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Fluent (FLNT)
NASDAQ:FLNT

Fluent (FLNT) AI Stock Analysis

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Fluent

(NASDAQ:FLNT)

39Underperform
Fluent faces significant financial and operational challenges, leading to a low overall score. The company's declining revenues, persistent losses, and high leverage pose substantial risks. While there is potential in the growing Commerce Media Solutions segment, current financial health and technical indicators are concerning. The company's strategic pivot could improve future prospects, but current fundamentals remain weak.
Positive Factors
Commerce Media Growth
Commerce Media Solutions revenue increased more than 65% quarter-over-quarter and now has an annual revenue run rate of more than $60 million.
Partnership Expansion
Bringing on additional partners after the end of the year is expected to support further growth in the Commerce Media sector.
Negative Factors
Financial Covenant Compliance
Fluent does not expect to be in compliance with existing financial covenants over the next twelve months under the current agreement.
Regulatory Challenges
The impact to revenue as it seeks to mitigate regulatory headwinds has been a challenge, and efforts to diversify to other revenue categories have taken time to develop.

Fluent (FLNT) vs. S&P 500 (SPY)

Fluent Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionFluent, Inc. provides data-driven digital marketing services primarily in the United States. The company operates through Fluent and All Other segments. It offers customer acquisition services by operating digital marketing campaigns, through which the company connects its advertiser clients with consumers. The company also delivers data and performance-based marketing executions to approximately 500 consumer brands, direct marketers, and agencies across a range of industries, including financial products and services, media and entertainment, health and wellness, retail and consumer, and staffing and recruitment. Fluent, Inc. is headquartered in New York, New York.
How the Company Makes MoneyFluent makes money primarily through its performance marketing solutions, where it generates revenue by delivering customer leads, sales, or other desired actions to its clients. The company's key revenue streams include cost-per-action (CPA) and cost-per-lead (CPL) models, where clients pay Fluent based on the performance of delivered marketing campaigns. Additionally, Fluent collaborates with strategic partners to enhance its data capabilities and reach, further contributing to its revenue. The company's ability to analyze consumer data and optimize marketing strategies is crucial to maintaining its competitive edge and driving earnings.

Fluent Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Fluent's financial performance is weak, with declining revenues and consistent net losses. The company also faces operational inefficiencies, negative cash flows, and increased leverage, which indicate significant financial challenges and a need for strategic realignment.
Income Statement
Fluent has experienced a consistent decline in revenue over the past years, with a significant decrease in gross profit margin from 24.5% in 2020 to 23.9% in 2024. The net profit margin remains negative, indicating ongoing losses, with the latest being -11.5% for 2024. The company also faces declining EBIT and EBITDA margins, reflecting operational inefficiencies and challenges in cost management.
Balance Sheet
35
The company's financial health is concerning with a rising debt-to-equity ratio, reaching 1.49 in 2024, indicating increased leverage and financial risk. Return on equity remains negative, consistent with net losses. The equity ratio has declined over the years, standing at 26.7% in 2024, suggesting reduced financial stability and asset ownership.
Cash Flow
Fluent's cash flow situation is challenging, with negative operating and free cash flow in the latest period. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is poor due to consistent net losses. Despite these challenges, the company managed to secure financing, but reliance on external funding raises sustainability concerns.
Breakdown
Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020Dec 2019
Income StatementTotal Revenue
298.40M361.13M329.25M310.72M281.68M
Gross Profit
78.52M93.65M85.53M95.58M87.25M
EBIT
-60.13M-8.32M-4.31M8.38M5.22M
EBITDA
-49.25M-106.38M5.54M23.68M19.16M
Net Income Common Stockholders
-63.22M-123.33M-10.06M2.21M-1.75M
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
15.80M25.55M34.47M21.09M18.68M
Total Assets
111.87M183.97M318.18M310.22M317.09M
Total Debt
34.48M46.73M53.25M50.16M62.31M
Net Debt
18.68M21.18M18.78M29.07M43.63M
Total Liabilities
77.46M90.01M104.77M93.33M106.16M
Stockholders Equity
34.40M93.95M213.41M216.88M210.94M
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
2.27M-2.44M9.43M17.45M21.31M
Operating Cash Flow
8.14M1.96M12.42M20.30M26.02M
Investing Cash Flow
-7.11M-5.44M-2.99M-4.27M-11.96M
Financing Cash Flow
-10.77M-5.45M2.47M-13.62M-13.15M

Fluent Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price2.42
Price Trends
50DMA
2.33
Positive
100DMA
2.57
Negative
200DMA
2.77
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
0.02
Positive
RSI
52.33
Neutral
STOCH
35.76
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For FLNT, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 2.42 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 2.37, above the 50-day MA of 2.33, and below the 200-day MA of 2.77, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 0.02 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 52.33 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 35.76 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for FLNT.

