Fluent, Inc. (FLNT) Stock Analysis
Fluent, Inc. (FLNT) Stock Analysis
Overall Grade: F (Concerning)
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Fluent, Inc. faces challenges in financial performance that warrant careful analysis.
Key Metrics:
| Metric | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| ROIC | -55.1% | Below expectations |
| FCF Margin | -3.0% | Cash flow pressure |
| Debt/Equity | 1.2x | Moderate leverage |
Investment Thesis: Financial metrics indicate concerning business quality with areas requiring attention.
What is Fluent, Inc.'s Profitability and ROIC?
Fluent, Inc.'s return on invested capital of -55.1% is below the typical cost of capital. Gross margin of 100.0% with operating margin at -12.2% reflects the company's strong market position.
Key Metrics
| Metric | Value | Rating | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) | -55.1% | Red flag | Below cost of capital |
| Return on Equity (ROE) | -121.9% | Red flag | Moderate equity returns |
| Gross Margin | 100.0% | Excellent | Strong pricing power |
| Operating Margin | -12.2% | Warning | Moderate operational efficiency |
How Strong is Fluent, Inc.'s Cash Flow Quality?
Fluent, Inc. generated $-6.4M in free cash flow over the trailing twelve months, representing a -3.0% margin. FCF was positive in N/A of the last 8 quarters, indicating variable cash generation.
Key Metrics
| Metric | Value | Rating | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Cash Flow Margin | -3.0% | Red flag | Thin cash margins |
| Free Cash Flow (TTM) | $-6.4M | Red flag | Cash burn |
| OCF/Net Income | 0.2x | Warning | Potential accrual concerns |
| FCF Consistency (8Q) | N/A | Warning | Variable cash flow |
What is Fluent, Inc.'s Financial Health?
Fluent, Inc.'s debt-to-equity ratio of 1.2x indicates moderate leverage.
Key Metrics
| Metric | Value | Rating | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debt to Equity | 1.2x | Adequate | Moderate leverage |
| Net Cash Position | $-16.8M | Adequate | Net debt position |
Is Fluent, Inc. Stock Overvalued or Undervalued?
Fluent, Inc. trades at a P/E of -2.2x, representing a premium to the sector median of N/A. Free cash flow yield of -12.3% reflects market expectations for growth.
Key Metrics
| Metric | Value | Rating | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio | -2.2x | Red flag | Reasonable valuation |
| EV/Sales | 0.3x | Excellent | Attractive revenue multiple |
| FCF Yield | -12.3% | Warning | Lower cash yield |
Sector Rankings
| Metric | Value | Percentile | vs Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) | -55.1% | Top 5% | -8.5x below |
| Free Cash Flow Margin | -3.0% | Bottom 10% | -0.3x below |
| Gross Margin | 100.0% | Top 10% | 1.9x above |
| Operating Margin | -12.2% | Top 50% | -1.9x below |
| Return on Equity (ROE) | -121.9% | Top 5% | -19.6x below |
Rating Thresholds
Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)
Measures how efficiently a company uses its debt and equity capital to generate profits. ROIC above 15% typically indicates a competitive moat.
| Rating | Range | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent | > 20% | Exceptional capital efficiency, strong competitive moat |
| Good | 12% - 20% | Above-average returns, sustainable competitive position |
| Adequate | 8% - 12% | Around cost of capital, moderate competitive position |
| Warning | 4% - 8% | Below cost of capital, value may be eroding |
| Red flag | < 4% | Significant capital destruction, fundamental issues |
Current: -55.1% (Red flag - Top 5% of sector (median: 6.5%))
Free Cash Flow Margin
The percentage of revenue converted to free cash flow. Higher margins indicate stronger cash generation and business quality.
