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System1 Inc. (SST)
:SST
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System1 (SST) AI Stock Analysis

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SST

System1

(NYSE:SST)

Rating:47Neutral
Price Target:
$6.50
▼(-8.71% Downside)
System1's overall stock score is primarily impacted by its poor financial performance, characterized by declining revenues, high leverage, and negative cash flows. Technical analysis and valuation also reflect challenges, with mixed signals and a negative P/E ratio. The earnings call provided some positive insights, particularly in product growth and AI investments, but these are overshadowed by significant marketing challenges and lack of guidance.
Positive Factors
Financial Performance
System1 produced another solid result, beating consensus revenue and EBITDA by $3 million and $2 million, respectively.
Innovation
System1 is at the cutting edge of agentic coding, which could add an entirely new layer of revenue to the story.
Management Confidence
The CEO demonstrated confidence in the company's prospects by purchasing 4.5 million shares through his family foundation.
Negative Factors
Guidance
Management decided not to provide guidance due to macroeconomic uncertainties, reflecting a cautious outlook.
Market Uncertainty
There are a lot of variables that could impact results, including potential uncertainty in the advertising market and disruption from the Google partner network migration.

System1 (SST) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

System1 Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionSystem1, Inc. develops technology and data science to operate responsive acquisition marketing platform. The company also operates a real-time coupon code search engine and directory that offers coupon destinations for online shoppers. It serves customers in the areas of health, subscription, finance, insurance, business and technology, travel, auto, and other direct-to-consumer businesses. The company was founded in 2013 and is based in Los Angeles, California.
How the Company Makes MoneySystem1 makes money through its advanced digital marketing and customer acquisition services, which are powered by the RAMP platform. The platform utilizes artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to effectively target and acquire high-intent customers for its clients. Key revenue streams include performance-based marketing services, where the company earns revenue based on the success of customer acquisition campaigns it manages. Additionally, System1 partners with various advertisers and publishers to enhance its reach and optimize the performance of its marketing efforts. These partnerships, along with its data-driven approach, are significant contributors to the company's earnings.

System1 Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Aug 07, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Nov 06, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call presented a mixed outlook. Strong growth in the product segment and successful AI investments were overshadowed by significant challenges in the marketing segment, particularly with Google-related volatility. The company's decision not to provide future guidance reflects uncertainty, indicating a balanced view of current operations.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Product Segment Performance
Product segment revenue increased by 34% year-over-year and 8% sequentially, with adjusted gross profit up 32% year-over-year. Key products like CouponFollow, Startpage, and MapQuest showed significant growth, with user sessions up 40% for CouponFollow and 30% for Startpage.
Record Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA rose to $11.7 million, marking an 18% year-over-year increase, showcasing strong operational efficiency and cost management.
Successful AI Investment
Heavy investment in AI-powered Agentic coding has been successful, with ahead-of-schedule execution on product development and platform expansion.
Increased Partner Network Revenue
Despite challenges, the Partner Network business showed sequential growth, with average revenue per partner up 29% sequentially.
Negative Updates
Marketing Segment Revenue Decline
Marketing revenue fell by 29% year-over-year, with the owned and operated marketing business facing significant volatility, particularly in relation to the Google Search Partner Network.
Decreased Return on TAC
There was a decline in the return on traffic acquisition costs (TAC), dropping from 120% to 117% year-over-year, impacting the profitability of marketing operations.
Lack of Guidance
Due to ongoing volatility in the Google Marketplace, the company refrained from providing guidance for Q3 2025 or the full year.
Company Guidance
In the recent earnings call for System1, the company reported solid financial performance for the second quarter of 2025. The adjusted EBITDA increased by 18% year-over-year to $11.7 million, while the revenue reached approximately $78 million, marking a 6% year-over-year increase in adjusted gross profit to $41 million. The company's product segment, with products like Startpage, MapQuest, and CouponFollow, experienced significant revenue growth of 34% year-over-year and 8% sequentially, contributing $24 million to the total revenue. Despite challenges in the marketing segment, particularly due to volatility in the Google Search Partner Network, the company remains optimistic about future growth. The marketing segment saw a 29% decline in revenue year-over-year, totaling $54 million, but showed a 4% sequential increase. System1 also highlighted a significant investment in AI-powered Agentic coding, which is expected to drive further revenue growth and margin improvement. The company ended the quarter with $63.6 million in unrestricted cash and remains well-positioned to capitalize on future growth opportunities.

