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MeridianLink (MLNK)
NYSE:MLNK
US Market

MeridianLink (MLNK) AI Stock Analysis

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MeridianLink

(NYSE:MLNK)

Rating:63Neutral
Price Target:
$19.00
▲(17.87%Upside)
MeridianLink's overall score reflects strong revenue growth and cash flow generation, offset by operational inefficiencies and declining margins. The technical indicators suggest a potential consolidation, while the negative P/E ratio reflects ongoing unprofitability. The earnings call provided optimistic guidance, but challenges remain in specific revenue streams and macroeconomic conditions.
Positive Factors
Financial Performance
While revenue growth has been sluggish, profitability has improved significantly; adjusted EBITDA margins were 41% in 2024, and the midpoint of 2025 guidance implies about 41% margins.
Growth Initiatives
Cross-selling via the MeridianLink One platform remains a key growth initiative, with the typical customer using about 4.5 of 14 modules.
Leadership Changes
Senior leadership changes include Larry Katz becoming CEO and Troy Coggiola joining as chief strategy officer, which could bring strategic benefits given Katz's extensive experience.
Negative Factors
Customer Contracts
Many of MeridianLink’s customer contracts include minimum volume commitments, which may slow down revenue upside despite lower rates.
Interest Rates
Higher for longer interest rates delaying growth recovery.
Revenue Growth
MeridianLink's tepid revenue growth has been primarily driven by sluggish consumer lending activity and mortgage origination volume.

MeridianLink (MLNK) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

MeridianLink Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionMeridianLink, Inc. (MLNK) is a leading provider of cloud-based software solutions for financial institutions, including banks, credit unions, mortgage lenders, and consumer loan providers. The company offers a comprehensive suite of software products designed to streamline and automate a wide range of financial processes, such as loan origination, account opening, and digital lending. MeridianLink's solutions enable financial institutions to improve efficiency, enhance customer experiences, and drive growth in an increasingly digital landscape.
How the Company Makes MoneyMeridianLink generates revenue primarily through the sale of its software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions to financial institutions. The company employs a subscription-based pricing model, where clients pay recurring fees for access to its software platform and related services. Additional revenue streams include professional services for implementation and integration, as well as ongoing customer support and system upgrades. MeridianLink's earnings are bolstered by strong client relationships and partnerships with key players in the financial services industry, which enhance its market reach and drive adoption of its solutions.

MeridianLink Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:May 12, 2025
(Q1-2025)
|
% Change Since: -9.44%|
Next Earnings Date:Aug 06, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call highlighted a balanced performance with significant revenue growth, successful mortgage lending deals, and strong cash flow. However, challenges such as a decline in Data Verification Software revenue, macroeconomic uncertainties, and customer churn were also noted.
Q1-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Revenue Growth
MeridianLink achieved $81.5 million in total revenue, representing a 5% growth year-over-year.
Adjusted EBITDA and Margin
The company reported an adjusted EBITDA of $34.8 million, resulting in a 43% adjusted EBITDA margin.
Customer and Market Expansion
MeridianLink expanded its customer base to nearly 2,000 financial institutions and CRAs, and processed 28 million consumer loan applications in 2024.
Product and Platform Enhancements
Enhancements to the MeridianLink One platform included streamlining deposit account applications, reducing time for secondary accounts by 70%.
Mortgage Lending Success
Completed 15 mortgage lending deals, up nearly 90% year-over-year, marking the highest count in over two years.
Financial Health and Cash Flow
Generated $40.6 million of free cash flow, which is 50% of revenue, and ended the quarter with $128.9 million in cash and equivalents.
Negative Updates
Data Verification Software Revenue Decline
Revenue from Data Verification Software Solutions declined by 15% year-over-year, primarily due to a 28% decrease in mortgage-related revenue.
Macro Environment Uncertainty
Predicted uncertainty in the macroeconomic environment due to potential tariffs impacting auto prices and overall consumer demand in 2025.
Challenges in Customer Churn
Continued churn from smaller customers, with some having ARR of less than $10,000, impacting overall retention rates.
Company Guidance
During MeridianLink's first-quarter 2025 earnings call, the company reported a total revenue of $81.5 million, marking a 5% growth year-over-year. The adjusted EBITDA was $34.8 million, which represents a 43% adjusted EBITDA margin. The company highlighted its strategic transition with Larry Katz set to become the CEO on October 1, succeeding Nicolaas Vlok. MeridianLink's key achievements included a significant expansion in revenue from $150 million in 2019 to $330 million projected for 2025, as well as the growth of their customer base to nearly 2,000 financial institutions and credit reporting agencies. The company also emphasized its strategic focus on enhancing its product portfolio, streamlining business processes, and strengthening talent, all aiming to deliver long-term value and maintain its position as a market leader.

