Value-focused investors are always on the hunt for stocks that are priced below their intrinsic value. One such stock that merits attention is Match Group Inc (MTCH, Financial). The stock, which is currently priced at 44.43, recorded a loss of 2.43% in a day and a 3-month increase of 41.87%. The stock's fair valuation is $110.86, as indicated by its GF Value.
Understanding GF Value
The GF Value represents the current intrinsic value of a stock derived from our exclusive method. The GF Value Line on our summary page gives an overview of the fair value that the stock should be traded at. It is calculated based on three factors: historical multiples that the stock has traded at, GuruFocus adjustment factor based on the company's past returns and growth, and future estimates of the business performance.
If the stock price is significantly above the GF Value Line, it is overvalued and its future return is likely to be poor. On the other hand, if it is significantly below the GF Value Line, its future return will likely be higher.
Is Match Group a Value Trap?
Despite its seemingly attractive valuation, certain risk factors associated with Match Group should not be ignored. These risks are primarily reflected through its low Altman Z-score of 0.72, and the company's revenues and earnings have been on a downward trend over the past five years. These indicators suggest that Match Group, despite its apparent undervaluation, might be a potential value trap. This complexity underlines the importance of thorough due diligence in investment decision-making.
Understanding Altman Z-Score
Before delving into the details, let's understand what the Altman Z-score entails. Invented by New York University Professor Edward I. Altman in 1968, the Z-Score is a financial model that predicts the probability of a company entering bankruptcy within a two-year time frame. The Altman Z-Score combines five different financial ratios, each weighted to create a final score. A score below 1.8 suggests a high likelihood of financial distress, while a score above 3 indicates a low risk.
Company Snapshot: Match Group Inc
Match Group is a provider of online dating products, with a vast portfolio of different online dating service providers, including Tinder, Hinge, BLKB, Chispa, Match.com, OkCupid, Plenty of Fish, and Meetic. Match Group has more than 45 brands of online dating sites and/or apps, from which it generates user fee revenue (95%) and advertising revenue (5%).
Match Group's Low Altman Z-Score: A Breakdown of Key Drivers
A dissection of Match Group's Altman Z-score reveals Match Group's financial health may be weak, suggesting possible financial distress:
The Retained Earnings to Total Assets ratio provides insights into a company's capability to reinvest its profits or manage debt. Evaluating Match Group's historical data, 2021: -1.83; 2022: -1.91; 2023: -1.73, we observe a recent decline following an initial increase in this ratio. This downward movement indicates Match Group's diminishing ability to reinvest in its business or effectively manage its debt. Consequently, it exerts a negative impact on its Z-Score.
The EBIT to Total Assets ratio serves as a crucial barometer of a company's operational effectiveness, correlating earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) to total assets. An analysis of Match Group's EBIT to Total Assets ratio from historical data (2021: 0.18; 2022: 0.05; 2023: 0.17) indicates a descending trend. This reduction suggests that Match Group might not be utilizing its assets to their full potential to generate operational profits, which could be negatively affecting the company's overall Z-score.
When it comes to operational efficiency, a vital indicator for Match Group is its asset turnover. The data: 2021: 0.85; 2022: 0.68; 2023: 0.77 from the past three years suggests a recent decline following an initial increase in this ratio. The asset turnover ratio reflects how effectively a company is using its assets to generate sales. Therefore, a drop in this ratio can signify reduced operational efficiency, potentially due to underutilization of assets or decreased market demand for the company's products or services. This shift in Match Group's asset turnover underlines the need for the company to reassess its operational strategies to optimize asset usage and boost sales.
The Bearish Signs: Declining Revenues and Earnings
One of the telltale indicators of a company's potential trouble is a sustained decline in revenues. In the case of Match Group, both the revenue per share (evident from the last five years' TTM data: 2019: 6.52; 2021: 8.65; 2022: 11.06; 2023: 10.59; ) and the 5-year revenue growth rate (-6.4%) have been on a consistent downward trajectory. This pattern may point to underlying challenges such as diminishing demand for Match Group's products, or escalating competition in its market sector. Either scenario can pose serious risks to the company's future performance, warranting a thorough analysis by investors.
Even more worrying is the 3-year EBITDA growth rate and the 5-year EBITDA growth rate, both of which are negative. This could indicate structural problems within the company, as EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization) is often used as a measure of a company's operating performance.
The Red Flag: Sluggish Earnings Growth
The company's earnings picture does not look much brighter. The 3-year EPS without NRI growth rate (-13.8%) is sluggish, and the future 3 to 5-year EPS growth estimate (27.09%) does not show a promising uptick. These indicators could suggest the company is struggling to translate sales into profits effectively, a critical element of a successful business model.
Despite its low price-to-fair-value ratio, Match Group's falling revenues and earnings cast a long shadow over its investment attractiveness. A low price relative to intrinsic value can indeed suggest an investment opportunity, but only if the company's fundamentals are sound or improving. In Match Group's case, the declining revenues, EBITDA, and earnings growth suggest that the company's issues may be more than just cyclical fluctuations.
Without a clear turnaround strategy, there's a risk that the company's performance could continue to deteriorate, leading to further price declines. In such a scenario, the low price-to-GF-Value ratio may be more indicative of a value trap than a value opportunity.
Conclusion
In conclusion, despite the attractive pricing, the declining revenues, EBITDA, and earnings growth rate, coupled with a low Altman Z-Score, suggest that Match Group might be a potential value trap. It's crucial for investors to conduct thorough due diligence and consider these risk factors before making an investment decision.
GuruFocus Premium members can find stocks with high Altman Z-Score using the following Screener: Walter Schloss Screen . Investors can find stocks with good revenue and earnings growth using GuruFocus' Peter Lynch Growth with Low Valuation Screener.
