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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_______________
FORM 10-Q
________________
(Mark One)
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2024
or
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from __________ to __________
Commission File Number: 001-39671
____________________
MediaAlpha, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
____________________
Delaware85-1854133
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
700 South Flower Street, Suite 640
Los Angeles, California 90017
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
(213) 316-6256
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
_______________
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each classTrading
Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value per shareMAXNYSE
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.     Yes  No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).     Yes No  
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filerAccelerated filer
Non-accelerated filerSmaller reporting company
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).     Yes     No
As of October 31, 2024, there were 55,090,208 shares of MediaAlpha, Inc.'s Class A common stock, $0.01 par value per share, and 11,574,029 shares of MediaAlpha, Inc.’s Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, outstanding.


MediaAlpha, Inc. and Subsidiaries
TABLE OF CONTENTS

2

Certain Definitions
As used in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q:
“Class A-1 units” refers to the Class A-1 units of QL Holdings LLC (“QLH”).
“Class B-1 units” refers to the Class B-1 units of QLH.
“Company,” “we,” or “us” refers to MediaAlpha, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context requires otherwise.
“Consumer Referral” means any consumer click, call or lead purchased by a buyer on our platform.
“Consumers” and “customers” refer interchangeably to end consumers. Examples include individuals shopping for insurance policies.
“Digital consumer traffic” refers to visitors to the mobile, tablet, desktop and other digital platforms of our supply partners, as well as to our proprietary websites.
“Direct-to-consumer” or “DTC” means the sale of insurance products or services directly to end consumers, without the use of retailers, brokers, agents or other intermediaries.
“Distributor” means any company or individual that is involved in the distribution of insurance, such as an insurance agent or broker.
“Exchange agreement” means the exchange agreement, dated as of October 27, 2020 by and among MediaAlpha, Inc., QLH, Intermediate Holdco, Inc. and certain Class B-1 unitholders party thereto.
“Founders” means, collectively, Steven Yi, Eugene Nonko, and Ambrose Wang.
“High-intent” consumer or customer means an in-market consumer that is actively browsing, researching or comparing the types of products or services that our partners sell.
“Insignia” means Insignia Capital Group, L.P. and its affiliates.
“Intermediate Holdco” means Guilford Holdings, Inc., our wholly owned subsidiary and the owner of all Class A-1 units.
“Inventory,” when referring to our supply partners, means the volume of Consumer Referral opportunities.
“IPO” means our initial public offering of our Class A common stock, which closed on October 30, 2020.
“Legacy Profits Interest Holders” means certain current or former employees of QLH or its subsidiaries (other than the Senior Executives), who indirectly held Class B units in QLH prior to our IPO and includes any estate planning vehicles or other holding companies through which such persons hold their units in QLH (which holding companies may or may not include QL Management Holdings LLC).
“Lifetime value” or “LTV” is a type of metric that many of our business partners use to measure the estimated total worth to a business of a customer over the expected period of their relationship.
“Open Marketplace” refers to one of our two business models. In Open Marketplace transactions, we have separate agreements with Demand Partners and Supply Partners. We earn fees from our Demand Partners and separately pay a revenue share to our Supply Partners and a fee to internet search companies to drive consumers to our proprietary websites.
“Partner” refers to a buyer or seller on our platform, also referred to as “demand partners” and “supply partners,” respectively.
“Demand partner” or "customer" refers to a buyer on our platform. As discussed under Part I, Item 2. Management’s Discussion & Analysis – Management Overview, our demand partners are generally insurance carriers and distributors looking to target high-intent consumers deep in their purchase journey.
“Supply partner” or “supplier” refers to a seller to our platform. As discussed under Part I, Item 2. Management’s Discussion & Analysis – Management Overview, our supply partners are primarily insurance carriers looking to maximize the value of non-converting or low LTV consumers, and insurance-focused research destinations or other financial websites looking to monetize high-intent consumers.
3

“Private Marketplace” refers to one of our two business models. In Private Marketplace transactions, Demand Partners and Supply Partners contract with one another directly and leverage our platform to facilitate transparent, real-time transactions utilizing the reporting and analytical tools available to them from use of our platform. We charge a fee to our Supply Partners based on the Transaction Value of the Consumer Referrals sold through Private Marketplace transactions.
“Proprietary” means, when used in reference to our properties, the websites and other digital properties that we own and operate. Our proprietary properties are a source of Consumer Referrals on our platform.
“Reorganization Transactions” means the series of reorganization transactions completed on October 27, 2020 in connection with our IPO.
“Senior Executives” means the Founders and the other current and former officers of the Company listed in Exhibit A to the Exchange Agreement. This term also includes any estate planning vehicles or other holding companies through which such persons hold their units in QLH.
“Transaction Value” means the total gross dollars transacted by our partners on our platform.
“Vertical” means a market dedicated to a specific set of products or services sold to end consumers. Examples include property & casualty insurance, life insurance, health insurance, and travel.
“White Mountains” means White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. and its affiliates.
“Yield” means the return to our sellers on their inventory of Consumer Referrals sold on our platform.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factor Summary
We are including this Cautionary Statement to caution investors and qualify for the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act”) for forward-looking statements. This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, future events and our financial performance. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “predict,” “potential,” “believe,” “will likely result,” “expect,” “continue,” “will,” “anticipate,” “seek,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “projection,” “would,” and “outlook,” or the negative version of those words or other comparable words or phrases of a future or forward-looking nature. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts, and are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry, management’s beliefs and certain assumptions made by management, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and beyond our control. Accordingly, we caution you that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, assumptions and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date made, actual results may prove to be materially different from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.
There are or will be important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated in these forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the following:
Our ability to attract and retain supply partners and demand partners to our platform and to make available quality Consumer Referrals at attractive volumes and prices to drive transactions on our platform;
Our reliance on a limited number of supply partners and demand partners, many of which have no long-term contractual commitments with us, and any potential termination of those relationships;
Fluctuations in customer acquisition spending by property and casualty insurance carriers due to unexpected changes in underwriting profitability as the carriers go through cycles in their business;
Existing and future laws and regulations affecting the property & casualty insurance, health insurance and life insurance verticals;
Changes and developments in the regulation of the underlying industries in which our partners operate;
Competition with other technology companies engaged in digital customer acquisition, as well as buyers that attract consumers through their own customer acquisition strategies, third-party online platforms or other methods of distribution;
Our ability to attract, integrate and retain qualified employees;
Reductions in DTC digital spend by our buyers;
4

Mergers and acquisitions could result in additional dilution and otherwise disrupt our operations and harm our operating results and financial condition;
Our dependence on internet search companies to direct a significant portion of visitors to our suppliers’ websites and our proprietary websites;
The impact of broad-based pandemics or public health crises, such as COVID-19;
The terms and restrictions of our existing and future indebtedness;
Disruption to operations as a result of future acquisitions;
Our failure to obtain, maintain, protect and enforce our intellectual property rights, proprietary systems, technology and brand;
Our ability to develop new offerings and penetrate new vertical markets;
Our ability to manage future growth effectively;
Our reliance on data provided to us by our demand and supply partners and consumers;
Natural disasters, public health crises, political crises, economic downturns, or other unexpected events;
Significant estimates and assumptions in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements;
Potential litigation and claims, including claims by regulatory agencies and intellectual property disputes;
Our ability to collect our receivables from our partners;
Fluctuations in our financial results caused by seasonality;
The development of the DTC insurance distribution sector and evolving nature of our relatively new business model;
Disruptions to or failures of our technological infrastructure and platform;
Failure to manage and maintain relationships with third-party service providers;
Cybersecurity breaches or other attacks involving our systems or those of our partners or third-party service providers;
Our ability to protect consumer information and other data and risks of reputational harm due to an actual or perceived failure by us to protect such information and other data;
Risks related to laws and regulation to which we are subject both in the U.S. and internationally, many of which are evolving;
Risks related to changes in tax laws or exposure to additional income or other tax liabilities could affect our future profitability;
Risks related to being a public company;
Risks related to internal control over financial reporting;
Risks related to shares of our Class A common stock;
Risks related to our intention to take advantage of certain exemptions as a former “controlled company” under the rules of the NYSE, and the fact that the interests of our controlling stockholders (White Mountains, Insignia, and the Founders) may conflict with those of other investors;
Risks related to our corporate structure; and
The other risk factors described under Part I, Item 1A "Risk Factors" in our 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K and under Part II, Item 1A "Risk Factors" in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
The foregoing factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read together with the other cautionary statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. If one or more events related to these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may differ materially from what we anticipate. Many of the important factors that will determine these results are beyond our ability to control or predict. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and, except as otherwise required by law, we do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict which will arise. In addition, we cannot assess the impact of
5

each factor on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.
6

Part I. Financial Information
Item 1. Financial Statements.
MediaAlpha, Inc. and subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited; in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)
September 30,
2024
December 31,
2023
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents$32,304 $17,271 
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for credit losses of $1,027 and $537, respectively
126,814 53,773 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets2,936 3,529 
Total current assets162,054 74,573 
Intangible assets, net21,588 26,015 
Goodwill47,739 47,739 
Other assets4,729 5,598 
Total assets$236,110 $153,925 
Liabilities and stockholders' deficit
Current liabilities
Accounts payable$109,577 $56,279 
Accrued expenses14,202 11,588 
Current portion of long-term debt8,839 11,854 
Total current liabilities132,618 79,721 
Long-term debt, net of current portion155,811 162,445 
Other long-term liabilities7,302 6,184 
Total liabilities$295,731 $248,350 
Commitments and contingencies (Note 5)
Stockholders' (deficit)
Class A common stock, $0.01 par value - 1.0 billion shares authorized; 55.1 million and 47.4 million shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively
551 474 
Class B common stock, $0.01 par value - 100 million shares authorized; 11.6 million and 18.1 million shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively
116 181 
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value - 50 million shares authorized; 0 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023
  
Additional paid-in capital501,543 511,613 
Accumulated deficit(510,573)(522,562)
Total stockholders' (deficit) attributable to MediaAlpha, Inc.$(8,363)$(10,294)
Non-controlling interest(51,258)(84,131)
Total stockholders' (deficit)$(59,621)$(94,425)
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit$236,110 $153,925 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.
7

MediaAlpha, Inc. and subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited; in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2024202320242023
Revenue$259,133 $74,573 $564,056 $270,975 
Costs and operating expenses
Cost of revenue219,907 62,277 469,465 226,545 
Sales and marketing6,496 6,101 18,608 19,802 
Product development5,328 4,296 14,743 14,525 
General and administrative11,794 16,648 36,767 50,473 
Total costs and operating expenses243,525 89,322 539,583 311,345 
Income (loss) from operations15,608 (14,749)24,473 (40,370)
Other (income) expense, net(154)(100)(1,971)1,165 
Interest expense3,562 3,947 11,158 11,397 
Total other expense, net3,408 3,847 9,187 12,562 
Income (loss) before income taxes12,200 (18,596)15,286 (52,932)
Income tax expense312 102 469 330 
Net income (loss)$11,888 $(18,698)$14,817 $(53,262)
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest2,406 (5,196)2,828 (15,208)
Net income (loss) attributable to MediaAlpha, Inc.$9,482 $(13,502)$11,989 $(38,054)
Net income (loss) per share of Class A common stock
-Basic$0.17 $(0.29)$0.23 $(0.84)
-Diluted$0.17 $(0.29)$0.22 $(0.84)
Weighted average shares of Class A common stock outstanding
-Basic54,909,772 46,229,672 52,293,622 45,095,417 
-Diluted54,909,772 46,229,672 66,087,041 45,095,417 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.
8

MediaAlpha, Inc. and subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)
(Unaudited; in thousands, except share data)
Class A
common stock
Class B
common stock
Additional
Paid-In-
Capital
Accumulated
deficit
Non-
Controlling
Interest
Total
Stockholders’
(Deficit)
UnitsAmountUnitsAmountAmountAmountAmountAmount
Balance at December 31, 202347,360,454 $474 18,070,829 $181 $511,613 $(522,562)$(84,131)$(94,425)
Exchange of non-controlling interest for Class A common stock3,057,000 31 (3,057,000)(31)(14,280)— 14,280  
Vesting of restricted stock units407,803 3 — — (3)— —  
Equity-based compensation— — — — 8,575 — 7 8,582 
Shares withheld on tax withholding on vesting of restricted stock units— — — — (1,956)— — (1,956)
Distributions to non-controlling interests— — — — — — (113)(113)
Net (loss)— — — — — (1,113)(378)(1,491)
Balance at March 31, 202450,825,257 $508 15,013,829 $150 $503,949 $(523,675)$(70,335)$(89,403)
Exchange of non-controlling interest for Class A common stock3,439,800 34 (3,439,800)(34)(16,104)— 16,104  
Vesting of restricted stock units464,296 5 — — (5)— —  
Equity-based compensation— — — — 8,876 — 6 8,882 
Shares withheld on tax withholding on vesting of restricted stock units— — — — (1,721)— — (1,721)
Contributions from QLH’s members— — — — — — 756 756 
Distributions to non-controlling interests— — — — — — (904)(904)
Net income
— — — — — 3,620 800 4,420 
Balance at June 30, 202454,729,353 $547 11,574,029 $116 $494,995 $(520,055)$(53,573)$(77,970)
Vesting of restricted stock units360,855 4 — — (4)— —  
Equity-based compensation— — — — 8,051 — 3 8,054 
Shares withheld on tax withholding on vesting of restricted stock units— — — — (1,499)— — (1,499)
Distributions to non-controlling interests— — — — — — (94)(94)
Net income
— — — — — 9,482 2,406 11,888 
Balance at September 30, 202455,090,208 $551 11,574,029 $116 $501,543 $(510,573)$(51,258)$(59,621)

9

Class A
common stock
Class B
common stock
Additional
Paid-In-
Capital
Accumulated deficitNon- Controlling InterestTotal Stockholders’ (Deficit)
UnitsAmountUnitsAmountAmountAmountAmountAmount
Balance at December 31, 202243,650,634 $437 18,895,493 $189 $465,523 $(482,142)$(70,091)$(86,084)
Exchange of non-controlling interest for Class A common stock10,000 — (10,000)— (39)— 39  
Vesting of restricted stock units608,022 6 — — (6)— —  
Equity-based compensation— — — — 14,259 — 45 14,304 
Shares withheld on tax withholding on vesting of restricted stock units— — — — (1,238)— — (1,238)
Distributions to non-controlling interests— — — — — — (1,104)(1,104)
Net (loss)— — — — — (10,266)(4,318)(14,584)
Balance at March 31, 202344,268,656 $443 18,885,493 $189 $478,499 $(492,408)$(75,429)$(88,706)
Exchange of non-controlling interest for Class A common stock766,000 8 (766,000)(8)(3,130)— 3,130  
Vesting of restricted stock units822,147 8 — — (8)— —  
Equity-based compensation— — — — 15,171 — 14 15,185 
Shares withheld on tax withholding on vesting of restricted stock units— — — — (701)— — (701)
Distributions to non-controlling interests— — — — — — (192)(192)
Net (loss)— — — — — (14,286)(5,694)(19,980)
Balance at June 30, 202345,856,803 $459 18,119,493 $181 $489,831 $(506,694)$(78,171)$(94,394)
Vesting of restricted stock units741,283 7 — — (7)— —  
Equity-based compensation— — — — 14,440 — 14 14,454 
Shares withheld on tax withholding on vesting of restricted stock units— — — — (961)— — (961)
Contributions from QLH’s members
— — — — — — 196 196 
Distributions to non-controlling interests— — — — — — (276)(276)
Net (loss)— — — — — (13,502)(5,196)(18,698)
Balance at September 30, 202346,598,086 $466 18,119,493 $181 $503,303 $(520,196)$(83,433)$(99,679)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.
10

MediaAlpha, Inc. and subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited; in thousands)
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
20242023
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income (loss)$14,817 $(53,262)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity-based compensation expense
26,452 43,943 
Non-cash lease expense596 508 
Depreciation expense on property and equipment191 275 
Amortization of intangible assets4,827 5,188 
Amortization of deferred debt issuance costs569 597 
Impairment of cost method investment 1,406 
Credit losses519 (220)
Tax receivable agreement liability adjustments 6 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable(73,560)27,167 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets547 3,059 
Other assets375 375 
Accounts payable53,298 (15,243)
Accrued expenses2,712 1,138 
Net cash provided by operating activities$31,343 $14,937 
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchases of property and equipment(207)(60)
Acquisition of intangible assets(400) 
Net cash (used in) investing activities$(607)$(60)
Cash flows from financing activities
Payments made for / proceeds received from:
Repayments on long-term debt(10,172)(7,125)
Contributions from QLH’s members756 196 
Distributions(1,111)(1,572)
Payments pursuant to tax receivable agreement (2,822)
Shares withheld for taxes on vesting of restricted stock units(5,176)(2,900)
Net cash (used in) financing activities$(15,703)$(14,223)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents15,033 654 
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period17,271 14,542 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period$32,304 $15,196 
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information
Cash paid during the period for:
Interest$10,670 $10,081 
Income taxes paid, net of refunds$104 $(233)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.
11

MediaAlpha, Inc. and subsidiaries
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
1. Summary of significant accounting policies
The Company's significant accounting policies are included in the 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K and under Part II, Item 1A "Risk Factors" in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and did not materially change during the nine months ended September 30, 2024.
Basis of presentation
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements and related disclosures have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") applicable to interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of only those of a normal recurring nature, considered necessary for a fair statement of the financial position and interim results of the Company as of and for the periods presented have been included.
The December 31, 2023 balance sheet data was derived from audited consolidated financial statements; however, the accompanying interim notes to the consolidated financial statements do not include all of the annual disclosures required by GAAP. Results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of those that may be expected for a full year. The financial information included herein should be read in conjunction with the Company's consolidated financial statements and related notes in its 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K and under Part II, Item 1A "Risk Factors" in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Accounts receivable
Accounts receivable are net of allowances for credit losses of $1.0 million and $0.5 million as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.
Concentrations of credit risk and of significant customers and suppliers
Financial instruments that potentially expose the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable. The Company maintains cash balances that can, at times, exceed amounts insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The Company has not experienced any losses in these accounts and believes it is not exposed to unusual risk beyond the normal credit risk in this area based on the financial strength of the institutions with which the Company maintains its deposits.
The Company's accounts receivable, which are unsecured, may expose it to credit risk based on their collectability. The Company controls credit risk by investigating the creditworthiness of all customers prior to establishing relationships with them, performing periodic reviews of the credit activities of those customers during the course of the business relationship, regularly analyzing the collectability of accounts receivable, and recording allowances for credit losses. The Company's supplier concentration can also expose it to business risks.
Customer and supplier concentrations consisted of the below:
Three Months Ended
September 30, 2024
Three Months Ended
September 30, 2023
Number of customers or suppliers exceeding 10%Aggregate Value
(in millions)
% of TotalNumber of customers or suppliers exceeding 10%Aggregate Value
(in millions)
% of Total
Revenue$130 50 %$— — %
Purchases$48 22 %1$9 14 %
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Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2024
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2023
Number of customers or suppliers exceeding 10%Aggregate Value
(in millions)
% of TotalNumber of customers or suppliers exceeding 10%Aggregate Value
(in millions)
% of Total
Revenue$227 40 %$— — %
Purchases— $— — %1$26 12 %
As of September 30, 2024As of December 31, 2023
Number of customers or suppliers exceeding 10%Aggregate Value
(in millions)
% of TotalNumber of customers or suppliers exceeding 10%Aggregate Value
(in millions)
% of Total
Accounts receivable$66 52 %1$7 14 %
Accounts payable$39 36 %1$12 21 %
Related Party Transactions
The Company is party to the tax receivables agreement ("TRA") under which it is contractually committed to pay certain holders of Class B-1 units 85% of the amount of any tax benefits that the Company actually realizes, or in some cases is deemed to realize, as a result of certain transactions. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, no payments were made pursuant to the TRA. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, payments of $0 and $2.8 million, respectively, were made pursuant to the TRA.
Liquidity
As of September 30, 2024, the aggregate principal amount outstanding under the 2021 Credit Facilities was $165.8 million, with $45.0 million remaining for borrowing under the 2021 Revolving Credit Facility. As of September 30, 2024, the Company was in compliance with all of its financial covenants under such credit facilities.

