Synlait Milk (ASX:SM1) Beneish M-Score: -3.28 (As of Jul. 12, 2026)


ASX:SM1 Synlait Milk Ltd ASX:SM1
41 GF Score
Price A$0.29
GF Value A$0.22
Valuation Significantly Overvalued
! 4 Warning Signs
View Full Analysis

What is Synlait Milk Beneish M-Score?

Synlait Milk ASX:SM1 +1.75% 41 Beneish M-Score is -3.28 as of Jul. 12, 2026. GuruFocus rates ASX:SM1 with a GF Score™ of 41/100 and a GF Value™ of A$0.22 (Significantly Overvalued). The stock has 4 warning signs investors should review. Among 1,851 Consumer Packaged Goods companies, Synlait Milk ranks better than 90.44% on this metric.

The zones of discrimination for M-Score is as such:

An M-Score of equal or less than -1.78 suggests that the company is unlikely to be a manipulator.
An M-Score of greater than -1.78 signals that the company is likely to be a manipulator.

Good Sign:

Beneish M-Score -3.28 no higher than -1.78, which implies that the company is unlikely to be a manipulator.

The historical rank and industry rank for Synlait Milk's Beneish M-Score or its related term are showing as below:

ASX:SM1' s Beneish M-Score Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: -3.32   Med: -2.73   Max: -1.01
Current: -3.28

During the past 13 years, the highest Beneish M-Score of Synlait Milk was -1.01. The lowest was -3.32. And the median was -2.73.


Synlait Milk Beneish M-Score Historical Data

* Premium members only.

The historical data trend for Synlait Milk's Beneish M-Score can be seen below:

* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD.
* For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.

Synlait Milk Beneish M-Score Chart

Synlait Milk Annual Data
Trend Jul16 Jul17 Jul18 Jul19 Jul20 Jul21 Jul22 Jul23 Jul24 Jul25
Beneish M-Score
Get a 7-Day Free Trial Premium Member Only Premium Member Only -1.33 -3.15 -2.96 -1.28 -3.28

Synlait Milk Semi-Annual Data
Jul16 Jan17 Jul17 Jan18 Jul18 Jan19 Jul19 Jan20 Jul20 Jan21 Jul21 Jan22 Jul22 Jan23 Jul23 Jan24 Jul24 Jan25 Jul25 Jan26
Beneish M-Score Get a 7-Day Free Trial Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only 0.00 -1.28 0.00 -3.28 0.00

ASX:SM1 vs KHC, GIS, HRL: Beneish M-Score Comparison

For the Packaged Foods subindustry, Synlait Milk's Beneish M-Score, along with its competitors' market caps and Beneish M-Score data, can be viewed below:

* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.


Synlait Milk Beneish M-Score vs Consumer Packaged Goods Industry

For the Consumer Packaged Goods industry and Consumer Defensive sector, Synlait Milk's Beneish M-Score distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where Synlait Milk's Beneish M-Score falls into.


ASX:SM1
41GF Score
Synlait Milk Ltd ASX:SM1
Beneish M-Score is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
View Full Analysis

Synlait Milk Beneish M-Score Calculation

The M-score was created by Professor Messod Beneish. Instead of measuring the bankruptcy risk (Altman Z-Score) or business trend (Piotroski F-Score), M-score can be used to detect the risk of earnings manipulation. This is the original research paper on M-score.

The M-Score Variables:

The M-score of Synlait Milk for today is based on a combination of the following eight different indices:

M=-4.84+0.92 * DSRI+0.528 * GMI+0.404 * AQI+0.892 * SGI+0.115 * DEPI
=-4.84+0.92 * 0.5871+0.528 * 1.0842+0.404 * 1.0059+0.892 * 1.132+0.115 * 1.2133
-0.172 * SGAI+4.679 * TATA-0.327 * LVGI
-0.172 * 1.115+4.679 * -0.13441-0.327 * 0.8353
=-3.27

* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD.
* For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.

