Liquidity Services (LQDT) vs QuinStreet (QNST)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 10, 2026.
Summary
Liquidity Services (LQDT) has outperformed QuinStreet (QNST) over the past year, gaining 82.4% versus a gain of 4.9%. Over five years, LQDT leads with a +110.7% price change compared with -7.6% for QNST. Liquidity Services is the larger company by market cap ($1.35 billion vs $900.1 million), about 1.5 times the size.
On valuation, QuinStreet trades at a lower forward P/E (8.4x vs 23.4x for Liquidity Services). QuinStreet converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 6.3% versus 5.9%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | LQDT | QNST |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $43.13 | $15.73 |
| Market cap | $1.35B | $900.12M |
| 1-day change | +2.37% | -1.63% |
| YTD return | +42.30% | +9.46% |
| 1-year return | +82.45% | +4.87% |
| 5-year return | +110.70% | -7.63% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 42.28 | 11.24 |
| Forward P/E | 23.44 | 8.41 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.02 | $1.40 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $476.67M | $1.29B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +31.20% | +18.29% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $28.09M | $81.23M |
| Gross margin | 43.81% | 11.27% |
| Operating margin | 7.36% | 2.74% |
| Net margin | 5.89% | 6.28% |
| 52-week high | $45.00 | $22.29 |
| 52-week low | $21.67 | $10.29 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -4.16% | -29.43% |
| Analyst consensus | none | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +18.25% | +44.95% |
| Average volume | 231.96K | 989.85K |
| Shares outstanding | 31.33M | 57.22M |
| Employees | 818 | 1,074 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Business Services | Business Services |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- LQDT has outperformed QNST by 77.6 percentage points over the past year.
- Liquidity Services trades at a higher earnings multiple (42.3x vs 11.2x trailing P/E).
- Liquidity Services grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+31.20% vs +18.29%).
About Liquidity Services
LQDT stock →Liquidity Services, Inc. engages in the provision of e-commerce marketplaces, self-directed auction listing tools, and value-added services in the United States and internationally.
Consumer Discretionary · Business Services · 818 employees
About QuinStreet
QNST stock →QuinStreet, Inc., an online performance marketing company, provides customer acquisition services for its clients in the United States and internationally. The company provides online marketing services, such as qualified clicks, leads, calls, applications, and customers through its websites or third-party publishers to financial and home services industries.
Consumer Discretionary · Business Services · 1,074 employees
LQDT vs QNST FAQ
Which is bigger, Liquidity Services or QuinStreet?
Liquidity Services (LQDT) is larger, with a market capitalization of $1.35B compared with $900.12M for QuinStreet (QNST).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, LQDT or QNST?
LQDT returned +82.45% over the past 12 months, compared with +4.87% for QNST (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, LQDT or QNST?
QNST has the lower trailing P/E at 11.2, versus 42.3 for LQDT. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Are Liquidity Services and QuinStreet in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Business Services industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.