Zhihu (FRA:5BU0) Beneish M-Score: -2.02 (As of Aug. 27, 2026)

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FRA:5BU0 Zhihu Inc FRA:5BU0
68 GF Score
Price €2.56
GF Value €3.03
Valuation Modestly Undervalued
! 5 Warning Signs
View Full Analysis

What is Zhihu Beneish M-Score?

Zhihu FRA:5BU0 +1.59% 68 Beneish M-Score is -2.02 as of Aug. 27, 2026. GuruFocus rates FRA:5BU0 with a GF Score™ of 68/100 and a GF Value™ of €3.03 (Modestly Undervalued). The stock has 5 warning signs investors should review. Among 528 Interactive Media companies, Zhihu ranks worse than 78.79% 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 -2.02 no higher than -1.78, which implies that the company is unlikely to be a manipulator.

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

FRA:5BU0' s Beneish M-Score Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: -3.07   Med: -2.8   Max: 0.01
Current: -2.02

During the past 7 years, the highest Beneish M-Score of Zhihu was 0.01. The lowest was -3.07. And the median was -2.80.


Zhihu Beneish M-Score Historical Data

* Premium members only.

The historical data trend for Zhihu'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.

Zhihu Beneish M-Score Chart

Zhihu Annual Data
Trend Dec19 Dec20 Dec21 Dec22 Dec23 Dec24 Dec25
Beneish M-Score
Get a 7-Day Free Trial 0.01 -2.98 -2.80 -3.07 -2.02

Zhihu Quarterly Data
Jun21 Sep21 Dec21 Mar22 Jun22 Sep22 Dec22 Mar23 Jun23 Sep23 Dec23 Mar24 Jun24 Sep24 Dec24 Mar25 Jun25 Sep25 Dec25 Mar26
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 0.00 0.00 -2.02 0.00

FRA:5BU0 vs ANGI, ZIP, SSTK: Beneish M-Score Comparison

For the Internet Content & Information subindustry, Zhihu'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.


Zhihu Beneish M-Score vs Interactive Media Industry

For the Interactive Media industry and Communication Services sector, Zhihu's Beneish M-Score distribution charts can be found below:

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


FRA:5BU0
68GF Score
Zhihu Inc FRA:5BU0
Beneish M-Score is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
View Full Analysis

Zhihu 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 Zhihu 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 * 1.0876+0.528 * 1.011+0.404 * 1.953+0.892 * 0.7061+0.115 * 1.6961
-0.172 * SGAI+4.679 * TATA-0.327 * LVGI
-0.172 * 1.0203+4.679 * 0.0167-0.327 * 0.929
=-2.09

* 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 (Dec25) TTM:Last Year (Dec24) TTM:
Total Receivables was €50.0 Mil.
Revenue was €333.3 Mil.
Gross Profit was €199.8 Mil.
Total Current Assets was €573.8 Mil.
Total Assets was €629.4 Mil.
Property, Plant and Equipment(Net PPE) was €5.7 Mil.
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization(DDA) was €3.0 Mil.
Selling, General, & Admin. Expense(SGA) was €182.3 Mil.
Total Current Liabilities was €153.8 Mil.
Long-Term Debt & Capital Lease Obligation was €1.9 Mil.
Net Income was €-23.4 Mil.
Gross Profit was €16.5 Mil.
Cash Flow from Operations was €-50.4 Mil.
Total Receivables was €65.1 Mil.
Revenue was €472.1 Mil.
Gross Profit was €286.1 Mil.
Total Current Assets was €719.4 Mil.
Total Assets was €752.0 Mil.
Property, Plant and Equipment(Net PPE) was €2.1 Mil.
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization(DDA) was €2.9 Mil.
Selling, General, & Admin. Expense(SGA) was €253.1 Mil.
Total Current Liabilities was €200.0 Mil.
Long-Term Debt & Capital Lease Obligation was €0.2 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)
=(49.981 / 333.321) / (65.083 / 472.064)
=0.149949 / 0.137869
=1.0876

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)
=(286.057 / 472.064) / (199.792 / 333.321)
=0.605971 / 0.599398
=1.011

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 - (573.763 + 5.749) / 629.402) / (1 - (719.412 + 2.052) / 751.984)
=0.079266 / 0.040586
=1.953

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
=333.321 / 472.064
=0.7061

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))
=(2.879 / (2.879 + 2.052)) / (3.018 / (3.018 + 5.749))
=0.583857 / 0.344245
=1.6961

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)
=(182.325 / 333.321) / (253.072 / 472.064)
=0.546995 / 0.536097
=1.0203

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)
=((1.891 + 153.797) / 629.402) / ((0.239 + 199.987) / 751.984)
=0.247359 / 0.266264
=0.929

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
=(-23.39 - 16.482 - -50.383) / 629.402
=0.0167

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.

Zhihu has a M-score of -2.09 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 -2.02 mean?
Zhihu (FRA:5BU0) has a Beneish M-Score of -2.02 as of Aug. 27, 2026. The Beneish M-score measures the likelihood of earnings manipulation. View historical data on Zhihu and its competitors. According to the industry distribution chart, Zhihu ranks #416 out of 528 companies in the Interactive Media industry, placing it in the top 78.8%.
Is Zhihu's Beneish M-Score too high?
Zhihu's current Beneish M-Score is -2.02. Based on the distribution chart, Zhihu ranks #416 out of 528 companies in the Interactive Media industry, which is in the bottom quartile relative to peers. Overall, Zhihu has a GF Score™ of 68/100 and is considered Modestly Undervalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Zhihu's Beneish M-Score compare to ANGI and ZIP?
According to the Interactive Media industry distribution chart, Zhihu ranks #416 out of 528 companies for Beneish M-Score. This places Zhihu in the lower half of its industry. 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 an Interactive Media company?
A good Beneish M-Score depends on the Interactive Media 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 Zhihu and its competitors. Zhihu's current Beneish M-Score is -2.02. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Zhihu stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Zhihu (FRA:5BU0) is currently considered Modestly Undervalued. The stock's GF Value™ is €3.03, compared to a current price of €2.56 — trading 15.5% below its estimated fair value. The current Beneish M-Score is -2.02. Zhihu's overall GF Score™ is 68/100 with 5 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 Zhihu (FRA:5BU0), the current Beneish M-Score is -2.02 as of Aug. 27, 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 Zhihu (FRA:5BU0) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Zhihu stock appears to be undervalued. The current stock price of €2.56 is trading 15.5% below its estimated GF Value™ of €3.03. GuruFocus considers Zhihu to be Modestly Undervalued.

Key valuation signals for FRA:5BU0:

  • Beneish M-Score: -2.02
  • GF Value™: €3.03 vs. price of €2.56 (15.5% below fair value)
  • GF Score™: 68/100 with 5 warning signs

No single metric tells the full story. See the FRA:5BU0 stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.


Zhihu Business Description

Other Exchanges ZH:USA02390:Hong Kong
Address 18 Xueqing Road, Haidian District, Beijing, CHN, 100083
Zhihu Inc is engaged in the operation of one online content community which monetizes through paid membership services, marketing services and other services in the People's Republic of China. It is an online content community where people come to find solutions, make decisions, seek inspiration, and have fun. Its community supports discussions ranging from everyday consumer decisions, such as purchasing products or planning travel, to more specialized areas on professional knowledge, technological developments including artificial intelligence and academic topics. It operates in single segment and its revenues are derived from within the PRC.
68GF Score

Get the complete analysis for FRA:5BU0

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

€2.56
Price
€3.03
GF Value