Spark New Zealand (NZSE:SPK) Beneish M-Score: -3.17 (As of Jun. 25, 2026)


NZSE:SPK Spark New Zealand Ltd NZSE:SPK
71 GF Score
Price NZ$1.84
GF Value NZ$3.43
Valuation Significantly Undervalued
! 8 Warning Signs
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What is Spark New Zealand Beneish M-Score?

Spark New Zealand NZSE:SPK +3.66% 71 Beneish M-Score is -3.17 as of Jun. 25, 2026. GuruFocus rates NZSE:SPK with a GF Score™ of 71/100 and a GF Value™ of NZ$3.43 (Significantly Undervalued). The stock has 8 warning signs investors should review. Among 355 Telecommunication Services companies, Spark New Zealand ranks better than 82.54% 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 -3.17 no higher than -1.78, which implies that the company is unlikely to be a manipulator.

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

NZSE:SPK' s Beneish M-Score Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: -3.17   Med: -2.96   Max: -2.41
Current: -3.17

During the past 13 years, the highest Beneish M-Score of Spark New Zealand was -2.41. The lowest was -3.17. And the median was -2.96.


Spark New Zealand Beneish M-Score Historical Data

* Premium members only.

The historical data trend for Spark New Zealand'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.

Spark New Zealand Beneish M-Score Chart

Spark New Zealand Annual Data
Trend Jun16 Jun17 Jun18 Jun19 Jun20 Jun21 Jun22 Jun23 Jun24 Jun25
Beneish M-Score
Get a 7-Day Free Trial Premium Member Only Premium Member Only -3.09 -2.94 -2.58 -2.87 -3.17

Spark New Zealand Semi-Annual Data
Jun16 Dec16 Jun17 Dec17 Jun18 Dec18 Jun19 Dec19 Jun20 Dec20 Jun21 Dec21 Jun22 Dec22 Jun23 Dec23 Jun24 Dec24 Jun25 Dec25
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 -2.87 0.00 -3.17 0.00

NZSE:SPK vs TMUS, VZ, T: Beneish M-Score Comparison

For the Telecom Services subindustry, Spark New Zealand'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.


Spark New Zealand Beneish M-Score vs Telecommunication Services Industry

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

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


NZSE:SPK
71GF Score
Spark New Zealand Ltd NZSE:SPK
Beneish M-Score is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
View Full Analysis

Spark New Zealand 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 Spark New Zealand 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 * 0.9423+0.528 * 1.0292+0.404 * 0.8181+0.892 * 0.9638+0.115 * 0.8283
-0.172 * SGAI+4.679 * TATA-0.327 * LVGI
-0.172 * 0.9106+4.679 * -0.114033-0.327 * 1.019
=-3.17

* 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 (Jun25) TTM:Last Year (Jun24) TTM:
Total Receivables was NZ$831 Mil.
Revenue was NZ$3,623 Mil.
Gross Profit was NZ$1,814 Mil.
Total Current Assets was NZ$1,438 Mil.
Total Assets was NZ$4,525 Mil.
Property, Plant and Equipment(Net PPE) was NZ$1,798 Mil.
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization(DDA) was NZ$590 Mil.
Selling, General, & Admin. Expense(SGA) was NZ$581 Mil.
Total Current Liabilities was NZ$1,066 Mil.
Long-Term Debt & Capital Lease Obligation was NZ$1,830 Mil.
Net Income was NZ$260 Mil.
Gross Profit was NZ$96 Mil.
Cash Flow from Operations was NZ$680 Mil.
Total Receivables was NZ$915 Mil.
Revenue was NZ$3,759 Mil.
Gross Profit was NZ$1,937 Mil.
Total Current Assets was NZ$1,070 Mil.
Total Assets was NZ$4,635 Mil.
Property, Plant and Equipment(Net PPE) was NZ$1,951 Mil.
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization(DDA) was NZ$502 Mil.
Selling, General, & Admin. Expense(SGA) was NZ$662 Mil.
Total Current Liabilities was NZ$1,060 Mil.
Long-Term Debt & Capital Lease Obligation was NZ$1,851 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)
=(831 / 3623) / (915 / 3759)
=0.229368 / 0.243416
=0.9423