Fluent Risk Analysis

Fluent disclosed 30 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Fluent reported the most risks in the “Finance & Corporate” category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Fluent Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (60)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
60
Neutral
$19.17M-12.29%8.76%-969.71%
60
Neutral
$13.74B7.25-2.74%3.81%2.21%-37.97%
57
Neutral
$58.01M-37.84%13.37%50.36%
49
Neutral
$112.18M-184.87%-10.00%-11.58%
HHHHS
47
Neutral
$32.65M-145.85%-3.26%-1829.89%
39
Underperform
$47.75M-98.64%-14.67%59.39%
38
Underperform
$57.51M-14.44%-3.58%50.73%
* Communication Services Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
FLNT
Fluent
2.42
-1.79
-42.52%
HHS
Harte-Hanks
4.45
-2.64
-37.24%
INUV
Inuvo
0.39
0.07
21.88%
MCHX
Marchex
1.41
0.08
6.02%
CDLX
Cardlytics
1.90
-7.37
-79.50%
SWAG
Stran & Company
1.06
-0.18
-14.52%

Fluent Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Feb 28, 2025
(Q4-2024)
|
% Change Since: -8.68%|
Next Earnings Date:May 19, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call highlighted significant growth in the Commerce Media Solutions segment, demonstrating a strategic shift towards this high-margin business area. However, it also revealed challenges in the legacy owned and operated business, declining overall revenue, and negative EBITDA, indicating a transitional phase for the company. The sentiment is mixed, reflecting both promising developments and ongoing challenges.
Q4-2024 Updates
Positive Updates
Commerce Media Solutions Growth
Achieved 139% growth in Commerce Media Solutions revenue in Q4 2024 compared to Q4 2023 and 284% growth for the full year.
Annual Revenue Run Rate
Commerce media solutions business surpassed an annual revenue run rate of over $60 million as of December 31, 2024, up from $50 million as of September 30, 2024.
Strategic Partnerships
Announced several key partnerships with leading brands during 2024, with more in the pipeline for 2025.
Commerce Media's Contribution to Revenue
Commerce Media Solutions accounted for 16% of Fluent, Inc.'s consolidated revenue in 2024, compared to 4% in 2023, and represented 26% in Q4 2024.
Media Margin Growth in Commerce Media
Commerce Media Solutions media margin in Q4 2024 was $6.8 million or 39.3% of revenues, compared to $1.3 million or 18.5% in Q4 2023.
Negative Updates
Overall Revenue Decline
Generated $65.4 million in revenue in Q4 2024, a decrease of 10% from the prior year.
Owned and Operated Revenue Decrease
Saw a decrease in owned and operated revenue of 23% in Q4 2024 compared to the prior year, and a 29% decrease for the full year compared to 2023.
Adjusted EBITDA Negative
Adjusted EBITDA in Q4 2024 was negative $1.7 million compared with a positive $2.5 million in Q4 2023, driven by a $2.5 million ACA-related write-off.
Net Loss for the Year
Reported a net loss of $29.3 million for the full year 2024, compared with a net loss of $63.2 million in 2023.
Revenue Write-Down
Discontinued the ACA portion of the call solutions business, necessitating a $2.5 million nonrecurring write-down of revenue in Q4 2024.
Company Guidance
During the call discussing Fluent, Inc.'s fourth quarter and full-year 2024 earnings, the company highlighted significant growth in its Commerce Media Solutions (CMS) segment, which saw a 139% revenue increase in Q4 compared to Q4 2023 and a 284% rise for the entire year. CMS revenue surpassed an annual run rate of $60 million by the end of 2024. Fluent, Inc. expects continued triple-digit growth in this segment throughout 2025. Despite a 10% overall revenue decline in Q4 2024 compared to the previous year, driven by a 23% drop in owned and operated revenue, the company sees potential for double-digit consolidated revenue growth in the latter half of 2025. The transition to commerce media aims to enhance enterprise margins and position Fluent, Inc. as a leader in the burgeoning $50 billion commerce media industry, projected to double in five years. Adjusted EBITDA was negative for Q4 2024, impacted by a $2.5 million write-down related to ACA market changes. The company's strategic pivot includes discontinuing certain segments and reallocating resources to capitalize on the commerce media opportunity.

Fluent Corporate Events

Executive/Board Changes
Fluent Expands Board, Appoints James P. Geygan
Positive
Jan 17, 2025

On January 17, 2025, Fluent, Inc. expanded its Board of Directors from six to seven members by appointing James P. Geygan as an independent director. Mr. Geygan brings experience from his roles at Global Value Investment Corporation, where he has been Interim CEO and President since May 2024. His appointment is expected to enhance Fluent’s corporate governance and capital markets expertise. As a director, Geygan will receive quarterly compensation and restricted stock units, with additional eligibility for further grants. Fluent has also entered an indemnification agreement with him, ensuring protection under Delaware law.

Glossary
OutperformA stock rated as "Outperform" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider this stock a good buying opportunity.
NeutralA stock rated as "Neutral" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly attractive nor unattractive for investment. Investors may consider holding onto the stock, as it is not expected to either significantly outperform or underperform the market.
UnderperformA stock rated as "Underperform" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock may deliver lower returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider selling the stock or avoiding it as an investment.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.