On October 30, 2024, the Company received a letter from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in which the FTC proposes to seek injunctive and monetary relief and civil penalties, as further discussed in Note 5 - Commitments and contingencies - Litigation and other matters. The total amount of the proposed items significantly exceed the Company's existing liquidity and financial resources. Any such costs above the existing liquidity and financial resources would require the Company to seek additional capital, incur debt or otherwise take significant actions in order to satisfy the claims and there can be no assurances that such financing could be obtained on acceptable terms, or at all. The Company’s ability to continue to comply with its covenants will depend on, among other things, financial, business, market, competitive, the outcome of the FTC matter, and other conditions, many of which are beyond the Company’s control.
The Company’s results are subject to fluctuations as a result of business cycles experienced by companies in the insurance industry. During the second half of 2021, the auto insurance industry began to experience a cyclical downturn, as supply chain disruptions and cost increases caused by the pandemic and overall inflationary pressures contributed to higher-than-expected P&C insurance claims costs, which led many carriers to reduce their customer acquisition spending to preserve their profitability. However, the Company's Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance vertical has rebounded strongly during 2024, with multiple carriers meaningfully increasing their spending in the Company's marketplace. The Company believes that its expected near-term revenue, cash on hand and availability to access additional cash under its 2021 Revolving Credit Facility are sufficient to meet its operating and capital expenditure requirements, and to continue to comply with its debt covenants, for at least the next twelve months as of the filing date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
The extent to which market conditions impact the Company’s business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition will depend on future developments impacting its carrier partners, including inflation rates, the extent of any major catastrophic losses, and the timing of regulatory approval of premium rate increases, which remain highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with accuracy. The Company considered the impact of this uncertainty on the assumptions and estimates used when preparing these quarterly financial statements. These assumptions and estimates may continue to change as new events occur, and such changes could have an adverse impact on the Company's results of operations, financial position and liquidity.
13

New Accounting Pronouncements
Recently adopted accounting pronouncements
There have been no recently adopted accounting pronouncements by the Company.
Recently issued not yet adopted accounting pronouncements
In December 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, that requires disclosure of disaggregated income taxes paid, prescribes standard categories for the components of the effective tax rate reconciliation, and modifies other income tax-related disclosure. The amendments in the ASU are intended to enhance the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures. The amendments are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. The amendments in this ASU should be applied on a prospective basis but retrospective application is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the ASU on its disclosures in the consolidated financial statements.
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, which expands annual and interim disclosure requirements for reportable segments, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. The ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2023 and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted and the amendments in this update are required to be applied on a retrospective basis to all periods presented. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the ASU on disclosures in its consolidated financial statements.
2. Disaggregation of revenue
The following table shows the Company’s revenue disaggregated by transaction model:
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in thousands)2024202320242023
Open marketplace transactions$253,016 $73,053 $546,949 $263,568 
Private marketplace transactions6,117 1,520 17,107 7,407 
Total$259,133 $74,573 $564,056 $270,975 
The following table shows the Company’s revenue disaggregated by product vertical:
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in thousands)2024202320242023
Property & casualty insurance$219,036 $31,933 $422,700 $126,532 
Health insurance32,879 33,961 114,932 115,192 
Life insurance5,227 5,341 19,308 18,321 
Other1,991 3,338 7,116 10,930 
Total$259,133 $74,573 $564,056 $270,975 
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3. Goodwill and intangible assets
Goodwill and intangible assets consisted of:
As of
September 30, 2024December 31, 2023
(in thousands)Useful
life
(months)
Gross carrying amountAccumulated amortizationNet carrying amountGross carrying amountAccumulated amortizationNet carrying amount
Customer relationships
84 - 120
$43,500 $(28,113)$15,387 $43,500 $(23,947)$19,553 
Non-compete agreements60303 (303) 303 (303) 
Trademarks, trade names, and domain names
60 - 120
9,284 (3,083)6,201 8,884 (2,422)6,462 
Intangible assets$53,087 $(31,499)$21,588 $52,687 $(26,672)$26,015 
GoodwillIndefinite$47,739 $— $47,739 $47,739 $— $47,739 
Amortization expense related to intangible assets amounted to $1.6 million and $1.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $4.8 million and $5.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The Company has no accumulated impairment of goodwill.
The following table presents the changes in goodwill and intangible assets:
As of
September 30, 2024December 31, 2023
(in thousands)GoodwillIntangible
assets
GoodwillIntangible
assets
Beginning balance at January 1,$47,739 $26,015 $47,739 $32,932 
Additions to goodwill and intangible assets 400   
Amortization— (4,827)— (6,917)
Ending balance$47,739 $21,588 $47,739 $26,015 
As of September 30, 2024, future amortization expense relating to identifiable intangible assets with estimable useful lives over the next five years was as follows:
(in thousands)Amortization expense
2024–Remaining Period$1,603 
20255,776 
20265,173 
20274,140 
20282,336 
Thereafter2,560 
$21,588 
4. Long-term debt
On July 29, 2021, the Company entered into an amendment (the "First Amendment") to the 2020 Credit Agreement dated as of September 23, 2020, with the lenders that are party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (as amended by the First Amendment, the “Existing Credit Agreement”). On June 8, 2023, the Company entered into a Second Amendment (the “Second Amendment”) to the Existing Credit Agreement (as amended by the Second Amendment, the “Amended Credit Agreement”).
15

Long-term debt consisted of the following:
As of
(in thousands)September 30,
2024
December 31,
2023
2021 Term Loan Facility$160,828 $171,000 
2021 Revolving Credit Facility5,000 5,000 
Debt issuance costs(1,178)(1,701)
Total debt$164,650 $174,299 
Less: current portion, net of debt issuance costs of $661 and $693, respectively
(8,839)(11,854)
Total long-term debt$155,811 $162,445 
The Company incurred interest expense on the 2021 Term Loan Facility of $3.3 million and $3.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $10.3 million and $10.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Interest expense included amortization of debt issuance costs on the 2021 Credit Facilities of $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $0.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
As of September 30, 2024, the Company’s borrowing capacity available under the 2021 Revolving Credit Facility was $45.0 million, which carries a commitment fee based on the Company’s consolidated total net leverage ratio and ranges from 0.25% to 0.50%. The commitment fee on the unused portion of the 2021 Revolving Credit Facility was 0.25% as of September 30, 2024. The Company incurred interest expense on the 2021 Revolving Credit Facility of $0.1 million and $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $0.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. As of September 30, 2024, the Company’s interest rates on the outstanding borrowings under the 2021 Term Loan Facility and the 2021 Revolving Credit Facility were 7.57% and 7.68%, respectively.
Accrued interest was $3.3 million as of September 30, 2024 and $3.7 million as of December 31, 2023, and is included within accrued expenses on the consolidated balance sheets. As of September 30, 2024, the Company was in compliance with all covenants under the 2021 Credit Facilities.
The expected future principal payments for all borrowings as of September 30, 2024 were as follows:
(in thousands)Contractual maturity
2024–Remaining Period$2,375 
20259,500 
2026153,953 
Debt and issuance costs165,828 
Unamortized debt issuance costs(1,178)
Total debt$164,650 
5. Commitments and contingencies
Litigation and other matters
The Company is subject to certain legal proceedings and claims that arise in the normal course of business. In the opinion of management, the Company does not believe that the amount of liability, if any, as a result of these proceedings and claims will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
On February 21, 2023, the Company received a civil investigative demand from the FTC regarding compliance with the FTC Act and the Telemarketing Sales Rule, as they relate to the advertising, marketing, promotion, offering for sale, or sale of healthcare-related products, the collection, sale, transfer or provision to third parties of consumer data, telemarketing practices, and/or consumer privacy or data security. The Company has cooperated fully with the FTC investigation.
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On October 30, 2024, after completion of the Company’s earnings call, the Company received a letter from the staff of the FTC (the “FTC Staff”) stating that the FTC Staff is prepared to recommend the filing of a complaint against the Company for violations of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act, the Telemarketing Sales Rule ("TSR") and the Government and Business Impersonation Rule (the “Impersonation Rule”).
The FTC Staff alleges that, in connection with the Company’s lead generation and telemarketing activities, the Company has represented itself as affiliated with government entities, made misleading claims (in particular regarding health insurance products and the Company’s use of consumers’ personal information) and utilized deceptive advertising, in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act. The FTC Staff further alleges that the Company has violated the Impersonation Rule in representing itself to be affiliated with government entities and the TSR in connection with telemarketing activities.
The FTC Staff proposes to seek injunctive and monetary relief and civil penalties. If obtained in whole or in part, the monetary relief and penalties proposed by the FTC Staff would have an adverse, and potentially material, effect on the Company’s liquidity, financial condition and results of operations. The total amount of these proposed items significantly exceeds the Company’s existing liquidity and financial resources. Any such costs above the existing liquidity and financial resources would require the Company to seek additional capital, incur debt or otherwise take significant actions in order to satisfy the claims and there can be no assurances that such financing could be obtained on acceptable terms, or at all. In addition, the proposed injunctive terms, if obtained in whole or in part, could materially and adversely affect the Company’s ability to operate its business in its Health insurance vertical, including how the Company conducts its marketing activities and endeavors to ensure compliance with consumer protection laws by itself and third parties with which the Company does business.
The Company strongly disagrees with the FTC Staff’s allegations and believes it has substantial and meritorious defenses to these claims. Among other things, the Company believes that its conduct does not rise to the legal standard required for the FTC to obtain the proposed monetary relief and penalties. The Company will continue to engage in good faith and with the FTC Staff and seek to resolve this matter prior to litigation, but the Company is prepared to defend itself vigorously if a complaint is filed.
Based on the facts and circumstances available to the Company as of the time of this filing, the Company believes that a loss in connection with the FTC matter is probable, either as a result of legal fees to be incurred to defend the claim or as a result of a settlement of the matter. However, due to, among other things, inherent uncertainty regarding the ultimate resolution of the FTC Staff’s claims, whether through settlement or litigation, the Company is unable to reasonably estimate the amount of probable loss or range of probable loss at this time.
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company incurred legal fees of $0.2 million and $2.0 million, respectively, and during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company incurred legal fees of $1.6 million and $3.0 million, respectively, in connection with the demand, which are included within general and administrative expenses on the consolidated statement of operations. At this time, the Company is unable to predict the ultimate outcome of this matter or the significance, if any, to the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition.
On February 26, 2024, the Company received an assessment from the City of Los Angeles related to its examination of the Company's Business Tax filings for tax years 2018 through 2023. Such assessment was affirmed by the Appeals Review Officer at an initial hearing in July 2024. The Company intends to appeal the assessment to the Board of Review of the Office of Finance. As of September 30, 2024, the Company has assessed its probable loss related to this matter and has accrued a reserve, which is not material.
As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company did not have any material contingency reserves established for any litigation liabilities.
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6. Equity-based compensation
Equity-based compensation cost recognized for equity-based awards outstanding during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 was as follows:
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in thousands)2024202320242023
QLH restricted Class B-1 units$3 $14 $16 $73 
Restricted Class A shares66 130 272 464 
Restricted stock units7,985 14,310 25,230 43,406 
Performance-based restricted stock units543  934  
Total equity-based compensation$8,597 $14,454 $26,452 $43,943 
Equity-based compensation cost was included in the following expense categories in the consolidated statements of operations during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in thousands)2024202320242023
Cost of revenue$405 $1,012 $2,654 $2,959 
Sales and marketing1,933 2,151 5,676 6,895 
Product development1,733 1,905 5,001 6,176 
General and administrative4,526 9,386 13,121 27,913 
Total equity-based compensation$8,597 $14,454 $26,452 $43,943 
As of September 30, 2024, total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested restricted stock units and PRSUs was $57.3 million and $0.8 million, respectively, which are expected to be recognized over weighted-average periods of 2.53 years and 0.45 years, respectively.
7. Fair Value Measurements
The following are the Company’s financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
Contingent consideration
Contingent consideration is measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs and thus represent a Level 3 measurement in the valuation hierarchy.
Contingent consideration relates to the estimated amount of additional cash consideration to be paid in connection with the Company's acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Customer Helper Team, LLC ("CHT") which was closed on April 1, 2022. The fair value is dependent on the probability of achieving certain revenue and gross profit margin targets for the two successive twelve-month periods following the closing of the acquisition. The Company used the Monte Carlo simulation approach to estimate the fair value of the revenue and gross margin targets. The fair value of the contingent consideration as of December 31, 2023 was zero. CHT did not achieve the minimum revenue target for either twelve-month period, and so the Company did not pay any contingent consideration.
The following are the Company’s financial instruments measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis:
Long-Term Debt
As of September 30, 2024, the carrying amount of the 2021 Term Loan Facility and the 2021 Revolving Credit Facility approximates their respective fair values. The Company used a discounted cash flow analysis to estimate the fair value of the long-term debt, using an adjusted discount rate of 5.50% and the estimated payments under the 2021 Term Loan Facility until maturity, including interest payable based on the Company's forecasted total net leverage ratio.
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Cost method investment
The Company has elected the measurement alternative for its investment in equity securities without readily determinable fair values and reviews such investment on a quarterly basis to determine if it has been impaired. If the Company's assessment indicates that an impairment exists, the Company estimates the fair value of the equity investment and recognizes in its consolidated statement of operations an impairment loss that is equal to the difference between the fair value of the equity investment and its carrying amount. On March 29, 2024, the board of directors and stockholders of a company in which the Company held a minority equity investment approved a plan of restructuring and liquidation that had the effect of cancelling the Company's investment. The Company had previously determined as of December 31, 2023 that the fair value of the investment was zero and accordingly this cancellation had no impact on the consolidated financial statements as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024.
The Company used a market approach to estimate the fair value of equity and allocated the overall equity value to estimate the fair value of the common stock based on the liquidation preference and was classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
8. Income taxes
MediaAlpha, Inc. is taxed as a corporation and pays corporate federal, state and local taxes on income allocated to it from QLH based upon MediaAlpha, Inc.’s economic interest held in QLH. QLH is treated as a pass-through partnership for income tax reporting purposes and is not subject to federal income tax. Instead, QLH’s taxable income or loss is passed through to its members, including MediaAlpha, Inc. Accordingly, the Company is not liable for income taxes on the portion of QLH’s earnings not allocated to it. MediaAlpha, Inc. files and pays corporate income taxes for U.S. federal and state income tax purposes and its corporate subsidiary, Skytiger Studio, Ltd., is subject to taxation in Taiwan. The Company expects this structure to remain in existence for the foreseeable future.
The Company estimates the annual effective tax rate for the full year to be applied to actual year-to-date income (loss) and adds the tax effects of any discrete items in the reporting period in which they occur. The following table summarizes the Company's income tax expense:
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in thousands, except percentages)2024202320242023
Income (loss) before income taxes$12,200 $(18,596)$15,286 $(52,932)
Income tax expense$312 $102 $469 $330 
Effective Tax Rate2.6 %(0.5)%3.1 %(0.6)%
The Company's effective tax rate of 2.6% and 3.1% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, and (0.5)% and (0.6)% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively, differed from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21%, due primarily to the tax impacts of changes in valuation allowance.
There were no material changes to the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024. The Company is currently under examination by various tax authorities in the United States. These examinations are in preliminary stages and the Company does not expect to have any significant changes to unrecognized tax benefits through the end of the fiscal year.
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, holders of Class B-1 units exchanged 0 and 6,496,800 Class B-1 units, respectively, together with an equal number of shares of Class B common stock, for shares of Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis (“Exchanges”). In connection with the Exchanges, the Company did not establish any additional liabilities related to the TRA, which are presented within additional-paid-in-capital in its consolidated statements of stockholders’ equity (deficit). In connection with the Exchanges and the changes to the carrying value of the non-controlling interest, the Company also recognizes deferred tax assets associated with the basis difference in its investment in QLH through additional-paid-in-capital, but during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company did not recognize any additional deferred tax assets as the Company has recognized a full valuation allowance on its deferred tax assets.
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As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had a valuation allowance of $125.2 million and $95.1 million, respectively, against its deferred tax assets based on the recent history of pre-tax losses, which is considered a significant piece of objective negative evidence that is difficult to overcome and limits the ability to consider other subjective evidence, such as projections of future growth. Based on the significant improvement in the Company's pre-tax income for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and the current forecasts, the Company expects that in the foreseeable future, which could be as early as the fourth quarter of 2024, there may be sufficient positive evidence, and/or that the objective negative evidence in the form of history of pre-tax losses will no longer be present, in which event the Company would be able to release a portion or all of the valuation allowance. Release of any amount of valuation allowance would result in a benefit to income tax expense for the period the release is recorded, which could have a material impact on net income.
Tax Receivables Agreement
In connection with the Reorganization Transactions and the IPO, the Company entered into the TRA with Insignia, Senior Executives, and White Mountains. The Company expects to obtain an increase in its share of the tax basis in the net assets of QLH as Class B-1 units, together with shares of Class B common stock, are exchanged for shares of Class A common stock (or, at the Company’s election, redeemed for cash of an equivalent value). The Company intends to treat any redemptions and exchanges of Class B-1 units as direct purchases for U.S. federal income tax purposes. These increases in tax basis may reduce the amounts that it would otherwise pay in the future to various tax authorities.
As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company determined that making a payment under the TRA was not probable under ASC 450 — Contingencies since a valuation allowance has been recorded against the Company’s deferred tax assets. Accordingly, the Company has determined that the liabilities under the TRA were zero as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 in the consolidated balance sheets. In the event the Company generates taxable income for the current year, the Company would be required to recognize a portion or all of the liability under the TRA. If the Company had determined that generating sufficient future taxable income such that making a payment under the TRA was probable, it would have also recorded a liability pursuant to the TRA of approximately $121 million as of September 30, 2024 in the consolidated balance sheets.
No payments were made pursuant to the TRA during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, and payments of $0 and $2.8 million were made during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively.
9. Earnings (Loss) Per Share
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in thousands except share data and per share amounts)2024202320242023
Basic
Net income (loss)$11,888 $(18,698)$14,817 $(53,262)
Less: net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest2,406 (5,196)2,828 (15,208)
Net income (loss) attributable to MediaAlpha, Inc.$9,482 $(13,502)$11,989 $(38,054)
Weighted-average shares of Class A common stock outstanding - basic
54,909,772 46,229,672 52,293,622 45,095,417 
Weighted-average shares of Class A common stock outstanding - diluted
54,909,772 46,229,672 66,087,041 45,095,417 
Income (loss) per share of Class A common stock - basic
$0.17 $(0.29)$0.23 $(0.84)
Income (loss) per share of Class A common stock - diluted
$0.17 $(0.29)$0.22 $(0.84)
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(in thousands except share data and per share amount)
Nine months ended
September 30, 2024
Diluted
Net income
$14,817 
Add: incremental tax benefits related to exchange of Class B-1 units
(223)
Net income available for diluted common shares
$14,594 
Weighted-average shares outstanding:
Class A common stock52,293,622 
Class B-1 units13,793,419 
Weighted-average shares of Class A common stock and potential Class A common stock66,087,041 
Net income per share of Class A common stock - diluted
$0.22 
Potentially dilutive shares, which are based on the weighted-average shares of underlying unvested QLH restricted Class B-1 units, restricted Class A shares, restricted stock units, and PRSUs using the treasury stock method and the outstanding QLH restricted Class B-1 units using the if-converted method, are included when calculating diluted net income per share attributable to MediaAlpha, Inc. when their effect is dilutive. The effects of certain of the Company’s potentially dilutive securities were not included in the calculation of diluted loss per share as the effect of their inclusion would be anti-dilutive.
The following table summarizes the shares and units with a potentially dilutive impact for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
As of
September 30, 2024September 30, 2023
QLH Class B-1 Units11,609,982 18,155,446 
Restricted Class A Shares 52,573 
Restricted stock units3,664,754 4,342,036 
PRSUs
93,000  
Potentially dilutive shares15,367,736 22,550,055 
The following table summarizes the shares and units with a potentially dilutive impact for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
As of
September 30, 2024September 30, 2023
QLH Class B-1 Units 18,155,446 
Restricted Class A Shares 52,573 
Restricted stock units3,664,754 4,342,036 
PRSUs
93,000  
Potentially dilutive shares3,757,754 22,550,055 
The outstanding PRSUs were included in the potentially dilutive securities as of September 30, 2024 to the level in which the performance conditions have been met as of September 30, 2024.
10. Non-Controlling Interest
Pursuant to QLH’s limited liability company agreement, QLH has two classes of equity securities, Class A-1 units, which have all voting rights in QLH, and Class B-1 units, which have no voting or control rights. The Company allocates a share of net income (loss) to the holders of non-controlling interests pro-rata to their ownership interest in QLH at a point in time. The non-controlling interests balance represents the Class B-1 units, substantially all of which are held by Insignia and the Senior Executives. 
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During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, the holders of the non-controlling interests exchanged 0 and 6,496,800 Class B-1 units, respectively, together with an equal number of shares of Class B common stock, for shares of Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis. As of September 30, 2024, the holders of the non-controlling interests owned 17.4% of the total equity interests in QLH, with the remaining 82.6% owned by MediaAlpha, Inc. As of December 31, 2023, the holders of the non-controlling interests owned 27.7% of the total equity interests in QLH, with the remaining 72.3% owned by MediaAlpha, Inc.
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Item 2. Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read together with our unaudited consolidated financial statements and related notes included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
This discussion, particularly information with respect to our future results of operations or financial condition, business strategy and plans, and objectives of management for future operations, includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties as described under the heading "Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. You should review the disclosure under the heading "Risk Factors" in Part II, Item 1A of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for a discussion of important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements.
Management overview
Our mission is to help insurance carriers and distributors target and acquire customers more efficiently and at greater scale through technology and data science. Our technology platform brings together leading insurance carriers and high-intent consumers through a real-time, programmatic, transparent, and results-driven ecosystem. We believe we are the largest online customer acquisition platform in our core verticals of property & casualty ("P&C") insurance, health insurance, and life insurance, supporting over $1.1 billion in Transaction Value across our platform from these verticals over the twelve-month period ended September 30, 2024.
We have multi-faceted relationships with top-tier insurance carriers and distributors. A buyer or a demand partner within our ecosystem is generally an insurance carrier or distributor seeking to reach high-intent insurance consumers. A seller or a supply partner is typically an insurance carrier looking to maximize the value of non-converting or low expected LTV consumers, or an insurance-focused research destination or other financial website looking to monetize high-intent users on their websites. For the twelve-month period ended September 30, 2024, the websites of our diversified group of supply partners and our proprietary websites drove an average of 9.1 million Consumer Referrals on our platform each month.
We generate revenue by earning a fee for each Consumer Referral sold on our platform. A transaction becomes payable upon a qualifying consumer action, such as a click, call or lead, and is generally not contingent on the sale of a product to the consumer.
We believe our technology is a key differentiator and a powerful driver of our performance. We maintain deep, custom integrations with partners representing the majority of our Transaction Value, which enable automated, data-driven processes that optimize our partners’ customer acquisition spend and revenue. Through our platform, our insurance carrier partners can target and price across over 35 separate consumer attributes to manage customized acquisition strategies.
Executive Summary
Highlights
(in millions, except percentages)Three Months Ended
September 30, 2024
$%Three Months Ended
September 30, 2023
Revenue$259.1 184.5 247.5%$74.6 
Transaction Value1
$451.8 342.8 314.4%$109.0 
Contribution1
$41.5 26.5 175.9%$15.0 
Net Income (Loss)
$11.9 30.6 n/m$(18.7)
Adjusted EBITDA1
$26.3 22.7 632.6%$3.6 
n/m - Not Meaningful
1.Transaction Value is an operating metric not presented in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA, Contribution, and Contribution Margin are non-GAAP financial measures. See “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations-Key business and operating metrics.” for additional information regarding the Company’s operating metrics and Non-GAAP metrics.

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For the three months ended September 30, 2024, we generated $259.1 million of revenue and $451.8 million of Transaction Value, representing increases of 247.5% and 314.4%, respectively, compared with the three months ended September 30, 2023, driven primarily by significant increases in customer acquisition spending by P&C carrier partners as they refocus on growth in response to improving underwriting profitability.
Contribution, which generally represents revenue less revenue share payments and online advertising costs, was $41.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, a year-over-year increase of 175.9%, driven primarily by the higher revenue. Contribution Margin was 16.0% in the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared with 20.2% in the three months ended September 30, 2023.

Net income for the three months ended September 30, 2024 was $11.9 million, compared with a net loss of $18.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023, driven primarily by the increase in gross profit and lower equity-based compensation expense.

Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended September 30, 2024 was $26.3 million, a year-over-year increase of 632.6%, due primarily to higher gross profit.
Key factors affecting our business
Revenue
We believe that our future performance will depend on many factors, including those described below and in Part I, Item 1A "Risk Factors" in our 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K and under Part II, Item 1A "Risk Factors" in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Secular trends in the insurance industry
Our technology platform was created to serve and grow with our core insurance end markets. We believe secular trends in the insurance industry are critical drivers of our revenue and will continue to provide strong tailwinds for our business over the long term. Customer acquisition spending by insurance carriers is growing over time, and as more consumers shop for insurance online, direct-to-consumer marketing, which fuels our revenue, has become the fastest growing insurance distribution channel. As mass-market customer acquisition becomes more costly, insurance carriers and distributors are increasingly focusing on optimizing customer acquisition spend, which is at the core of the service we deliver on our platform. As long as these secular trends persist, we expect digital insurance customer acquisition spending to continue to grow over time, and we believe we are well-positioned to benefit from this growth.
Transaction Value
We define “Transaction Value” as the total gross dollars transacted by our partners on our platform. Transaction Value is an operating metric not presented in accordance with GAAP, and is a driver of revenue based on the economic relationships we have with our partners. Transaction Value from Open Marketplace transactions is a direct driver of our revenue, while Transaction Value from Private Marketplace transactions is an indirect driver of our revenue (see “Key business and operating metrics” below). Transaction Value on our platform increased to $451.8 million and $992.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, from $109.0 million and $428.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively, due primarily to an increase in customer acquisition spending by P&C insurance carriers in response to improvements in their underwriting profitability. We have developed multi-faceted, deeply integrated partnerships with insurance carriers and distributors, who may be both demand partners and supply partners on our platform. We believe the versatility and breadth of our offerings, coupled with our focus on high-quality products, provide significant value to insurance carriers and distributors, leading many of them to use our platform as their central hub for broadly managing digital customer acquisition and monetization, resulting in strong retention rates. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, 97% of total insurance Transaction Value executed on our platform, respectively, came from demand partner relationships in existence during 2023.
Our demand and supply partners
We retain and attract demand partners by finding high-quality sources of Consumer Referrals to make available to our demand partners. We obtain these Consumer Referrals from our diverse network of supply partners as well as from our proprietary properties. We seek to develop, acquire and retain relationships with high-quality supply partners by developing flexible platforms to enable our supply partners to maximize their revenue, manage their demand side relationships in scalable and flexible ways and focus on long-term sustainable economics with respect to revenue share. Our relationships with our
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partners are deep and long standing and involve most of the top-tier insurance carriers in the industry. In terms of demand partners, during the nine months ended September 30, 2024, 13 of the top 20 largest auto insurance carriers by customer acquisition spend were on our platform.
Consumer Referrals
Our results depend in large part on the number of Consumer Referrals purchased on our platform and the pricing of such Consumer Referrals. The aggregate number of consumer clicks, calls, and leads purchased by insurance buyers on our platform increased to 30.5 million and 83.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, from 23.2 million and 72.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively. We seek to increase the number and scale of our supply relationships and drive consumers to our proprietary properties through a variety of paid traffic acquisition sources. We continuously look to diversify our paid media sources to extend beyond search engine marketing, which has historically represented the bulk of our paid media spend, into other online media sources, including native, social, and display advertising.
Seasonality
Our results are subject to fluctuations as a result of seasonality. In particular, our P&C insurance vertical is typically characterized by seasonal strength in our quarters ending March 31 due to a greater supply of Consumer Referrals and higher customer acquisition budgets during the start of the year, and by seasonal weakness in our quarters ending December 31 due to a lower supply of Consumer Referrals available on a cost-effective basis and lower customer acquisition budgets from some buyers during those quarters. Our health insurance vertical is typically characterized by seasonal strength in our quarters ending December 31 due to open enrollment periods for health insurance and annual enrollment for Medicare during those quarters, with a material increase in consumer search volume for health products and a related increase in buyer customer acquisition budgets.
Other factors affecting our partners’ businesses include macro factors such as credit availability in the market, the strength of the economy and employment levels.
Cyclicality
Our results are also subject to fluctuations as a result of business cycles experienced by companies in the P&C insurance industry. These cycles in the P&C insurance industry are characterized by periods of “soft” market conditions, when carriers are profitable and are focused on increasing capacity and building market share, and “hard” market conditions, when carriers are experiencing lower or even negative underwriting profits and are seeking to increase their premium rates to improve their profitability. As our demand partners in the P&C insurance industry go through these market cycles, they often increase their customer acquisition spending during soft markets and reduce it during hard markets, causing their relative demand for Consumer Referrals from our platform to increase and decrease accordingly. Beginning in the second half of 2021, the P&C insurance industry entered a "hard” market, with many carriers experiencing lower than expected underwriting profitability due to higher than expected inflation in automobile claims costs, causing them to significantly reduce their customer acquisition spending on our platform. In late 2023, P&C insurance industry profitability began to improve as premium increases began to outpace loss cost inflation, causing them to begin to resume their marketing investments. This recovery gained significant momentum during the first nine months of 2024 as multiple carriers meaningfully increased their spending in our marketplaces. While we expect this improvement to continue, we are currently unable to accurately predict the pace or slope of this recovery, or its impact on our revenue from the P&C insurance vertical or our profitability, beyond the fourth quarter of 2024.
Regulations
Our revenue and earnings may fluctuate from time to time as a result of federal, state, international and industry-based laws, directives and regulations and developing standards with respect to the enforcement of those regulations. Our business is affected directly because we operate websites, conduct telemarketing and email marketing and collect, process, store, share, disclose, transfer and use consumer information and other data. Our business is affected indirectly as our clients adjust their operations as a result of regulatory changes and enforcement activity within their industries. For example, the FTC has recently started taking a new position (in recent public statements and enforcement actions) regarding the consent rules under the Telemarketing Sales Rule ("TSR"), and the Federal Communications Commission has recently adopted changes to the consent rules under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 (“TCPA”). These changes have required, and may in the future require, both us and our Partners to adjust their telemarketing activities. While it is unclear how some of these changes may ultimately be interpreted, they may have a significant impact on the market for leads, and may require us and our Partners to modify our telemarketing practices and policies. In addition, the California Consumer Privacy Act ("CCPA") became effective
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on January 1, 2020 and has been amended by the California Privacy Rights Act ("CPRA"), which became effective January 1, 2023, and more than 20 other states have enacted or are considering similar laws, all of which may affect our business. While it is unclear how this new legislation may be modified or how certain provisions will be interpreted, the effects of this legislation are potentially significant, and may require us to modify our data processing practices and policies and incur substantial compliance-related costs and expenses. In addition, we are licensed as a health insurance broker in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, making us subject to certain insurance laws and regulations. Our Medicare business is also subject to federal rules governing the marketing of such policies. For a description of laws and regulations to which we are generally subject, see Item 1 “Business” and Item 1A “Risk Factors.” in our 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K and under Part II, Item 1A "Risk Factors" in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
In addition, we are impacted by the regulation of the insurance carriers with whom we do business. In most states, insurance carriers are required to obtain approval of their premium rates from the regulatory authority in such states. The timing of such approval process, as well as the willingness of insurance regulators to approve rate increases, can impact the profitability of new policies and the level of customer acquisition spending by carriers in a given period, which in turn can cause fluctuations in our revenue and earnings.
Key components of our results of operations
Revenue
We operate primarily in the P&C insurance, health insurance, and life insurance verticals and generate revenue through the purchase and sale of Consumer Referrals.
The price and amount of Consumer Referrals purchased and sold on our platform vary based on a number of market conditions and consumer attributes, including (i) geographic location of consumers, (ii) demographic attributes of consumers, (iii) the source of Consumer Referrals and quality of conversion by source, (iv) the volume of Consumer Referrals provided by our Supply Partners (v) Demand Partner bid levels and (vi) Demand Partner demand and budgets.
In our Open Marketplace transactions, we have control over the Consumer Referrals that are sold to our Demand Partners. In these arrangements, we have separate agreements with the Supply Partners and Demand Partners. Supply Partners are not a party to the contractual arrangements with our Demand Partners, nor are the Supply Partners the beneficiaries of our Demand Partner agreements. We generate revenue from the delivery of Consumer Referrals to our customers (Demand Partners) on our technology platform and separately pay (i) a revenue share to Supply Partners or (ii) a fee to internet search companies to drive consumers to our proprietary websites. We are the principal in Open Marketplace transactions. As a result, the price paid by the Demand Partners for Consumer Referrals sold is recognized as revenue and the price paid to the Supply Partner is included in cost of revenue.
With respect to our Private Marketplace transactions, Supply Partners and Demand Partners contract with one another directly. In these transactions, we act as an agent, facilitating the sale of Consumer Referrals between these Supply and Demand Partners, by providing access to our platform to the Supply Partner for their use as a tracking, reporting, optimization, and analytics tool in transacting with the Demand Partner, and we generate revenue by charging the Supply Partner a platform fee on the Consumer Referrals transacted, which is a negotiated percentage of the Transaction Value of such transactions. We do not make any payments to Supply Partners in our Private Marketplace transactions.
Costs and operating expenses
Costs and operating expenses consist primarily of cost of revenue, sales and marketing expenses, product expenses and general and administrative expenses.
Cost of revenue
Our cost of revenue is comprised primarily of revenue share payments to Supply Partners and traffic acquisition costs paid to search engines and social media platforms, as well as telephony infrastructure costs, internet and hosting costs, and merchant fees, and includes salaries, wages, equity-based compensation, the cost of health and other employee benefits for employees engaged in media buying, and other expenses including an allocated portion of rent and facilities expenses.
Sales and marketing
Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of an allocation of personnel expenses for employees engaged in demand side and supply side business development and marketing, and include salaries, wages, equity-based compensation, and
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the cost of health and other employee benefits. Sales and marketing expenses also include costs related to attracting partners to our platform, including marketing and promotions, tradeshows and related travel and entertainment expenses. Sales and marketing expenses also include an allocated portion of rent and facilities expenses and depreciation and amortization expense.
Product development
Product development expenses consist primarily of an allocation of personnel expenses for employees engaged in technology, engineering and product development and include salaries, wages, equity-based compensation, and the cost of health and other employee benefits. Product development expenses also include an allocated portion of rent and facilities expenses and depreciation and amortization expense.
General and administrative
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of an allocation of personnel expenses for executive, finance, legal, people operations, and business analytics employees, and include salaries, wages, equity-based compensation, and the cost of health and other employee benefits. General and administrative expenses also include professional services, an allocated portion of rent and facilities expenses and depreciation and amortization expense.
Other expense (income), net
Other expense (income), net consists primarily of expenses and income not incurred by us in our ordinary course of business and that are not included in any of the categories listed above.
Interest expense
Interest expense consists primarily of interest expense associated with outstanding borrowings under our 2021 Credit Facilities and the amortization of deferred financing costs associated with these arrangements.
Income tax expense (benefit)
MediaAlpha, Inc. is taxed as a corporation and pays corporate federal, state and local taxes on income allocated to it from QLH based upon MediaAlpha, Inc.’s economic interest held in QLH. QLH is treated as a pass-through partnership for income tax reporting purposes and is not subject to federal income tax. Instead, QLH’s taxable income or loss is passed through to its members, including MediaAlpha, Inc., pro-rata to their ownership interest in QLH. Accordingly, as our ownership interest in QLH increases, our share of the taxable income (loss) of QLH also increases. As of September 30, 2024, our ownership interest in QLH was 82.6%.
Net income (loss) attributable to Non-controlling interest
Net income (loss) is attributed to non-controlling interests in accordance with QLH’s limited liability company agreement. We allocate a share of the pre-tax income (loss) of the QLH incurred subsequent to the Reorganization Transactions to the non-controlling interest holders pro-rata to their ownership interest in QLH. The non-controlling interests balance represents the Class B-1 units, substantially all of which are held by Insignia and the Senior Executives.
27

Operating results for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023
The following table sets forth our operating results in absolute dollars and as a percentage of revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
Three Months Ended
September 30,
(in thousands)20242023
Revenue$259,133 100.0 %$74,573 100.0 %
Costs and operating expenses
Cost of revenue219,907 84.9 %62,277 83.5 %
Sales and marketing6,496 2.5 %6,101 8.2 %
Product development5,328 2.1 %4,296 5.8 %
General and administrative11,794 4.6 %16,648 22.3 %
Total costs and operating expenses243,525 94.0 %89,322 119.8 %
Income (loss) from operations15,608 6.0 %(14,749)(19.8)%
Other (income), net(154)(0.1)%(100)(0.1)%
Interest expense3,562 1.4 %3,947 5.3 %
Total other expense, net3,408 1.3 %3,847 5.2 %
Income (loss) before income taxes12,200 4.7 %(18,596)(24.9)%
Income tax expense312 0.1 %102 0.1 %
Net income (loss)$11,888 4.6 %$(18,698)(25.1)%
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest2,406 0.9 %(5,196)(7.0)%
Net income (loss) attributable to MediaAlpha, Inc.$9,482 3.7 %$(13,502)(18.1)%
Net income (loss) per share of Class A common stock
-Basic and diluted$0.17 $(0.29)
Weighted average shares of Class A common stock outstanding
-Basic and diluted54,909,772 46,229,672 
Revenue
The following table presents our revenue, disaggregated by vertical, for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, and the dollar and percentage changes between the two periods:
(dollars in thousands)Three Months Ended
September 30, 2024
$%Three Months Ended
September 30, 2023
Property & Casualty insurance$219,036 $187,103 585.9 %$31,933 
Percentage of total revenue84.5 %42.8 %
Health insurance32,879 (1,082)(3.2)%33,961 
Percentage of total revenue12.7 %45.5 %
Life insurance5,227 (114)(2.1)%5,341 
Percentage of total revenue2.0 %7.2 %
Other1,991 (1,347)(40.4)%3,338 
Percentage of total revenue0.8 %4.5 %
Revenue$259,133 184,560 247.5 %$74,573 
28

The increase in P&C insurance revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared with the three months ended September 30, 2023, was due to an increase in customer acquisition spending by P&C insurance carrier partners as they refocus on growth in response to the significant improvement in their underwriting profitability. This additional demand drove increased year-over-year pricing and higher volume as we continued to scale the business and expand our market share. We believe that the hard market cycle the P&C insurance industry has experienced since the second half of 2021 has now turned and the industry is improving rapidly. While we expect this improvement to continue, we are currently unable to accurately predict the pace or slope of this recovery, or its impact on our revenue from the P&C insurance vertical or our profitability, beyond the fourth quarter of 2024.
The decrease in health insurance revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared with the three months ended September 30, 2023, was driven by lower transactions through our Open Marketplace, due primarily to a reduced supply of consumer referrals resulting from one of our partners ceasing operations during the three months ended June 30, 2024, offset in part by higher customer acquisition spending by certain demand partners who transact primarily via our Private Marketplaces.
The decrease in life insurance revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared with the three months ended September 30, 2023, was due primarily to a reduced supply of consumer referrals resulting from one of our supply partners ceasing operations during the three months ended June 30, 2024, offset in part by a higher mix of transactions through our Open Marketplace, which have a greater impact on revenue.
The decrease in other revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared with the three months ended September 30, 2023, was driven primarily by lower revenue from our travel vertical due to a reduced supply of consumer referrals resulting from higher traffic acquisition costs.
Cost of revenue
The following table presents our cost of revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, and the dollar and percentage changes between the two periods:
(dollars in thousands)Three Months Ended
September 30, 2024
$%Three Months Ended
September 30, 2023
Cost of revenue$219,907 $157,630 253.1 %$62,277 
Percentage of revenue84.9 %83.5 %

The increase in cost of revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared with the three months ended September 30, 2023, was driven primarily by higher revenue share payments to suppliers due to the overall increase in revenue and lower take rates, offset in part by higher transactions in our Private Marketplaces, which have a lower impact on cost of revenue.
Sales and marketing
The following table presents our sales and marketing expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, and the dollar and percentage changes between the two periods:
(dollars in thousands)Three Months Ended
September 30, 2024
$%Three Months Ended
September 30, 2023
Sales and marketing$6,496 $395 6.5 %$6,101 
Percentage of revenue2.5 %8.2 %
The increase in sales and marketing expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared with the three months ended September 30, 2023, was due primarily to an increase in personnel-related costs resulting primarily from the hiring of additional employees, offset in part by lower equity-based compensation expense.
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Product development
The following table presents our product development expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, and the dollar and percentage changes between the two periods:
(dollars in thousands)Three Months Ended
September 30, 2024
$%Three Months Ended
September 30, 2023
Product development$5,328 $1,032 24.0 %$4,296 
Percentage of revenue2.1 %5.8 %
The increase in product development expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared with the three months ended September 30, 2023, was due primarily to an increase in personnel-related costs of $1.0 million resulting primarily from the hiring of additional employees, offset in part by a decrease in equity-based compensation expense.
General and administrative
The following table presents our general and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, and the dollar and percentage changes between the two periods:
(dollars in thousands)Three Months Ended
September 30, 2024
$%Three Months Ended
September 30, 2023
General and administrative$11,794 $(4,854)(29.2)%$16,648 
Percentage of revenue4.6 %22.3 %
The decrease in general and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared with the three months ended September 30, 2023, was due primarily to a decrease in equity-based compensation expense of $4.9 million, a $1.6 million decrease in legal costs driven primarily by lower costs associated with the civil investigative demand from the Federal Trade Commission, and a $0.3 million reduction in directors & officers insurance premiums, offset in part by an increase in personnel-related costs of $0.6 million.
Equity-based compensation
The following table presents our equity-based compensation expense that was included in costs and operating expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, and the dollar and percentage changes between the two periods:
(dollars in thousands)Three Months Ended
September 30, 2024
$%Three Months Ended
September 30, 2023
Cost of revenue$405 $(607)(60.0)%$1,012 
Sales and marketing1,933 (218)(10.1)%2,151 
Product development1,733 (172)(9.0)%1,905 
General and administrative4,526 (4,860)(51.8)%9,386 
Total$8,597 $(5,857)(40.5)%$14,454 
The decrease in equity-based compensation expense for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared with the three months ended September 30, 2023, was due primarily to certain Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) granted to key employees at the IPO being fully vested as of December 31, 2023, offset in part by expenses related to annual awards of RSUs granted to employees during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and higher employee headcount.
Amortization
The following table presents our amortization of intangible asset expense that was included in costs and operating expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, and the dollar and percentage changes between the two periods:
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(dollars in thousands)Three Months Ended
September 30, 2024
$%Three Months Ended
September 30, 2023
Sales and Marketing$1,396 $(144)(9.4)%$1,540 
General and administrative213 23 12.1 %190 
Total$1,609 $(121)(7.0)%$1,730 
The decrease in amortization expense for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared with the three months ended September 30, 2023, was immaterial.
Other (income), net
The following table presents our other (income), net for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, and the dollar and percentage changes between the two periods:
(dollars in thousands)Three Months Ended
September 30, 2024
$%Three Months Ended
September 30, 2023
Other (income), net
$(154)$(54)54.0 %$(100)
Percentage of revenue(0.1)%(0.1)%
The increase in other (income), net for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared with the three months ended September 30, 2023, was immaterial.
Interest expense
The following table presents our interest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, and the dollar and percentage changes between the two periods:
(dollars in thousands)Three Months Ended
September 30, 2024
$%Three Months Ended
September 30, 2023
Interest expense$3,562 $(385)(9.8)%$3,947 
Percentage of revenue1.4 %5.3 %

The decrease in interest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared with the three months ended September 30, 2023, was driven by the impact of lower interest rates as well as lower outstanding balances during 2024.
Income tax expense
The following table presents our income tax expense for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, and the dollar and percentage changes between the two periods:
(dollars in thousands)Three Months Ended
September 30, 2024
$%Three Months Ended
September 30, 2023
Income tax expense$312 $210 205.9 %$102 
Percentage of revenue0.1 %0.1 %
For the three months ended September 30, 2024, we recorded an income tax expense of $0.3 million resulting from our effective tax rate of 2.6%, which differed from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21%, due primarily to the tax impacts of changes in our valuation allowance. For the three months ended September 30, 2023, we recorded an income tax expense of $0.1 million resulting from our effective tax rate of (0.5)%, which differed from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21%.

