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NerdWallet, Inc. Class A (NRDS)
NASDAQ:NRDS

NerdWallet, Inc. Class A (NRDS) AI Stock Analysis

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NRDS

NerdWallet, Inc. Class A

(NASDAQ:NRDS)

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Outperform 74 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:74Outperform
Price Target:
$14.50
▲(20.23% Upside)
The score is driven primarily by strengthening financial performance (profitability and cash flow improving alongside a low-leverage balance sheet) and a solid earnings call with upside to guidance and disciplined capital allocation. These positives are tempered by weaker near-term technical momentum and the key fundamental risk of slowing revenue growth and search-related headwinds in certain verticals.
Positive Factors
Balance Sheet Strength
NerdWallet's minimal leverage and sizable equity base provide durable financial flexibility. Low debt reduces refinancing and interest risk, supports discretionary capital allocation (buybacks, product investment) and cushions downturns, making the company less vulnerable to macro shocks over months.
Improving Cash Generation
Strong, improving operating and free cash flow demonstrates the business now converts earnings into cash at a sustainable rate. Positive FCF supports reinvestment, marketing, and buybacks without relying on external financing, enhancing resilience and funding optionality over the medium term.
Growth in Lending & Banking Verticals
Rapid growth in banking and loans shows successful product mix diversification away from weaker segments. These higher-growth commercial verticals can sustainably increase revenue share, improve unit economics, and reduce dependence on any single category, supporting durable top-line recovery if maintained.
Negative Factors
Slowing Revenue Growth
Top-line deceleration reduces the margin of safety for earnings expansion and increases reliance on efficiency gains to sustain profits. If revenue growth remains muted, sustaining current profit trajectory will require continued cost discipline or new product-driven demand, constraining long-term upside.
Organic Search Headwinds
NerdWallet's traffic and lead volumes depend heavily on organic search; algorithm or ranking shifts can persistently reduce acquisition and conversion. Such headwinds erode core lead generation, directly hitting performance-based revenue and making growth and predictability vulnerable to external platform dynamics.
Concentration in Performance-Based Revenue
A business model centered on partner-paid leads concentrates exposure to partner marketing budgets, product origination cycles, interest-rate and regulatory trends. This dependency amplifies cyclicality and reduces revenue resilience unless the company further diversifies channels and partner mixes over time.

NerdWallet, Inc. Class A (NRDS) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

NerdWallet, Inc. Class A Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionNerdWallet, Inc. operates a digital platform that provides consumer-driven advice about personal finance by connecting individuals and small and mid-sized businesses with financial products providers. The company's platform offers guidance to consumers through educational content, tools and calculators, and product marketplaces, as well as NerdWallet app for various financial products, including credit cards, mortgages, insurance, SMB products, personal loans, banking, investing, and student loans. It serves customers in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. The company was founded in 2009 and is based in San Francisco, California.
How the Company Makes MoneyNerdWallet generates revenue primarily through affiliate marketing, where it earns commissions by referring users to financial products such as credit cards, mortgages, and insurance policies. When users apply for and are approved for these products through NerdWallet's platform, the company receives a fee from the financial institutions. Additionally, NerdWallet offers premium services and tools for consumers and financial advisors, further enhancing its revenue. The company also partners with various banks and lenders to provide tailored financial solutions and has developed a strong brand presence in the personal finance domain, contributing to its ability to attract users and drive revenue.

NerdWallet, Inc. Class A Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Revenue by Category
Revenue by Category
Chart Insights
Data provided by:The Fly

NerdWallet, Inc. Class A Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Nov 06, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Feb 19, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call presented a strong quarter with revenue and income exceeding expectations, driven by significant growth in banking and personal loans. Operational efficiency improvements also contributed positively. However, challenges were noted in the SMB and credit cards verticals due to organic search headwinds, and there was a temporary reduction in brand marketing spend.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Revenue and Income Exceed Expectations
Total revenue for Q3 was $215 million, up 12% year-over-year, exceeding the guidance range of $189 million to $197 million. Non-GAAP operating income was $41 million, above the $23 million to $27 million guidance range.
Strong Performance in Banking and Personal Loans
Banking revenues were up 96% year-over-year, and personal loans increased by 91% year-over-year, contributing significantly to overall revenue growth.
Operational Efficiency and Free Cash Flow
Improvements in operational efficiency resulted in margin expansion, with trailing 12-month adjusted free cash flow increasing to over $85 million.
Share Repurchases
Completed $19 million of share repurchases during the quarter, reflecting confidence in long-term prospects.
Negative Updates
Decline in SMB and Credit Cards Verticals
SMB product and credit cards verticals experienced a year-over-year decline due to organic search headwinds.
Temporary Reduction in Brand Marketing Spend
Underspent on brand marketing by $8 million as the brand strategy was reevaluated.
Company Guidance
During the Q3 2025 earnings call, NerdWallet provided robust guidance, surpassing its expectations for both revenue and non-GAAP operating income. The company reported a total revenue of $215 million, exceeding the guidance range of $189 million to $197 million, with significant contributions from the banking and personal loans sectors, which grew by 96% and 91% year-over-year, respectively. Additionally, NerdWallet achieved a non-GAAP operating income of $41 million, surpassing the guidance range of $23 million to $27 million, partly due to an $8 million underspend on brand marketing. Looking ahead, NerdWallet projects Q4 2025 revenue between $207 million and $215 million and anticipates non-GAAP operating income ranging from $20 million to $24 million, while projecting a full-year non-GAAP operating income between $91 million and $95 million. The company also highlighted its focus on capital allocation, completing $19 million in share repurchases during the quarter.

