{{Short description|American marketing company}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2023}} {{Infobox company | name = QuinStreet, Inc. | logo = File:Qs wiki.png | logo_size = 200px | type = Public | traded_as = {{NASDAQ|QNST}}<br />S&P 600 component | key_people = Doug Valenti (CEO)<br> Nina Bhanap (president and CTO) | industry = Performance marketing, media online | revenue = $580 million | revenue_year = 2023<ref>{{cite web |title=10-K QuinStreet, Inc |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1117297/000095017023040586/qnst-ex99_1.htm |website=sec.gov}}</ref> | num_employees = 937 (2023)<ref>{{cite web |title=10-K QuinStreet, Inc |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1117297/000095017023043659/qnst-20230630.htm |website=sec.gov |access-date=9 December 2024}}</ref> | foundation = {{start date and age|1999}} | founder = Doug Valenti | location = Foster City, California, U.S. | homepage = {{url|https://www.quinstreet.com/}} }}{{Redirect-distinguish|internet.com|internet.org}} '''QuinStreet, Inc.''' is a publicly traded online marketing company based in Foster City, California. The company helps generate web traffic for clients by acquiring popular domain names.
The company was founded in 1999,<ref>{{cite web |title=10-K QuinStreet, Inc |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1117297/000156459021045870/qnst-10k_20210630.htm |website=sec.gov |access-date=9 December 2024}}</ref> and was publicly listed in 2010.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Conroy |first1=Eric |title=QuinStreet is a beacon of hope in IPO market |url=https://journalrecord.com/2010/02/08/quinstreet-is-a-beacon-of-hope-in-ipo-market-finance/ |access-date=20 November 2024 |work=Journal Record |date=8 February 2010}}</ref><ref name=MercuryNews2010>{{cite news |last1=Yarbrough |first1=Beau |title=QuinStreet IPO: Cool welcome to Foster City online ad company |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2010/02/11/quinstreet-ipo-cool-welcome-to-foster-city-online-ad-company/ |access-date=1 December 2024 |work=Mercury News |date=11 February 2010}}</ref>
==History== QuinStreet was formed in 1999 by Doug Valenti (chairman and CEO). Bronwyn Syiek, another founding team member, was president and COO. The company was first profitable in 2002 with revenues of $13 million; by April 2009, QuinStreet reported $300 million in annual revenues and approximately 450 employees.<ref>{{cite news |last=Geron |first=Tomio |title=QuinStreet Publicly Boasts About Its Earnings |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/venturecapital/2009/08/18/quinstreet-boasts-publicly-about-its-earnings/ |work=WSJ Blogs |publisher=Wall Street Journal |date=2009-08-18 |access-date=2011-01-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=QuinStreet, Inc. |url=http://www.hoovers.com/quinstreet/--ID__127055--/free-co-factsheet.xhtml |work=Company profile from Hoover's |publisher=Hoover's |year=2011 |access-date=2011-01-05}}</ref>
QuinStreet Inc. acquired U.S. Citizens for Fair Credit Card Terms, Inc, which operated the CardRatings.com website in August 2008 for an initial cash payment of $10.4 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1117297/000095012309064388/f53797orsv1.htm|title=sv1|website=www.sec.gov|access-date=2016-09-28}}</ref>
In the beginning of August 2009, QuinStreet Inc. used some of its cash reserves to acquire the Internet.com division of WebMediaBrands Inc. for $18 million.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ali |first=Rafat |title=Meckler Selling Internet.com Business to QuinStreet For $18M; Exiting Tech Trade |url=http://paidcontent.org/2009/08/10/419-meckler-selling-internet-com-business-to-quinstreet-for-18m-exiting-tec/ |publisher=paidContent |date=2009-08-09 |access-date=2011-01-05 |archive-date=May 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502112341/http://paidcontent.org/2009/08/10/419-meckler-selling-internet-com-business-to-quinstreet-for-18m-exiting-tec/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=WebMediaBrands Sells Internet.com to QuinStreet |url=http://www.internetnews.com/webcontent/article.php/3833856/WebMediaBrands+Sells+Internetcom+to+QuinStreet.htm |work=InternetNews.com |publisher=internet.com |date=2009-08-10 |access-date =2011-01-05}}</ref>
In September 2009, QuinStreet purchased Insure.com for $16 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2009/10/12/daily10.html|title= QuinStreet buys Insure.com|publisher=San Francisco Business Times|date=2009-10-12}}</ref> The company's other financial-services properties include MoneyRates.com, Get Rich Slowly, ConsumerismCommentary.com and HSH.com.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://investor.quinstreet.com/releasedetail.cfm?releaseid=626992|title=QuinStreet Announces Acquisition of ConsumerismCommentary.com|publisher=QuinStreet|date=2011-11-28}}</ref>
