National CineMedia (NCMI) 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
QuinStreet (QNST) has outperformed National CineMedia (NCMI) over the past year, gaining 4.9% versus a loss of 51.6%. Over five years, QNST leads with a -7.6% price change compared with -94.0% for NCMI. QuinStreet is the larger company by market cap ($900.1 million vs $199.4 million), about 4.5 times the size.
On valuation, QuinStreet trades at a lower forward P/E (8.4x vs 17.7x for National CineMedia). National CineMedia pays a dividend yielding 4.25%, while QuinStreet does not currently pay one.
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 | NCMI | QNST |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $2.12 | $15.73 |
| Market cap | $199.43M | $900.12M |
| 1-day change | -4.07% | -1.63% |
| YTD return | -45.50% | +9.46% |
| 1-year return | -51.60% | +4.87% |
| 5-year return | -94.04% | -7.63% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | — | 11.24 |
| Forward P/E | 17.67 | 8.41 |
| EPS (TTM) | $-0.08 | $1.40 |
| Dividend yield | 4.25% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.09 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | — | $1.29B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | — | +18.29% |
| Net income (latest FY) | — | $81.23M |
| Gross margin | — | 11.27% |
| Operating margin | — | 2.74% |
| Net margin | — | 6.28% |
| 52-week high | $4.56 | $22.29 |
| 52-week low | $1.99 | $10.29 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -53.51% | -29.43% |
| Analyst consensus | none | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +124.06% | +44.95% |
| Average volume | 1.11M | 989.85K |
| Shares outstanding | 94.07M | 57.22M |
| Employees | 248 | 1,074 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Advertising | 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
- QuinStreet is about 4.5 times larger than National CineMedia by market value ($900.12M vs $199.43M).
- QNST has outperformed NCMI by 56.5 percentage points over the past year.
- National CineMedia offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (4.25% vs 0.00%).
About National CineMedia
NCMI stock →National CineMedia, Inc., through its subsidiary, National CineMedia, LLC, operates cinema advertising network in North America. The company engages in the sale of advertising to national, regional, and local businesses in Noovie, a cinema advertising and entertainment show seen on movie screens; and sells advertising on its Lobby Entertainment Network, a series of strategically placed screens located in movie theater lobbies, as well as other forms of advertising and promotions in theatre lobbies.
Consumer Discretionary · Advertising · 248 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
NCMI vs QNST FAQ
Which is bigger, National CineMedia or QuinStreet?
QuinStreet (QNST) is larger, with a market capitalization of $900.12M compared with $199.43M for National CineMedia (NCMI).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, NCMI or QNST?
QNST returned +4.87% over the past 12 months, compared with -51.60% for NCMI (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, National CineMedia or QuinStreet?
National CineMedia pays a dividend yielding 4.25%, while QuinStreet does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are National CineMedia and QuinStreet in the same industry?
Both are in the Consumer Discretionary sector, but in different industries: Advertising for National CineMedia and Business Services for QuinStreet.