System1 Financial Statement Overview

Summary
System1 faces several financial challenges, characterized by declining revenues, profitability issues, high leverage, and negative cash flows. Despite minor improvements in certain areas, the overall financial health of the company is concerning, with significant risks in terms of liquidity and operational sustainability.
Income Statement
38
Negative
System1 has experienced declining revenues and profitability over recent periods, with a negative net profit margin and EBIT margin in TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months). This reflects challenges in generating profit from its operations, despite a slight improvement in EBITDA margin. Revenue growth has been negative, indicating a downward trajectory.
Balance Sheet
45
Neutral
The balance sheet shows high leverage with a substantial debt-to-equity ratio, which poses a risk in volatile market conditions. The return on equity is negative due to consistent net losses, and the equity ratio has been decreasing, indicating a weakening equity position. However, the company maintains some liquidity with cash equivalents available.
Cash Flow
30
Negative
Cash flow metrics indicate significant challenges, with negative free cash flow and operating cash flow to net income ratio suggesting inefficiencies in converting revenue to cash. Free cash flow has been decreasing, highlighting potential liquidity issues and limitations in funding operations without external financing.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue333.52M343.93M401.97M664.94M688.39M475.98M
Gross Profit95.70M152.36M46.72M15.37M86.64M134.98M
EBITDA7.38M14.00M-4.48M-427.61M64.72M52.92M
Net Income-80.02M-74.67M-227.22M33.00M33.00M63.76M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets419.15M459.13M605.47M1.16B517.62M218.68M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments43.91M63.61M135.34M8.90M47.90M29.01M
Total Debt270.28M274.98M355.42M422.55M170.45M179.97M
Total Liabilities351.50M374.13M436.15M687.67M60.43M266.91M
Stockholders Equity67.19M80.26M135.28M383.98M457.19M436.17M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-6.47M-5.29M-32.70M-17.66M-7.78M40.42M
Operating Cash Flow-5.22M-5.25M-24.74M-7.29M-1.24M46.55M
Investing Cash Flow-6.18M-6.25M203.18M-454.45M-6.54M68.17M
Financing Cash Flow-21.11M-63.96M-74.07M-27.73M-34.59M-128.07M

System1 Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price7.12
Price Trends
50DMA
6.65
Positive
100DMA
5.32
Positive
200DMA
6.27
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.34
Negative
RSI
54.98
Neutral
STOCH
62.66
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For SST, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 7.12 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 6.40, above the 50-day MA of 6.65, and above the 200-day MA of 6.27, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.34 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 54.98 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 62.66 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for SST.

System1 Risk Analysis

System1 disclosed 61 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. System1 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

System1 Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (65)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
65
Neutral
$2.64B13.9615.18%3.63%2.94%43.39%
57
Neutral
$33.96M-5.10%6.69%-92.03%-20.56%
54
Neutral
$88.57M
-18.53%
52
Neutral
$28.18M2.10-47.70%-44.47%-203.41%
47
Neutral
$70.59M-84.85%-12.76%56.53%
$2.56M-352.74%
$3.19M
* Industrials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
SST
System1
7.12
-5.18
-42.11%
OMEX
Odyssey Marine Exploration
1.96
-2.01
-50.63%
SGRP
Spar Group
1.19
-1.21
-50.42%
NTIP
Network-1 Technologies
1.49
0.04
2.76%
SMX
SMX Public Limited Company
2.00
-2,206.46
-99.91%
LICN
Lichen China Ltd. Class A
4.51
-381.49
-98.83%

System1 Corporate Events

Financial Disclosures
System1 Reports Q2 2025 Financial Results
Negative
Aug 7, 2025

On August 7, 2025, System1, Inc. released its supplemental financial information for the quarter ending June 30, 2025, revealing a net loss from continuing operations of $21.54 million. Despite the loss, the company’s marketing platform revenue showed resilience, with a return on traffic acquisition costs remaining stable, indicating ongoing efforts to manage operational expenses and optimize revenue generation.

Stock SplitRegulatory Filings and Compliance
System1 Announces Reverse Stock Split Implementation
Neutral
Jun 11, 2025

On June 11, 2025, System1, Inc. announced the implementation of a reverse stock split for its Class A and Class C Common Stock at a ratio of one post-split share for every ten shares, effective at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. This move, aimed at regaining compliance with NYSE listing standards, will see the company’s Class A Common Stock begin trading on a split-adjusted basis on June 12, 2025, under the existing symbol ‘SST’ with a new CUSIP number. The reverse stock split reduces the number of issued and outstanding shares and proportionally adjusts the number of shares issuable under equity incentive plans, without affecting the par value or authorized shares. Stockholders will receive cash in lieu of fractional shares, and the split does not alter any stockholder’s percentage interest in the company’s equity.

Shareholder MeetingsStock Split
System1 Announces Reverse Stock Split Effective June 11
Neutral
Jun 10, 2025

On June 10, 2025, System1, Inc. held its Annual Meeting of Stockholders, where several key proposals were approved, including amendments to its 2022 Incentive Award Plan and 2024 Stock Appreciation Rights Plan. The company also announced a reverse stock split at a 1-for-10 ratio, effective June 11, 2025, to increase the trading price of its Class A Common Stock and maintain its NYSE listing. These changes aim to enhance System1’s market positioning and operational flexibility.

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: Aug 20, 2025