31

Operating results for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023
The following table sets forth our operating results in absolute dollars and as a percentage of revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in thousands)20242023
Revenue$564,056 100.0 %$270,975 100.0 %
Costs and operating expenses
Cost of revenue469,465 83.2 %226,545 83.6 %
Sales and marketing18,608 3.3 %19,802 7.3 %
Product development14,743 2.6 %14,525 5.4 %
General and administrative36,767 6.5 %50,473 18.6 %
Total costs and operating expenses539,583 95.7 %311,345 114.9 %
Income (loss) from operations24,473 4.3 %(40,370)(14.9)%
Other (income) expense, net(1,971)(0.3)%1,165 0.4 %
Interest expense11,158 2.0 %11,397 4.2 %
Total other expense, net9,187 1.6 %12,562 4.6 %
Income (loss) before income taxes15,286 2.7 %(52,932)(19.5)%
Income tax expense469 0.1 %330 0.1 %
Net income (loss)$14,817 2.6 %$(53,262)(19.7)%
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest2,828 0.5 %(15,208)(5.6)%
Net income (loss) attributable to MediaAlpha, Inc.$11,989 2.1 %$(38,054)(14.0)%
Net income (loss) per share of Class A common stock
-Basic$0.23 $(0.84)
-Diluted$0.22 $(0.84)
Weighted average shares of Class A common stock outstanding
-Basic52,293,622 45,095,417 
-Diluted66,087,041 45,095,417 
Revenue
The following table presents our revenue, disaggregated by vertical, for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, and the dollar and percentage changes between the two periods:
(dollars in thousands)Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024$%Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023
Property & Casualty insurance$422,700 $296,168 234.1 %$126,532 
Percentage of total revenue74.9 %46.7 %
Health insurance114,932 (260)(0.2)%115,192 
Percentage of total revenue20.4 %42.5 %
Life insurance19,308 987 5.4 %18,321 
Percentage of total revenue3.4 %6.8 %
Other7,116 (3,814)(34.9)%10,930 
Percentage of total revenue1.3 %4.0 %
Revenue$564,056 293,081 108.2 %$270,975 
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The increase in P&C insurance revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared with the nine months ended September 30, 2023, was due to an increase in customer acquisition spending by multiple P&C insurance carrier partners as they refocus on growth in response to the significant improvement in their underwriting profitability. We believe that the hard market cycle the P&C insurance industry has experienced since the second half of 2021 has now turned and the industry is improving rapidly.
The decrease in health insurance revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared with the nine months ended September 30, 2023, was immaterial and driven primarily by lower transactions through our Open Marketplace, due primarily to a reduced supply of consumer referrals resulting from one of our partners ceasing operations during the three months ended June 30, 2024, offset by higher customer acquisition spending by certain demand partners who transact primarily via our Private Marketplaces.
The increase in life insurance revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared with the nine months ended September 30, 2023, was driven by a high mix of transactions through our Open Marketplace, which have a greater impact on revenue, offset in part by reduced supply of consumer referrals resulting from one of our supply partners ceasing operations during the three months ended June 30, 2024.
The decrease in other revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared with the nine months ended September 30, 2023, was driven by lower revenue from our travel vertical due to a reduced supply of consumer referrals resulting from higher traffic acquisition costs, as well as lower revenue from our consumer finance vertical due to a reduction in mortgage and refinancing activity caused by high interest rate levels.
Cost of revenue
The following table presents our cost of revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, and the dollar and percentage changes between the two periods:
(dollars in thousands)Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024$%Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023
Cost of revenue$469,465 $242,920 107.2 %$226,545 
Percentage of revenue83.2 %83.6 %
The increase in cost of revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared with the nine months ended September 30, 2023, was driven primarily by higher revenue share payments to suppliers due to the overall increase in revenue and lower take rates, offset in part by higher transactions in our Private Marketplaces, which have a lower impact on cost of revenue.
Sales and marketing
The following table presents our sales and marketing expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, and the dollar and percentage changes between the two periods:
(dollars in thousands)Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024$%Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023
Sales and marketing$18,608 $(1,194)(6.0)%$19,802 
Percentage of revenue3.3 %7.3 %
The decrease in sales and marketing expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared with the nine months ended September 30, 2023, was due primarily to a decrease in equity-based compensation expense of $1.2 million and a decrease in amortization expense of $0.4 million, offset in part by an increase in personnel-related costs of $0.3 million.
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Product development
The following table presents our product development expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, and the dollar and percentage changes between the two periods:
(dollars in thousands)Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024$%Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023
Product development$14,743 $218 1.5 %$14,525 
Percentage of revenue2.6 %5.4 %
The increase in product development expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared with the nine months ended September 30, 2023, was due primarily to an increase in personnel-related costs of $1.1 million as we hired additional employees, offset in part by a decrease in equity-based compensation expense of $1.2 million.
General and administrative
The following table presents our general and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, and the dollar and percentage changes between the two periods:
(dollars in thousands)Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024$%Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023
General and administrative$36,767 $(13,706)(27.2)%$50,473 
Percentage of revenue6.5 %18.6 %
The decrease in general and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared with the nine months ended September 30, 2023, was due primarily to a decrease in equity-based compensation expense of $14.8 million, a $0.8 million reduction in directors and officers insurance premiums, and a $0.4 million decrease driven primarily by lower costs associated with the civil investigative demand from the Federal Trade Commission, offset in part by costs related to secondary offerings of our shares during the nine months ended September 30, 2024.
Equity-based compensation
The following table presents our equity-based compensation expense that was included in costs and operating expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, and the dollar and percentage changes between the two periods:
(dollars in thousands)Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024$%Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023
Cost of revenue$2,654 $(305)(10.3)%$2,959 
Sales and marketing5,676 (1,219)(17.7)%6,895 
Product development5,001 (1,175)(19.0)%6,176 
General and administrative13,121 (14,792)(53.0)%27,913 
Total$26,452 $(17,491)(39.8)%$43,943 
The decrease in equity-based compensation expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared with the nine months ended September 30, 2023, due primarily to certain RSUs granted to key employees at IPO being fully vested as of December 31, 2023, offset in part primarily by expenses related to annual awards of RSUs granted to employees during the three months ended March 31, 2024.
34

Amortization
The following table presents our amortization of intangible asset expense that was included in costs and operating expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, and the dollar and percentage changes between the two periods:
(dollars in thousands)Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024$%Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023
Sales and Marketing$4,189 $(429)(9.3)%$4,618 
General and administrative638 68 11.9 %570 
Total$4,827 $(361)(7.0)%$5,188 
The decrease in amortization expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared with the nine months ended September 30, 2023, was immaterial.
Other (income) expense, net
The following table presents our other (income) expense, net for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, and the dollar and percentage changes between the two periods:
(dollars in thousands)Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024$%Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023
Other (income) expense, net$(1,971)$(3,136)(269.2)%$1,165 
Percentage of revenue(0.3)%0.4 %
The increase in other (income) expense, net for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared with the nine months ended September 30, 2023, was driven primarily by a one-time contract termination fee of $1.7 million received from one of our supply partners in the Health and Life insurance verticals that ceased operations during the nine months ended September 30, 2024, and by an impairment charge of $1.4 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 related to a cost method investment that did not recur in the current year period.
Interest expense
The following table presents our interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, and the dollar and percentage changes between the two periods:
(dollars in thousands)Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024$%Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023
Interest expense$11,158 $(239)(2.1)%$11,397 
Percentage of revenue2.0 %4.2 %
The decrease in interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared with the nine months ended September 30, 2023, was driven by the impact of lower outstanding balances in the current year period.
35

Income tax expense
The following table presents our income tax expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, and the dollar and percentage changes between the two periods:
(dollars in thousands)Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024$%Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023
Income tax expense$469 $139 42.1 %$330 
Percentage of revenue0.1 %0.1 %
For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, we recorded an income tax expense of $0.5 million resulting from our effective tax rate of 3.1%, which differed from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21%, due primarily to the tax impacts of changes in our valuation allowance. For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, we recorded an income tax expense of $0.3 million resulting from our effective tax rate of (0.6)% which differed from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21%.
Key business and operating metrics
In addition to traditional financial metrics, we rely upon certain business and operating metrics that are not presented in accordance with GAAP to estimate the volume of spending on our platform, estimate and recognize revenue, evaluate our business performance and facilitate our operations. Such business and operating metrics should not be considered in isolation from, or as an alternative to, measures presented in accordance with GAAP and should be considered together with other operating and financial performance measures presented in accordance with GAAP. Also, such business and operating metrics may not necessarily be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies.
Adjusted EBITDA
We define “Adjusted EBITDA” as net income (loss) excluding interest expense, income tax benefit (expense), depreciation expense on property and equipment, amortization of intangible assets, as well as equity-based compensation expense and certain other adjustments as listed in the table below. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure that we present to supplement the financial information we present on a GAAP basis. We monitor and present Adjusted EBITDA because it is a key measure used by our management to understand and evaluate our operating performance, to establish budgets and to develop operational goals for managing our business. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA helps identify underlying trends in our business that could otherwise be masked by the effect of the expenses that we exclude in the calculations of Adjusted EBITDA. Accordingly, we believe that Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our operating results, enhancing the overall understanding of our past performance and future prospects. In addition, presenting Adjusted EBITDA provides investors with a metric to evaluate the capital efficiency of our business.
Adjusted EBITDA is not presented in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered in isolation of, or as an alternative to, measures presented in accordance with GAAP. There are a number of limitations related to the use of Adjusted EBITDA rather than net income, which is the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. These limitations include the fact that Adjusted EBITDA excludes interest expense on debt, income tax benefit (expense), equity-based compensation expense, depreciation and amortization, and certain other adjustments that we consider to be useful to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our operating results. In addition, other companies may use other measures to evaluate their performance, including different definitions of “Adjusted EBITDA,” which could reduce the usefulness of our Adjusted EBITDA as a tool for comparison.
36

The following table reconciles Adjusted EBITDA with net income (loss), the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in thousands)2024202320242023
Net income (loss)$11,888 $(18,698)$14,817 $(53,262)
Equity-based compensation expense8,597 14,454 26,452 43,943 
Interest expense3,562 3,947 11,158 11,397 
Income tax expense312 102 469 330 
Depreciation expense on property and equipment65 87 191 275 
Amortization of intangible assets1,609 1,730 4,827 5,188 
Transaction expenses(1)
(45)1,172 553 
Impairment of cost method investment— — — 1,406 
Contract settlement(2)
— — (1,725)— 
Changes in TRA related liability— — — 
Changes in Tax Indemnification Receivable(84)(20)(86)(48)
Settlement of federal and state income tax refunds— — — 
Legal expenses(3)
367 1,979 2,155 3,418 
Reduction in force costs (4)
— — — 1,233 
Adjusted EBITDA$26,271 $3,586 $59,430 $14,442 
(1)Transaction expenses consist of immaterial expenses and $1.2 million of legal and accounting fees incurred by us for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, in connection with resale registration statements filed with the SEC. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, transaction expenses consist of immaterial expenses and $0.6 million of legal and accounting fees, respectively, in connection with the amendment to the 2021 Credit Facilities, the tender offer filed by the Company's largest shareholder in May 2023, and a resale registration statement filed with the SEC.
(2)Contract settlement consists of $1.7 million of income for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 recorded in connection with a one-time contract termination fee received from one of our supply partners in the Health and Life insurance verticals that ceased operations during the nine months ended September 30, 2024.
(3)Legal expenses of $0.4 million and $2.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, and $2.0 million and $3.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively, consist of legal fees incurred in connection with the civil investigative demand received from the Federal Trade Commission in February 2023 and costs associated with a legal settlement unrelated to our core operations during the nine months ended September 30, 2023.
(4)Reduction in force costs for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 consist of $1.2 million of severance benefits provided to the terminated employees in connection with the RIF Plan. Additionally, equity-based compensation expense includes $0.3 million of charges related to the RIF Plan for the nine months ended September 30, 2023.
Contribution and Contribution Margin
We define “Contribution” as revenue less revenue share payments and online advertising costs, or, as reported in our consolidated statements of operations, revenue less cost of revenue (i.e., gross profit), as adjusted to exclude the following items from cost of revenue: equity-based compensation; salaries, wages, and related costs; internet and hosting costs; amortization; depreciation; other services; and merchant-related fees. We define “Contribution Margin” as Contribution expressed as a percentage of revenue for the same period. Contribution and Contribution Margin are non-GAAP financial measures that we present to supplement the financial information we present on a GAAP basis. We use Contribution and Contribution Margin to measure the return on our relationships with our supply partners (excluding certain fixed costs), the financial return on and efficacy of our online advertising costs to drive consumers to our proprietary websites, and our operating leverage. We do not use Contribution and Contribution Margin as measures of overall profitability. We present Contribution
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and Contribution Margin because they are used by our management and board of directors to manage our operating performance, including evaluating our operational performance against budget and assessing our overall operating efficiency and operating leverage. For example, if Contribution increases and our headcount costs and other operating expenses remain steady, our Adjusted EBITDA and operating leverage increase. If Contribution Margin decreases, we may choose to re-evaluate and re-negotiate our revenue share agreements with our supply partners, to make optimization and pricing changes with respect to our bids for keywords from primary traffic acquisition sources, or to change our overall cost structure with respect to headcount, fixed costs and other costs. Other companies may calculate Contribution and Contribution Margin differently than we do. Contribution and Contribution Margin have their limitations as analytical tools, and you should not consider them in isolation or as substitutes for analysis of our results presented in accordance with GAAP.
The following table reconciles Contribution with gross profit, the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in thousands)2024202320242023
Revenue$259,133 $74,573 $564,056 $270,975 
Less cost of revenue(219,907)(62,277)(469,465)(226,545)
Gross profit$39,226 $12,296 $94,591 $44,430 
Adjusted to exclude the following (as related to cost of revenue):
Equity-based compensation405 1,012 2,654 2,959 
Salaries, wages, and related907 878 2,474 2,832 
Internet and hosting145 138 402 418 
Other expenses170 179 539 513 
Depreciation15 30 
Other services549 514 2,008 1,795 
Merchant-related fees75 11 217 14 
Contribution$41,482 $15,037 $102,900 $52,991 
Gross margin15.1 %16.5 %16.8 %16.4 %
Contribution Margin16.0 %20.2 %18.2 %19.6 %
Transaction Value
We define “Transaction Value” as the total gross dollars transacted by our partners on our platform. Transaction Value is an operating metric not presented in accordance with GAAP, and is a driver of revenue based on the economic relationships we have with our partners. Our partners use our platform to transact via Open and Private Marketplace transactions. In our Open Marketplace model, revenue recognized represents the fees paid by our Demand Partners for Consumer Referrals sold and is equal to the Transaction Value and revenue share payments to our Supply Partners represent costs of revenue. In our Private Marketplace model, revenue recognized represents a platform fee billed to the Supply Partner based on an agreed-upon percentage of the Transaction Value for the Consumer Referrals transacted, and accordingly there are no associated costs of revenue. We utilize Transaction Value to assess the overall level of transaction activity through our platform. We believe it is useful to investors to assess the overall level of activity on our platform and to better understand the sources of our revenue across our different transaction models and verticals.
The following table presents Transaction Value by platform model for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(dollars in thousands)2024202320242023
Open Marketplace transactions$253,016 $73,053 $546,949 $263,568 
Percentage of total Transaction Value56.0 %67.0 %55.1 %61.6 %
Private Marketplace transactions198,759 35,963 445,742 164,524 
Percentage of total Transaction Value44.0 %33.0 %44.9 %38.4 %
Total Transaction Value$451,775 $109,016 $992,691 $428,092 
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The following table presents Transaction Value by vertical for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(dollars in thousands)2024202320242023
Property & Casualty insurance$387,451 $44,715 $777,521 $223,305 
Percentage of total Transaction Value85.8 %41.0 %78.3 %52.2 %
Health insurance55,615 51,210 179,980 161,450 
Percentage of total Transaction Value12.3 %47.0 %18.1 %37.7 %
Life insurance6,261 7,566 24,384 26,042 
Percentage of total Transaction Value1.4 %6.9 %2.5 %6.1 %
Other2,448 5,525 10,806 17,295 
Percentage of total Transaction Value0.5 %5.1 %1.1 %4.0 %
Total Transaction Value$451,775 $109,016 $992,691 $428,092 
Consumer Referrals
We define “Consumer Referral” as any consumer click, call or lead purchased by a buyer on our platform. Click revenue is recognized on a pay-per-click basis and revenue is earned and recognized when a consumer clicks on a listed buyer’s advertisement that is presented subsequent to the consumer’s search (e.g., auto insurance quote search or health insurance quote search). Call revenue is earned and recognized when a consumer transfers to a buyer and remains engaged for a requisite duration of time, as specified by each buyer. Lead revenue is recognized when we deliver data leads to buyers. Data leads are generated either through insurance carriers, insurance-focused research destination websites or other financial websites that make the data leads available for purchase through our platform, or when consumers complete a full quote request on our proprietary websites. Delivery occurs at the time of lead transfer. The data we generate from each Consumer Referral feeds into our analytics model to generate conversion probabilities for each unique consumer, enabling discovery of predicted return and cost per sale across the platform and helping us to improve our platform technology. We monitor the number of Consumer Referrals on our platform in order to measure Transaction Value, revenue and overall business performance across our verticals and platform models.    
The following table presents the percentages of total Transaction Value generated from clicks, calls and leads for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2024202320242023
Clicks88.6 %66.1 %84.2 %73.0 %
Calls6.6 %19.9 %9.4 %16.0 %
Leads4.8 %14.0 %6.4 %11.0 %
Segment information
We operate primarily in the United States and in a single operating segment. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker, or decision-making group, in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. Our chief operating decision maker is our chief executive officer, who reviews financial information presented on a consolidated basis for purposes of allocating resources and evaluating financial performance. No expense or operating income is evaluated at a segment level. Since we operate in one operating segment and reportable segment, all required financial segment information can be found in the consolidated financial statements.
Liquidity and capital resources
Overview
Our principal sources of liquidity are our cash flows generated from operations and cash and funds available under the 2021 Revolving Credit Facility. Our principal uses of cash include funding of our operations, interest payments, and mandatory principal payments on our long-term debt. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, our cash and cash equivalents
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totaled $32.3 million and $17.3 million, respectively. As of September 30, 2024, the aggregate principal amount outstanding under the 2021 Term Loan Facility was $160.8 million and our borrowing capacity available under the 2021 Revolving Credit Facility was $45.0 million.
Our business is seasonal and cyclical in nature and these trends, if continued for a long period of time, could impact our cash flows generated from operations, requiring us to draw on our available borrowing capacity under the 2021 Revolving Credit Facility or raise additional funds in the short term. During the second half of 2021, the auto insurance industry began to experience a cyclical downturn, as supply chain disruptions and cost increases caused by the pandemic and overall inflationary pressures contributed to higher-than-expected P&C insurance claims costs, which led many carriers to reduce their customer acquisition spending to preserve their profitability. However, we believe that the hard market cycle has now turned and market has been improving rapidly as a number of our key carrier partners have meaningfully increased their customer acquisition spending during the first nine months of 2024. While we expect this improvement to continue, we are currently unable to accurately predict the pace or slope of this recovery beyond the fourth quarter of 2024.