This Year (Jul25) TTM:Last Year (Jul24) TTM:
Total Receivables was A$87 Mil.
Revenue was A$1,675 Mil.
Gross Profit was A$97 Mil.
Total Current Assets was A$453 Mil.
Total Assets was A$1,434 Mil.
Property, Plant and Equipment(Net PPE) was A$846 Mil.
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization(DDA) was A$52 Mil.
Selling, General, & Admin. Expense(SGA) was A$115 Mil.
Total Current Liabilities was A$662 Mil.
Long-Term Debt & Capital Lease Obligation was A$45 Mil.
Net Income was A$-37 Mil.
Gross Profit was A$4 Mil.
Cash Flow from Operations was A$152 Mil.
Total Receivables was A$131 Mil.
Revenue was A$1,480 Mil.
Gross Profit was A$92 Mil.
Total Current Assets was A$368 Mil.
Total Assets was A$1,351 Mil.
Property, Plant and Equipment(Net PPE) was A$857 Mil.
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization(DDA) was A$65 Mil.
Selling, General, & Admin. Expense(SGA) was A$91 Mil.
Total Current Liabilities was A$581 Mil.
Long-Term Debt & Capital Lease Obligation was A$216 Mil.




1. DSRI = Days Sales in Receivables Index

Measured as the ratio of Revenue in Total Receivables in year t to year t-1.

A large increase in DSR could be indicative of revenue inflation.

DSRI=(Receivables_t / Revenue_t) / (Receivables_t-1 / Revenue_t-1)
=(87.074 / 1675.222) / (131.024 / 1479.885)
=0.051978 / 0.088537
=0.5871

2. GMI = Gross Margin Index

Measured as the ratio of gross margin in year t-1 to gross margin in year t.

Gross margin has deteriorated when this index is above 1. A firm with poorer prospects is more likely to manipulate earnings.

GMI=GrossMargin_t-1 / GrossMargin_t
=(GrossProfit_t-1 / Revenue_t-1) / (GrossProfit_t / Revenue_t)
=(92.493 / 1479.885) / (96.566 / 1675.222)
=0.0625 / 0.057644
=1.0842

3. AQI = Asset Quality Index

AQI is the ratio of asset quality in year t to year t-1.

Asset quality is measured as the ratio of non-current assets other than Property, Plant and Equipment to Total Assets.

AQI=(1 - (CurrentAssets_t + PPE_t) / TotalAssets_t) / (1 - (CurrentAssets_t-1 + PPE_t-1) / TotalAssets_t-1)
=(1 - (452.559 + 846.425) / 1433.633) / (1 - (367.735 + 856.89) / 1350.741)
=0.093922 / 0.093368
=1.0059

4. SGI = Sales Growth Index

Ratio of Revenue in year t to sales in year t-1.

Sales growth is not itself a measure of manipulation. However, growth companies are likely to find themselves under pressure to manipulate in order to keep up appearances.

SGI=Sales_t / Sales_t-1
=Revenue_t / Revenue_t-1
=1675.222 / 1479.885
=1.132

5. DEPI = Depreciation Index

Measured as the ratio of the rate of Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization in year t-1 to the corresponding rate in year t.

DEPI greater than 1 indicates that assets are being depreciated at a slower rate. This suggests that the firm might be revising useful asset life assumptions upwards, or adopting a new method that is income friendly.

DEPI=(Depreciation_t-1 / (Depreciaton_t-1 + PPE_t-1)) / (Depreciation_t / (Depreciaton_t + PPE_t))
=(65.084 / (65.084 + 856.89)) / (52.289 / (52.289 + 846.425))
=0.070592 / 0.058182
=1.2133

Note: If the Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization data is not available, we assume that the depreciation rate is constant and set the Depreciation Index to 1.

6. SGAI = Sales, General and Administrative expenses Index

The ratio of Selling, General, & Admin. Expense(SGA) to Sales in year t relative to year t-1.

SGA expenses index > 1 means that the company is becoming less efficient in generate sales.

SGAI=(SGA_t / Sales_t) / (SGA_t-1 /Sales_t-1)
=(115.211 / 1675.222) / (91.281 / 1479.885)
=0.068774 / 0.061681
=1.115

7. LVGI = Leverage Index

The ratio of total debt to Total Assets in year t relative to yeat t-1.