An initial public offering on February 11, 2010, raised $150 million, with the shares listed on Nasdaq under the symbol QNST.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nasdaq.com/markets/ipos/company/quinstreet-inc-158807-62653 |title= QuinStreet, Inc (QNST) |publisher=NASDAQ |work=IPO record |date=February 11, 2010 |access-date=2013-10-06}}</ref>
In September 2011, QuinStreet acquired the IT Business Edge (ITBE) network of web publications.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://investor.quinstreet.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=604005|title=QuinStreet, Inc. - QuinStreet Announces Acquisition of IT Business Edge|website=investor.quinstreet.com|access-date=2016-10-05}}</ref>
In June 2012, the company was under investigation by the Attorneys General's offices of 15 separate US states, led by the Attorney General of Kentucky, Jack Conway.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archive.thinkprogress.org/fifteen-state-attorneys-general-to-investigate-company-marketing-for-profit-colleges-to-veterans-6bb89a204016/|title=Fifteen State Attorneys General To Investigate Company Marketing For-Profit Colleges To Veterans|website=ThinkProgress|date=2012-06-06|archive-date=April 14, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240414110923/http://archive.thinkprogress.org/fifteen-state-attorneys-general-to-investigate-company-marketing-for-profit-colleges-to-veterans-6bb89a204016/|url-status=live}}</ref> The company was accused of targeting military veterans with deceptive recruiting practices for its for-profit school clients.<ref name=settle>{{cite web|url=http://www.sfgate.com/education/article/QuinStreet-settles-complaints-it-misled-veterans-3671497.php|title=QuinStreet settles complaints it misled veterans|publisher=San Francisco Chronicle|date=2012-06-28}}</ref> The company agreed to pay a $2.5 million fine and relinquish the website GIBill.com.<ref name=settle/>
{{anchor|Baseline.com}}In February 2012, the company acquired the media assets of Ziff Davis "Enterprise", which included eWeek.com, CIOInsight.com, Baseline.com, ChannelInsider.com and WebBuyersGuide.com, and others.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://investor.quinstreet.com/releasedetail.cfm?releaseid=646220|title=QuinStreet Acquires Ziff Davis Enterprise Media Assets|date=2012-02-06|publisher=QuinStreet|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105041519/http://investor.quinstreet.com/releasedetail.cfm?releaseid=646220|archive-date=2013-11-05}}</ref>
In 2018, the company acquired AmOne, an online marketing company.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|title=Quinstreet, Inc 2019 Quarterly Report 10-Q|url=https://sec.report/Document/0001564590-19-042209/|last=SEC|website=SEC.report|language=en|access-date=2020-05-15}}</ref> In 2019, Quinstreet acquired CloudControlMedia, LLC and MyBankTracker.com, LLC.<ref name="autogenerated1"/><ref>{{cite web|title=QNST.A - QuinStreet Inc Key Developments|url=https://www.reuters.comundefined/|website=Reuters|access-date=2020-05-15}}{{deadlink|date=April 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=QuinStreet buys digital marketing agency|url=https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/trending/4bOwRa0_8ZlsblLSxAA8dA2|website=www.spglobal.com|access-date=2020-05-15}}</ref>
In 2020, QuinStreet sold its B2B tech publications to TechnologyAdvice.<ref>{{cite web |last1= |first1= |title=eWEEK Moves to New Publisher, TechnologyAdvice.com |url=https://www.eweek.com/innovation/eweek-moves-to-new-publisher-technologyadvice-com/ |website=eweek.com |access-date=14 May 2021}}</ref> QuinStreet divested their education media, client and campaign assets on August 31, 2020.<ref>https://coverager.com/quinstreet-announces-divestiture-of-education-client-vertical/</ref>
==Business== Quinstreet's education clients have included Art Institutes, DeVry University, Kaplan University, University of Phoenix, Westwood, and other for-profit colleges.<ref name="auto">{{cite web |last=Halperin |first=David |date=1 February 2016 |title=Military-Branded Websites Push Veterans to Troubled For-Profit Colleges |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/davidhalperin/military-branded-websites_b_9131742.html |work=Huffington Post}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.help.senate.gov/imo/media/for_profit_report/PartII/DeVry.pdf |access-date=20 April 2023|website=senate.gov|title=Company profile. DeVry, Inc.}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website}} * {{Finance links | name = QuinStreet | symbol = QNST | hoovers = QuinStreet_Inc.bd242fb6cb1fa1e1 | sec_cik = 1117297 }}
Category:Companies based in Foster City, California Category:Internet properties established in 1999 Category:Marketing companies established in 1999 Category:2010 initial public offerings Category:Companies listed on the Nasdaq Category:Online advertising services and affiliate networks Category:1999 establishments in California