On February 21, 2023, we received a civil investigative demand from the Federal Trade Commission (the “FTC”) regarding compliance with the FTC Act and the TSR, as they relate to the advertising, marketing, promotion, offering for sale, or sale of healthcare-related products, the collection, sale, transfer or provision to third parties of consumer data, telemarketing practices, and/or consumer privacy or data security. We have cooperated fully with the FTC investigation. On October 30, 2024, we received an initial settlement demand from the staff of the FTC (the “FTC Staff”) stating that the FTC Staff is prepared to recommend that the FTC approve the filing of a complaint against the Company for violations of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act, the TSR and the Government and Business Impersonation Rule (the “Impersonation Rule”). The FTC proposes to seek injunctive and monetary relief and civil penalties. If obtained in whole or in part, the monetary relief and penalties proposed by the FTC Staff would have an adverse, and potentially material, effect on the Company’s liquidity, financial condition and results of operations. The total amount of the monetary relief and penalties proposed by the FTC Staff significantly exceeds our existing liquidity and financial resources. Any such costs above the existing liquidity and financial resources would require us to seek additional capital, incur debt or otherwise take significant actions in order to satisfy the claims and there can be no assurances that such financing could be obtained on acceptable terms, or at all. In addition, the proposed injunctive terms, if obtained in whole or in part, could materially and adversely affect our ability to operate our business in the Health insurance vertical, including how we conduct our marketing activities and endeavors to ensure compliance with consumer protection laws by itself and third parties with which we do business. We strongly disagree with the allegations and believe we have substantial and meritorious defenses to the claims. Among other things, we believe that our conduct does not rise to the legal standard required for the FTC to obtain the proposed monetary relief and penalties. We will continue to engage in good faith with the FTC and seek to resolve this matter prior to litigation, but we are prepared to defend ourselves vigorously if a complaint is filed.
We believe that our expected near-term revenue, cash on hand and availability to access cash available under the 2021 Credit Facilities will be sufficient to meet our projected operating and debt service requirements, and we expect that we will continue to comply with our financial covenants under the 2021 Credit Facilities, for at least the next twelve months. To the extent that our current liquidity is insufficient to fund future activities or any amounts we agree to pay in settlement of the FTC's claims, or our financial results are below our expectations due to cyclical conditions in our primary vertical markets or other factors and we do not remain in compliance with our financial covenants under the 2021 Credit Facilities, we may need to take additional actions to reduce operating costs, negotiate amendments to or waivers of the terms of such credit facilities, refinance our debt, or raise additional capital. We have historically not used funds available under our credit facilities to fund our operations or to make payments required under our credit facilities.
We may in the future engage in merger and acquisition or other activities, including share repurchases, that could require us to draw on our existing credit facilities or raise additional capital through the sale of equity securities or through debt financing arrangements. If we raise additional funds by issuing equity securities, the ownership of our existing stockholders will be diluted. The incurrence of additional debt financing would result in debt service obligations, and any future instruments governing such debt could provide for operating and financing covenants that could restrict our operations. Our material cash requirements include our long-term debt, operating lease obligations, and any payments under the TRA.
Cash Flows
The following table presents a summary of our cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, and the dollar and percentage changes between the periods:
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(dollars in thousands)Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024$%Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023
Net cash provided by operating activities$31,343 $16,406 109.8 %$14,937 
Net cash (used in) investing activities$(607)$(547)911.7 %$(60)
Net cash (used in) financing activities$(15,703)$(1,480)10.4 %$(14,223)
Operating activities
Cash flows provided by operating activities were $31.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared with $14.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023. The increase was due primarily to the increase in net income and an increase in net working capital due to the increase in our accounts receivable as a result of higher revenue and the timing of payments of our accounts payable.
Investing activities
Cash flows used in investing activities were $0.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared with $0.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023. The increase resulted primarily from the purchase of certain intangible assets during the nine months ended September 30, 2024.
Financing activities
Cash flows used in financing activities were $15.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared with $14.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023. The increase was due primarily to a required Excess Cash Flow principal payment on the 2021 Term Loan Facility during the nine months ended September 30, 2024, offset in part by higher payments made pursuant to the TRA and distributions to non-controlling interests during the nine months ended September 30, 2023.
Senior secured credit facilities
2021 Credit Facilities
On July 29, 2021, QuoteLab, LLC entered into an amendment (the “First Amendment”) to the 2020 Credit Agreement (as amended by the First Amendment, the "Existing Credit Agreement"). The Existing Credit Agreement provides for a new senior secured term loan facility in an aggregate principal amount of $190.0 million (the “2021 Term Loan Facility”), the proceeds of which were used to refinance all of the $186.4 million outstanding under the existing 2020 Term Loan Facility and the unpaid interest thereon as of the date of the First Amendment, to pay fees related to these transactions, and to provide cash for general corporate purposes, and a new senior secured revolving credit facility with commitments in an aggregate amount of $50.0 million (the “2021 Revolving Credit Facility” and, together with the 2021 Term Loan Facility, the "2021 Credit Facilities"), which replaced the 2020 Revolving Credit Facility. Our obligations under the 2021 Credit Facilities are guaranteed by QLH and secured by substantially all assets of QLH and QuoteLab, LLC.
On June 8, 2023, the Company entered into a Second Amendment (the “Second Amendment”) to the Existing Credit Agreement, (as amended by the Second Amendment, the “Amended Credit Agreement”). The Second Amendment amended the Existing Credit Agreement, effective on the amendment date, to, among other things, replace the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) applicable to the 2021 Credit Facilities with the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), with a credit spread adjustment of 0.10% per annum, as the interest rate benchmark.
Borrowings under the 2021 Credit Facilities bear interest at a rate equal to, at our option, the Term SOFR or Daily Simple SOFR, plus an applicable margin, with a floor of 0.00%, or a base rate plus an applicable margin. The applicable margins will be based on our consolidated total net leverage ratio as calculated under the terms of the Amended Credit Agreement (the “Leverage Ratio”) for the prior fiscal quarter and range from 2.00% to 2.75% with respect to the Term SOFR or Daily Simple SOFR and from 1.00% to 1.75% with respect to the base rate.
Loans under the 2021 Credit Facilities will mature on July 29, 2026. Loans under the 2021 Term Loan Facility amortize quarterly, beginning with the first business day after December 31, 2021 and ending with June 30, 2026, by an amount equal to 1.25% of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the term loans initially made. In addition, the 2021 Term Loan Facility also requires mandatory prepayments of principal in the amount of any Excess Cash Flow (as defined in the Amended
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Credit Agreement) on an annual basis. We generated Excess Cash Flow for the year ended December 31, 2023, and prepaid approximately $3.0 million of the principal under the 2021 Term Loan Facility during the three months ended June 30, 2024. The 2021 Revolving Credit Facility does not require amortization of principal and will mature on July 29, 2026.
As of September 30, 2024, we had $159.7 million of outstanding borrowings, net of deferred debt issuance costs of $1.2 million, under the 2021 Term Loan Facility, and $5.0 million of borrowings outstanding under the 2021 Revolving Credit Facility.
Tax receivables agreement
Our purchases (through Intermediate Holdco) of Class B-1 units from certain unitholders in connection with the IPO, as well as exchanges of Class B-1 units subsequent to the IPO (together with an equal number of shares of our Class B common stock) for shares of our Class A common stock (or, at our election, cash of an equivalent value) ("Exchange"), and the Pre-IPO Leveraged Distribution and other actual or deemed distributions by QLH to its members pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, have resulted and are expected to continue to result in increases in our allocable tax basis in the assets of QLH. These increases in tax basis are expected to increase (for tax purposes) depreciation and amortization deductions allocable to us and, therefore, reduce the amount of tax that we otherwise would be required to pay in the future. This increase in tax basis may also decrease gain (or increase loss) on future dispositions of certain assets to the extent tax basis is allocated to those assets.
In connection with the IPO, we entered into the TRA, as amended, with Insignia, the Senior Executives, and White Mountains related to the tax basis step-up of the assets of QLH and certain net operating losses of Intermediate Holdco. The agreement requires us to pay Insignia and the Senior Executives or any assignees 85% of the cash savings, if any, in U.S. federal, state and local income tax we realize (or are deemed to realize) as a result of (i) any increases in tax basis of assets of QLH resulting from any Exchange, and (ii) certain other tax benefits related to making our payments under the TRA. The TRA also requires us to pay White Mountains 85% of the amount of the cash savings, if any, in U.S. federal, state and local income tax that we realize (or are deemed to realize) as a result of the utilization of the net operating losses of Intermediate Holdco attributable to periods prior to the IPO and the deduction of any imputed interest attributable to our payment obligations under the TRA. We amended the TRA on October 1, 2023 to, among other things, provide for use of a blended state tax rate and replace the LIBOR with the SOFR as the interest rate benchmark.
In addition to tax expenses, we may also make payments under the TRA, which could be significant. We account for the income tax effects and corresponding TRA effects resulting from any Exchange by recognizing an increase in our deferred tax assets, based on enacted tax rates at the date of the Exchange. We evaluate the likelihood that we will realize the benefit represented by the deferred tax asset and, to the extent that we estimate that it is more likely than not that we will not realize the benefit, we will reduce the carrying amount of the deferred tax asset with a valuation allowance. The amounts to be recorded for both the deferred tax assets and the liability for our obligations under the TRA are estimated at the time of any purchase or exchange as a reduction to stockholders’ equity, and the effects of changes in any of our estimates after this date will be included in net income (loss). Similarly, the effect of subsequent changes in the enacted tax rates will be included in net income (loss). Judgment is required in assessing the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in our consolidated financial statements. A change in our assessment of such consequences, such as realization of deferred tax assets, changes in our assessment of probability of making payments under the TRA, changes in blended tax rates, changes in tax laws or interpretations thereof could materially impact our results. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, we had no payments due pursuant to the TRA, as in conjunction with recording a valuation allowance on our deferred tax assets and projections of future taxable income we determined that we do not consider the payments under the TRA to be probable for the foreseeable future, and so remeasured our liabilities pursuant to the TRA to be zero. Based on the significant improvement in our pre-tax income for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and the current forecasts, we expect that in the foreseeable future, which could be as early as the fourth quarter of 2024, there may be sufficient positive evidence, and/or that the objective negative evidence in the form of history of pre-tax losses will no longer be present, in which event we may be required to release a portion or all of the valuation allowance on our deferred tax assets and also be required to record a liability pursuant to the TRA.
Recent accounting pronouncements
For a discussion of new accounting pronouncements recently adopted and not yet adopted, see Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements appearing in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Critical accounting policies and estimates
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Our critical accounting policies and estimates are included in our 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K and under Part II, Item 1A "Risk Factors" in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and did not materially change during the nine months ended September 30, 2024.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
In the normal course of business, we are subject to market risks. Market risk represents the risk of loss that may impact our financial position due to adverse changes in financial market prices and rates.
Interest rate risk
The 2021 Credit Facilities bear interest at a variable rate. As a result, we may be exposed to fluctuations in interest rates to the extent of our outstanding borrowings under the 2021 Credit Facilities. A hypothetical 1.0% increase or decrease in the interest rate associated with the 2021 Credit Facilities would have resulted in a $1.3 million impact on interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2024.
Concentrations of credit risk and of significant demand and supply partners
Financial instruments that potentially expose us to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable. We maintain cash balances that can, at times, exceed amounts insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. We have not experienced any losses in these accounts and believe we are not exposed to unusual risk beyond the normal credit risk in this area based on the financial strength of the institutions with which we maintain our deposits.
Our accounts receivable, which are unsecured, may expose us to credit risk based on their collectability. We control credit risk by investigating the creditworthiness of all customers prior to establishing relationships with them, performing periodic reviews of the credit activities of those customers during the course of the business relationship, regularly analyzing the collectability of accounts receivable, and recording allowances for credit losses. Our supplier concentration can also expose us to business risks.
Customer and supplier concentrations consisted of the below:
Three Months Ended
September 30, 2024
Three Months Ended
September 30, 2023
Number of customers or suppliers exceeding 10%Aggregate Value
(in millions)
% of TotalNumber of customers or suppliers exceeding 10%Aggregate Value
(in millions)
% of Total
Revenue$130 50 %— $— — %
Purchases$48 22 %1$14 %
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2024
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2023
Number of customers or suppliers exceeding 10%Aggregate Value
(in millions)
% of TotalNumber of customers or suppliers exceeding 10%Aggregate Value
(in millions)
% of Total
Revenue$227 40 %$— — %
Purchases— $— — %1$26 12 %
As of September 30, 2024As of December 31, 2023
Number of customers or suppliers exceeding 10%Aggregate Value
(in millions)
% of TotalNumber of customers or suppliers exceeding 10%Aggregate Value
(in millions)
% of Total
Accounts receivable$66 52 %1$14 %
Accounts payable$39 36 %1$12 21 %
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Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As of September 30, 2024, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) and Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer), of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) to determine whether such disclosure controls and procedures provide reasonable assurance that information to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC and such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on their evaluation, our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer have concluded our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance as of September 30, 2024.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting during the three months ended September 30, 2024, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Inherent Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls
In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. In addition, the design of disclosure controls and procedures must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints and management is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the benefits of possible controls and procedures relative to their cost.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
The content of Part I, Item 1 "Financial Statements—Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Commitments and contingencies - Litigation and other matters" of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety in this Item 1.
Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed under Part I, Item 1A "Risk Factors" in the 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K, other than certain updates to the risk factor presented below.

We are no longer a “controlled company” within the meaning of the NYSE rules. However, we may continue to rely on exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements during a one-year transition period.

We are no longer a “controlled company” within the meaning of the NYSE corporate governance standards. The NYSE rules require that the nominating and corporate governance committee be composed entirely of independent directors within one year of the date that we no longer qualify as a “controlled company.” Our nominating and corporate governance committee is not currently comprised exclusively of independent directors. We will comply with this requirement prior to the end of the transition period, but until that occurs our shareholders will not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all of the corporate governance requirements of the NYSE. Furthermore, a change in our board of directors and committee membership may result in a change in our operation philosophies and deviations from our current corporate strategy.

Operating and growing our business may require additional capital, and if capital is not available to us, our business, financial condition, operating results, cash flows, and prospects may suffer.

Operating and growing our business is expected to require further investments in our technology and operations. We may be presented with opportunities that we want to pursue, and unforeseen challenges may present themselves, any of which
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could cause us to require additional capital beyond our internally generated cash flows. At any given time, if our cash needs exceed our expectations or we experience rapid growth, we could experience strain in our cash flow, which could adversely affect our operations in the event we were unable to obtain other sources of liquidity. As described in “Part I Item 1—Note 5—Commitments and Contingencies—Litigation and other matters” (the “FTC Matter”), the staff of the FTC that has been investigating the Company (the “FTC Staff”) has advised that they are considering recommending that the FTC pursue claims against us in connection with our business activities in the Healthcare vertical. In the event of an adverse outcome, we may not have adequate existing resources to cover any required material monetary relief and/or civil penalties imposed in connection with the FTC Matter, and may also not be able to obtain other sources of liquidity sufficient to cover such costs.
If we raise additional funds through future issuances of equity or convertible debt securities, our stockholders could suffer significant dilution, and any new equity securities we issue could have rights, preferences and privileges superior to those of holders of our common stock. Any debt financing that we may secure in the future could involve debt service obligations and restrictive covenants relating to our capital raising activities and other financial and operational matters, which may make it more difficult for us to obtain additional capital and to pursue business opportunities. If we are unable to obtain adequate financing or financing on terms satisfactory to us, when we require it, our ability to continue to pursue our business objectives and to respond to business opportunities, challenges or unforeseen circumstances could be significantly limited, and our business, financial condition, operating results, cash flows, and prospects could be materially and adversely affected.

We may from time to time be subject to litigation, which may be extremely costly to defend, could result in substantial judgment or settlement costs or subject us to other remedies.
We have in the past and may from time to time in the future be involved in various legal proceedings, including, but not limited to, actions relating to claims of violations of laws or regulations, breach of contract, and intellectual property infringement, misappropriation or other violation. In addition to the FTC matter, there are other sources of litigation risk. For example, insurance regulators have in the past and may in the future make claims that certain of our proprietary properties, particularly in our health insurance vertical, do not comply with one or more regulations governing marketing of insurance products in that state. Claims may be expensive to defend, may divert management’s time away from our operations, and may affect the availability and premiums of our liability insurance coverage, regardless of whether they are meritorious or ultimately lead to a judgment against us. We cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully defend or resolve any current or future litigation matters, in which case those litigation matters could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition, operating results, cash flows, and prospects.

Sellers, vendors, or their respective affiliates may engage in unauthorized or unlawful acts that could subject us to significant liability or cause us to lose demand partners and revenue.
We generate a majority of our Consumer Referrals from online media that we source directly from our supply partners’ websites, as well as indirectly from the affiliates of our supply partners. We also rely on third-party call centers and email marketers. Although we require third parties with whom we contract to agree to comply with applicable law and regulation and endeavor to monitor and enforce these requirements, we ultimately cannot control the activities of third parties with whom we directly contract or who otherwise play a role in the generation, sale or purchase of our Consumer Referrals. Therefore, our programs and requirements to ensure compliance by these direct or indirect third parties may not be successful. In the past, we have identified and taken action to address instances of noncompliance with law, regulation or our code of conduct by these third parties, and while our compliance program is designed to detect, prevent and stop such noncompliance, our compliance efforts may not be successful.
Some of these third parties, vendors, and their respective affiliates are authorized to use our demand partners’ brands, subject to contractual restrictions. Any activity by suppliers, vendors, or their respective affiliates which violates the marketing guidelines of our demand partners or that our demand partners view as potentially damaging to their brands, whether or not permitted by our contracts with our demand partners, could harm our relationships and cause demand partners to terminate their relationship with us, resulting in a loss of revenue. Moreover, because we do not have a direct contractual relationship with the affiliates of our suppliers, we may not be able to monitor the compliance activity of such affiliates. If we are unable to cause our Supply Partners to monitor and enforce our Demand Partners’ contractual restrictions on such affiliates, our Demand Partners may terminate their relationships with us or decrease their customer acquisition budgets with us. In addition, we may also face liability for any failure of our suppliers, vendors or their respective affiliates to comply with regulatory requirements (including, for example, in connection with the FTC Matter).
The law is unsettled on the extent of liability that an advertiser has for the activities of sellers or vendors. Insurance regulations may impose liability on us and our Demand Partners for misrepresentations made by their marketing service providers. In addition, certain of our contracts impose liability on us, including indemnification obligations, for the acts of our sellers or vendors. We could be subject to costly litigation and, if we are unsuccessful in defending ourselves or in obtaining indemnity from our vendors, we could incur damages for the unauthorized or unlawful acts of sellers or vendors.

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The FTC Matter could have a material adverse effect on our business.

On February 21, 2023, we received a civil investigative demand from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regarding compliance with the FTC Act and the Telemarketing Sales Rule, as they relate to the advertising, marketing, promotion, offering for sale, or sale of healthcare-related products, the collection, sale, transfer or provision to third parties of consumer data, telemarketing practices, and/or consumer privacy or data security. On October 30, 2024, following our earnings call, we received an initial settlement demand from the staff of the FTC (the “FTC Staff”) stating that the FTC Staff is prepared to recommend that the FTC approve the filing of a complaint against the Company for violations of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act, the FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule ("TSR") and the Government and Business Impersonation Rule (the “Impersonation Rule”).

The FTC Staff alleges that, in connection with our lead generation and telemarketing activities, we have represented ourselves as affiliated with government entities, made misleading claims (in particular regarding health insurance products and our use of consumers’ personal information) and utilized deceptive advertising, in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act. The FTC Staff further alleges that we have violated the Impersonation Rule in representing ourselves to be affiliated with government entities and the TSR in connection with telemarketing activities.

The FTC Staff proposes to seek injunctive and monetary relief and civil penalties. If obtained in whole or in part, the monetary relief and penalties proposed by the FTC Staff would have an adverse, and potentially material, effect on our liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations. The total amount of these proposed items significantly exceeds our existing liquidity and financial resources. Any such costs above our existing resources would require the Company to seek additional capital, incur debt or otherwise take significant actions in order to satisfy the claims, and there can be no assurances that such financing could be obtained on acceptable terms, or at all. In addition, the proposed injunctive terms, if obtained in whole or in part, could adversely, and potentially materially, affect our ability to operate business in our Health insurance vertical, including by restricting how we conduct our marketing activities and by requiring enhancements to our compliance program.

Changes in laws or regulations relating to privacy, data protection or the protection or transfer of personal data could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, operating results, cash flows, and prospects.

We are subject to a variety of federal, state, local, and international laws, directives, and regulations, as well as contractual obligations, relating to privacy and the collection, protection, use, retention, security, disclosure, transfer, and other processing of personal information and other data, including the California Online Privacy Protection Act, the California Consumer Privacy Act (the “CCPA”), the California Privacy Rights Act (the “CPRA”) and other state privacy laws, the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act (the “CAN-SPAM Act”), Canada’s Anti-Spam Law, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 (the “TCPA”), the U.S. Federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”), Section 5(c) of the Federal Trade Commission Act, the TSR, the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation, supplemented by national laws (such as, in the United Kingdom, the Data Protection Act 2018) and further implemented through binding guidance from the European Data Protection Board. These laws, rules and regulations evolve frequently and their scope may continually change, through new, or amendments to existing, legislation or regulations and changes in enforcement, and may be inconsistent from one jurisdiction to another. As a result, implementation standards and enforcement practices are likely to remain uncertain for the foreseeable future. Although we endeavor to comply with our published policies and documentation and ensure their compliance with current laws, rules and regulations, we (and other parties with whom we do business) may at times fail to do so or be alleged to have failed to do so. The publication of our privacy policy and other documentation that provide promises and assurances about privacy and security can subject us to potential state and federal action in the U.S. if they are found to be deceptive, unfair, or misrepresentative of our actual practices. Any failure by us or other parties with whom we do business to comply with this documentation or with federal, state, local or international regulations could result in proceedings against us by governmental entities, private parties or others (including, without limitation, the FTC Matter, where the FTC Staff has alleged that certain of our conduct and business practices violate Section 5(a) of the FTC Act and the TSR). In many jurisdictions, enforcement actions and consequences for non-compliance are rising.

In the U.S., these include enforcement actions in response to rules and regulations promulgated under the authority of federal agencies and state attorneys general and legislatures and consumer protection agencies. A number of federal and state laws and regulations relating to privacy affect and apply to the insurance industry specifically, including those imposed by the New York Department of Financial Services. In addition, privacy advocates and industry groups have proposed and may propose new and different self-regulatory standards that either legally or contractually apply to us. If we fail to follow these security standards even if no customer information is compromised, we may incur significant fines or experience a significant increase in costs.

Internationally, virtually every jurisdiction in which we operate has established its own data security and privacy legal framework with which we or our customers must comply, including, but not limited to the EU. Complying with these
46

regulations may cause us to incur substantial operational costs or require us to change our business practices. Despite our efforts, we may not be successful in our efforts to achieve compliance either due to internal or external factors such as resource allocation limitations or a lack of vendor cooperation. Non-compliance could result in proceedings against us by governmental entities, customers, data subjects or others. We may also experience difficulty retaining or obtaining new European or multi-national customers due to the legal requirements, compliance cost, potential risk exposure, and uncertainty for these entities, and we may experience significantly increased liability with respect to these customers pursuant to the terms set forth in our engagements with them.

Domestic laws in this area are also complex and developing rapidly. Many state legislatures have adopted or are currently considering legislation that regulates how businesses operate online, including measures relating to privacy, data security, and data breaches. Laws in all 50 states require businesses to provide notice to customers whose personally identifiable information has been disclosed as a result of a data breach. The laws are not consistent, and compliance in the event of a widespread data breach is costly. States are also frequently amending existing laws, requiring attention to frequently changing regulatory requirements. For example, the CCPA, among other things, requires new disclosures to California consumers and affords such consumers new abilities to access and delete their personal information, opt-out of certain sales of personal information and receive detailed information about how their personal information is used. The CCPA provides for fines of up to $7,500 per violation, as well as a private right of action for data breaches that is expected to increase the frequency of data breach litigation. While the CCPA has already been amended multiple times, it is unclear how this legislation will be further modified or how it will be interpreted. The effects of this legislation potentially are far-reaching, however, and may require us to modify our data processing practices and policies and incur substantial compliance-related costs and expenses. Additionally, the CPRA, which became effective in most material respects on January 1, 2023, modifies the CCPA significantly, including by expanding consumers’ rights with respect to certain sensitive personal information and creating a new state agency to oversee implementation and enforcement efforts, which may result in further uncertainty and require us to incur additional costs and expenses in an effort to comply. The CCPA, CPRA and other changes in laws or regulations relating to privacy, data protection and information security, particularly any new or modified laws or regulations that require enhanced protection of certain types of data or new obligations with regard to data retention, transfer or disclosure, could greatly increase the cost of providing our offerings, require significant changes to our operations or even prevent us from providing certain offerings in jurisdictions in which we currently operate and in which we may operate in the future.

Further, as we continue to expand our platform offerings and user base, we may become subject to additional privacy-related laws and regulations. For example, the collection and storage of healthcare data by health insurance carriers subject them to compliance requirements under HIPAA. HIPAA and its implementing regulations contain substantial restrictions and requirements regarding the use, collection, security, storage, and disclosure of individuals’ protected health information. In 2009, HIPAA was amended by the HITECH Act to impose certain of HIPAA’s privacy and security requirements directly upon business associates of covered entities. Health insurance carriers are covered entities under HIPAA. In the event we are deemed to be a business associate of such carriers, we may be bound by compliance obligations under HIPAA, including security breach notification obligations, and subject to increased liability as a possible liable party. In such instance, if we knowingly breach the HITECH Act’s requirements, we could be exposed to criminal liability. A breach of our safeguards and processes could expose us to civil penalties up to $1.5 million for identical incidences and the possibility of civil litigation.

Additionally, we have incurred, and may continue to incur, significant expenses in an effort to comply with privacy, data protection and information security standards and protocols imposed by law, regulation, industry standards or contractual obligations. Despite our efforts to comply with applicable laws, regulations and other obligations relating to privacy, data protection, and information security, it is possible that our practices, offerings or platform could be inconsistent with, or fail or be alleged to fail to meet all requirements of, such laws, regulations or obligations. Our failure, or the failure by our third-party providers or partners, to comply with applicable laws or regulations or any other obligations relating to privacy, data protection or information security, or any compromise of security that results in unauthorized access to, or use or release of personally identifiable information or other data, or the perception that any of the foregoing types of failure or compromise has occurred, could damage our reputation, discourage new and existing partners from using our platform, delay planned uses, and disclosures of data or result in fines or proceedings by governmental agencies and private claims and litigation, any of which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, operating results, cash flows, and prospects. Even if not subject to legal challenge, the perception of privacy concerns, whether or not valid, may harm our reputation and brand and materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, operating results, cash flows, and prospects.

Our and our partners’ communications with potential and existing consumers are subject to laws regulating telephone and email marketing practices.

We and our partners make telephone calls and send emails and text messages to potential and existing consumers, which are subject to various state and federal laws regulating telemarketing communications (including SMS or text messaging), including the TCPA and TSR. In connection with the FTC Matter, the staff of the FTC has alleged that we have violated the TSR.

47

The TCPA prohibits companies from making telemarketing calls using an automated telephone dialing system (ATDS) or artificial or prerecorded voice technology (collectively, “robocalls”), or to numbers listed in the Federal Do-Not-Call Registry, and imposes other obligations and limitations on making phone calls and sending text messages to consumers, in either case without the prior consent of the consumer. The TSR prohibits robocalls unless the caller has obtained prior express written consent directly from the consumer following clear and conspicuous disclosure. The CAN-SPAM Act regulates commercial email messages and specifies penalties for the transmission of commercial email messages that do not comply with certain requirements, such as providing an opt-out mechanism for stopping future emails from senders. Failure of our partners to comply with these and similar laws, rules and regulations may subject us to claims by regulatory authorities and/or private plaintiffs. However, because our Supply Partners may acquire Consumer Referrals from third-party suppliers, and our Demand Partners may resell Consumer Referrals to third-party advertisers, with whom we do not have direct contractual relationships, we may not be able to monitor their compliance activity effectively. Our failure to comply with obligations and restrictions related to telephone, text message, and email marketing, or similar failures by our Supply Partners or Demand Partners (or third parties with whom they work), could subject us and them to lawsuits, fines, statutory damages, consent decrees, injunctions, adverse publicity, and other losses that could harm, directly or indirectly, our business, financial condition, operating results, cash flows, and prospects.

