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MediaAlphaMAX +1.84%74 Debt-to-EBITDA is 1.74 as of Mar. 2026, which is 49% below its 10-year median of 3.42. GuruFocus rates MAX with a GF Score™ of 74/100 and a GF Value™ of $18.49 (Modestly Undervalued). The stock has 6 warning signs investors should review. Among 306 Interactive Media companies, MediaAlpha ranks worse than 326797.06% on this metric.
Debt-to-EBITDA measures a company's ability to pay off its debt.
A high Debt-to-EBITDA ratio generally means that a company may spend more time to paying off its debt. According to Joel Tillinghast's BIG MONEY THINKS SMALL: Biases, Blind Spots, and Smarter Investing, a ratio of Debt-to-EBITDA exceeding four is usually considered scary unless tangible assets cover the debt.
The historical rank and industry rank for MediaAlpha's Debt-to-EBITDA or its related term are showing as below:
MAX'
s Debt-to-EBITDA Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: -5.06 Med: 3.42 Max: 112.46
Current: -2.18
During the past 8 years, the highest Debt-to-EBITDA Ratio of MediaAlpha was 112.46. The lowest was -5.06. And the median was 3.42.
MAX's Debt-to-EBITDA is ranked worse than 100% of 306
companies
in the Interactive Media industry
Industry Median: 0.67
vs MAX: -2.18
A high Debt-to-EBITDA ratio generally means that a company may spend more time to paying off its debt.
According to Joel Tillinghast's BIG MONEY THINKS SMALL: Biases, Blind Spots, and Smarter Investing, a ratio of Debt-to-EBITDA exceeding four is usually considered scary unless tangible assets cover the debt.
MediaAlpha Debt-to-EBITDA Related Terms
MediaAlpha Debt-to-EBITDA Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for MediaAlpha's Debt-to-EBITDA can be seen below:
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
MAX vs CARS, NRDS, SSTK: Debt-to-EBITDA Comparison
For the Internet Content & Information subindustry, MediaAlpha's Debt-to-EBITDA, along with its competitors' market caps and Debt-to-EBITDA data, can be viewed below:
* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.
MediaAlpha Debt-to-EBITDA vs Interactive Media Industry
For the Interactive Media industry and Communication Services sector, MediaAlpha's Debt-to-EBITDA distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where MediaAlpha's Debt-to-EBITDA falls into.
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
In the calculation of annual Debt-to-EBITDA, the EBITDA of the last fiscal year is used. In calculating the annualized quarterly data,
the EBITDA data used here is four times the quarterly (Mar. 2026) EBITDA data.
MediaAlpha (MAX) has a Debt-to-EBITDA of 1.74 as of Mar. 2026. Debt-to-EBITDA ratio represents the ratio of total debt to total earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. View historical data on MediaAlpha. This is 49% below median its historical median of 3.42. According to the industry distribution chart, MediaAlpha ranks #999999 out of 306 companies in the Interactive Media industry.
Is MediaAlpha's Debt-to-EBITDA too high?
MediaAlpha's current Debt-to-EBITDA of 1.74 is 49% below median its 10-year median of 3.42. The Interactive Media industry median Debt-to-EBITDA is 0.67. MediaAlpha's value of 1.74 is 159.7% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, MediaAlpha ranks #999999 out of 306 companies in the Interactive Media industry, which is in the bottom quartile relative to peers. Overall, MediaAlpha has a GF Score™ of 74/100 and is considered Modestly Undervalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does MediaAlpha's Debt-to-EBITDA compare to CARS and NRDS?
According to the Interactive Media industry distribution chart, MediaAlpha ranks #999999 out of 306 companies for Debt-to-EBITDA. This places MediaAlpha in the lower half of its industry. The industry median Debt-to-EBITDA is 0.67. MediaAlpha's value of 1.74 is 159.7% above this benchmark. While the company's 10-year median is 3.42 vs. the industry median of 0.67, MediaAlpha has consistently been above the industry average. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Debt-to-EBITDA for an Interactive Media company?
The median Debt-to-EBITDA among Interactive Media companies is 0.67, based on 306 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a Debt-to-EBITDA significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, Debt-to-EBITDA should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. MediaAlpha's current Debt-to-EBITDA of 1.74 is 159.7% above the industry median. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Debt-to-EBITDA mean?
A high Debt-to-EBITDA can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Debt-to-EBITDA ratio represents the ratio of total debt to total earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. View historical data on MediaAlpha. For the Interactive Media industry, the median Debt-to-EBITDA is 0.67 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. MediaAlpha's current Debt-to-EBITDA is 1.74, which is 49% below median its own 10-year median of 3.42. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is MediaAlpha stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, MediaAlpha (MAX) is currently considered Modestly Undervalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $18.49, compared to a current price of $14.38 — trading 22.2% below its estimated fair value. The current Debt-to-EBITDA is 1.74, which is 49% below median its 10-year median of 3.42 and 159.7% above the Interactive Media industry median of 0.67. MediaAlpha's overall GF Score™ is 74/100 with 6 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Debt-to-EBITDA calculated?
Debt-to-EBITDA is calculated from a company's financial statements. For MediaAlpha (MAX), the current Debt-to-EBITDA is 1.74 as of Mar. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.
Is MediaAlpha (MAX) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, MediaAlpha stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of $14.38 is trading 22.2% below its estimated GF Value™ of $18.49.
GuruFocus considers MediaAlpha to be Modestly Undervalued.
Key valuation signals for MAX:
Debt-to-EBITDA: 1.74 (49% below median its 10-year median of 3.42)
GF Value™: $18.49 vs. price of $14.38 (22.2% below fair value)
Industry Position: 159.7% above the Interactive Media median (#999999 of 306)
No single metric tells the full story. See the MAX stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
MediaAlpha Inc provides a platform that enables insurance carriers and distributors to target and acquire customers. The company's technology platform brings insurance carriers and consumers together through a real-time, transparent, and results-driven ecosystem. It serves as a customer acquisition channel in property and casualty insurance, health insurance, and life insurance. The company operates in the United States and generates revenue by earning a fee for each consumer referral sold on its platform.
74GF Score
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