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)
=(1937 / 3759) / (1814 / 3623)
=0.515297 / 0.50069
=1.0292

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 - (1438 + 1798) / 4525) / (1 - (1070 + 1951) / 4635)
=0.284862 / 0.34822
=0.8181

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
=3623 / 3759
=0.9638

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))
=(502 / (502 + 1951)) / (590 / (590 + 1798))
=0.204647 / 0.247069
=0.8283

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)
=(581 / 3623) / (662 / 3759)
=0.160364 / 0.176111
=0.9106

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)
=((1830 + 1066) / 4525) / ((1851 + 1060) / 4635)
=0.64 / 0.628047
=1.019

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
=(260 - 96 - 680) / 4525
=-0.114033

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.

Spark New Zealand has a M-score of -3.17 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 -3.17 mean?
Spark New Zealand (NZSE:SPK) has a Beneish M-Score of -3.17 as of Jun. 25, 2026. The Beneish M-score measures the likelihood of earnings manipulation. View historical data on Spark New Zealand and its competitors. According to the industry distribution chart, Spark New Zealand ranks #62 out of 355 companies in the Telecommunication Services industry, placing it in the top 17.5%.
Is Spark New Zealand's Beneish M-Score too high?
Spark New Zealand's current Beneish M-Score is -3.17. Based on the distribution chart, Spark New Zealand ranks #62 out of 355 companies in the Telecommunication Services industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, Spark New Zealand has a GF Score™ of 71/100 and is considered Significantly Undervalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Spark New Zealand's Beneish M-Score compare to TMUS and VZ?
According to the Telecommunication Services industry distribution chart, Spark New Zealand ranks #62 out of 355 companies for Beneish M-Score. This places Spark New Zealand in the top 18% 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 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 Spark New Zealand and its competitors. Spark New Zealand's current Beneish M-Score is -3.17. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Spark New Zealand stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Spark New Zealand (NZSE:SPK) is currently considered Significantly Undervalued. The stock's GF Value™ is NZ$3.43, compared to a current price of NZ$1.84 — trading 46.4% below its estimated fair value. The current Beneish M-Score is -3.17. Spark New Zealand's overall GF Score™ is 71/100 with 8 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 Spark New Zealand (NZSE:SPK), the current Beneish M-Score is -3.17 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 Spark New Zealand (NZSE:SPK) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Spark New Zealand stock appears to be undervalued. The current stock price of NZ$1.84 is trading 46.4% below its estimated GF Value™ of NZ$3.43. GuruFocus considers Spark New Zealand to be Significantly Undervalued.

Key valuation signals for NZSE:SPK:

  • Beneish M-Score: -3.17
  • GF Value™: NZ$3.43 vs. price of NZ$1.84 (46.4% below fair value)
  • GF Score™: 71/100 with 8 warning signs

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


Spark New Zealand Business Description

Address 50 Albert Street, Spark City, Level 1, Private Bag 92028, Auckland, NTL, NZL, 1010
Spark is one of only three integrated telecommunications companies in New Zealand. It is the leading mobile network operator with low- to mid-40% subscriber and revenue share, and the dominant provider of fixed-line broadband services with a mid-30% subscriber share. It has a big position in the New Zealand corporate and wholesale telecommunications services provision space. Spark supplements its core telecommunications operations and related infrastructure with IT products and services across cloud, managed data and networks, procurement, data centers, and Internet of Things. Its operations are all based in New Zealand, except for its 41% interest in Southern Cross Submarine Cables, which has zero book value and to which Spark has no funding obligations.
71GF Score

Get the complete analysis for NZSE:SPK

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

NZ$1.84
Price
NZ$3.43
GF Value