The laws and regulations governing the use of emails and telephone calls for marketing purposes continue to evolve, and changes in technology, the industry, regulatory priorities or consumer preferences may lead to the adoption of additional laws or regulations or changes in the manner in which existing laws and regulations are interpreted or enforced, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.

For example, in 2023 the FTC started taking a new position (in public statements and enforcement actions) that consent to receive robocalls under the TSR must be received directly from the consumer, rather than through a third party such as a lead generator, and it appears that the staff of the FTC continues to assert this position in relation to the FTC Matter. In addition, in December 2023, the FCC adopted new rules which, among other things, amend the consent requirements of the TCPA to require that prior express written consent to receive robocalls made for telemarketing purposes may only be given to one caller at a time, and that such robocalls be “logically and topically associated” with the interaction that prompted the consent. The new rules will be effective starting January 27, 2025, and will further restrict our and our partners’ ability to contact potential and existing consumers by phone and text, as well as subject us and our partners to increased costs, technological compliance challenges and additional legal risks, including potential liabilities or claims relating to compliance. This may have an adverse impact on the demand for leads and calls by Demand Partners and the ability of Supply Partners to generate such leads on a cost-effective basis. A reduction in the volume of leads and calls supplied to our marketplaces, or a reduction in the ability of our owned and operated lead generation websites to generate such leads and calls profitably, could harm our business, financial condition, operating results, cash flows, and prospects. In addition, the new rules could increase the risk of claims made against us or our partners by private plaintiffs alleging violations of the TCPA, which could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition, operating results, cash flows, and prospects.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
None.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The following table provides information about the Company's share repurchase activity for the three months ended September 30, 2024:
2024
Total Number
of Shares
(or Units)
Purchased (1)
Average
Price Paid
per Share
(or Unit)
Total Number
of Shares (or
Units) Purchased
as Part of
Publicly
Announced
Plans
or Programs
Maximum
Number (or
Approximate
Dollar Value)
of Shares (or
Units) that May
Yet Be Purchased
Under the Plans
or Programs
July 1 through July 31
— $— N/AN/A
August 1 through August 31
88,376 $16.97 N/AN/A
September 1 through September 30
707 $17.52 N/AN/A
Total
89,083 $16.97 N/AN/A
(1)These shares of Class A Common Stock were withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting of restricted stock units issued to employees of the Company. The Company withheld these shares at their fair market values based upon the prices of our Class A Common Shares on NYSE on the purchase dates.
48

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
Item 5. Other Information
During the three months ended September 30, 2024, no director or officer of the Company adopted/modified and/or terminated a “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” or “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement,” as each term is defined in Item 408(a) of Regulation S-K of the Exchange Act.
Item 6. Exhibits
Incorporated by Reference
Exhibit
Number
Exhibit DescriptionFormFile No.ExhibitFiling Date
3.1
8-K001-39671
3.1
May 20, 2024
3.2
8-K001-396713.1November 2, 2020
3.3
8-K001-396713.1December 2, 2022
31.1*
31.2*
32.1**
101.INSInline XBRL Instance Document
101.SCHInline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CALInline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEFInline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LABInline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PREInline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
104Cover Page Interactive Data File (Embedded with the Inline XBRL document)

+     Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
*    Filed herewith.
**    Furnished herewith. This exhibit should not be deemed to be "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act.
49

SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
MEDIAALPHA, INC.
Date:November 4, 2024/s/ Patrick R. Thompson
Patrick R. Thompson
Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer

50

Exhibit 31.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
RULES 13a-14(a) AND 15d-14(a) UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Steve Yi, certify that:
1.I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of MediaAlpha, Inc.;
2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
(a)Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b)Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c)Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d)Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5.The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a)All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b)Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Date: November 4, 2024/s/ Steve Yi
Steve Yi
Chief Executive Officer, President and Co-Founder



Exhibit 31.2
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
RULES 13a-14(a) AND 15d-14(a) UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Patrick R. Thompson, certify that:
1.I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of MediaAlpha, Inc.;
2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
(a)Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b)Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c)Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d)Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5.The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a)All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b)Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Date: November 4, 2024/s/ Patrick R. Thompson
Patrick R. Thompson
Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer



Exhibit 32.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of MediaAlpha, Inc. (the “Company”) for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2024 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
(1)The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
(2)The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company.
Date: November 4, 2024/s/ Steve Yi
Steve Yi
Chief Executive Officer, President, and Co-Founder




Exhibit 32.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of MediaAlpha, Inc. (the “Company”) for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2024 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
(1)The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
(2)The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company.
Date: November 4, 2024/s/ Patrick R. Thompson
Patrick R. Thompson
Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer

v3.24.3
Cover - shares
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Oct. 31, 2024
Document Information [Line Items]    
Document Type 10-Q  
Document Quarterly Report true  
Document Period End Date Sep. 30, 2024  
Document Transition Report false  
Entity File Number 001-39671  
Entity Registrant Name MediaAlpha, Inc.  
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code DE  
Entity Tax Identification Number 85-1854133  
Entity Address, Address Line One 700 South Flower Street  
Entity Address, Address Line Two Suite 640  
Entity Address, City or Town Los Angeles  
Entity Address, State or Province CA  
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code 90017  
City Area Code 213  
Local Phone Number 316-6256  
Title of 12(b) Security Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share  
Trading Symbol MAX  
Security Exchange Name NYSE  
Entity Current Reporting Status Yes  
Entity Interactive Data Current Yes  
Entity Filer Category Accelerated Filer  
Entity Small Business false  
Entity Emerging Growth Company false  
Entity Shell Company false  
Amendment Flag false  
Document Fiscal Year Focus 2024  
Document Fiscal Period Focus Q3  
Entity Central Index Key 0001818383  
Current Fiscal Year End Date --12-31  
Class A Common    
Document Information [Line Items]    
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding   55,090,208
Class B Common    
Document Information [Line Items]    
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding   11,574,029
v3.24.3
Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
Sep. 30, 2024
Dec. 31, 2023
Current assets    
Cash and cash equivalents $ 32,304 $ 17,271
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for credit losses of $1,027 and $537, respectively 126,814 53,773
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 2,936 3,529
Total current assets 162,054 74,573
Intangible assets, net 21,588 26,015
Goodwill 47,739 47,739
Other assets 4,729 5,598
Total assets 236,110 153,925
Current liabilities    
Accounts payable 109,577 56,279
Accrued expenses 14,202 11,588
Current portion of long-term debt 8,839 11,854
Total current liabilities 132,618 79,721
Long-term debt, net of current portion 155,811 162,445
Other long-term liabilities 7,302 6,184
Total liabilities 295,731 248,350
Commitments and contingencies (Note 5)
Stockholders' (deficit)    
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value - 50 million shares authorized; 0 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 0 0
Additional paid-in capital 501,543 511,613
Accumulated deficit (510,573) (522,562)
Total stockholders' (deficit) attributable to MediaAlpha, Inc. (8,363) (10,294)
Non-controlling interest (51,258) (84,131)
Total stockholders' (deficit) (59,621) (94,425)
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit 236,110 153,925
Class A Common    
Stockholders' (deficit)    
Common stock 551 474
Class B Common    
Stockholders' (deficit)    
Common stock $ 116 $ 181
v3.24.3
Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
Sep. 30, 2024
Dec. 31, 2023
Accounts receivable, allowance for credit losses $ 1,027 $ 537
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share) $ 0.01 $ 0.01
Preferred stock, authorized (in shares) 50,000,000 50,000,000
Preferred stock, issued (in shares) 0 0
Preferred stock, outstanding (in shares) 0 0
Class A Common    
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) $ 0.01 $ 0.01
Common stock, authorized (in shares) 1,000,000,000.0 1,000,000,000.0
Common stock, issued (in shares) 55,100,000 47,400,000
Common stock, outstanding (in shares) 55,100,000 47,400,000
Class B Common    
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) $ 0.01 $ 0.01
Common stock, authorized (in shares) 100,000,000 100,000,000
Common stock, issued (in shares) 11,600,000 18,100,000
Common stock, outstanding (in shares) 11,600,000 18,100,000
v3.24.3
Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Income Statement [Abstract]        
Revenue $ 259,133 $ 74,573 $ 564,056 $ 270,975
Costs and operating expenses        
Cost of revenue 219,907 62,277 469,465 226,545
Sales and marketing 6,496 6,101 18,608 19,802
Product development 5,328 4,296 14,743 14,525
General and administrative 11,794 16,648 36,767 50,473
Total costs and operating expenses 243,525 89,322 539,583 311,345
Income (loss) from operations 15,608 (14,749) 24,473 (40,370)
Other (income) expense, net (154) (100) (1,971) 1,165
Interest expense 3,562 3,947 11,158 11,397
Total other expense, net 3,408 3,847 9,187 12,562
Income (loss) before income taxes 12,200 (18,596) 15,286 (52,932)
Income tax expense 312 102 469 330
Net income (loss) 11,888 (18,698) 14,817 (53,262)
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest 2,406 (5,196) 2,828 (15,208)
Net income (loss) attributable to MediaAlpha, Inc. $ 9,482 $ (13,502) $ 11,989 $ (38,054)
Net income (loss) per share of Class A common stock        
Basic (in dollars per share) $ 0.17 $ (0.29) $ 0.23 $ (0.84)
Diluted (in dollars per share) $ 0.17 $ (0.29) $ 0.22 $ (0.84)
Weighted average shares of Class A common stock outstanding        
Basic (in shares) 54,909,772 46,229,672 52,293,622 45,095,417
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding - diluted (in shares) 54,909,772 46,229,672 66,087,041 45,095,417
v3.24.3
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
Total
Common Stock
Class A common stock
Common Stock
Class B common stock
Additional Paid-In- Capital
Accumulated deficit
Non- Controlling Interest
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2022   43,650,634 18,895,493      
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2022 $ (86,084) $ 437 $ 189 $ 465,523 $ (482,142) $ (70,091)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]            
Exchange of non-controlling interest for Class A common stock (in shares)   10,000 (10,000)      
Exchange of non-controlling interest for Class A common stock 0     (39)   39
Vesting of restricted stock units (in shares)   608,022        
Vesting of restricted stock units 0 $ 6   (6)    
Equity-based compensation 14,304     14,259   45
Shares withheld on tax withholding on vesting of restricted stock units (1,238)     (1,238)    
Distributions to non-controlling interests (1,104)         (1,104)
Net income (loss) (14,584)       (10,266) (4,318)
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2023   44,268,656 18,885,493      
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2023 (88,706) $ 443 $ 189 478,499 (492,408) (75,429)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2022   43,650,634 18,895,493      
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2022 (86,084) $ 437 $ 189 465,523 (482,142) (70,091)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]            
Net income (loss) (53,262)          
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2023   46,598,086 18,119,493      
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2023 (99,679) $ 466 $ 181 503,303 (520,196) (83,433)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2023   44,268,656 18,885,493      
Beginning balance at Mar. 31, 2023 (88,706) $ 443 $ 189 478,499 (492,408) (75,429)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]            
Exchange of non-controlling interest for Class A common stock (in shares)   766,000 (766,000)      
Exchange of non-controlling interest for Class A common stock 0 $ 8 $ (8) (3,130)   3,130
Vesting of restricted stock units (in shares)   822,147        
Vesting of restricted stock units 0 $ 8   (8)    
Equity-based compensation 15,185     15,171   14
Shares withheld on tax withholding on vesting of restricted stock units (701)     (701)    
Distributions to non-controlling interests (192)         (192)
Net income (loss) (19,980)       (14,286) (5,694)
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2023   45,856,803 18,119,493      
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2023 (94,394) $ 459 $ 181 489,831 (506,694) (78,171)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]            
Vesting of restricted stock units (in shares)   741,283        
Vesting of restricted stock units 0 $ 7   (7)    
Equity-based compensation 14,454     14,440   14
Shares withheld on tax withholding on vesting of restricted stock units (961)     (961)    
Contributions from QLH’s members 196         196
Distributions to non-controlling interests (276)         (276)
Net income (loss) (18,698)       (13,502) (5,196)
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2023   46,598,086 18,119,493      
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2023 (99,679) $ 466 $ 181 503,303 (520,196) (83,433)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2023   47,360,454 18,070,829      
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2023 (94,425) $ 474 $ 181 511,613 (522,562) (84,131)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]            
Exchange of non-controlling interest for Class A common stock (in shares)   3,057,000 (3,057,000)      
Exchange of non-controlling interest for Class A common stock 0 $ 31 $ (31) (14,280)   14,280
Vesting of restricted stock units (in shares)   407,803        
Vesting of restricted stock units 0 $ 3   (3)    
Equity-based compensation 8,582     8,575   7
Shares withheld on tax withholding on vesting of restricted stock units (1,956)     (1,956)    
Distributions to non-controlling interests (113)         (113)
Net income (loss) (1,491)       (1,113) (378)
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2024   50,825,257 15,013,829      
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2024 (89,403) $ 508 $ 150 503,949 (523,675) (70,335)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2023   47,360,454 18,070,829      
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2023 (94,425) $ 474 $ 181 511,613 (522,562) (84,131)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]            
Net income (loss) 14,817          
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2024   55,090,208 11,574,029      
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2024 (59,621) $ 551 $ 116 501,543 (510,573) (51,258)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2024   50,825,257 15,013,829      
Beginning balance at Mar. 31, 2024 (89,403) $ 508 $ 150 503,949 (523,675) (70,335)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]            
Exchange of non-controlling interest for Class A common stock (in shares)   3,439,800 (3,439,800)      
Exchange of non-controlling interest for Class A common stock 0 $ 34 $ (34) (16,104)   16,104
Vesting of restricted stock units (in shares)   464,296        
Vesting of restricted stock units 0 $ 5   (5)    
Equity-based compensation 8,882     8,876   6
Shares withheld on tax withholding on vesting of restricted stock units (1,721)     (1,721)    
Contributions from QLH’s members 756         756
Distributions to non-controlling interests (904)         (904)
Net income (loss) 4,420       3,620 800
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2024   54,729,353 11,574,029      
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2024 (77,970) $ 547 $ 116 494,995 (520,055) (53,573)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]            
Vesting of restricted stock units (in shares)   360,855        
Vesting of restricted stock units 0 $ 4   (4)    
Equity-based compensation 8,054     8,051   3
Shares withheld on tax withholding on vesting of restricted stock units (1,499)     (1,499)    
Distributions to non-controlling interests (94)         (94)
Net income (loss) 11,888       9,482 2,406
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2024   55,090,208 11,574,029      
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2024 $ (59,621) $ 551 $ 116 $ 501,543 $ (510,573) $ (51,258)
v3.24.3
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Mar. 31, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Mar. 31, 2023
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Dec. 31, 2023
Cash flows from operating activities              
Net income (loss) $ 11,888 $ (1,491) $ (18,698) $ (14,584) $ 14,817 $ (53,262)  
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:              
Equity-based compensation expense         26,452 43,943  
Non-cash lease expense         596 508  
Depreciation expense on property and equipment         191 275  
Amortization of intangible assets 1,600   1,700   4,827 5,188 $ 6,917
Amortization of deferred debt issuance costs 200   200   569 597  
Impairment of cost method investment         0 1,406  
Credit losses         519 (220)  
Tax receivable agreement liability adjustments         0 6  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:              
Accounts receivable         (73,560) 27,167  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets         547 3,059  
Other assets         375 375  
Accounts payable         53,298 (15,243)  
Accrued expenses         2,712 1,138  
Net cash provided by operating activities         31,343 14,937  
Cash flows from investing activities              
Purchases of property and equipment         (207) (60)  
Acquisition of intangible assets         (400) 0  
Net cash (used in) investing activities         (607) (60)  
Cash flows from financing activities              
Repayments on long-term debt         (10,172) (7,125)  
Contributions from QLH’s members         756 196  
Distributions         (1,111) (1,572)  
Payments pursuant to tax receivable agreement         0 (2,822)  
Shares withheld for taxes on vesting of restricted stock units         (5,176) (2,900)  
Net cash (used in) financing activities         (15,703) (14,223)  
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents         15,033 654  
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period   $ 17,271   $ 14,542 17,271 14,542 14,542
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 32,304   $ 15,196   32,304 15,196 $ 17,271
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information              
Interest         10,670 10,081  
Income taxes paid, net of refunds         $ 104 $ (233)  
v3.24.3
Summary of significant accounting policies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of significant accounting policies Summary of significant accounting policies
The Company's significant accounting policies are included in the 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K and under Part II, Item 1A "Risk Factors" in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and did not materially change during the nine months ended September 30, 2024.
Basis of presentation
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements and related disclosures have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") applicable to interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of only those of a normal recurring nature, considered necessary for a fair statement of the financial position and interim results of the Company as of and for the periods presented have been included.
The December 31, 2023 balance sheet data was derived from audited consolidated financial statements; however, the accompanying interim notes to the consolidated financial statements do not include all of the annual disclosures required by GAAP. Results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of those that may be expected for a full year. The financial information included herein should be read in conjunction with the Company's consolidated financial statements and related notes in its 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K and under Part II, Item 1A "Risk Factors" in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Accounts receivable
Accounts receivable are net of allowances for credit losses of $1.0 million and $0.5 million as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.
Concentrations of credit risk and of significant customers and suppliers
Financial instruments that potentially expose the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable. The Company maintains cash balances that can, at times, exceed amounts insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The Company has not experienced any losses in these accounts and believes it is not exposed to unusual risk beyond the normal credit risk in this area based on the financial strength of the institutions with which the Company maintains its deposits.
The Company's accounts receivable, which are unsecured, may expose it to credit risk based on their collectability. The Company controls credit risk by investigating the creditworthiness of all customers prior to establishing relationships with them, performing periodic reviews of the credit activities of those customers during the course of the business relationship, regularly analyzing the collectability of accounts receivable, and recording allowances for credit losses. The Company's supplier concentration can also expose it to business risks.
Customer and supplier concentrations consisted of the below:
Three Months Ended
September 30, 2024
Three Months Ended
September 30, 2023
Number of customers or suppliers exceeding 10%Aggregate Value
(in millions)
% of TotalNumber of customers or suppliers exceeding 10%Aggregate Value
(in millions)
% of Total
Revenue$130 50 %$— — %
Purchases$48 22 %1$14 %
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2024
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2023
Number of customers or suppliers exceeding 10%Aggregate Value
(in millions)
% of TotalNumber of customers or suppliers exceeding 10%Aggregate Value
(in millions)
% of Total
Revenue$227 40 %$— — %
Purchases— $— — %1$26 12 %
As of September 30, 2024As of December 31, 2023
Number of customers or suppliers exceeding 10%Aggregate Value
(in millions)
% of TotalNumber of customers or suppliers exceeding 10%Aggregate Value
(in millions)
% of Total
Accounts receivable$66 52 %1$14 %
Accounts payable$39 36 %1$12 21 %
Related Party Transactions
The Company is party to the tax receivables agreement ("TRA") under which it is contractually committed to pay certain holders of Class B-1 units 85% of the amount of any tax benefits that the Company actually realizes, or in some cases is deemed to realize, as a result of certain transactions. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, no payments were made pursuant to the TRA. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, payments of $0 and $2.8 million, respectively, were made pursuant to the TRA.
Liquidity
As of September 30, 2024, the aggregate principal amount outstanding under the 2021 Credit Facilities was $165.8 million, with $45.0 million remaining for borrowing under the 2021 Revolving Credit Facility. As of September 30, 2024, the Company was in compliance with all of its financial covenants under such credit facilities.