MeridianLink Financial Statement Overview

Summary
MeridianLink demonstrates solid revenue growth and cash flow generation capabilities. However, persistent net losses and declining margins pose profitability challenges. Improved financial leverage is a positive, yet the company needs to address operational inefficiencies to enhance overall financial health.
Income Statement
65
Positive
MeridianLink shows moderate revenue growth with a 1.16% increase in TTM compared to the previous year. However, the company is experiencing negative net income, resulting in negative net profit margins. The gross profit margin remains strong at 62.63%, but declining EBIT and EBITDA margins suggest operational challenges.
Balance Sheet
60
Neutral
The debt-to-equity ratio has improved significantly due to a reduction in total debt, indicating better financial leverage management. However, stockholders' equity has decreased over the years, suggesting potential risks. The equity ratio remains stable at 43.75% in TTM, showing a balanced asset structure.
Cash Flow
70
Positive
The company exhibits strong operating cash flow to net income ratio due to significant cash generation from operations. Free cash flow has grown, indicating effective capital expenditure management. However, the negative net income could affect future cash flow stability.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue319.97M316.30M303.62M288.05M267.68M199.34M
Gross Profit200.38M207.77M195.13M181.72M178.05M140.99M
EBITDA52.55M67.81M77.39M83.63M78.21M85.83M
Net Income-29.15M-29.77M-42.54M1.29M-10.00M9.15M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets986.96M961.33M996.25M1.06B1.03B963.71M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments128.90M92.77M80.44M55.78M113.64M37.74M
Total Debt3.68M469.28M424.82M426.91M427.51M519.83M
Total Liabilities555.02M533.84M488.00M480.07M469.62M670.22M
Stockholders Equity431.94M427.49M508.25M579.09M596.54M-30.34M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow90.97M77.44M57.77M65.22M84.09M60.72M
Operating Cash Flow91.11M77.80M67.96M74.59M89.83M68.06M
Investing Cash Flow-7.25M-7.46M20.13M-124.33M-126.30M-115.39M
Financing Cash Flow-17.26M-58.02M-63.44M-8.12M110.23M-9.98M

MeridianLink Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price16.12
Price Trends
50DMA
16.67
Negative
100DMA
17.69
Negative
200DMA
19.75
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.18
Positive
RSI
44.96
Neutral
STOCH
33.86
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For MLNK, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 16.12 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 16.60, below the 50-day MA of 16.67, and below the 200-day MA of 19.75, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -0.18 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 44.96 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 33.86 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for MLNK.

MeridianLink Risk Analysis

MeridianLink disclosed 55 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. MeridianLink 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

MeridianLink Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (69)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
69
Neutral
¥228.25B14.587.64%2.72%9.09%8.36%
67
Neutral
$1.12B75.95%-6.81%85.11%
63
Neutral
$1.24B-6.49%5.15%28.27%
63
Neutral
$3.02B-11.33%26.55%38.37%
58
Neutral
$230.22M-24.47%-8.39%7.79%
57
Neutral
$829.86M-93.00%-0.40%63.36%
47
Neutral
$283.20M50.30-24.43%-45.80%-13.09%
* Technology Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
MLNK
MeridianLink
16.12
-5.38
-25.02%
OCFT
OneConnect Financial Technology
7.24
5.61
344.17%
PRCH
Porch Group
11.94
10.43
690.73%
ONTF
ON24
5.45
-0.40
-6.84%
ALKT
Alkami Technology
30.11
2.41
8.70%
BLND
Blend Labs
3.24
0.94
40.87%

MeridianLink Corporate Events

Executive/Board ChangesShareholder Meetings
MeridianLink Holds Annual Stockholder Meeting, Elects Directors
Neutral
Jun 6, 2025

On June 5, 2025, MeridianLink, Inc. held its annual meeting of stockholders where key decisions were made. Stockholders elected three Class I directors to serve until 2028 and ratified the appointment of BDO USA, P.C. as the independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025.

The most recent analyst rating on (MLNK) stock is a Sell with a $20.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on MeridianLink stock, see the MLNK Stock Forecast page.

Executive/Board ChangesBusiness Operations and Strategy
MeridianLink Announces CEO Transition and Leadership Updates
Neutral
May 12, 2025

On May 9, 2025, MeridianLink announced that Nicolaas Vlok will resign as CEO effective October 1, 2025, and will be succeeded by current President Laurence E. Katz. Vlok will remain on the board of directors, and the transition plan includes a compensation arrangement for Vlok and an amended employment agreement for Katz. The company also announced updates to its executive leadership team, including the appointment of Troy Coggiola as Chief Strategy Officer and Kayla Dailey as Chief Administrative Officer. These changes aim to drive the next phase of growth for MeridianLink, which has significantly increased its revenue under Vlok’s leadership.

The most recent analyst rating on (MLNK) stock is a Sell with a $20.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on MeridianLink stock, see the MLNK 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: May 15, 2025