QNST
Communication ServicesQuinStreet, Inc. · Advertising Agencies · $710M
What is QuinStreet, Inc.?
QuinStreet is an online performance marketing company that connects consumers with businesses in financial and home services. Rather than charging flat advertising fees, it delivers measurable outcomes — qualified leads, calls, and clicks — for its clients.
QuinStreet operates a performance-based marketing platform that matches consumer intent with advertiser demand. Clients pay only when a desired action occurs — a submitted application, a phone call, or a verified lead — making spend directly accountable. The company sources traffic through its own web properties and a network of third-party publishers, primarily serving insurance carriers, lenders, and home services providers across the United States and select international markets.
QuinStreet was incorporated in 1999 and is headquartered in Foster City, California.
- Qualified lead generation for financial services advertisers
- Pay-per-call and click campaigns for home services clients
- Owned-and-operated consumer comparison websites
- Third-party publisher network for extended audience reach
- Performance-based customer acquisition programs
Is QNST a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates QNST as Good overall, reflecting a balanced but nuanced profile across its five pillars.
The Risk pillar stands out as a clear strength, suggesting the business carries a conservative financial structure relative to peers. Growth also registers positively, consistent with QuinStreet's ongoing recovery and expansion in its core verticals. Valuation is rated Attractive, meaning the market may not yet be fully pricing in the company's forward trajectory.
The Moat pillar is rated Weak, indicating limited structural competitive advantages — a meaningful consideration in a crowded performance marketing landscape. Quality sits at Neutral, pointing to room for improvement in underlying 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 QNST pay dividends?
No — QuinStreet, Inc. does not currently pay a dividend.
QuinStreet does not currently pay a dividend. For a growth-oriented performance marketing company, this is typical — capital is generally reinvested to expand publisher relationships, develop owned media properties, and pursue new verticals. Investors seeking income should look elsewhere, while those focused on reinvestment-driven growth may find this approach aligned with their goals.
When does QNST report earnings?
QuinStreet reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, consistent with standard practice for US-listed equities.
The company has shown meaningful revenue recovery in recent periods, driven by a rebound in insurance advertising spend and expanding home services demand. Growth trends have been a positive signal in the UQS framework, though profitability consistency remains a watch item.
For the most recent quarter's results and guidance, visit QuinStreet's investor relations page directly.
QNST Price History
-27.8% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in QuinStreet, Inc.?
Based on QuinStreet, 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.
QNST Long-term Outlook
QuinStreet's Growth pillar rating suggests the business is on a positive trajectory, supported by recovering advertiser budgets in financial services and broadening home services activity. The Strong Risk rating implies the company is not taking on excessive leverage to fund that growth. However, the Weak Moat rating is a structural caution — without durable competitive advantages, sustaining above-average growth rates over the long term may prove challenging if larger platforms increase their focus on performance marketing.
Growth drivers
- Recovery and expansion of insurance carrier advertising budgets
- Growing demand for qualified leads in home services verticals
- Expansion of owned media properties driving higher-margin traffic
Key risks
- Weak competitive moat leaves revenue vulnerable to platform competition
- Advertiser budget cycles can compress revenue quickly in downturns
- Attractive valuation may reflect execution uncertainty in scaling margins
QNST vs Peers
QuinStreet operates in a competitive performance marketing space alongside players with distinct business models and scale.
MNTN focuses on connected TV advertising performance, targeting a different media channel than QuinStreet's search and web-based lead generation.
Emerald operates trade shows and events, competing for B2B marketing budgets through in-person channels rather than digital performance campaigns.
Criteo is a global commerce media platform with broader advertiser reach and retargeting capabilities that extend well beyond QuinStreet's vertical focus.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does QuinStreet do?
QuinStreet runs a performance marketing platform that delivers qualified leads, calls, and clicks to advertisers in financial and home services. Clients pay based on measurable outcomes rather than impressions, making the model directly accountable to advertiser ROI.
Does QNST pay dividends?
No, QuinStreet does not currently pay a dividend. The company reinvests capital into growing its publisher network and owned media properties. Investors prioritizing income distributions should be aware this is not a dividend-paying stock at this time.
