00 to a loss of $0.50 per share.

Medifast Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Medifast Faces Revenue Decline, Ends Credit Agreement
Negative
Nov 4, 2024

Medifast, known for its OPTAVIA lifestyle solution, reported a significant 40.6% drop in third-quarter revenue to $140.2 million due to fewer active OPTAVIA coaches and lower productivity. Despite a decrease in gross profit and net income, the company maintained a strong balance sheet with $170 million in cash and no debt, leading to the termination of its credit agreement to save on fees. Medifast is focusing on innovative health solutions and customer acquisition strategies to drive future growth.

Glossary
OutperformA stock rated as "Outperform" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider this stock a good buying opportunity.
NeutralA stock rated as "Neutral" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly attractive nor unattractive for investment. Investors may consider holding onto the stock, as it is not expected to either significantly outperform or underperform the market.
UnderperformA stock rated as "Underperform" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock may deliver lower returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider selling the stock or avoiding it as an investment.

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.