Hide

FocusBar

FeedbackFeedback
Subscribe to Premium Member
35.49 (1y: +28%)
Market Cap 13.15 B P/E(ttm) 46.40
Enterprise Value 19.09 B P/B 2.60
Switch to:

GuruFocus Financial Strength Rank measures how strong a company’s financial situation is. It is based on these factors

1. The debt burden that the company has as measured by its Interest coverage (current year).
2. Debt to revenue ratio. The lower, the better
3. Altman Z-score.

A company ranks high with financial strength is likely to withstand any business slowdowns and recessions.

Financial Strength

vs
industry		 vs
history
Cash to Debt 0.044
NLSN's Cash to Debt is ranked lower than
64% of the 946 Companies
in the Global Business Services industry.

( Industry Median: 0.99 vs. NLSN: 0.044 )
NLSN' s 10-Year Cash to Debt Range
Min: 0.04   Max: 0.06
Current: 0.04
0.04
0.06
Equity to Asset 0.338
NLSN's Equity to Asset is ranked lower than
52% of the 946 Companies
in the Global Business Services industry.

( Industry Median: 0.45 vs. NLSN: 0.338 )
NLSN' s 10-Year Equity to Asset Range
Min: 0.13   Max: 0.34
Current: 0.34
0.13
0.34
Interest Coverage 2.3
NLSN's Interest Coverage is ranked lower than
51% of the 946 Companies
in the Global Business Services industry.

( Industry Median: 7.60 vs. NLSN: 2.3 )
NLSN' s 10-Year Interest Coverage Range
Min: 0   Max: 2
Current: 2.3
0
2
F-Score: 7
Z-Score: 1.12
M-Score: -2.6
GuruFocus Profitability Rank ranks how profitable a company is and how likely the company’s business will stay that way. It is based on these factors:

1. Operating Margin
2. Trend of the Operating Margin (5-year average). The company with an uptrend profit margin has a higher rank.
••3. Consistency of the profitability
4. Piotroski F-Score
5. Predictability Rank•

The maximum rank is 10. A rank of 7 or higher means a higher profitability and may stay that way. A rank of 3 or lower indicates that the company has had trouble to make a profit.

Profitability Rank is not directly related to the Financial Strength Rank. But if a company is consistently profitable, its financial strength will be stronger.

Profitability & Growth

vs
industry		 vs
history
Operating margin (%) 17.00
NLSN's Operating margin (%) is ranked higher than
86% of the 946 Companies
in the Global Business Services industry.

( Industry Median: 5.50 vs. NLSN: 17.00 )
NLSN' s 10-Year Operating margin (%) Range
Min: 2.4   Max: 17
Current: 17
2.4
17
Net-margin (%) 4.9
NLSN's Net-margin (%) is ranked higher than
68% of the 946 Companies
in the Global Business Services industry.

( Industry Median: 3.30 vs. NLSN: 4.9 )
NLSN' s 10-Year Net-margin (%) Range
Min: -12.3   Max: 4.9
Current: 4.9
-12.3
4.9
ROE (%) 5.5
NLSN's ROE (%) is ranked higher than
61% of the 946 Companies
in the Global Business Services industry.

( Industry Median: 6.40 vs. NLSN: 5.5 )
NLSN' s 10-Year ROE (%) Range
Min: -29.6   Max: 5.5
Current: 5.5
-29.6
5.5
ROA (%) 1.9
NLSN's ROA (%) is ranked higher than
56% of the 946 Companies
in the Global Business Services industry.

( Industry Median: 3.10 vs. NLSN: 1.9 )
NLSN' s 10-Year ROA (%) Range
Min: -3.9   Max: 1.9
Current: 1.9
-3.9
1.9
ROC (Joel Greenblatt) (%) 172.50
NLSN's ROC (Joel Greenblatt) (%) is ranked higher than
96% of the 946 Companies
in the Global Business Services industry.

( Industry Median: 3.50 vs. NLSN: 172.50 )
NLSN' s 10-Year ROC (Joel Greenblatt) (%) Range
Min: 55.8   Max: 272.7
Current: 172.5
55.8
272.7
» NLSN's 10-Y Financials

Financials


Revenue & Net Income
Cash & Debt
Oprt. Cash Flow & Free Cash Flow

» Details

Guru Trades
Q2 2012

NLSN Guru Trades in Q2 2012

John Burbank 247,000 sh (+147%)
Chris Davis 1,096,278 sh (+1.43%)
Ron Baron 2,529,331 sh (+0.94%)
Eric Mindich 12,500,000 sh (unchged)
Pioneer Investments 176,000 sh (unchged)
George Soros Sold Out
Jean-Marie Eveillard 843,796 sh (-16.37%)
Paul Tudor Jones 299,846 sh (-39.2%)
Bruce Kovner 45,000 sh (-70%)
Steven Cohen 962,805 sh (-72.16%)
» More
Q3 2012