| Rating | Range | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent | > 20% | Strong cash generation, high-quality business |
| Good | 10% - 20% | Healthy cash conversion |
| Adequate | 5% - 10% | Moderate cash generation |
| Warning | 0% - 5% | Thin cash margins, capital intensive |
| Red flag | < 0% | Cash burn, potential liquidity concerns |
Current: -3.0% (Red flag)
Gross Margin
Revenue minus cost of goods sold as a percentage. Higher gross margins indicate pricing power and competitive advantage.
| Rating | Range | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent | > 50% | Strong pricing power and competitive moat |
| Good | 30% - 50% | Healthy margins, differentiated product |
| Adequate | 20% - 30% | Moderate margins, competitive industry |
| Warning | 10% - 20% | Thin margins, commodity-like business |
| Red flag | < 10% | Very thin margins, structural challenges |
Current: 100.0% (Excellent - Top 10% of sector (median: 52.9%))
Debt to Equity Ratio
Total debt divided by shareholders' equity. Lower ratios indicate more conservative financing and reduced financial risk.
| Rating | Range | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent | < 0.3x | Conservative leverage, strong balance sheet |
| Good | 0.3x - 0.7x | Moderate leverage, healthy financial position |
| Adequate | 0.7x - 1.5x | Elevated leverage, monitor closely |
| Warning | 1.5x - 3.0x | High leverage, increased financial risk |
| Red flag | > 3.0x | Excessive leverage, potential distress risk |
Current: 120.6% (Adequate)
Free Cash Flow Yield
Free cash flow per share divided by stock price. Higher FCF yield indicates better cash return relative to valuation.
| Rating | Range | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent | > 8% | High cash return, potential value opportunity |
| Good | 5% - 8% | Solid cash yield |
| Adequate | 3% - 5% | Moderate cash return |
| Warning | 1% - 3% | Low cash yield, growth expectations |
| Red flag | < 1% | Minimal cash return to shareholders |
Current: -12.3% (Red flag)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Fluent, Inc.'s Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)?
Fluent, Inc. (FLNT) has a trailing twelve-month Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) of -55.1%. This compares below the sector median of 6.5%. An ROIC below 8% suggests the company may be destroying shareholder value.
Q: What is Fluent, Inc.'s Free Cash Flow Margin?
Fluent, Inc. (FLNT) has a free cash flow margin of -3.0%, generating $-6.4 million in free cash flow over the trailing twelve months. Negative free cash flow means the company is consuming cash, which may require financing.
Q: Is Fluent, Inc. stock overvalued or undervalued?
Fluent, Inc. (FLNT) trades at a P/E ratio of -2.2x, which is above the sector median of N/A. The EV/Sales multiple is 0.3x.
Q: How much debt does Fluent, Inc. have?
Fluent, Inc. (FLNT) has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.2x with total debt of $26.0 million. Net debt position is $16.8 million.
Q: What is Fluent, Inc.'s revenue and earnings growth?
Fluent, Inc. (FLNT) declined revenue by 18.9% year-over-year. Earnings per share increased by 44.2% compared to the prior year. Revenue decline may indicate market challenges or industry headwinds.
Q: How does Fluent, Inc. compare to competitors in Technology?
Compared to other companies in Technology, Fluent, Inc. (FLNT) shows: ROIC of -55.1% is below the sector median of 6.5% (Top -267%). FCF margin of -3.0% trails the sector median of 10.0%. Gross margin at 100.0% is 47.1 percentage points higher than sector peers. These rankings are based on MetricDuck's analysis of all Technology companies with available SEC filings.
Q: What warning signs should I watch for with Fluent, Inc.?
Investors in Fluent, Inc. (FLNT) should monitor these potential warning signs: 1) FCF margin is thin at -3.0%, leaving limited buffer for economic downturns. 2) ROIC has been declining, potentially signaling deteriorating competitive position. Regular monitoring of SEC filings and quarterly trends is recommended.
Data Source: Data sourced from 10-Q filed 2025-11-14. TTM metrics as of Q3 2025.
Methodology: Financial metrics calculated from SEC 10-K and 10-Q filings using standardized formulas. Sector comparisons use peer group based on SIC code.
This analysis is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.