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Quinstreet, Inc. (QNST) Stock Fundamental Analysis & AI Rating 2026

QNST Nasdaq Services-Business Services, NEC CIK: 0001117297
Recently Updated • Analysis: Apr 14, 2026 • SEC Data: 2025-12-31
HOLD
62% Conf
Pending
Analysis scheduled

📊 QNST Key Takeaways

Revenue: $573.7M
Net Margin: 9.5%
Free Cash Flow: $39.2M
Current Ratio: 1.51x
Debt/Equity: 0.05x
EPS: $0.94
AI Rating: HOLD with 62% confidence
Quinstreet, Inc. (QNST) receives a HOLD rating with 62% confidence from our AI fundamental analysis based on SEC 10-K filings. With revenue of $573.7M, net profit margin of 9.5%, and return on equity (ROE) of 18.6%, Quinstreet, Inc. demonstrates mixed fundamentals in the Services sector. Below is our complete QNST stock analysis for 2026.

Is Quinstreet, Inc. (QNST) a Good Investment?

Claude

QuinStreet maintains a strong balance sheet with minimal leverage and solid cash generation, but underlying operations are structurally challenged with critically low 1.1% operating margins. The significant gap between operating income ($6.0M) and net income ($54.8M) raises concerns about earnings quality and sustainability of reported profitability.

Why Buy Quinstreet, Inc. Stock? QNST Key Strengths

Claude
  • + Fortress balance sheet with 0.05x debt-to-equity and $107M cash reserves
  • + Solid free cash flow generation of $39.2M despite operational thinness
  • + Reasonable ROE (18.6%) and ROA (11.1%) demonstrate capital efficiency relative to equity base
  • + Strong liquidity position (1.51x current ratio) with minimal refinancing risk

QNST Stock Risks: Quinstreet, Inc. Investment Risks

Claude
  • ! Extreme operational margin compression at 1.1% indicates structural profitability challenges in core business
  • ! Large unexplained gap between operating income and net income (9x variance) suggests reliance on non-recurring items or accounting adjustments for reported profitability
  • ! Low gross margin of 9.5% suggests high customer acquisition costs or commoditized service pricing with limited pricing power
  • ! Business model may be capital-efficient but revenue-dependent without sustainable margin expansion capability

Key Metrics to Watch

Claude
  • * Operating margin trend and sustainability of the operating income-to-net income reconciliation
  • * Gross margin trajectory and revenue per customer or cost of acquisition trends
  • * Free cash flow consistency and conversion rate relative to declining operating income
  • * Customer acquisition costs and lifetime value metrics by segment

Quinstreet, Inc. (QNST) Financial Metrics & Key Ratios

Revenue
$573.7M
Net Income
$54.8M
EPS (Diluted)
$0.94
Free Cash Flow
$39.2M
Total Assets
$493.0M
Cash Position
$107.0M

💡 AI Analyst Insight

Quinstreet, Inc. presents a mixed fundamental picture. Review the detailed metrics above to form your own investment thesis.

QNST Profit Margin, ROE & Profitability Analysis

Gross Margin 9.5%
Operating Margin 1.1%
Net Margin 9.5%
ROE 18.6%
ROA 11.1%
FCF Margin 6.8%

QNST vs Services Sector: How Quinstreet, Inc. Compares

How Quinstreet, Inc. compares to Services sector averages

Net Margin
QNST 9.5%
vs
Sector Avg 10.0%
QNST Sector
ROE
QNST 18.6%
vs
Sector Avg 16.0%
QNST Sector
Current Ratio
QNST 1.5x
vs
Sector Avg 1.5x
QNST Sector
Debt/Equity
QNST 0.1x
vs
Sector Avg 0.7x
QNST Sector

Sector benchmarks are approximate industry averages. Actual sector performance may vary.

Is Quinstreet, Inc. Stock Overvalued? QNST Valuation Analysis 2026

Based on fundamental analysis, Quinstreet, Inc. has mixed fundamental signals relative to the Services sector in 2026.

Return on Equity
18.6%
Sector avg: 16%
Net Profit Margin
9.5%
Sector avg: 10%
Revenue Growth
N/A
Year-over-year
Debt/Equity
0.05x
Sector avg: 0.7x

Note: This is a fundamental analysis based on SEC filings. For P/E ratio, price targets, and market-based valuation, consult financial data providers. This is not investment advice.

Quinstreet, Inc. Balance Sheet: QNST Debt, Cash & Liquidity

Current Ratio
1.51x
Quick Ratio
1.51x
Debt/Equity
0.05x
Debt/Assets
40.3%
Interest Coverage
43.74x
Long-term Debt
$15.0M

QNST Revenue & Earnings Growth: 5-Year Financial Trend

QNST 5-year financial data: Year 2020: Revenue $490.3M, Net Income $15.9M, EPS $0.32. Year 2021: Revenue $578.5M, Net Income $62.5M, EPS $1.18. Year 2022: Revenue $582.1M, Net Income $18.1M, EPS $0.34. Year 2023: Revenue $582.1M, Net Income $23.6M, EPS $0.43. Year 2024: Revenue $613.5M, Net Income -$5.2M, EPS $-0.10.
Revenue
Net Income
EPS (right axis)

5-Year Trend Summary: Quinstreet, Inc.'s revenue has grown significantly by 25% over the 5-year period, indicating strong business expansion. The most recent EPS of $-0.10 indicates the company is currently unprofitable.

