ADEA vs QNST

For growth investors, QuinStreet, Inc.

(QNST) is the stronger pick with 78. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 17. 9% for Adeia Inc. (ADEA). Adeia Inc. (ADEA) offers the better valuation at 27. 7x trailing P/E (19. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Adeia Inc. (ADEA) a "Buy" — based on 5 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Adeia Inc.

(ADEA) is the cheapest at 27. 7x versus QuinStreet, Inc. at 165. 6x. On forward P/E, QuinStreet, Inc. is actually cheaper at 10. 5x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Adeia Inc.

(ADEA) delivered a total return of +413. 9%, compared to -28. 4% for QuinStreet, Inc. (QNST). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ADEA returned +298. 3% versus QNST's +288. 4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), QuinStreet, Inc.

(QNST) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 23β versus Adeia Inc. 's 1. 95β — meaning ADEA is approximately 58% more volatile than QNST relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, QuinStreet, Inc. (QNST) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 4% versus 91% for Adeia Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), QuinStreet, Inc.

(QNST) is pulling ahead at 78. 3% versus 17. 9% for Adeia Inc. (ADEA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: QuinStreet, Inc. grew EPS 114. 2% year-over-year, compared to 73. 7% for Adeia Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, QNST leads at 23. 4% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Adeia Inc.

(ADEA) is the more profitable company, earning 25. 1% net margin versus 0. 4% for QuinStreet, Inc. — meaning it keeps 25. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ADEA leads at 47. 2% versus 0. 6% for QNST. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ADEA leads at 87. 2%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, QuinStreet, Inc.

(QNST) trades at 10. 5x forward P/E versus 19. 1x for Adeia Inc. — 8. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for QNST: 12. 3% to $15. 00.

In this comparison, ADEA (0.

7% yield) pays a dividend. QNST does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, QuinStreet, Inc.

(QNST) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 23), +288. 4% 10Y return). Adeia Inc. (ADEA) carries a higher beta of 1. 95 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (QNST: +288. 4%, ADEA: +298. 3%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

These companies operate in different sectors (ADEA (Technology) and QNST (Communication Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

ADEA pays a dividend while QNST does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.