MAX

Communication Services

MediaAlpha, Inc. · Internet Content & Information · $460M

UQS Score — Balanced Preset
49.6
Below Average

MediaAlpha, Inc. scores 49.6/100 using the Balanced preset.

UQS vs Communication Services Sector
MAX
49.6
Sector avg
35.8
Quality
Weak
Moat
Weak
Growth
Neutral
Risk
Neutral
Valuation
Attractive

What is MediaAlpha, Inc.?

MediaAlpha operates a digital insurance customer acquisition platform in the United States, connecting consumers with property and casualty, health, and life insurance providers.

MediaAlpha generates revenue by helping insurance carriers and agencies acquire customers more efficiently through its programmatic advertising platform. It serves multiple insurance verticals, optimizing spend and matching intent-driven consumers with relevant insurance products. The company is a subsidiary of White Mountains Insurance Group.

The company was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.

  • Property and casualty insurance customer acquisition
  • Health insurance lead generation
  • Life insurance distribution platform

Is MAX a Good Stock to Buy?

UQS Score rates MAX as Below Average overall.

Valuation stands out as Attractive relative to peers, and both Growth and Risk come in at a Neutral level, suggesting the business is not in acute distress.

Quality and Moat are both rated Weak, reflecting limited competitive differentiation and below-average business fundamentals.

See the exact pillar breakdown and full financial metrics by signing up for a UQS Pro account. Sign up free →

Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.

Does MAX pay dividends?

No — MediaAlpha, Inc. does not currently pay a dividend.

MediaAlpha does not currently pay a dividend. As a smaller-cap platform business, the company reinvests available resources into platform development and customer acquisition capabilities rather than returning cash to shareholders.

When does MAX report earnings?

MediaAlpha reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, typical for US-listed equities.

The company's results reflect the cyclical nature of insurance advertising spend, which can shift meaningfully with carrier budget cycles. Growth has been Neutral in the UQS framework, indicating neither strong acceleration nor significant deterioration.

For the most recent quarter's results, visit MediaAlpha's investor relations page directly.

MAX Price History

-76.6% over 5Y

Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.

Return Calculator

What if I invested in MediaAlpha, Inc.?

$
Today it would be worth
$3,007
That's a -69.9% total return, or -21.4% annualized.

Based on MediaAlpha, Inc.'s historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does MediaAlpha do?

MediaAlpha runs a programmatic platform that helps insurance carriers and agencies acquire customers online. It operates across property and casualty, health, and life insurance verticals, matching consumer intent with relevant insurance providers.

Does MAX pay dividends?

No, MediaAlpha does not pay a dividend. The company focuses on reinvesting in its platform rather than distributing cash to shareholders.

When does MAX report earnings?

MediaAlpha reports on a standard quarterly schedule. For confirmed dates, check the company's investor relations page, as our data source does not cover upcoming earnings dates.

Is MAX a good stock to buy?

UQS Score rates MAX as Below Average, driven by Weak Quality and Moat scores. Valuation is Attractive, which may interest certain investors, but the full picture requires reviewing all five pillars.

Is MAX overvalued?

The UQS Valuation pillar rates MAX as Attractive, suggesting the market price may not fully reflect even the company's current fundamentals. However, Attractive valuation alone does not offset weakness in other areas.

What is MAX's market cap bracket?

MediaAlpha is classified as a small-cap stock, meaning it carries a smaller market value than large- or mega-cap peers and may experience greater price volatility.

Is MAX a long-term quality investment?

As a long-term quality indicator, the UQS Score rates MAX as Below Average. Weak Quality and Moat scores suggest the business lacks the durable competitive advantages typically associated with strong long-term holdings.

What sector does MAX belong to?

MediaAlpha is classified under the Communication Services sector, reflecting its role as a digital advertising and customer acquisition platform rather than a traditional insurance carrier.

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Pro Analysis

MAX — Score History

45505560Apr 2Apr 12Apr 22May 2May 12May 22May 24v5
Score changes· 5 most recent
DateUQSQualityMoatGrowthRiskValueChange
May 4, 202651.032.537.056.249.2100.00.0
May 2, 202651.032.537.056.149.2100.0+0.2
Apr 14, 202650.832.537.055.449.2100.0-3.3
Apr 13, 202654.132.550.055.449.2100.0+3.3
Apr 2, 202650.832.537.055.449.2100.0

MAX — Pillar Breakdown

Quality

31.6/100 (25%)

MediaAlpha, Inc. currently shows below-average quality metrics, suggesting challenges with profitability.

Capital Efficiency (ROIC)Weak

How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.

Return on EquityWeak

Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.

Operating ProfitabilityWeak

Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.

Net ProfitabilityWeak

Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.

Gross Profit / AssetsStrong

Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.

Cash GenerationStrong

Free cash flow relative to market value.

Growth

56.4/100 (20%)

MediaAlpha, Inc. demonstrates healthy growth trends across revenue and earnings.

Recent Revenue TrendModerate

Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.

3Y Revenue CAGRModerate

Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.

EPS GrowthModerate

Year-over-year earnings per share growth.

Forward Revenue OutlookWeak

Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.

Forward EPS GrowthStrong

Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.

Risk

41.2/100 (15%)

MediaAlpha, Inc. has some risk factors including moderate leverage or solvency concerns.

Financial LeverageModerate

Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.

Debt/EquityWeak

Total debt relative to shareholder equity.

Current RatioWeak

Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.

Interest CoverageModerate

Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.

Valuation

100.0/100 (15%)

MediaAlpha, Inc. appears attractively valued relative to its earnings, cash flows, and sector peers.

Earnings YieldStrong

Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.

Price to Free Cash FlowStrong

How many years of FCF the market cap represents.

PEG RatioStrong

P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.

Moat

37/100 (25%)

MediaAlpha, Inc. possesses some competitive advantages but faces meaningful competition. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for MAX.

Score Composition

Quality
31.6×25%7.9
Growth
56.4×20%11.3
Risk
41.2×15%6.2
Valuation
100.0×15%15.0
Moat
37.0×25%9.3
Total
49.6Below Average

Financial Data

More Stock Analysis

How is the MAX UQS Score Calculated?

The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for MediaAlpha, Inc. is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.

Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.

Moat (25%) assesses MediaAlpha, Inc.'s competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.

Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.

Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.

Valuation (15%) measures whether MediaAlpha, Inc. is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.

Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.