NerdWallet, Inc. Class A Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Fundamentals are improving materially: profitability swung to positive with stronger TTM earnings, the balance sheet is a major strength with minimal leverage, and cash generation is solid (operating cash flow and free cash flow both strong with good cash-to-earnings support). The main offset is decelerating TTM revenue growth, increasing reliance on margin/efficiency to sustain results.
Income Statement
78
Positive
NRDS shows strong profitability momentum, with TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) revenue of $795M and healthy margins (about 92% gross margin and ~9% net margin). Profitability has improved meaningfully from losses in 2021–2023 to positive net income in 2024 ($30M) and higher earnings in TTM ($73M), alongside stronger operating profitability (EBIT margin rising to ~6%). The main offset is the slowing growth trajectory: revenue growth decelerated from very high levels earlier in the period to low single-digits in TTM, which raises questions about how much incremental margin expansion can continue to drive results.
Balance Sheet
90
Very Positive
The balance sheet is a clear strength: leverage is minimal (TTM shows no debt and prior years show very low debt relative to equity), providing flexibility and lowering financial risk. Equity has remained solid (~$402M TTM) and returns improved sharply as profitability rebounded (return on equity ~19% in TTM versus negative in 2021–2023). The key watch item is that the company’s asset base is not large relative to equity, so sustained profitability is important to maintain this strong capital position.
Cash Flow
84
Very Positive
Cash generation is solid and improving. TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) operating cash flow is $102.6M and free cash flow is $92.3M, with strong free cash flow growth (~28%). Cash flow quality is generally good: operating cash flow exceeds net income (about 1.38x in TTM), indicating earnings are supported by cash. The main weakness is historical volatility—free cash flow was negative in 2020–2022 before stabilizing and strengthening in 2023–TTM.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue795.00M687.60M599.40M538.90M379.60M245.30M
Gross Profit728.20M624.10M545.40M499.10M351.10M224.00M
EBITDA98.00M54.10M55.30M19.50M-1.40M17.10M
Net Income73.30M30.40M-11.80M-10.20M-42.50M5.30M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets492.80M437.60M418.60M425.70M364.10M255.20M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments120.60M68.50M102.50M85.90M169.80M85.40M
Total Debt0.008.90M9.60M12.70M15.10M45.10M
Total Liabilities90.40M73.40M51.70M84.00M106.50M172.50M
Stockholders Equity402.40M364.20M366.90M341.70M257.60M82.70M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow92.30M71.20M42.60M-7.20M-15.80M-3.30M
Operating Cash Flow102.60M71.80M72.10M25.00M7.20M15.40M
Investing Cash Flow-25.70M-29.70M-29.50M-100.30M-23.00M-55.40M
Financing Cash Flow-27.90M-76.50M-26.20M-8.40M100.20M55.70M

NerdWallet, Inc. Class A Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price12.06
Price Trends
50DMA
13.89
Negative
100DMA
12.72
Negative
200DMA
11.58
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.42
Positive
RSI
34.82
Neutral
STOCH
14.99
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For NRDS, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 12.06 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 13.00, below the 50-day MA of 13.89, and above the 200-day MA of 11.58, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.42 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 34.82 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 14.99 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for NRDS.

NerdWallet, Inc. Class A Risk Analysis

NerdWallet, Inc. Class A disclosed 61 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. NerdWallet, Inc. Class A 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

NerdWallet, Inc. Class A Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (60)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
74
Outperform
$876.92M12.8320.23%24.71%
67
Neutral
$2.98B4.0797.70%10.18%-2.51%17.47%
67
Neutral
$28.75B57.955.66%22.40%215.81%
63
Neutral
$1.95B14.609.55%9.68%94.85%
60
Neutral
$48.67B4.58-11.27%4.14%2.83%-41.78%
56
Neutral
$676.58M-14.41-5.09%23.12%19.37%
52
Neutral
$2.34B-3.41
* Communication Services Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
NRDS
NerdWallet, Inc. Class A
12.35
-1.74
-12.35%
GDOT
Green Dot
12.25
3.57
41.13%
WU
Western Union
9.52
0.26
2.81%
LC
LendingClub
16.86
3.90
30.09%
LU
Lufax Holding
2.60
0.23
9.70%
SOFI
SoFi
22.08
6.68
43.38%

NerdWallet, Inc. Class A Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyStock Buyback
NerdWallet Expands Share Repurchase Authorization to $125M
Positive
Dec 17, 2025

On December 16, 2025, NerdWallet, Inc.’s Board of Directors approved an amendment to the company’s share repurchase authorization, increasing the total amount authorized for repurchases from $75 million to $125 million. This move allows for flexibility in the timing and methods of repurchases, providing the company with an opportunity to enhance shareholder value while being influenced by business and market conditions, though it imposes no fixed obligations or requirements for repurchase amounts.

The most recent analyst rating on (NRDS) stock is a Buy with a $17.50 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on NerdWallet, Inc. Class A stock, see the NRDS Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
NerdWallet Reports Strong Q3 2025 Financial Results
Positive
Nov 6, 2025

On November 6, 2025, NerdWallet, Inc. announced its financial results for the third quarter ending September 30, 2025, reporting a 12% year-over-year increase in revenue to $215.1 million. Despite challenges in organic search traffic affecting credit card and SMB products revenue, the company saw significant growth in loans and emerging verticals, with loans revenue up 66% and emerging verticals up 83%. The company also reported a GAAP net income of $26.3 million, reflecting strong operational efficiency and strategic marketing efforts, positioning NerdWallet for long-term growth.

The most recent analyst rating on (NRDS) stock is a Buy with a $14.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on NerdWallet, Inc. Class A stock, see the NRDS 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: Jan 13, 2026