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MAX vs MCS

MAX
MediaAlpha, Inc.
NEUTRAL
Price
$10.00
Market Cap
$551.7M
Sector
Communication Services
AI Confidence
80%
MCS
The Marcus Corporation
BEARISH
Price
$18.98
Market Cap
$583.4M
Sector
Communication Services
AI Confidence
85%

Valuation

P/E Ratio
MAX
25.64
MCS
46.29
Forward P/E
MAX
6.6
MCS
35.15
P/B Ratio
MAX
135.13
MCS
1.27
P/S Ratio
MAX
0.5
MCS
0.81
EV/EBITDA
MAX
7.84
MCS
9.95

Profitability

Gross Margin
MAX
15.04%
MCS
40.88%
Operating Margin
MAX
7.68%
MCS
3.9%
Profit Margin
MAX
2.3%
MCS
1.77%
ROE
MAX
--
MCS
2.75%
ROA
MAX
15.07%
MCS
1.21%

Growth

Revenue Growth
MAX
-3.2%
MCS
3.1%
Earnings Growth
MAX
1412.2%
MCS
523.7%

Financial Health

Debt/Equity
MAX
--
MCS
0.73
Current Ratio
MAX
1.18
MCS
0.4
Quick Ratio
MAX
1.15
MCS
0.26

Dividends

Dividend Yield
MAX
--
MCS
1.69%
Payout Ratio
MAX
0.0%
MCS
73.17%

AI Verdict

MAX NEUTRAL

MediaAlpha (MAX) presents a contradictory profile: a strong Piotroski F-Score of 7/9 indicates robust operational health, yet the Graham Number ($0.81) suggests extreme overvaluation relative to book value. While the company is delivering massive earnings surprises and boasts an attractive Forward P/E of 6.60, the negative YoY revenue growth (-3.20%) and aggressive insider selling create significant headwinds. The stock is currently trading near its growth-based intrinsic value of $11.51, but lacks technical momentum and insider support.

Strengths
Strong Piotroski F-Score (7/9) indicating improving financial health
Exceptional earnings beat track record (4/4 last 4 quarters)
Very attractive Forward P/E ratio of 6.60
Risks
Negative YoY revenue growth (-3.20%) indicating a potential stagnation in top-line scale
Extremely high Price-to-Book ratio (135.14) suggesting minimal tangible asset backing
Heavy insider selling with 14 sell transactions and 0 buys in the last 6 months
MCS BEARISH

The Marcus Corporation exhibits significant fundamental fragility, highlighted by a mediocre Piotroski F-Score of 4/9 and a critical liquidity crisis with a Current Ratio of 0.40. While the stock has seen recent price momentum and strong earnings growth (recovery-based), it trades at a substantial premium to its Graham Number ($11.74) and Intrinsic Value ($12.09). The combination of thin profit margins (1.77%), bearish insider selling by the CEO, and a high PEG ratio suggests the current valuation is unsustainable. Despite analyst 'strong buy' ratings, the deterministic data points to a high-risk profile.

Strengths
Strong recent earnings surprise track record (3/4 beats)
Low Price-to-Sales ratio (0.81) suggesting efficient revenue generation relative to market cap
Manageable Debt/Equity ratio (0.73) compared to sector averages
Risks
Severe liquidity risk indicated by a Current Ratio of 0.40 and Quick Ratio of 0.26
Extreme overvaluation relative to defensive fair value (Price $18.98 vs Graham $11.74)
Very thin profitability margins (Profit Margin 1.77%, ROE 2.75%)

Compare Another Pair

MAX vs MCS: Head-to-Head Comparison

This page compares MediaAlpha, Inc. (MAX) and The Marcus Corporation (MCS) across key fundamental metrics including valuation ratios, profitability margins, growth rates, financial health indicators, and dividend metrics. Each metric highlights the better-performing stock so you can quickly identify relative strengths and weaknesses.

Our AI engine independently analyzes each company's financials, competitive position, and market conditions to produce a verdict (Bullish, Neutral, or Bearish) along with key strengths and risks. Use this comparison alongside your own research to make informed investment decisions.

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