When does QNST report earnings?
QuinStreet reports on a quarterly cadence, as is standard for US-listed companies. For the exact schedule and most recent results, check the investor relations section of QuinStreet's official website.
Is QNST a good stock to buy?
UQS Score rates QNST as Good overall. The Risk and Growth pillars are positive signals, and Valuation is rated Attractive. However, the Weak Moat and Neutral Quality ratings introduce meaningful uncertainty. The full pillar breakdown is available to UQS Pro members.
Is QNST overvalued?
Based on the UQS framework, QNST's Valuation pillar is rated Attractive, suggesting the current price may offer a reasonable entry point relative to fundamentals. That said, valuation should always be considered alongside quality and moat — both of which are more cautious for QuinStreet.
How does QNST compare to its competitors?
QuinStreet's vertical focus on financial and home services differentiates it from broader performance marketing platforms like Criteo. Compared to event-based or TV-focused peers, QuinStreet's model is more directly tied to digital lead generation, which creates both concentration risk and specialization advantages.
What is QNST's market cap bracket?
QuinStreet is classified as a small-cap company. This means it carries more volatility and liquidity risk than large- or mega-cap peers, but may also offer more room for growth if the business scales its platform successfully.
Who founded QuinStreet?
QuinStreet was founded by Doug Valenti, who has served as the company's CEO. The company was incorporated in 1999 and has been headquartered in Foster City, California throughout its public life.
Is QNST a long-term quality investment?
The UQS framework rates QNST as Good overall, with a Strong Risk profile and positive Growth signals — both constructive for long-term holders. The Weak Moat rating is the key long-term concern, as durable competitive advantages are important for sustaining returns over time. Pro members can view the complete multi-pillar analysis.
What is the main competitive advantage of QuinStreet?
QuinStreet's primary edge lies in its specialization within high-intent verticals — particularly insurance and home services — where consumer decisions are complex and advertisers pay a premium for qualified leads. However, the UQS Moat pillar rates this advantage as Weak, suggesting it is not yet structurally durable.
What sector does QNST belong to?
QuinStreet is classified under the Communication Services sector. Within that sector, it operates specifically in performance-based digital marketing, serving advertisers who prioritize measurable customer acquisition over brand awareness spending.
Is QNST a growth stock or value stock?
Based on UQS pillar labels, QNST leans toward a growth profile — the Growth pillar is rated Good and Valuation is Attractive, a combination that may appeal to investors looking for growth at a reasonable price. The Weak Moat tempers how confidently that growth can be projected forward.
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Pro Analysis
QNST — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 22, 2026 | 54.7 | 43.0 | 20.0 | 77.5 | 74.9 | 81.7 | -2.8 |
| May 7, 2026 | 57.5 | 43.3 | 20.0 | 77.5 | 86.0 | 88.3 | +0.1 |
| Apr 19, 2026 | 57.4 | 43.3 | 20.0 | 77.5 | 86.0 | 87.9 | +0.2 |
| Apr 18, 2026 | 57.2 | 43.3 | 20.0 | 77.5 | 86.0 | 86.3 | -2.0 |
| Apr 2, 2026 | 59.2 | 43.3 | 20.0 | 77.6 | 86.0 | 100.0 | — |
QNST — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 43.0/100 (25%)QuinStreet, Inc. has average quality metrics, with room for improvement in margins or capital efficiency.
How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.
Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.
Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.
Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.
Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.
Free cash flow relative to market value.
Growth
— 77.5/100 (20%)QuinStreet, Inc. is growing rapidly with strong revenue and earnings expansion.
Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.
Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.
Year-over-year earnings per share growth.
Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.
Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.
Risk
— 74.9/100 (15%)QuinStreet, Inc. maintains a reasonable risk profile with manageable debt levels.
Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 83.8/100 (15%)QuinStreet, Inc. appears attractively valued relative to its earnings, cash flows, and sector peers.
Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.
How many years of FCF the market cap represents.
P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 20/100 (25%)QuinStreet, Inc. operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. 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 QNST.
Score Composition
Financial Data
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How is the QNST UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for QuinStreet, 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 QuinStreet, 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 QuinStreet, 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.