NLSN Guru Trades in Q3 2012

Jim Simons 406,100 sh (New)
Steven Cohen 1,985,275 sh (+106.2%)
Pioneer Investments 176,000 sh (unchged)
Paul Tudor Jones Sold Out
John Burbank Sold Out
Chris Davis 1,088,079 sh (-0.75%)
Jean-Marie Eveillard 836,691 sh (-0.84%)
Bruce Kovner 44,200 sh (-1.78%)
Ron Baron 2,465,155 sh (-2.54%)
Eric Mindich 8,000,000 sh (-36%)
» More
Q4 2012

NLSN Guru Trades in Q4 2012

Jean-Marie Eveillard 897,516 sh (+7.27%)
Pioneer Investments 176,000 sh (unchged)
Eric Mindich 8,000,000 sh (unchged)
Jim Simons Sold Out
Ron Baron 2,447,869 sh (-0.7%)
Chris Davis 1,040,077 sh (-4.41%)
Bruce Kovner 7,000 sh (-84.16%)
Steven Cohen 221,290 sh (-88.85%)
» More
Q1 2013

NLSN Guru Trades in Q1 2013

Paul Tudor Jones 11,600 sh (New)
Joel Greenblatt 10,486 sh (New)
Ron Baron 2,471,742 sh (+0.98%)
Eric Mindich 8,000,000 sh (unchged)
Pioneer Investments 176,000 sh (unchged)
Jean-Marie Eveillard Sold Out
Bruce Kovner Sold Out
Chris Davis 999,496 sh (-3.9%)
Steven Cohen 189,705 sh (-14.27%)
» More
» Details

Insider Trades

Latest Guru Trades with NLSN

GuruDate Trades Impact to Portfolio Price Range * (?) Current Price Change from Average Current Shares
Jean-Marie Eveillard 2013-03-31 Sold Out 0.1%$30.59 - $35.82 $ 35.087%0
Joel Greenblatt 2013-03-31 New Buy0.02%$30.59 - $35.82 $ 35.087%10486
John Burbank 2012-09-30 Sold Out 0.22%$25.03 - $30.47 $ 35.0825%0
John Burbank 2012-06-30 Add 147%0.13%$25.63 - $30.17 $ 35.0824%247000
George Soros 2012-06-30 Sold Out 0.03%$25.63 - $30.17 $ 35.0824%0
Jean-Marie Eveillard 2012-03-31 Reduce -64.94%0.24%$27.31 - $30.63 $ 35.0828%1008939
Ron Baron 2012-03-31 Reduce -28.95%0.2%$27.31 - $30.63 $ 35.0828%2505759
George Soros 2012-03-31 New Buy0.03%$27.31 - $30.63 $ 35.0828%75000
George Soros 2011-12-31 Sold Out 0.004%$25.05 - $30.99 $ 35.0822%0
Steve Mandel 2011-09-30 Sold Out 1.3978%$26.12 - $31.36 $ 35.0822%0
Jean-Marie Eveillard 2011-09-30 Reduce -21.05%0.13%$26.12 - $31.36 $ 35.0822%3260936
George Soros 2011-09-30 New Buy$26.12 - $31.36 $ 35.0822%9000
Jean-Marie Eveillard 2011-06-30 Add 43.08%0.18%$27.03 - $32.06 $ 35.0818%4130457
Ron Baron 2011-06-30 Add 31.96%0.17%$27.03 - $32.06 $ 35.0818%4150349
George Soros 2011-06-30 Sold Out $27.03 - $32.06 $ 35.0818%0
Steve Mandel 2011-03-31 New Buy1.39%$25 - $27.94 $ 35.0833%6398200
Ron Baron 2011-03-31 New Buy0.47%$25 - $27.94 $ 35.0833%3145077
Jean-Marie Eveillard 2011-03-31 New Buy0.4%$25 - $27.94 $ 35.0833%2886871
George Soros 2011-03-31 New Buy0.05%$25 - $27.94 $ 35.0833%150000
Premium More recent guru trades are included for Premium Members only!!
» Financial Charts

Peter Lynch Chart

Guru Investment Theses on Nielsen Holdings NV

Baron Insight on Nielsen Holdings - Jun 05, 2012

Neal Rosenberg, vice president and research analyst at Baron Funds, discusses Nielsen Holdings (NLSN) in his first-quarter 2012 Baron Insight:

Another exciting information services investment is Nielsen Holdings (NLSN). Nielsen is a global information and measurement company that provides clients with a comprehensive understanding of consumers and consumer behavior. The company is geared toward delivering critical media and marketing information and analytics about "what consumers watch" and "what consumers buy" on a global and local basis. The "Watch" business has become the de facto standard for measuring television audiences in the U.S. Nielsen uses a combination of technology and panel surveys to gather granular data about television viewership trends and demographics, which it then compiles into ratings using its proprietary methodology. Nielsen's ratings are so critical to selling TV advertising that they have effectively become a currency to broadcasters and advertisers, with all TV ads bought, sold, and settled based on Nielsen data. The company is now leveraging its data collection expertise, infrastructure, and methodologies to generate ratings for online ads and for mobile campaigns.

Nielsen's "Buy" business combines the use of technology and panels to build a global database of retail transactional measurement data. The data is then used by consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies and retailers to measure sales and market share, improve brand management, uncover new sources of demand, launch and grow new products, analyze sales, improve marketing mix, and establish more effective consumer relationships. We are excited about Nielsen's ability to expand its global coverage into developing markets, thereby providing its clients with enhanced insight into a vast and growing population of emerging middle class consumers. We believe Nielsen is uniquely positioned to provide measurements in developing markets given its scale, brand, and unique ability to provide global clients with a standard measurement methodology around the world.

We think Nielsen's proprietary data, unique analytical capabilities, and pristine brand serve as extremely high barriers to entry. Nielsen data is deeply integrated into the business processes of its clients, making its data and services extremely sticky, and providing the company with high retention rates and pricing power. The company has benefited from strong operating leverage given the high fixed costs involved in collecting and processing billions of transactions monthly. The company has generated robust free cash flow given the modest capital investments required to run its business.

Check out Ron Baron latest stock trades

Top Ranked Articles about Nielsen Holdings NV

Weekly CFO Sells Highlight: NLSN, BBBY, TXN, INTC, GD
May 13, 2013
According to GuruFocus Insider Data, these are the largest CFO sells for this week: Nielsen Holdings NV, Bed Bath & Beyond Inc., Texas Instruments Inc., Intel Corp Inc. and General Dynamics. Read more...
Weekly CEO Sells Highlight: Activision Blizzard, Nielsen Holdings NV, Gilead Sciences, Autodesk
April 8, 2013
According to GuruFocus Insider Data, these are the largest CEO sales during the past week: Activision Blizzard Inc., Nielsen Holdings NV, Gilead Sciences Inc. and Autodesk Inc. Read more...

Ratios

vs
industry		 vs
history
P/E(ttm) 45.80
NLSN's P/E(ttm) is ranked lower than
68% of the 661 Companies
in the Global Business Services industry.

( Industry Median: 18.80 vs. NLSN: 45.80 )
NLSN' s 10-Year P/E(ttm) Range
Min: 29.27   Max: 177.76
Current: 45.8
29.27
177.76
P/B 2.60
NLSN's P/B is ranked higher than
51% of the 766 Companies
in the Global Business Services industry.

( Industry Median: 2.03 vs. NLSN: 2.60 )
NLSN' s 10-Year P/B Range
Min: 1.89   Max: 2.67
Current: 2.6
1.89
2.67
P/S 2.29
NLSN's P/S is ranked lower than
56% of the 847 Companies
in the Global Business Services industry.

( Industry Median: 1.16 vs. NLSN: 2.29 )
NLSN' s 10-Year P/S Range
Min: 1.58   Max: 3.62
Current: 2.29
1.58
3.62
PFCF 26.00
NLSN's PFCF is ranked lower than
57% of the 618 Companies
in the Global Business Services industry.

( Industry Median: 16.00 vs. NLSN: 26.00 )
NLSN' s 10-Year PFCF Range
Min: 25.12   Max: 168.11
Current: 26
25.12
168.11
EV-to-EBIT 19.6
NLSN's EV-to-EBIT is ranked lower than
57% of the 653 Companies
in the Global Business Services industry.

( Industry Median: 13.37 vs. NLSN: 19.6 )
NLSN' s 10-Year EV-to-EBIT Range
Min: 17.5   Max: 26.8
Current: 19.6
17.5
26.8

Dividend & Buy Back

vs
industry		 vs
history
Dividend Yield 0.91
NLSN's Dividend Yield is ranked lower than
51% of the 946 Companies
in the Global Business Services industry.

( Industry Median: 1.10 vs. NLSN: 0.91 )
NLSN' s 10-Year Dividend Yield Range
Min: 0.43   Max: 0.47
Current: 0.91
0.43
0.47
Dividend Payout 0.2078
NLSN's Dividend Payout is ranked higher than
82% of the 434 Companies
in the Global Business Services industry.