On October 30, 2024, the Company received a letter from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in which the FTC proposes to seek injunctive and monetary relief and civil penalties, as further discussed in Note 5 - Commitments and contingencies - Litigation and other matters. The total amount of the proposed items significantly exceed the Company's existing liquidity and financial resources. Any such costs above the existing liquidity and financial resources would require the Company to seek additional capital, incur debt or otherwise take significant actions in order to satisfy the claims and there can be no assurances that such financing could be obtained on acceptable terms, or at all. The Company’s ability to continue to comply with its covenants will depend on, among other things, financial, business, market, competitive, the outcome of the FTC matter, and other conditions, many of which are beyond the Company’s control.
The Company’s results are subject to fluctuations as a result of business cycles experienced by companies in the insurance industry. During the second half of 2021, the auto insurance industry began to experience a cyclical downturn, as supply chain disruptions and cost increases caused by the pandemic and overall inflationary pressures contributed to higher-than-expected P&C insurance claims costs, which led many carriers to reduce their customer acquisition spending to preserve their profitability. However, the Company's Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance vertical has rebounded strongly during 2024, with multiple carriers meaningfully increasing their spending in the Company's marketplace. The Company believes that its expected near-term revenue, cash on hand and availability to access additional cash under its 2021 Revolving Credit Facility are sufficient to meet its operating and capital expenditure requirements, and to continue to comply with its debt covenants, for at least the next twelve months as of the filing date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
The extent to which market conditions impact the Company’s business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition will depend on future developments impacting its carrier partners, including inflation rates, the extent of any major catastrophic losses, and the timing of regulatory approval of premium rate increases, which remain highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with accuracy. The Company considered the impact of this uncertainty on the assumptions and estimates used when preparing these quarterly financial statements. These assumptions and estimates may continue to change as new events occur, and such changes could have an adverse impact on the Company's results of operations, financial position and liquidity.
New Accounting Pronouncements
Recently adopted accounting pronouncements
There have been no recently adopted accounting pronouncements by the Company.
Recently issued not yet adopted accounting pronouncements
In December 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, that requires disclosure of disaggregated income taxes paid, prescribes standard categories for the components of the effective tax rate reconciliation, and modifies other income tax-related disclosure. The amendments in the ASU are intended to enhance the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures. The amendments are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. The amendments in this ASU should be applied on a prospective basis but retrospective application is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the ASU on its disclosures in the consolidated financial statements.
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, which expands annual and interim disclosure requirements for reportable segments, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. The ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2023 and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted and the amendments in this update are required to be applied on a retrospective basis to all periods presented. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the ASU on disclosures in its consolidated financial statements.
v3.24.3
Disaggregation of revenue
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Disaggregation of Revenue [Abstract]  
Disaggregation of revenue Disaggregation of revenue
The following table shows the Company’s revenue disaggregated by transaction model:
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in thousands)2024202320242023
Open marketplace transactions$253,016 $73,053 $546,949 $263,568 
Private marketplace transactions6,117 1,520 17,107 7,407 
Total$259,133 $74,573 $564,056 $270,975 
The following table shows the Company’s revenue disaggregated by product vertical:
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in thousands)2024202320242023
Property & casualty insurance$219,036 $31,933 $422,700 $126,532 
Health insurance32,879 33,961 114,932 115,192 
Life insurance5,227 5,341 19,308 18,321 
Other1,991 3,338 7,116 10,930 
Total$259,133 $74,573 $564,056 $270,975 
v3.24.3
Goodwill and intangible assets
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]  
Goodwill and intangible assets Goodwill and intangible assets
Goodwill and intangible assets consisted of:
As of
September 30, 2024December 31, 2023
(in thousands)Useful
life
(months)
Gross carrying amountAccumulated amortizationNet carrying amountGross carrying amountAccumulated amortizationNet carrying amount
Customer relationships
84 - 120
$43,500 $(28,113)$15,387 $43,500 $(23,947)$19,553 
Non-compete agreements60303 (303)— 303 (303)— 
Trademarks, trade names, and domain names
60 - 120
9,284 (3,083)6,201 8,884 (2,422)6,462 
Intangible assets$53,087 $(31,499)$21,588 $52,687 $(26,672)$26,015 
GoodwillIndefinite$47,739 $— $47,739 $47,739 $— $47,739 
Amortization expense related to intangible assets amounted to $1.6 million and $1.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $4.8 million and $5.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The Company has no accumulated impairment of goodwill.
The following table presents the changes in goodwill and intangible assets:
As of
September 30, 2024December 31, 2023
(in thousands)GoodwillIntangible
assets
GoodwillIntangible
assets
Beginning balance at January 1,$47,739 $26,015 $47,739 $32,932 
Additions to goodwill and intangible assets— 400 — — 
Amortization— (4,827)— (6,917)
Ending balance$47,739 $21,588 $47,739 $26,015 
As of September 30, 2024, future amortization expense relating to identifiable intangible assets with estimable useful lives over the next five years was as follows:
(in thousands)Amortization expense
2024–Remaining Period$1,603 
20255,776 
20265,173 
20274,140 
20282,336 
Thereafter2,560 
$21,588 
v3.24.3
Long-term debt
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]  
Long-term debt Long-term debt
On July 29, 2021, the Company entered into an amendment (the "First Amendment") to the 2020 Credit Agreement dated as of September 23, 2020, with the lenders that are party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (as amended by the First Amendment, the “Existing Credit Agreement”). On June 8, 2023, the Company entered into a Second Amendment (the “Second Amendment”) to the Existing Credit Agreement (as amended by the Second Amendment, the “Amended Credit Agreement”).
Long-term debt consisted of the following:
As of
(in thousands)September 30,
2024
December 31,
2023
2021 Term Loan Facility$160,828 $171,000 
2021 Revolving Credit Facility5,000 5,000 
Debt issuance costs(1,178)(1,701)
Total debt$164,650 $174,299 
Less: current portion, net of debt issuance costs of $661 and $693, respectively
(8,839)(11,854)
Total long-term debt$155,811 $162,445 
The Company incurred interest expense on the 2021 Term Loan Facility of $3.3 million and $3.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $10.3 million and $10.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Interest expense included amortization of debt issuance costs on the 2021 Credit Facilities of $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $0.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
As of September 30, 2024, the Company’s borrowing capacity available under the 2021 Revolving Credit Facility was $45.0 million, which carries a commitment fee based on the Company’s consolidated total net leverage ratio and ranges from 0.25% to 0.50%. The commitment fee on the unused portion of the 2021 Revolving Credit Facility was 0.25% as of September 30, 2024. The Company incurred interest expense on the 2021 Revolving Credit Facility of $0.1 million and $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $0.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. As of September 30, 2024, the Company’s interest rates on the outstanding borrowings under the 2021 Term Loan Facility and the 2021 Revolving Credit Facility were 7.57% and 7.68%, respectively.
Accrued interest was $3.3 million as of September 30, 2024 and $3.7 million as of December 31, 2023, and is included within accrued expenses on the consolidated balance sheets. As of September 30, 2024, the Company was in compliance with all covenants under the 2021 Credit Facilities.
The expected future principal payments for all borrowings as of September 30, 2024 were as follows:
(in thousands)Contractual maturity
2024–Remaining Period$2,375 
20259,500 
2026153,953 
Debt and issuance costs165,828 
Unamortized debt issuance costs(1,178)
Total debt$164,650 
v3.24.3
Commitments and contingencies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and contingencies Commitments and contingencies
Litigation and other matters
The Company is subject to certain legal proceedings and claims that arise in the normal course of business. In the opinion of management, the Company does not believe that the amount of liability, if any, as a result of these proceedings and claims will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
On February 21, 2023, the Company received a civil investigative demand from the FTC regarding compliance with the FTC Act and the Telemarketing Sales Rule, as they relate to the advertising, marketing, promotion, offering for sale, or sale of healthcare-related products, the collection, sale, transfer or provision to third parties of consumer data, telemarketing practices, and/or consumer privacy or data security. The Company has cooperated fully with the FTC investigation.
On October 30, 2024, after completion of the Company’s earnings call, the Company received a letter from the staff of the FTC (the “FTC Staff”) stating that the FTC Staff is prepared to recommend the filing of a complaint against the Company for violations of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act, the Telemarketing Sales Rule ("TSR") and the Government and Business Impersonation Rule (the “Impersonation Rule”).
The FTC Staff alleges that, in connection with the Company’s lead generation and telemarketing activities, the Company has represented itself as affiliated with government entities, made misleading claims (in particular regarding health insurance products and the Company’s use of consumers’ personal information) and utilized deceptive advertising, in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act. The FTC Staff further alleges that the Company has violated the Impersonation Rule in representing itself to be affiliated with government entities and the TSR in connection with telemarketing activities.
The FTC Staff proposes to seek injunctive and monetary relief and civil penalties. If obtained in whole or in part, the monetary relief and penalties proposed by the FTC Staff would have an adverse, and potentially material, effect on the Company’s liquidity, financial condition and results of operations. The total amount of these proposed items significantly exceeds the Company’s existing liquidity and financial resources. Any such costs above the existing liquidity and financial resources would require the Company to seek additional capital, incur debt or otherwise take significant actions in order to satisfy the claims and there can be no assurances that such financing could be obtained on acceptable terms, or at all. In addition, the proposed injunctive terms, if obtained in whole or in part, could materially and adversely affect the Company’s ability to operate its business in its Health insurance vertical, including how the Company conducts its marketing activities and endeavors to ensure compliance with consumer protection laws by itself and third parties with which the Company does business.
The Company strongly disagrees with the FTC Staff’s allegations and believes it has substantial and meritorious defenses to these claims. Among other things, the Company believes that its conduct does not rise to the legal standard required for the FTC to obtain the proposed monetary relief and penalties. The Company will continue to engage in good faith and with the FTC Staff and seek to resolve this matter prior to litigation, but the Company is prepared to defend itself vigorously if a complaint is filed.
Based on the facts and circumstances available to the Company as of the time of this filing, the Company believes that a loss in connection with the FTC matter is probable, either as a result of legal fees to be incurred to defend the claim or as a result of a settlement of the matter. However, due to, among other things, inherent uncertainty regarding the ultimate resolution of the FTC Staff’s claims, whether through settlement or litigation, the Company is unable to reasonably estimate the amount of probable loss or range of probable loss at this time.
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company incurred legal fees of $0.2 million and $2.0 million, respectively, and during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company incurred legal fees of $1.6 million and $3.0 million, respectively, in connection with the demand, which are included within general and administrative expenses on the consolidated statement of operations. At this time, the Company is unable to predict the ultimate outcome of this matter or the significance, if any, to the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition.
On February 26, 2024, the Company received an assessment from the City of Los Angeles related to its examination of the Company's Business Tax filings for tax years 2018 through 2023. Such assessment was affirmed by the Appeals Review Officer at an initial hearing in July 2024. The Company intends to appeal the assessment to the Board of Review of the Office of Finance. As of September 30, 2024, the Company has assessed its probable loss related to this matter and has accrued a reserve, which is not material.
As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company did not have any material contingency reserves established for any litigation liabilities.
v3.24.3
Equity-based compensation
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]  
Equity-based compensation Equity-based compensation
Equity-based compensation cost recognized for equity-based awards outstanding during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 was as follows:
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in thousands)2024202320242023
QLH restricted Class B-1 units$$14 $16 $73 
Restricted Class A shares66 130 272 464 
Restricted stock units7,985 14,310 25,230 43,406 
Performance-based restricted stock units543 — 934 — 
Total equity-based compensation$8,597 $14,454 $26,452 $43,943 
Equity-based compensation cost was included in the following expense categories in the consolidated statements of operations during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in thousands)2024202320242023
Cost of revenue$405 $1,012 $2,654 $2,959 
Sales and marketing1,933 2,151 5,676 6,895 
Product development1,733 1,905 5,001 6,176 
General and administrative4,526 9,386 13,121 27,913 
Total equity-based compensation$8,597 $14,454 $26,452 $43,943 
As of September 30, 2024, total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested restricted stock units and PRSUs was $57.3 million and $0.8 million, respectively, which are expected to be recognized over weighted-average periods of 2.53 years and 0.45 years, respectively.
v3.24.3
Fair Value Measurements
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
Fair Value Measurements Fair Value Measurements
The following are the Company’s financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
Contingent consideration
Contingent consideration is measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs and thus represent a Level 3 measurement in the valuation hierarchy.
Contingent consideration relates to the estimated amount of additional cash consideration to be paid in connection with the Company's acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Customer Helper Team, LLC ("CHT") which was closed on April 1, 2022. The fair value is dependent on the probability of achieving certain revenue and gross profit margin targets for the two successive twelve-month periods following the closing of the acquisition. The Company used the Monte Carlo simulation approach to estimate the fair value of the revenue and gross margin targets. The fair value of the contingent consideration as of December 31, 2023 was zero. CHT did not achieve the minimum revenue target for either twelve-month period, and so the Company did not pay any contingent consideration.
The following are the Company’s financial instruments measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis:
Long-Term Debt
As of September 30, 2024, the carrying amount of the 2021 Term Loan Facility and the 2021 Revolving Credit Facility approximates their respective fair values. The Company used a discounted cash flow analysis to estimate the fair value of the long-term debt, using an adjusted discount rate of 5.50% and the estimated payments under the 2021 Term Loan Facility until maturity, including interest payable based on the Company's forecasted total net leverage ratio.
Cost method investment
The Company has elected the measurement alternative for its investment in equity securities without readily determinable fair values and reviews such investment on a quarterly basis to determine if it has been impaired. If the Company's assessment indicates that an impairment exists, the Company estimates the fair value of the equity investment and recognizes in its consolidated statement of operations an impairment loss that is equal to the difference between the fair value of the equity investment and its carrying amount. On March 29, 2024, the board of directors and stockholders of a company in which the Company held a minority equity investment approved a plan of restructuring and liquidation that had the effect of cancelling the Company's investment. The Company had previously determined as of December 31, 2023 that the fair value of the investment was zero and accordingly this cancellation had no impact on the consolidated financial statements as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024.
The Company used a market approach to estimate the fair value of equity and allocated the overall equity value to estimate the fair value of the common stock based on the liquidation preference and was classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
v3.24.3
Income taxes
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income taxes Income taxes
MediaAlpha, Inc. is taxed as a corporation and pays corporate federal, state and local taxes on income allocated to it from QLH based upon MediaAlpha, Inc.’s economic interest held in QLH. QLH is treated as a pass-through partnership for income tax reporting purposes and is not subject to federal income tax. Instead, QLH’s taxable income or loss is passed through to its members, including MediaAlpha, Inc. Accordingly, the Company is not liable for income taxes on the portion of QLH’s earnings not allocated to it. MediaAlpha, Inc. files and pays corporate income taxes for U.S. federal and state income tax purposes and its corporate subsidiary, Skytiger Studio, Ltd., is subject to taxation in Taiwan. The Company expects this structure to remain in existence for the foreseeable future.
The Company estimates the annual effective tax rate for the full year to be applied to actual year-to-date income (loss) and adds the tax effects of any discrete items in the reporting period in which they occur. The following table summarizes the Company's income tax expense:
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in thousands, except percentages)2024202320242023
Income (loss) before income taxes$12,200 $(18,596)$15,286 $(52,932)
Income tax expense$312 $102 $469 $330 
Effective Tax Rate2.6 %(0.5)%3.1 %(0.6)%
The Company's effective tax rate of 2.6% and 3.1% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, and (0.5)% and (0.6)% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively, differed from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21%, due primarily to the tax impacts of changes in valuation allowance.
There were no material changes to the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024. The Company is currently under examination by various tax authorities in the United States. These examinations are in preliminary stages and the Company does not expect to have any significant changes to unrecognized tax benefits through the end of the fiscal year.
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, holders of Class B-1 units exchanged 0 and 6,496,800 Class B-1 units, respectively, together with an equal number of shares of Class B common stock, for shares of Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis (“Exchanges”). In connection with the Exchanges, the Company did not establish any additional liabilities related to the TRA, which are presented within additional-paid-in-capital in its consolidated statements of stockholders’ equity (deficit). In connection with the Exchanges and the changes to the carrying value of the non-controlling interest, the Company also recognizes deferred tax assets associated with the basis difference in its investment in QLH through additional-paid-in-capital, but during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company did not recognize any additional deferred tax assets as the Company has recognized a full valuation allowance on its deferred tax assets.
As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had a valuation allowance of $125.2 million and $95.1 million, respectively, against its deferred tax assets based on the recent history of pre-tax losses, which is considered a significant piece of objective negative evidence that is difficult to overcome and limits the ability to consider other subjective evidence, such as projections of future growth. Based on the significant improvement in the Company's pre-tax income for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and the current forecasts, the Company expects that in the foreseeable future, which could be as early as the fourth quarter of 2024, there may be sufficient positive evidence, and/or that the objective negative evidence in the form of history of pre-tax losses will no longer be present, in which event the Company would be able to release a portion or all of the valuation allowance. Release of any amount of valuation allowance would result in a benefit to income tax expense for the period the release is recorded, which could have a material impact on net income.
Tax Receivables Agreement
In connection with the Reorganization Transactions and the IPO, the Company entered into the TRA with Insignia, Senior Executives, and White Mountains. The Company expects to obtain an increase in its share of the tax basis in the net assets of QLH as Class B-1 units, together with shares of Class B common stock, are exchanged for shares of Class A common stock (or, at the Company’s election, redeemed for cash of an equivalent value). The Company intends to treat any redemptions and exchanges of Class B-1 units as direct purchases for U.S. federal income tax purposes. These increases in tax basis may reduce the amounts that it would otherwise pay in the future to various tax authorities.
As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company determined that making a payment under the TRA was not probable under ASC 450 — Contingencies since a valuation allowance has been recorded against the Company’s deferred tax assets. Accordingly, the Company has determined that the liabilities under the TRA were zero as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 in the consolidated balance sheets. In the event the Company generates taxable income for the current year, the Company would be required to recognize a portion or all of the liability under the TRA. If the Company had determined that generating sufficient future taxable income such that making a payment under the TRA was probable, it would have also recorded a liability pursuant to the TRA of approximately $121 million as of September 30, 2024 in the consolidated balance sheets.
No payments were made pursuant to the TRA during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, and payments of $0 and $2.8 million were made during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively.
v3.24.3
Earnings (Loss) Per Share
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]  
Earning (Loss) Per Share Earnings (Loss) Per Share
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in thousands except share data and per share amounts)2024202320242023
Basic
Net income (loss)$11,888 $(18,698)$14,817 $(53,262)
Less: net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest2,406 (5,196)2,828 (15,208)
Net income (loss) attributable to MediaAlpha, Inc.$9,482 $(13,502)$11,989 $(38,054)
Weighted-average shares of Class A common stock outstanding - basic
54,909,772 46,229,672 52,293,622 45,095,417 
Weighted-average shares of Class A common stock outstanding - diluted
54,909,772 46,229,672 66,087,041 45,095,417 
Income (loss) per share of Class A common stock - basic
$0.17 $(0.29)$0.23 $(0.84)
Income (loss) per share of Class A common stock - diluted
$0.17 $(0.29)$0.22 $(0.84)
(in thousands except share data and per share amount)
Nine months ended
September 30, 2024
Diluted
Net income
$14,817 
Add: incremental tax benefits related to exchange of Class B-1 units
(223)
Net income available for diluted common shares
$14,594 
Weighted-average shares outstanding:
Class A common stock52,293,622 
Class B-1 units13,793,419 
Weighted-average shares of Class A common stock and potential Class A common stock66,087,041 
Net income per share of Class A common stock - diluted
$0.22 
Potentially dilutive shares, which are based on the weighted-average shares of underlying unvested QLH restricted Class B-1 units, restricted Class A shares, restricted stock units, and PRSUs using the treasury stock method and the outstanding QLH restricted Class B-1 units using the if-converted method, are included when calculating diluted net income per share attributable to MediaAlpha, Inc. when their effect is dilutive. The effects of certain of the Company’s potentially dilutive securities were not included in the calculation of diluted loss per share as the effect of their inclusion would be anti-dilutive.
The following table summarizes the shares and units with a potentially dilutive impact for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
As of
September 30, 2024September 30, 2023
QLH Class B-1 Units11,609,982 18,155,446 
Restricted Class A Shares— 52,573 
Restricted stock units3,664,754 4,342,036 
PRSUs
93,000 — 
Potentially dilutive shares15,367,736 22,550,055 
The following table summarizes the shares and units with a potentially dilutive impact for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
As of
September 30, 2024September 30, 2023
QLH Class B-1 Units— 18,155,446 
Restricted Class A Shares— 52,573 
Restricted stock units3,664,754 4,342,036 
PRSUs
93,000 — 
Potentially dilutive shares3,757,754 22,550,055 
The outstanding PRSUs were included in the potentially dilutive securities as of September 30, 2024 to the level in which the performance conditions have been met as of September 30, 2024.
v3.24.3
Non-Controlling Interest
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]  
Non-Controlling Interest Non-Controlling Interest
Pursuant to QLH’s limited liability company agreement, QLH has two classes of equity securities, Class A-1 units, which have all voting rights in QLH, and Class B-1 units, which have no voting or control rights. The Company allocates a share of net income (loss) to the holders of non-controlling interests pro-rata to their ownership interest in QLH at a point in time. The non-controlling interests balance represents the Class B-1 units, substantially all of which are held by Insignia and the Senior Executives. 
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, the holders of the non-controlling interests exchanged 0 and 6,496,800 Class B-1 units, respectively, together with an equal number of shares of Class B common stock, for shares of Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis. As of September 30, 2024, the holders of the non-controlling interests owned 17.4% of the total equity interests in QLH, with the remaining 82.6% owned by MediaAlpha, Inc. As of December 31, 2023, the holders of the non-controlling interests owned 27.7% of the total equity interests in QLH, with the remaining 72.3% owned by MediaAlpha, Inc.
v3.24.3
Pay vs Performance Disclosure - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Pay vs Performance Disclosure        
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent $ 9,482 $ (13,502) $ 11,989 $ (38,054)
v3.24.3
Insider Trading Arrangements
3 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Trading Arrangements, by Individual  
Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Adopted false
Non-Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Adopted false
Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Terminated false
Non-Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Terminated false
v3.24.3
Summary of significant accounting policies (Policies)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Basis of presentation
Basis of presentation
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements and related disclosures have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") applicable to interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of only those of a normal recurring nature, considered necessary for a fair statement of the financial position and interim results of the Company as of and for the periods presented have been included.
