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MAX vs Z
Which Stock Would AI Choose? MediaAlpha (MAX) vs. Zillow Group (Z) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- Both MAX and Z have posted strong year-to-date gains of approximately 35-36%, reflecting robust market positioning in digital consumer services.
- MAX reported record Q1 2026 revenue of $310 million, up 17% year-over-year, beating estimates despite a slight EPS miss.
- Z shares rose about 7% over the past month amid stabilizing mortgage rates and positive analyst outlooks in the housing sector.
- MAX trades at a forward P/E (price-to-earnings ratio) of around 21x, more attractive than Z's 484x, highlighting valuation contrasts.
- Tickeron's comparison tool rates MAX as the stronger long-term buy relative to Z.
- Analysts project significant upside for both, with Z at 65% and MAX around 60% based on price targets.
Introduction
This stock comparison examines MAX (MediaAlpha) and Z (Zillow Group), two digital platforms serving distinct consumer markets: insurance marketing technology versus real estate services. Both have demonstrated resilience in recent market activity, with strong year-to-date performance amid economic shifts. Growth-oriented traders and investors tracking tech-enabled consumer stocks may find value in analyzing their relative momentum, valuation, and sector exposures for portfolio positioning in the current environment.
MAX Overview and Recent Performance
MediaAlpha, Inc. (MAX) is a marketing technology company that operates an insurance customer acquisition platform, connecting consumers with carriers and agents across property & casualty, health, and life insurance verticals. In recent weeks, MAX shares experienced volatility following Q1 2026 earnings, where revenue hit a record $310 million, surpassing estimates by 3.5% with 17% year-over-year growth, though EPS of $0.30 slightly missed expectations. The company highlighted strategic shifts, including over $25 million in share repurchases and full-year free cash flow guidance of $90-100 million, bolstering investor sentiment. Year-to-date gains stand at 35%, supported by accelerating revenue trends and a market cap of about $462 million.
Z Overview and Recent Performance
Zillow Group, Inc. (Z) powers the real estate ecosystem through its online marketplace for home buying, selling, renting, and financing. Recent market activity has seen Z shares gain roughly 7% over the past 30 days, fluctuating between $39 and $48 amid mortgage rate volatility and housing trends. Q4 2025 results showed 18% revenue growth to $654 million, with analysts noting potential from lead distribution and market stabilization. Year-to-date performance matches peers at 36%, with a $10.4 billion market cap reflecting its established position, though sensitivity to interest rates influences sentiment.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
MAX focuses on insurance ad tech with niche growth drivers like transaction volume expansion, contrasting Z's broader real estate platform exposed to housing cycles and mortgage dynamics. Recent momentum favors both with similar YTD returns, but MAX shows higher revenue acceleration at smaller scale, while Z offers scale advantages. Valuation trade-offs are stark: MAX's lower P/E suggests relative value, versus Z's premium for market leadership. Risks include ad spend fluctuations for MAX and interest rate sensitivity for Z; sentiment leans positive for both amid analyst upside projections.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently favors MAX over Z, based on stronger long-term trend consistency, recent revenue beats, and more favorable valuation positioning relative to growth prospects. While Z exhibits stability and housing catalysts, MAX's catalysts like robust free cash flow guidance tilt probabilities in its direction for momentum traders.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer. Disclaimers and Limitations
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is MAX is a Buy and Z is a StrongBuy.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
MAX’s FA Score shows that 1 FA rating(s) are green whileZ’s FA Score has 0 green FA rating(s).
- MAX’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
- Z’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
MAX’s TA Score shows that 6 TA indicator(s) are bullish while Z’s TA Score has 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
- MAX’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 4 bearish.
- Z’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 3 bearish.
Price Growth
MAX (@Internet Software/Services) experienced а +3.46% price change this week, while Z (@Internet Software/Services) price change was -6.37% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Internet Software/Services industry was -1.53%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -5.85%, and the average quarterly price growth was -12.05%.
Reported Earning Dates
MAX is expected to report earnings on Aug 05, 2026.
Z is expected to report earnings on Jul 30, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Internet Software/Services (-1.53% weekly)Companies in this industry typically license software on a subscription basis and it is centrally hosted. Such products usually go by the names web-based software, on-demand software and hosted software. Cloud computing has emerged as a major force in this space, making it possible to save files to a remote database (without requiring them to be saved on local storage device); as long as a device has access to the web, it can access the data and the software programs to run it. This has in many cases facilitated cost efficiency, speed and security of data for businesses and consumers. Alphabet Inc., Facebook, Inc. and Yahoo! Inc. are some well-known names in the internet software/services industry.
| MAX | Z | MAX / Z | |
| Capitalization | 550M | 6.94B | 8% |
| EBITDA | -75.1M | 354M | -21% |
| Gain YTD | -21.390 | -55.585 | 38% |
| P/E Ratio | 15.91 | 121.20 | 13% |
| Revenue | 1.16B | 2.69B | 43% |
| Total Cash | 26.1M | 783M | 3% |
| Total Debt | 164M | 429M | 38% |
Z | ||
|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 56 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 82 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 100 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 91 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 86 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 99 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
| MAX | Z | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 88% | 2 days ago 77% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 75% | 2 days ago 68% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 79% | N/A |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 87% | 2 days ago 77% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 81% | 2 days ago 80% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 77% | 2 days ago 82% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 76% | 8 days ago 73% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 21 days ago 81% | 12 days ago 81% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 80% | 2 days ago 81% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 74% | 2 days ago 80% |
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MAX and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, MAX has been loosely correlated with CARG. These tickers have moved in lockstep 54% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if MAX jumps, then CARG could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To MAX | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAX | 100% | +0.49% | ||
| CARG - MAX | 54% Loosely correlated | +0.17% | ||
| EVER - MAX | 51% Loosely correlated | +1.74% | ||
| Z - MAX | 40% Loosely correlated | -5.64% | ||
| YELP - MAX | 40% Loosely correlated | -1.79% | ||
| ZG - MAX | 40% Loosely correlated | -6.28% | ||
More | ||||
Z and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, Z has been closely correlated with ZG. These tickers have moved in lockstep 99% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if Z jumps, then ZG could also see price increases.