( Industry Median: 0.50 vs. NLSN: 0.2078 )
NLSN' s 10-Year Dividend Payout Range
Min: 0   Max: 0
Current: 0.21
Yield on cost (5-Year) 0.90
NLSN's Yield on cost (5-Year) is ranked higher than
50% of the 946 Companies
in the Global Business Services industry.

( Industry Median: 0.95 vs. NLSN: 0.90 )
NLSN' s 10-Year Yield on cost (5-Year) Range
Min: 0.43   Max: 0.47
Current: 0.9
0.43
0.47

Valuation & Return

vs
industry		 vs
history
Price/Net Current Asset Value 15.8
NLSN's Price/Net Current Asset Value is ranked higher than
54% of the 506 Companies
in the Global Business Services industry.

( Industry Median: 12.70 vs. NLSN: 15.8 )
NLSN' s 10-Year Price/Net Current Asset Value Range
Min: 13.6   Max: 13.9
Current: 15.8
13.6
13.9
Price/Median PS Value 1.2
NLSN's Price/Median PS Value is ranked higher than
61% of the 738 Companies
in the Global Business Services industry.

( Industry Median: 1.10 vs. NLSN: 1.2 )
NLSN' s 10-Year Price/Median PS Value Range
Min: 1   Max: 1
Current: 1.2
Earnings Yield (Greenblatt) 5.10
NLSN's Earnings Yield (Greenblatt) is ranked higher than
59% of the 946 Companies
in the Global Business Services industry.

( Industry Median: 5.40 vs. NLSN: 5.10 )
NLSN' s 10-Year Earnings Yield (Greenblatt) Range
Min: 3.7   Max: 5.7
Current: 5.1
3.7
5.7

Business Description

Nielsen Holdings B.V. was incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands on May 17, 2006. The Company is a global information and measurement company that provides clients with a comprehensive understanding of consumers and consumer behaviour. It delivers critical media and marketing information, analytics and industry expertise about what consumers watch (consumer interaction with television, online and mobile) and what consumers buy on a global and local basis. It has a presence in approximately 100 countries, including many developing and emerging markets. The Company helps its clients enhance their interactions with consumers and make critical business decisions. Its clients include The Coca-Cola Company, NBC Universal, Nestle S.A., News Corp., The Procter & Gamble Company and the Unilever Group. The Company's Watch segment provides viewership data and analytics primarily to the media and advertising industries across television, online and mobile screens. The Company's Buy segment provides retail transactional measurement data, consumer behaviour information and analytics primarily to businesses in the consumer packaged goods industry. The Company's Expositions segment operates business-to-business trade shows in the United States. Each year, it produces approximately 40 trade shows. The Company's operations are subject to and affected by data protection laws in many countries.
Company Website
SEC Reports
Industry: Business Services
Compare:
Traded in other countries:2N9A.Germany
» More Articles for NLSN

Headlines

Articles On GuruFocus.com
Weekly CEO Sells Highlight: Staples Inc, American Express Co, Nielsen Holdings NV Jun 09 2013 
Weekly CFO Sells Highlight: NLSN, BBBY, TXN, INTC, GD May 13 2013 
Weekly CEO Sells Highlight: Activision Blizzard, Nielsen Holdings NV, Gilead Sciences, Autodesk Apr 08 2013 
A Noteworthy Insider Purchase at JCP Nov 27 2012 
Baron Insight on Nielsen Holdings Jun 05 2012 
Weekly Top Insider Sells: NLSN, GOOG, AAPL and TIF Apr 02 2012 
Steve Mandel’ Lone Pine Capital Reports Q1 Trades May 20 2011 
Hedge Fund Eton Park Reports Q1 Portfolio; Sells Citi, Gold May 20 2011 
Baron Funds Reports Q1 Portfolio May 18 2011 
Davis Funds First Quarter Portfolio Update May 13 2011 

More From Our Partners
FactSet Incorporates Fitch Solution - Analyst Blog Jun 18 2013 - ZACKS

Personalized Checklist





Within your circle of competence?
Macro economic environment favorable?
High quality business?
Enough margin of safety with stocks?
Gurus are buying?
Insiders are buying?
Management capable and shareholder friendly?
Catalyst for stock price to appreciate?
Your level of confidence with the research?

Get WordPress Plugins for easy affiliate links on Stock Tickers and Guru Names | Earn affiliate commissions by embedding GuruFocus Charts
GuruFocus Affiliate Program: Earn up to $400 per referral. ( Learn More)
Free 7-day Trial
FEEDBACK