The December 31, 2023 balance sheet data was derived from audited consolidated financial statements; however, the accompanying interim notes to the consolidated financial statements do not include all of the annual disclosures required by GAAP. Results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of those that may be expected for a full year. The financial information included herein should be read in conjunction with the Company's consolidated financial statements and related notes in its 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K and under Part II, Item 1A "Risk Factors" in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Accounts receivable
Accounts receivable
Accounts receivable are net of allowances for credit losses of $1.0 million and $0.5 million as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.
Concentrations of credit risk and of significant customers and suppliers
Concentrations of credit risk and of significant customers and suppliers
Financial instruments that potentially expose the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable. The Company maintains cash balances that can, at times, exceed amounts insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The Company has not experienced any losses in these accounts and believes it is not exposed to unusual risk beyond the normal credit risk in this area based on the financial strength of the institutions with which the Company maintains its deposits.
The Company's accounts receivable, which are unsecured, may expose it to credit risk based on their collectability. The Company controls credit risk by investigating the creditworthiness of all customers prior to establishing relationships with them, performing periodic reviews of the credit activities of those customers during the course of the business relationship, regularly analyzing the collectability of accounts receivable, and recording allowances for credit losses. The Company's supplier concentration can also expose it to business risks.
Customer and supplier concentrations consisted of the below:
Three Months Ended
September 30, 2024
Three Months Ended
September 30, 2023
Number of customers or suppliers exceeding 10%Aggregate Value
(in millions)
% of TotalNumber of customers or suppliers exceeding 10%Aggregate Value
(in millions)
% of Total
Revenue$130 50 %$— — %
Purchases$48 22 %1$14 %
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2024
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2023
Number of customers or suppliers exceeding 10%Aggregate Value
(in millions)
% of TotalNumber of customers or suppliers exceeding 10%Aggregate Value
(in millions)
% of Total
Revenue$227 40 %$— — %
Purchases— $— — %1$26 12 %
As of September 30, 2024As of December 31, 2023
Number of customers or suppliers exceeding 10%Aggregate Value
(in millions)
% of TotalNumber of customers or suppliers exceeding 10%Aggregate Value
(in millions)
% of Total
Accounts receivable$66 52 %1$14 %
Accounts payable$39 36 %1$12 21 %
New accounting pronouncements
New Accounting Pronouncements
Recently adopted accounting pronouncements
There have been no recently adopted accounting pronouncements by the Company.
Recently issued not yet adopted accounting pronouncements
In December 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, that requires disclosure of disaggregated income taxes paid, prescribes standard categories for the components of the effective tax rate reconciliation, and modifies other income tax-related disclosure. The amendments in the ASU are intended to enhance the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures. The amendments are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. The amendments in this ASU should be applied on a prospective basis but retrospective application is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the ASU on its disclosures in the consolidated financial statements.
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, which expands annual and interim disclosure requirements for reportable segments, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. The ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2023 and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted and the amendments in this update are required to be applied on a retrospective basis to all periods presented. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the ASU on disclosures in its consolidated financial statements.
v3.24.3
Summary of significant accounting policies (Tables)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Customer and Supplier Concentration Risk
Customer and supplier concentrations consisted of the below:
Three Months Ended
September 30, 2024
Three Months Ended
September 30, 2023
Number of customers or suppliers exceeding 10%Aggregate Value
(in millions)
% of TotalNumber of customers or suppliers exceeding 10%Aggregate Value
(in millions)
% of Total
Revenue$130 50 %$— — %
Purchases$48 22 %1$14 %
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2024
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2023
Number of customers or suppliers exceeding 10%Aggregate Value
(in millions)
% of TotalNumber of customers or suppliers exceeding 10%Aggregate Value
(in millions)
% of Total
Revenue$227 40 %$— — %
Purchases— $— — %1$26 12 %
As of September 30, 2024As of December 31, 2023
Number of customers or suppliers exceeding 10%Aggregate Value
(in millions)
% of TotalNumber of customers or suppliers exceeding 10%Aggregate Value
(in millions)
% of Total
Accounts receivable$66 52 %1$14 %
Accounts payable$39 36 %1$12 21 %
v3.24.3
Disaggregation of revenue (Tables)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Disaggregation of Revenue [Abstract]  
Summary of Disaggregation of Revenue
The following table shows the Company’s revenue disaggregated by transaction model:
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in thousands)2024202320242023
Open marketplace transactions$253,016 $73,053 $546,949 $263,568 
Private marketplace transactions6,117 1,520 17,107 7,407 
Total$259,133 $74,573 $564,056 $270,975 
The following table shows the Company’s revenue disaggregated by product vertical:
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in thousands)2024202320242023
Property & casualty insurance$219,036 $31,933 $422,700 $126,532 
Health insurance32,879 33,961 114,932 115,192 
Life insurance5,227 5,341 19,308 18,321 
Other1,991 3,338 7,116 10,930 
Total$259,133 $74,573 $564,056 $270,975 
v3.24.3
Goodwill and intangible assets (Tables)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]  
Summary of Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Goodwill and intangible assets consisted of:
As of
September 30, 2024December 31, 2023
(in thousands)Useful
life
(months)
Gross carrying amountAccumulated amortizationNet carrying amountGross carrying amountAccumulated amortizationNet carrying amount
Customer relationships
84 - 120
$43,500 $(28,113)$15,387 $43,500 $(23,947)$19,553 
Non-compete agreements60303 (303)— 303 (303)— 
Trademarks, trade names, and domain names
60 - 120
9,284 (3,083)6,201 8,884 (2,422)6,462 
Intangible assets$53,087 $(31,499)$21,588 $52,687 $(26,672)$26,015 
GoodwillIndefinite$47,739 $— $47,739 $47,739 $— $47,739 
Summary of Change in Goodwill and Intangible Assets
The following table presents the changes in goodwill and intangible assets:
As of
September 30, 2024December 31, 2023
(in thousands)GoodwillIntangible
assets
GoodwillIntangible
assets
Beginning balance at January 1,$47,739 $26,015 $47,739 $32,932 
Additions to goodwill and intangible assets— 400 — — 
Amortization— (4,827)— (6,917)
Ending balance$47,739 $21,588 $47,739 $26,015 
Summary of Future Amortization Expense on Identifiable Intangible Assets
As of September 30, 2024, future amortization expense relating to identifiable intangible assets with estimable useful lives over the next five years was as follows:
(in thousands)Amortization expense
2024–Remaining Period$1,603 
20255,776 
20265,173 
20274,140 
20282,336 
Thereafter2,560 
$21,588 
v3.24.3
Long-term debt (Tables)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]  
Schedule of Long-term Debt
Long-term debt consisted of the following:
As of
(in thousands)September 30,
2024
December 31,
2023
2021 Term Loan Facility$160,828 $171,000 
2021 Revolving Credit Facility5,000 5,000 
Debt issuance costs(1,178)(1,701)
Total debt$164,650 $174,299 
Less: current portion, net of debt issuance costs of $661 and $693, respectively
(8,839)(11,854)
Total long-term debt$155,811 $162,445 
Schedule of Expected Future Principal Payments for Borrowings
The expected future principal payments for all borrowings as of September 30, 2024 were as follows:
(in thousands)Contractual maturity
2024–Remaining Period$2,375 
20259,500 
2026153,953 
Debt and issuance costs165,828 
Unamortized debt issuance costs(1,178)
Total debt$164,650 
v3.24.3
Equity-based compensation (Tables)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]  
Summary of Equity-based Compensation Cost Recognized
Equity-based compensation cost recognized for equity-based awards outstanding during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 was as follows:
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in thousands)2024202320242023
QLH restricted Class B-1 units$$14 $16 $73 
Restricted Class A shares66 130 272 464 
Restricted stock units7,985 14,310 25,230 43,406 
Performance-based restricted stock units543 — 934 — 
Total equity-based compensation$8,597 $14,454 $26,452 $43,943 
Schedule of Equity-based Compensation Expense
Equity-based compensation cost was included in the following expense categories in the consolidated statements of operations during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in thousands)2024202320242023
Cost of revenue$405 $1,012 $2,654 $2,959 
Sales and marketing1,933 2,151 5,676 6,895 
Product development1,733 1,905 5,001 6,176 
General and administrative4,526 9,386 13,121 27,913 
Total equity-based compensation$8,597 $14,454 $26,452 $43,943 
v3.24.3
Income taxes (Tables)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Summary of Our Income Tax Expense (Benefit) The following table summarizes the Company's income tax expense:
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in thousands, except percentages)2024202320242023
Income (loss) before income taxes$12,200 $(18,596)$15,286 $(52,932)
Income tax expense$312 $102 $469 $330 
Effective Tax Rate2.6 %(0.5)%3.1 %(0.6)%
v3.24.3
Earnings (Loss) Per Share (Tables)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]  
Summary of Calculation of Basic and Diluted Net Loss Per Share
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(in thousands except share data and per share amounts)2024202320242023
Basic
Net income (loss)$11,888 $(18,698)$14,817 $(53,262)
Less: net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest2,406 (5,196)2,828 (15,208)
Net income (loss) attributable to MediaAlpha, Inc.$9,482 $(13,502)$11,989 $(38,054)
Weighted-average shares of Class A common stock outstanding - basic
54,909,772 46,229,672 52,293,622 45,095,417 
Weighted-average shares of Class A common stock outstanding - diluted
54,909,772 46,229,672 66,087,041 45,095,417 
Income (loss) per share of Class A common stock - basic
$0.17 $(0.29)$0.23 $(0.84)
Income (loss) per share of Class A common stock - diluted
$0.17 $(0.29)$0.22 $(0.84)
(in thousands except share data and per share amount)
Nine months ended
September 30, 2024
Diluted
Net income
$14,817 
Add: incremental tax benefits related to exchange of Class B-1 units
(223)
Net income available for diluted common shares
$14,594 
Weighted-average shares outstanding:
Class A common stock52,293,622 
Class B-1 units13,793,419 
Weighted-average shares of Class A common stock and potential Class A common stock66,087,041 
Net income per share of Class A common stock - diluted
$0.22 
Schedule of Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share
The following table summarizes the shares and units with a potentially dilutive impact for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
As of
September 30, 2024September 30, 2023
QLH Class B-1 Units11,609,982 18,155,446 
Restricted Class A Shares— 52,573 
Restricted stock units3,664,754 4,342,036 
PRSUs
93,000 — 
Potentially dilutive shares15,367,736 22,550,055 
The following table summarizes the shares and units with a potentially dilutive impact for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
As of
September 30, 2024September 30, 2023
QLH Class B-1 Units— 18,155,446 
Restricted Class A Shares— 52,573 
Restricted stock units3,664,754 4,342,036 
PRSUs
93,000 — 
Potentially dilutive shares3,757,754 22,550,055 
v3.24.3
Summary of significant accounting policies - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Dec. 31, 2023
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]          
Accounts receivable, allowance for credit losses $ 1,027   $ 1,027   $ 537
Payments pursuant to tax receivable agreement     0 $ 2,822  
Revolving Credit Facility          
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]          
Outstanding amount drawn under revolving credit facility 165,800   165,800    
Available credit under agreement 45,000   $ 45,000    
Tax Receivables Agreement | Related Party          
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]          
Percentage of cash savings required to pay     85.00%    
Payments pursuant to tax receivable agreement $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 2,800  
v3.24.3
Summary of significant accounting policies - Summary of Customer and Supplier Concentration Risk (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Dec. 31, 2023
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]          
Revenue $ 259,133 $ 74,573 $ 564,056 $ 270,975  
Purchases 219,907 62,277 469,465 226,545  
Accounts receivable 126,814   126,814   $ 53,773
Accounts payable 109,577   109,577   56,279
Top One Supplier | Supplier Concentration Risk | Purchases          
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]          
Purchases   $ 9,000   $ 26,000  
Concentration risk percentage   14.00%   12.00%  
Top One Supplier | Supplier Concentration Risk | Accounts Payable Benchmark          
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]          
Accounts payable         $ 12,000
Concentration risk percentage         21.00%
Top Two Suppliers | Supplier Concentration Risk | Purchases          
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]          
Purchases $ 48,000        
Concentration risk percentage 22.00%        
Top Three Suppliers | Supplier Concentration Risk | Accounts Payable Benchmark          
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]          
Accounts payable $ 39,000   $ 39,000    
Concentration risk percentage     36.00%    
Top One Customer | Customer Concentration Risk | Accounts Receivable          
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]          
Accounts receivable         $ 7,000
Concentration risk percentage         14.00%
Top Two Customers | Customer Concentration Risk | Revenue from Contract with Customer Benchmark          
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]          
Revenue $ 130,000   $ 227,000    
Concentration risk percentage 50.00%   40.00%    
Top Two Customers | Customer Concentration Risk | Accounts Receivable          
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]          
Accounts receivable $ 66,000   $ 66,000    
Concentration risk percentage     52.00%    
v3.24.3
Disaggregation of revenue - Summary of Disaggregation of Revenue by Transaction Model (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue $ 259,133 $ 74,573 $ 564,056 $ 270,975
Open marketplace transactions        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue 253,016 73,053 546,949 263,568
Private marketplace transactions        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue $ 6,117 $ 1,520 $ 17,107 $ 7,407
v3.24.3
Disaggregation of revenue - Summary of Disaggregation of Revenue by Product Vertical (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue $ 259,133 $ 74,573 $ 564,056 $ 270,975
Property & casualty insurance        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue 219,036 31,933 422,700 126,532
Health insurance        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue 32,879 33,961 114,932 115,192
Life insurance        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue 5,227 5,341 19,308 18,321
Other        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Revenue $ 1,991 $ 3,338 $ 7,116 $ 10,930
v3.24.3
Goodwill and intangible assets - Summary of Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
Sep. 30, 2024
Dec. 31, 2023
Dec. 31, 2022
Goodwill And Intangible Assets [Line Items]      
Gross carrying amount $ 53,087 $ 52,687  
Accumulated amortization (31,499) (26,672)  
Net carrying amount 21,588 26,015 $ 32,932
Goodwill 47,739 47,739 $ 47,739
Customer relationships      
Goodwill And Intangible Assets [Line Items]      
Gross carrying amount 43,500 43,500  
Accumulated amortization (28,113) (23,947)  
Net carrying amount $ 15,387 19,553  
Customer relationships | Minimum      
Goodwill And Intangible Assets [Line Items]      
Useful life (months) 84 months    
Customer relationships | Maximum      
Goodwill And Intangible Assets [Line Items]      
Useful life (months) 120 months    
Non-compete agreements      
Goodwill And Intangible Assets [Line Items]      
Useful life (months) 60 months    
Gross carrying amount $ 303 303  
Accumulated amortization (303) (303)  
Net carrying amount 0 0  
Trademarks, trade names, and domain names      
Goodwill And Intangible Assets [Line Items]      
Gross carrying amount 9,284 8,884  
Accumulated amortization (3,083) (2,422)  
Net carrying amount $ 6,201 $ 6,462  
Trademarks, trade names, and domain names | Minimum      
Goodwill And Intangible Assets [Line Items]      
Useful life (months) 60 months    
Trademarks, trade names, and domain names | Maximum      
Goodwill And Intangible Assets [Line Items]      
Useful life (months) 120 months    
v3.24.3
Goodwill and intangible assets - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Dec. 31, 2023
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]          
Amortization of intangible assets $ 1,600 $ 1,700 $ 4,827 $ 5,188 $ 6,917
Accumulated impairment of goodwill $ 0   $ 0    
v3.24.3
Goodwill and intangible assets - Summary of Change in Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Dec. 31, 2023
Goodwill          
Beginning balance at January 1,     $ 47,739 $ 47,739 $ 47,739
Additions to goodwill     0   0
Ending balance $ 47,739   47,739   47,739
Intangible assets          
Beginning balance at January 1,     26,015 32,932 32,932
Additions to intangible assets     400   0
Amortization (1,600) $ (1,700) (4,827) $ (5,188) (6,917)
Ending balance $ 21,588   $ 21,588   $ 26,015
v3.24.3
Goodwill and intangible assets - Summary of Future Amortization Expense on Identifiable Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
Sep. 30, 2024
Dec. 31, 2023
Dec. 31, 2022
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]      
2024 - Remaining Period $ 1,603    
2025 5,776    
2026 5,173    
2027 4,140    
2028 2,336    
Thereafter 2,560    
Net carrying amount $ 21,588 $ 26,015 $ 32,932
v3.24.3
Long-term debt - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Dec. 31, 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Interest expense $ 3,300 $ 3,800 $ 10,300 $ 10,900  
Amortization of deferred debt issuance costs 200 200 569 597  
Accrued interest $ 3,300   $ 3,300   $ 3,700
2021 Credit Facilities | Term loan          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Quarterly amortization rate 7.57%   7.57%    
Revolving Credit Facility          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Interest expense $ 100 $ 200 $ 500 $ 500  
Available credit under agreement $ 45,000   $ 45,000    
Commitment fee percentage     0.25%    
Revolving Credit Facility | 2021 Credit Facilities | Line of credit          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Quarterly amortization rate 7.68%   7.68%    
Revolving Credit Facility | Minimum          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Commitment fee percentage     0.25%    
Revolving Credit Facility | Maximum          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Commitment fee percentage     0.50%    
v3.24.3
Long-term debt - Schedule of Long Term Debt (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
Sep. 30, 2024
Dec. 31, 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Debt issuance costs $ (1,178) $ (1,701)
Total debt 164,650 174,299
Current portion of long-term debt (8,839) (11,854)
Total long-term debt 155,811 162,445
Debt issuance costs 661 693
Revolving Credit Facility    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Outstanding amount drawn under revolving credit facility 165,800  
Term loan | 2021 Credit Facilities    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
2021 Term Loan Facility 160,828 171,000
Line of credit | 2021 Credit Facilities | Revolving Credit Facility    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Outstanding amount drawn under revolving credit facility $ 5,000 $ 5,000
v3.24.3
Long-term debt - Schedule of Expected Future Principal Payments for Borrowings (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
Sep. 30, 2024
Dec. 31, 2023
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]    
2024–Remaining Period $ 2,375  
2025 9,500  
2026 153,953  
Debt and issuance costs 165,828  
Unamortized debt issuance costs (1,178) $ (1,701)
Total debt $ 164,650 $ 174,299
v3.24.3
Commitments and contingencies - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)
3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Dec. 31, 2023
Litigation And Other Matters [Line Items]          
Contingency reserves for litigation liabilities $ 0   $ 0   $ 0
FTC Act, Telemarketing Sales Rule          
Litigation And Other Matters [Line Items]          
Legal fees incurred $ 200,000 $ 1,600,000 $ 2,000,000 $ 3,000,000  
v3.24.3
Equity-based compensation - Narrative (Details)
$ in Millions
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
USD ($)
Restricted stock units  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]  
Unrecognized compensation cost $ 57.3
Weighted average period of recognition 2 years 6 months 10 days
Performance-based restricted stock units  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]  
Unrecognized compensation cost $ 0.8
Weighted average period of recognition 5 months 12 days
v3.24.3
Equity-based compensation - Summary of Equity-based Compensation Cost Recognized (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Total equity-based compensation $ 8,597 $ 14,454 $ 26,452 $ 43,943
QLH restricted Class B-1 units        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Total equity-based compensation 3 14 16 73
Restricted Class A shares        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Total equity-based compensation 66 130 272 464
Restricted stock units        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Total equity-based compensation 7,985 14,310 25,230 43,406
Performance-based restricted stock units        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Total equity-based compensation $ 543 $ 0 $ 934 $ 0
v3.24.3
Equity-based compensation - Schedule of Equity-based Compensation Expense (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Total equity-based compensation $ 8,597 $ 14,454 $ 26,452 $ 43,943
Cost of revenue        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Total equity-based compensation 405 1,012 2,654 2,959
Sales and marketing        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Total equity-based compensation 1,933 2,151 5,676 6,895
Product development        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Total equity-based compensation 1,733 1,905 5,001 6,176
General and administrative        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Total equity-based compensation $ 4,526 $ 9,386 $ 13,121 $ 27,913
v3.24.3
Fair Value Measurements - Narrative (Details)
Feb. 24, 2022
period
Sep. 30, 2024
Dec. 31, 2023
USD ($)
Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]      
Equity securities without readily determinable fair value     $ 0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | Measurement Input, Discount Rate | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow      
Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]      
Long-term debt, measurement input   0.0550  
Customer Helper Team, LLC      
Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]      
Asset acquisition, contingent consideration, number of periods | period 2    
Contingent consideration period (in years) 12 months    
Contingent consideration, fair value     $ 0
v3.24.3
Income taxes - Narrative (Details)
3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
USD ($)
shares
Sep. 30, 2023
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2024
USD ($)
shares
Sep. 30, 2023
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2023
USD ($)
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]          
Effective income tax rate 2.60% (0.50%) 3.10% (0.60%)  
Statutory federal tax rate     21.00%    
Conversion of stock (in shares) | shares 0   6,496,800    
Stockholder's equity, exchange ratio 1   1    
Deferred tax assets, valuation allowance $ 125,200,000   $ 125,200,000   $ 95,100,000
Liability on tax receivable agreement 0   0   $ 0
Unrecognized liability on tax receivable agreement 121,000,000   121,000,000    
Payments pursuant to tax receivable agreement     0 $ 2,822,000  
Tax Receivables Agreement | Related Party          
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]          
Payments pursuant to tax receivable agreement $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 2,800,000  
v3.24.3
Income taxes - Summary of Our Income Tax Expense (Benefit) (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]        
Income (loss) before income taxes $ 12,200 $ (18,596) $ 15,286 $ (52,932)
Income tax expense $ 312 $ 102 $ 469 $ 330
Effective Tax Rate 2.60% (0.50%) 3.10% (0.60%)
v3.24.3
Earnings (Loss) Per Share - Summary of Calculation of Basic and Diluted Net Loss Per Share (Details) - USD ($)
$ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands
3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Jun. 30, 2024
Mar. 31, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Jun. 30, 2023
Mar. 31, 2023
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Basic                
Net income (loss) $ 11,888 $ 4,420 $ (1,491) $ (18,698) $ (19,980) $ (14,584) $ 14,817 $ (53,262)
Less: net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest 2,406     (5,196)     2,828 (15,208)
Net income (loss) attributable to MediaAlpha, Inc. $ 9,482     $ (13,502)     $ 11,989 $ (38,054)
Weighted-average shares of Class A common stock outstanding - basic (in shares) 54,909,772     46,229,672     52,293,622 45,095,417
Weighted-average shares of Class A common stock outstanding - diluted (in shares) 54,909,772     46,229,672     66,087,041 45,095,417
Income (loss) per share of Class A common stock - basic (in dollars per share) $ 0.17     $ (0.29)     $ 0.23 $ (0.84)
Income (loss) per share of Class A common stock - diluted (in dollars per share) $ 0.17     $ (0.29)     $ 0.22 $ (0.84)
Diluted                
Net income (loss) $ 11,888 $ 4,420 $ (1,491) $ (18,698) $ (19,980) $ (14,584) $ 14,817 $ (53,262)
Add: incremental tax benefits related to exchange of Class B-1 units             (223)  
Net income available for diluted common shares             $ 14,594  
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding - diluted (in shares) 54,909,772     46,229,672     66,087,041 45,095,417
Income (loss) per share of Class A common stock - diluted (in dollars per share) $ 0.17     $ (0.29)     $ 0.22 $ (0.84)
Class A Common                
Basic                
Weighted-average shares of Class A common stock outstanding - diluted (in shares)             52,293,622  
Income (loss) per share of Class A common stock - basic (in dollars per share) 0.17     (0.29)     $ 0.23 (0.84)
Income (loss) per share of Class A common stock - diluted (in dollars per share) 0.17     (0.29)     $ 0.22 (0.84)
Diluted                
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding - diluted (in shares)             52,293,622  
Income (loss) per share of Class A common stock - diluted (in dollars per share) $ 0.17     $ (0.29)     $ 0.22 $ (0.84)
Class B-1 Units                
Basic                
Weighted-average shares of Class A common stock outstanding - diluted (in shares)             13,793,419  
Diluted                
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding - diluted (in shares)             13,793,419  
v3.24.3
Earnings (Loss) Per Share- Schedule of Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share (Details) - shares
3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]        
Potential dilutive shares (in shares) 15,367,736 22,550,055 3,757,754 22,550,055
QLH Class B-1 Units        
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]        
Potential dilutive shares (in shares) 11,609,982 18,155,446 0 18,155,446
Restricted Class A shares        
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]        
Potential dilutive shares (in shares) 0 52,573 0 52,573
Restricted stock units        
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]        
Potential dilutive shares (in shares) 3,664,754 4,342,036 3,664,754 4,342,036
PRSUs        
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]        
Potential dilutive shares (in shares) 93,000 0 93,000 0
v3.24.3
Non-Controlling Interest - Narrative (Details)
3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
shares
Sep. 30, 2024
shares
Dec. 31, 2023
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]      
Conversion of stock (in shares) 0 6,496,800  
Stockholder's equity, exchange ratio 1 1  
QLH      
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]      
Non-controlling interests owned 82.60% 82.60% 72.30%
QLH | QLH Class B-1 Unitholders      
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]      
Ownership interest owned 17.40% 17.40% 27.70%

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