• Transaction Value: $499.2 million in Q4, with P&C transaction value up sequentially.
• Adjusted EBITDA: $36.7 million in Q4, including $9 million of add backs related to the FTC matter.
• Health Vertical Transaction Value: $270 million for 2024, with a 14% take rate.
• Q1 2025 Guidance - Transaction Value: Expected between $415 million and $440 million, a 95% year-over-year increase at the mid-point.
• Q1 2025 Guidance - Revenue: Expected between $225 million and $245 million, an 86% year-over-year increase at the mid-point.
• Q1 2025 Guidance - Adjusted EBITDA: Expected between $24.5 million and $26.5 million, a 77% year-over-year increase at the mid-point.
• Cash and Net Debt: Ended the quarter with $43 million of cash and net debt to 2024 adjusted EBITDA of less than 1.3 times.

• Warning! GuruFocus has detected 5 Warning Signs with MAX.

Release Date: February 24, 2025

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

• MediaAlpha Inc (NYSE:MAX) reported a significant growth in transaction value, increasing by more than 150% year-over-year.
• The company achieved a remarkable growth in adjusted EBITDA, which grew by over 200% year-over-year.
• Record fourth quarter results were delivered across all key performance metrics, driven by strength in the P&C insurance vertical.
• MediaAlpha Inc (NYSE:MAX) has gained significant market share in the P&C sector due to attractive secular trends and strong execution.
• The company has a strong market position in the Medicare Advantage market, partnering with seven of the top 10 carriers.

Negative Points

• The health insurance vertical experienced a decline, with transaction value down 8% year-over-year due to ongoing headwinds in Medicare Advantage and softening under-65 demand.
• MediaAlpha Inc (NYSE:MAX) is facing a draft complaint and settlement demand from the FTC related to its under-65 health insurance business.
• The company had to record a $7 million reserve related to the FTC matter, impacting its adjusted EBITDA.
• Transaction values in the health vertical are expected to decline by a high-teens percentage year-over-year in Q1 2025.
• There is ongoing uncertainty regarding the resolution of the FTC matter, which could impact future financial results.

Q & A Highlights

Q: Can you provide more details on the FTC situation and the $7 million accrual? A: Steven Yi, CEO, mentioned ongoing discussions with the FTC and stated that updates will be provided once a resolution is reached. Patrick Thompson, CFO, explained that the $7 million reserve was calculated under US GAAP's contingent liability accounting, representing the lower end of estimated losses. This figure is subject to change as more information becomes available.

Q: Could you expand on the P&C market trends and expectations for 2025? A: Steven Yi, CEO, expressed optimism for the P&C vertical in 2025, citing strong carrier profitability and increased competition in the marketplace. He noted that with rate actions slowing, carriers will need to focus on acquiring new customers. Elevated consumer shopping levels and strong early-year results are expected to drive further competition and growth.

Q: What are the key initiatives beyond P&C, and what strategic investments are planned for 2025? A: Steven Yi, CEO, highlighted the significant growth potential in the Medicare Advantage market and ongoing investments in commercial insurance and agent business. The company is also focusing on data science to enhance efficiencies for publishers and advertisers.

Q: How does the cost to acquire traffic impact your margins? A: Steven Yi, CEO, explained that MediaAlpha's business model, which relies on a marketplace of publishers rather than direct customer acquisition, minimizes the impact of rising traffic acquisition costs. The company benefits from increased carrier investment in customer acquisition without incurring direct costs.

Q: Can you elaborate on the guidance assumptions for Q1, particularly in the health vertical? A: Patrick Thompson, CFO, stated that the health vertical is expected to decline in the high-teens year-over-year, with ongoing headwinds in Medicare Advantage and a slowdown in the under-65 business. Despite short-term challenges, the company remains optimistic about the long-term potential in the Medicare Advantage market.

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.