QNST Revenue Growth, EPS Growth & YoY Performance

Revenue Growth
N/A
Year-over-year
Net Income Growth
N/A
Year-over-year
EPS Growth
N/A
Earnings per share
FCF Margin
6.8%
Free cash flow / Revenue

QNST Quarterly Earnings & Performance

Quarterly financial performance data for Quinstreet, Inc. including revenue, net income, and earnings per share.
Quarter Revenue Net Income EPS
Q2 2026 $282.6M -$1.5M $-0.03
Q1 2026 $279.2M -$1.4M $-0.02
Q3 2025 $168.6M $1.5M $0.03
Q2 2025 $122.7M -$1.5M $-0.03
Q1 2025 $123.9M -$1.4M $-0.02
Q3 2024 $168.6M -$479.0K $-0.01
Q2 2024 $122.7M -$8.0M $-0.15
Q1 2024 $123.9M -$4.5M $-0.08

Data sourced from SEC EDGAR 10-Q quarterly filings. Figures may represent quarterly or cumulative values.

Quinstreet, Inc. Dividends, Buybacks & Capital Allocation

Operating Cash Flow
$41.2M
Cash generated from operations
Stock Buybacks
$16.8M
Shares repurchased (TTM)
Capital Expenditures
$2.1M
Investment in assets
Dividends
None
No dividend program

QNST SEC Filings: Latest 10-K & 10-Q Analysis

Access official SEC EDGAR filings for Quinstreet, Inc. (CIK: 0001117297)

📋 Recent SEC Filings

Date Form Document Action
Feb 12, 2026 4 xslF345X05/edgardoc.xml View →
Feb 12, 2026 4 xslF345X05/dp241529_4-valenti.xml View →
Feb 6, 2026 10-Q qnst-20251231.htm View →
Feb 5, 2026 8-K qnst-20260205.htm View →
Jan 20, 2026 4 xslF345X05/edgardoc.xml View →

Frequently Asked Questions about QNST

What is the AI rating for QNST?

Quinstreet, Inc. (QNST) has an AI rating of HOLD with 62% confidence, based on fundamental analysis of SEC EDGAR filings.

What are QNST's key strengths?

Claude: Fortress balance sheet with 0.05x debt-to-equity and $107M cash reserves. Solid free cash flow generation of $39.2M despite operational thinness.

What are the risks of investing in QNST?

Claude: Extreme operational margin compression at 1.1% indicates structural profitability challenges in core business. Large unexplained gap between operating income and net income (9x variance) suggests reliance on non-recurring items or accounting adjustments for reported profitability.

What is QNST's revenue and growth?

Quinstreet, Inc. reported revenue of $573.7M.

Does QNST pay dividends?

Quinstreet, Inc. does not currently pay dividends.

Where can I find QNST SEC filings?

Official SEC filings for Quinstreet, Inc. (CIK: 0001117297) including 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K reports are available on SEC EDGAR.

What is QNST's EPS?

Quinstreet, Inc. has a diluted EPS of $0.94.

How is the AI analysis conducted?

Two independent AI systems — Claude (Anthropic) and ChatGPT (OpenAI) — analyze SEC EDGAR filings including 10-K annual reports and 10-Q quarterly reports. Each AI evaluates financial health, profitability ratios, balance sheet strength, and growth metrics. The combined rating reflects both perspectives for balanced insights.

Is QNST a good stock to buy right now?

Based on our AI fundamental analysis in April 2026, Quinstreet, Inc. has a HOLD rating with 62% confidence. Review the strengths and risks sections above before making a decision. This is not investment advice.

Is QNST stock overvalued or undervalued?

Valuation metrics for QNST: ROE of 18.6% (sector avg: 16%), net margin of 9.5% (sector avg: 10%). Higher ROE suggests strong returns relative to peers.

Should I buy QNST stock in 2026?

Our dual AI analysis gives Quinstreet, Inc. a combined HOLD rating for 2026. Revenue is data pending, with profitability at or below sector average. Always conduct your own research.

What is QNST's free cash flow?

Quinstreet, Inc.'s operating cash flow is $41.2M, with capital expenditures of $2.1M. FCF margin is 6.8%.

How does QNST compare to other Services stocks?

Vs Services sector averages: Net margin 9.5% (avg: 10%), ROE 18.6% (avg: 16%), current ratio 1.51 (avg: 1.5).

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Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by Claude AI (Anthropic) and ChatGPT (OpenAI) based on publicly available SEC EDGAR filings. It does not include stock price data and should not be considered financial advice. All fundamental data is sourced from SEC public domain filings. Always conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions.
Data Source: SEC EDGAR | Analysis Date: Apr 14, 2026 | Data as of: 2025-12-31 | Powered by Claude AI