Vodafone Group (LSE:VOD) Beneish M-Score: -2.86 (As of Jun. 24, 2026)


LSE:VOD Vodafone Group PLC LSE:VOD
49 GF Score
Price £1.06
GF Value £0.96
Valuation Modestly Overvalued
! 3 Warning Signs
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What is Vodafone Group Beneish M-Score?

Vodafone Group LSE:VOD -0.84% 49 Beneish M-Score is -2.86 as of Jun. 24, 2026. GuruFocus rates LSE:VOD with a GF Score™ of 49/100 and a GF Value™ of £0.96 (Modestly Overvalued). The stock has 3 warning signs investors should review. Among 355 Telecommunication Services companies, Vodafone Group ranks better than 55.21% 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 -2.86 no higher than -1.78, which implies that the company is unlikely to be a manipulator.

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

LSE:VOD' s Beneish M-Score Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: -3.39   Med: -3.07   Max: -2.34
Current: -2.86

During the past 13 years, the highest Beneish M-Score of Vodafone Group was -2.34. The lowest was -3.39. And the median was -3.07.


Vodafone Group Beneish M-Score Historical Data

* Premium members only.

The historical data trend for Vodafone Group'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.

Vodafone Group Beneish M-Score Chart

Vodafone Group Annual Data
Trend Mar17 Mar18 Mar19 Mar20 Mar21 Mar22 Mar23 Mar24 Mar25 Mar26
Beneish M-Score
Get a 7-Day Free Trial Premium Member Only Premium Member Only -2.99 -2.34 -3.39 -3.09 -2.86

Vodafone Group Semi-Annual Data
Sep16 Mar17 Sep17 Mar18 Sep18 Mar19 Sep19 Mar20 Sep20 Mar21 Sep21 Mar22 Sep22 Mar23 Sep23 Mar24 Sep24 Mar25 Sep25 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 -3.39 0.00 -3.09 0.00 -2.86

LSE:VOD vs TMUS, VZ, T: Beneish M-Score Comparison

For the Telecom Services subindustry, Vodafone Group'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.


Vodafone Group Beneish M-Score vs Telecommunication Services Industry

For the Telecommunication Services industry and Communication Services sector, Vodafone Group's Beneish M-Score distribution charts can be found below:

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


LSE:VOD
49GF Score
Vodafone Group PLC LSE:VOD
Beneish M-Score is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
View Full Analysis

Vodafone Group 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 Vodafone Group 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 * 1.0256+0.528 * 1.0623+0.404 * 0.9784+0.892 * 1.1196+0.115 * 0.9747
-0.172 * SGAI+4.679 * TATA-0.327 * LVGI
-0.172 * 0.9928+4.679 * -0.113056-0.327 * 0.9986
=-2.86

* 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 (Mar26) TTM:Last Year (Mar25) TTM:
Total Receivables was £6,941 Mil.
Revenue was £35,082 Mil.
Gross Profit was £11,040 Mil.
Total Current Assets was £23,664 Mil.
Total Assets was £112,646 Mil.
Property, Plant and Equipment(Net PPE) was £29,647 Mil.
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization(DDA) was £10,798 Mil.
Selling, General, & Admin. Expense(SGA) was £7,795 Mil.
Total Current Liabilities was £20,805 Mil.
Long-Term Debt & Capital Lease Obligation was £39,456 Mil.
Net Income was £-344 Mil.
Gross Profit was £0 Mil.
Cash Flow from Operations was £12,391 Mil.
Total Receivables was £6,045 Mil.
Revenue was £31,335 Mil.
Gross Profit was £10,475 Mil.
Total Current Assets was £23,948 Mil.
Total Assets was £107,541 Mil.
Property, Plant and Equipment(Net PPE) was £25,698 Mil.
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization(DDA) was £9,040 Mil.
Selling, General, & Admin. Expense(SGA) was £7,013 Mil.
Total Current Liabilities was £19,040 Mil.
Long-Term Debt & Capital Lease Obligation was £38,571 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)
=(6940.751 / 35081.792) / (6044.731 / 31334.867)
=0.197845 / 0.192908
=1.0256