An LVGI > 1 indicates an increase in leverage

LVGI=((LTD_t + CurrentLiabilities_t) / TotalAssets_t) / ((LTD_t-1 + CurrentLiabilities_t-1) / TotalAssets_t-1)
=((44.675 + 661.724) / 1433.633) / ((216.087 + 580.712) / 1350.741)
=0.492733 / 0.589898
=0.8353

8. TATA = Total Accruals to Total Assets

Total accruals calculated as the change in working capital accounts other than cash less depreciation.

TATA=(IncomefromContinuingOperations_t - CashFlowsfromOperations_t) / TotalAssets_t
=(NetIncome_t - NonOperatingIncome_t - CashFlowsfromOperations_t) / TotalAssets_t
=(-36.505 - 4.452 - 151.737) / 1433.633
=-0.13441

An M-Score of equal or less than -1.78 suggests that the company is unlikely to be a manipulator. An M-Score of greater than -1.78 signals that the company is likely to be a manipulator.

Synlait Milk has a M-score of -3.27 suggests that the company is unlikely to be a manipulator.

Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about Beneish M-Score →
What does a Beneish M-Score of -3.28 mean?
Synlait Milk (ASX:SM1) has a Beneish M-Score of -3.28 as of Jul. 12, 2026. The Beneish M-score measures the likelihood of earnings manipulation. View historical data on Synlait Milk and its competitors. According to the industry distribution chart, Synlait Milk ranks #177 out of 1851 companies in the Consumer Packaged Goods industry, placing it in the top 9.6%.
Is Synlait Milk's Beneish M-Score too high?
Synlait Milk's current Beneish M-Score is -3.28. Based on the distribution chart, Synlait Milk ranks #177 out of 1851 companies in the Consumer Packaged Goods industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, Synlait Milk has a GF Score™ of 41/100 and is considered Significantly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Synlait Milk's Beneish M-Score compare to KHC and GIS?
According to the Consumer Packaged Goods industry distribution chart, Synlait Milk ranks #177 out of 1851 companies for Beneish M-Score. This places Synlait Milk in the top 10% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Beneish M-Score for a Consumer Packaged Goods company?
A good Beneish M-Score depends on the Consumer Packaged Goods industry context. However, Beneish M-Score should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Beneish M-Score mean?
A high Beneish M-Score can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. The Beneish M-score measures the likelihood of earnings manipulation. View historical data on Synlait Milk and its competitors. Synlait Milk's current Beneish M-Score is -3.28. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Synlait Milk stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Synlait Milk (ASX:SM1) is currently considered Significantly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is A$0.22, compared to a current price of A$0.29 — trading 31.8% above its estimated fair value. The current Beneish M-Score is -3.28. Synlait Milk's overall GF Score™ is 41/100 with 4 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Beneish M-Score calculated?
Beneish M-Score is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Synlait Milk (ASX:SM1), the current Beneish M-Score is -3.28 as of Jul. 12, 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.

Is Synlait Milk (ASX:SM1) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Synlait Milk stock appears to be overvalued. The current stock price of A$0.29 is trading 31.8% above its estimated GF Value™ of A$0.22. GuruFocus considers Synlait Milk to be Significantly Overvalued.

Key valuation signals for ASX:SM1:

  • Beneish M-Score: -3.28
  • GF Value™: A$0.22 vs. price of A$0.29 (31.8% above fair value)
  • GF Score™: 41/100 with 4 warning signs

No single metric tells the full story. See the ASX:SM1 stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.


Synlait Milk Business Description

Other Exchanges SML:New Zealand
Address 1028 Heslerton Road, RD13, Rakaia, STL, NZL, 7783
Synlait Milk Ltd is a dairy processing company that benefits from a differentiated milk supply and operating environment in New Zealand. The business operates within one industry that includes the manufacture of milk powder and its related products, liquid milk, cheese, and butter. Its segment are Synlait and Dairyworks, out of which it derives maximum revenue from Synlait segment.
41GF Score

Get the complete analysis for ASX:SM1

Beneish M-Score is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

A$0.29
Price
A$0.22
GF Value