QNST vs. MAX

Last updated Apr 2, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about QuinStreet, Inc. (QNST) and MediaAlpha, Inc. (MAX).

Performance

QNST vs. MAX - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in QuinStreet, Inc. (QNST) and MediaAlpha, Inc. (MAX). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

QNST vs. MAX - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020
QNST QuinStreet, Inc.	-16.56%	-37.71%	79.95%	-10.66%	-21.11%	-15.16%	37.52%
MAX MediaAlpha, Inc.	-29.88%	14.70%	1.26%	12.06%	-35.56%	-60.48%	22.63%

Fundamentals

Market Cap QNST : $699.56M MAX : $606.42M
EPS QNST : $1.07 MAX : $0.43
PE Ratio QNST : 11.23 MAX : 21.21
PEG Ratio QNST : 0.27 MAX : 16.00
PS Ratio QNST : 0.63 MAX : 0.49
PB Ratio QNST : 2.38 MAX : 145.77
Total Revenue (TTM) QNST : $1.11B MAX : $1.11B
Gross Profit (TTM) QNST : $110.37M MAX : $167.54M
EBITDA (TTM) QNST : $123.98M MAX : $81.12M

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, QNST achieves a -16.56% return, which is significantly higher than MAX's -29.88% return.

QNST

• 1D: -0.17%
• 1M: 3.63%
• YTD: -16.56%
• 6M: -22.45%
• 1Y: -33.39%
• 3Y*: -8.92%
• 5Y*: -10.35%
• 10Y*: 13.27%

MAX

• 1D: -2.37%
• 1M: -10.63%
• YTD: -29.88%
• 6M: -18.78%
• 1Y: 0.89%
• 3Y*: -15.37%
• 5Y*: -24.10%
• 10Y*: —

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

Return for Risk

QNST vs. MAX — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

QNST

QNST Risk / Return Rank: 13
QNST Sharpe Ratio Rank: 11
QNST Sortino Ratio Rank: 13
QNST Omega Ratio Rank: 13
QNST Calmar Ratio Rank: 14
QNST Martin Ratio Rank: 12

MAX

MAX Risk / Return Rank: 39
MAX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 40
MAX Sortino Ratio Rank: 39
MAX Omega Ratio Rank: 38
MAX Calmar Ratio Rank: 40
MAX Martin Ratio Rank: 39

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

QNST vs. MAX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for QuinStreet, Inc. (QNST) and MediaAlpha, Inc. (MAX). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

	QNST	MAX	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	-0.71	0.02	-0.72
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	-0.82	0.43	-1.25
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	0.89	1.05	-0.16
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	-0.74	-0.04	-0.70
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	-1.39	-0.10	-1.28
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

QNST vs. MAX - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current QNST Sharpe Ratio is -0.71, which is lower than the MAX Sharpe Ratio of 0.02. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of QNST and MAX, offering insights into how both investments have performed under varying market conditions. These values are calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	QNST	MAX	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	-0.71	0.02	-0.72
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	-0.21	-0.37	+0.16
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.24	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	-0.03	-0.31	+0.28

Correlation

The correlation between QNST and MAX is 0.51, which is considered to be moderate. This suggests that the two assets have some degree of positive relationship in their price movements. Moderate correlation can be acceptable for portfolio diversification, offering a balance between risk and potential returns.

Dividends

QNST vs. MAX - Dividend Comparison

Neither QNST nor MAX has paid dividends to shareholders.

Tickers have no history of dividend payments

Drawdowns

QNST vs. MAX - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum QNST drawdown since its inception was -89.10%, roughly equal to the maximum MAX drawdown of -91.64%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for QNST and MAX.

Drawdown Indicators

	QNST	MAX	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-89.10%	-91.64%	+2.54%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-44.30%	-47.70%	+3.40%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-67.33%	-88.43%	+21.10%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-72.05%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-52.36%	-85.84%	+33.48%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-51.42%	-72.53%	+21.11%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	23.65%	16.68%	+6.97%

Volatility

QNST vs. MAX - Volatility Comparison

QuinStreet, Inc. (QNST) has a higher volatility of 12.36% compared to MediaAlpha, Inc. (MAX) at 9.74%. This indicates that QNST's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than MAX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	QNST	MAX	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	12.36%	9.74%	+2.62%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	34.80%	35.76%	-0.96%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	47.36%	51.98%	-4.62%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	49.68%	64.96%	-15.28%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	54.70%	66.92%	-12.22%

Financials

QNST vs. MAX - Profitability Comparison

The chart below illustrates the profitability comparison between QuinStreet, Inc. and MediaAlpha, Inc. over time, highlighting three key metrics: Gross Profit Margin, Operating Margin, and Net Profit Margin.

QNST - Gross Margin

Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Apr 2026, QuinStreet, Inc. reported a gross profit of 27.72M and revenue of 287.85M. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 9.6%.

MAX - Gross Margin

Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Apr 2026, MediaAlpha, Inc. reported a gross profit of 44.81M and revenue of 291.16M. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 15.4%.

QNST - Operating Margin

Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Apr 2026, QuinStreet, Inc. reported an operating income of 1.25M and revenue of 287.85M, resulting in an operating margin of 0.4%.

MAX - Operating Margin

Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Apr 2026, MediaAlpha, Inc. reported an operating income of 22.31M and revenue of 291.16M, resulting in an operating margin of 7.7%.

QNST - Net Margin

Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Apr 2026, QuinStreet, Inc. reported a net income of 50.23M and revenue of 287.85M, resulting in a net margin of 17.5%.

MAX - Net Margin

Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Apr 2026, MediaAlpha, Inc. reported a net income of 31.41M and revenue of 291.16M, resulting in a net margin of 10.8%.