Safaricom (NAI:SCOM) Beneish M-Score: -2.70 (As of Jun. 25, 2026)


NAI:SCOM Safaricom PLC NAI:SCOM
100 GF Score
Price KES32.60
GF Value KES21.80
Valuation Significantly Overvalued
! 4 Warning Signs
View Full Analysis

What is Safaricom Beneish M-Score?

Safaricom NAI:SCOM 100 Beneish M-Score is -2.70 as of Jun. 25, 2026. GuruFocus rates NAI:SCOM with a GF Score™ of 100/100 and a GF Value™ of KES21.80 (Significantly Overvalued). The stock has 4 warning signs investors should review. Among 355 Telecommunication Services companies, Safaricom ranks worse than 60.28% 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 -2.7 no higher than -1.78, which implies that the company is unlikely to be a manipulator.

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

NAI:SCOM' s Beneish M-Score Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: -3.64   Med: -3   Max: -2.23
Current: -2.7

During the past 13 years, the highest Beneish M-Score of Safaricom was -2.23. The lowest was -3.64. And the median was -3.00.


Safaricom Beneish M-Score Historical Data

* Premium members only.

The historical data trend for Safaricom'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.

Safaricom Beneish M-Score Chart

Safaricom 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 -2.23 -2.55 -2.61 -3.37 -2.70

Safaricom 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 -2.61 0.00 -3.37 0.00 -2.70

NAI:SCOM vs TMUS, VZ, T: Beneish M-Score Comparison

For the Telecom Services subindustry, Safaricom'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.


Safaricom Beneish M-Score vs Telecommunication Services Industry

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

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


NAI:SCOM
100GF Score
Safaricom PLC NAI:SCOM
Beneish M-Score is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
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Safaricom 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 Safaricom 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 * 1.3661+0.528 * 0.9802+0.404 * 1.0377+0.892 * 1.0951+0.115 * 0.9379
-0.172 * SGAI+4.679 * TATA-0.327 * LVGI
-0.172 * 0.8253+4.679 * -0.143422-0.327 * 1.0038
=-2.70

* 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 KES48,673 Mil.
Revenue was KES420,992 Mil.
Gross Profit was KES316,573 Mil.
Total Current Assets was KES79,947 Mil.
Total Assets was KES518,045 Mil.
Property, Plant and Equipment(Net PPE) was KES289,881 Mil.
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization(DDA) was KES73,940 Mil.
Selling, General, & Admin. Expense(SGA) was KES8,804 Mil.
Total Current Liabilities was KES135,445 Mil.
Long-Term Debt & Capital Lease Obligation was KES132,400 Mil.
Net Income was KES95,609 Mil.
Gross Profit was KES0 Mil.
Cash Flow from Operations was KES169,908 Mil.
Total Receivables was KES32,535 Mil.
Revenue was KES384,433 Mil.
Gross Profit was KES283,352 Mil.
Total Current Assets was KES84,049 Mil.
Total Assets was KES515,284 Mil.
Property, Plant and Equipment(Net PPE) was KES289,161 Mil.
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization(DDA) was KES68,101 Mil.
Selling, General, & Admin. Expense(SGA) was KES9,742 Mil.
Total Current Liabilities was KES155,032 Mil.
Long-Term Debt & Capital Lease Obligation was KES110,371 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)
=(48672.9 / 420992.1) / (32534.9 / 384433.4)
=0.115615 / 0.084631
=1.3661

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)
=(283352.1 / 384433.4) / (316572.5 / 420992.1)
=0.737064 / 0.751968
=0.9802

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 - (79946.8 + 289881.2) / 518045.4) / (1 - (84049.2 + 289161.1) / 515284.2)
=0.286109 / 0.275719
=1.0377

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
=420992.1 / 384433.4
=1.0951

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))
=(68100.8 / (68100.8 + 289161.1)) / (73940.1 / (73940.1 + 289881.2))
=0.190619 / 0.203232
=0.9379

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)
=(8804.3 / 420992.1) / (9741.5 / 384433.4)
=0.020913 / 0.02534
=0.8253

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)
=((132400.3 + 135444.7) / 518045.4) / ((110370.6 + 155032.3) / 515284.2)
=0.51703 / 0.515061
=1.0038

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
=(95608.6 - 0 - 169907.8) / 518045.4
=-0.143422

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.

Safaricom has a M-score of -2.70 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 -2.70 mean?
Safaricom (NAI:SCOM) has a Beneish M-Score of -2.70 as of Jun. 25, 2026. The Beneish M-score measures the likelihood of earnings manipulation. View historical data on Safaricom and its competitors. According to the industry distribution chart, Safaricom ranks #214 out of 355 companies in the Telecommunication Services industry, placing it in the top 60.3%.
Is Safaricom's Beneish M-Score too high?
Safaricom's current Beneish M-Score is -2.70. Based on the distribution chart, Safaricom ranks #214 out of 355 companies in the Telecommunication Services industry, which is below the industry midpoint. Overall, Safaricom has a GF Score™ of 100/100 and is considered Significantly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Safaricom's Beneish M-Score compare to TMUS and VZ?
According to the Telecommunication Services industry distribution chart, Safaricom ranks #214 out of 355 companies for Beneish M-Score. This places Safaricom 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 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 Safaricom and its competitors. Safaricom's current Beneish M-Score is -2.70. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Safaricom stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Safaricom (NAI:SCOM) is currently considered Significantly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is KES21.80, compared to a current price of KES32.60 — trading 49.5% above its estimated fair value. The current Beneish M-Score is -2.70. Safaricom's overall GF Score™ is 100/100 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 Safaricom (NAI:SCOM), the current Beneish M-Score is -2.70 as of Jun. 25, 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 Safaricom (NAI:SCOM) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Safaricom stock appears to be overvalued. The current stock price of KES32.60 is trading 49.5% above its estimated GF Value™ of KES21.80. GuruFocus considers Safaricom to be Significantly Overvalued.

Key valuation signals for NAI:SCOM:

  • Beneish M-Score: -2.70
  • GF Value™: KES21.80 vs. price of KES32.60 (49.5% above fair value)
  • GF Score™: 100/100 with 4 warning signs

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


Safaricom Business Description

Address Safaricom House, Waiyaki Way, P.O. Box 66827, Westlands, Nairobi, KEN, 00800
Safaricom PLC is a Kenya-based telecommunications company. The principal activities of the company are the provision of telecommunication services, providing a comprehensive range of integrated telecommunication services including voice and data both mobile and fixed, SMS, the internet, and m-pesa. The company also offers a wide range of devices such as Mobile handsets, mobile broadband modems, routers, tablets, and notebooks. The majority of its revenue comes from service revenues: Voice, m-pesa, mobile data, messaging, fixed data and other service revenue. The company serves both individual and corporate/enterprise customers.
100GF Score

Get the complete analysis for NAI:SCOM

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

KES32.60
Price
KES21.80
GF Value