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)
=(10475.358 / 31334.867) / (11040.173 / 35081.792)
=0.334304 / 0.314698
=1.0623

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 - (23663.584 + 29647.11) / 112645.665) / (1 - (23947.978 + 25698.474) / 107540.815)
=0.52674 / 0.538348
=0.9784

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
=35081.792 / 31334.867
=1.1196

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))
=(9040.32 / (9040.32 + 25698.474)) / (10798.266 / (10798.266 + 29647.11))
=0.260237 / 0.266984
=0.9747

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)
=(7794.798 / 35081.792) / (7012.858 / 31334.867)
=0.222189 / 0.223804
=0.9928

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)
=((39456.069 + 20804.913) / 112645.665) / ((38571.139 + 19039.563) / 107540.815)
=0.534961 / 0.53571
=0.9986

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
=(-344.22 - 0 - 12391.04) / 112645.665
=-0.113056

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.

Vodafone Group has a M-score of -2.86 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 -2.86 mean?
Vodafone Group (LSE:VOD) has a Beneish M-Score of -2.86 as of Jun. 24, 2026. The Beneish M-score measures the likelihood of earnings manipulation. View historical data on Vodafone Group and its competitors. According to the industry distribution chart, Vodafone Group ranks #159 out of 355 companies in the Telecommunication Services industry, placing it in the top 44.8%.
Is Vodafone Group's Beneish M-Score too high?
Vodafone Group's current Beneish M-Score is -2.86. Based on the distribution chart, Vodafone Group ranks #159 out of 355 companies in the Telecommunication Services industry, which is above the industry midpoint. Overall, Vodafone Group has a GF Score™ of 49/100 and is considered Modestly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Vodafone Group's Beneish M-Score compare to TMUS and VZ?
According to the Telecommunication Services industry distribution chart, Vodafone Group ranks #159 out of 355 companies for Beneish M-Score. This puts Vodafone Group in the upper 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 a Telecommunication Services company?
A good Beneish M-Score depends on the Telecommunication Services 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 Vodafone Group and its competitors. Vodafone Group's current Beneish M-Score is -2.86. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Vodafone Group stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Vodafone Group (LSE:VOD) is currently considered Modestly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is £0.96, compared to a current price of £1.06 — trading 10.8% above its estimated fair value. The current Beneish M-Score is -2.86. Vodafone Group's overall GF Score™ is 49/100 with 3 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 Vodafone Group (LSE:VOD), the current Beneish M-Score is -2.86 as of Jun. 24, 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 Vodafone Group (LSE:VOD) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Vodafone Group stock appears to be overvalued. The current stock price of £1.06 is trading 10.8% above its estimated GF Value™ of £0.96. GuruFocus considers Vodafone Group to be Modestly Overvalued.

Key valuation signals for LSE:VOD:

  • Beneish M-Score: -2.86
  • GF Value™: £0.96 vs. price of £1.06 (10.8% above fair value)
  • GF Score™: 49/100 with 3 warning signs

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


Vodafone Group Business Description

Address Vodafone House, The Connection, Newbury, Berkshire, GBR, RG14 2FN
Vodafone operates mobile and fixed-line networks and businesses across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Its largest market is Germany, where it is the second mobile operator after Deutsche Telekom and owns two cable networks after acquiring Kabel Deutschland in 2013 and Liberty Global Germany in 2019. In the UK, Vodafone merged with CK Hutchison in 2024, consolidating the mobile market. It also divested its Spanish and Italian divisions in that same year, given their low returns on invested capital.
49GF Score

Get the complete analysis for LSE:VOD

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

£1.06
Price
£0.96
GF Value