LBTYA

Liberty Global

Fundamental data last updated:April 13, 2026

We may earn a commission from partner links. This content is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice. Information may be delayed or inaccurate.

company profile

SECTOR

Communication Services

industry

Telecom Services

Exchange

Nasdaq

County of HQ

United Kingdom

Next Earnings Date

05/01/26

Business Summary

Liberty Global operates as an international telecom services provider, generating revenue primarily through broadband, video, fixed-line, and mobile services delivered over owned network infrastructure. Its model is built on recurring subscription cash flows, leveraging high fixed-cost networks to drive operating leverage when utilization rises. The moat historically comes from infrastructure ownership, local scale advantages, and bundled service offerings that increase switching costs. When margins are healthy, this structure produces durable cash generation due to predictable monthly billing and high customer stickiness, but profitability hinges on disciplined capital allocation and network efficiency.

 


VALUATION

P/E

-

Market Cap ($M USD)

$3,996

Forward P/E

-

PEG

-

PRICE TO SALES

0.9

PRICE TO BOOK

0.4

EV / EBITDA

-2

5-Year Average P/E

Free Cash Flow Yield

DCF Value

Graham Number

Price to FCF

EV to FCF

Earnings Yield

FCF Yield

DIVIDEND

Yield

-

Annual Payout

-

Payout Ratio

-

Consecutive Years of Dividend Growth

0

5-Year Dividend Growth Rate

-

Financial Health & Profitability

Earnings Per Share

-$20.86

Next Year EPS Growth Estimate

-$1.50

Next Year Revenue Growth Estimate

0.30%

Return on Equity (ROE)

-73.30%

FREE CASH FLOW

Operating Margin

1.40%

Debt-to-Equity

1

Piotroski F-Score

5

Altman Z-Score

0.7

Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)

-32.70%

Current Ratio

1.1

Quick Ratio

Net Debt to EBITDA

Interest Coverage

Gross Profit margin

FCF PER SHARE

REVENUE PER SHARE

Gainseekers Quantitative Analysis

Summary

This is not a growth story — it’s a distressed asset trading like one. With negative EPS of -2, no Forward P/E, and EPS Next Year estimated at -$20.86, there is zero earnings visibility and no valuation floor based on profitability. The Altman Z-Score of 0.7 signals meaningful financial distress risk, and ROIC at -32.70% confirms capital is being destroyed, not compounded. A Price/Sales of 0.9 and Price/Book of 0.4 scream deep value on the surface, but the absence of earnings and a collapsing earnings outlook suggest the market is discounting structural impairment, not temporarily depressed performance.

Telecom Services sits at the center of AI-driven bandwidth demand, and that secular tailwind cannot be ignored. However, with an Operating Margin of -73.30%, the company is currently not converting infrastructure exposure into profitability. The opportunity exists, but execution and capital discipline will determine whether AI-driven traffic becomes a profit lever or merely additional capital strain.

A deep value investor could argue the stock is priced for near-terminal decline despite tangible asset backing implied by a 0.4 Price/Book and sub-1 Price/Sales of 0.9. The Piotroski F-Score of 5 suggests financial metrics are mixed rather than catastrophic, and a Current Ratio of 1.1 indicates short-term liquidity is not collapsing. Return on Equity at 0.30% shows equity is not yet being obliterated, and institutional ownership at $14.06 implies some degree of professional sponsorship. If margins normalize even modestly from -73.30%, the operating leverage could be extreme, making this a high-beta turnaround vehicle rather than a melting ice cube.

The bear case is brutal. Operating Margin of -73.30% combined with ROIC of -32.70% signals structural inefficiency, not cyclical weakness. Debt/Equity at 1.40% layered on top of an Altman Z-Score of 0.7 raises solvency concerns, while EPS Next Year collapsing to -$20.86 implies accelerating deterioration. There is no Forward P/E, no PEG, no dividend support, and Sales Growth Next Year at -$1.50 points to contraction rather than stabilization — this is a balance-sheet risk story masquerading as a value play.

United Kingdom

Liberty Global operates as a telecom infrastructure owner and service provider, monetizing broadband, video, and connectivity subscriptions across its footprint. The model is capital intensive: heavy upfront infrastructure spending in exchange for recurring subscription cash flows. Its moat historically comes from network ownership, local market scale, and high switching costs once households are bundled into broadband ecosystems. Cash generation depends on maximizing network utilization and pricing power, but sustained negative margins suggest that moat is currently under pressure rather than widening.

AI Exposure / Tech Reliance

As a Telecom Services operator within Communication Services, the company sits on infrastructure that is foundational to AI-driven data consumption and bandwidth growth. However, with an operating margin of -73.30%, it is currently not converting that structural demand into profitability. The opportunity exists at the industry level, but financial execution remains the gating factor.

The Bull Case

A deep value investor could argue that a 0.4 Price/Book multiple implies extreme pessimism relative to asset backing, especially in a capital-intensive telecom platform. The Piotroski F-Score of 5 suggests middling but not catastrophic financial condition, and a Current Ratio of 1.1 indicates short-term liquidity is at least marginally adequate. Institutional Ownership at 14.06% shows some professional capital remains involved, potentially anticipating operational stabilization. If operating leverage improves even modestly from a -73.30% margin base, the equity could re-rate sharply given the depressed $3,996M market cap. This is a classic optionality play: deeply discounted assets with asymmetric upside if management can arrest value destruction.

The Bear Case

The bear case is overwhelming. ROIC at -32.70% and Operating Margin at -73.30% show a business that is structurally unprofitable, not just cyclically weak. Debt/Equity at 1.40% combined with an Altman Z-Score of 0.7 raises legitimate solvency concerns, and the absence of a Forward P/E alongside an EPS Next Year estimate of -20.86 eliminates any credible near-term earnings recovery narrative. Sales Growth Next Year listed at -$1.50 signals contraction rather than expansion, and with no PEG or forward earnings framework, investors are flying blind on growth visibility. This is not just cheap—it is statistically distressed, and without a turnaround, equity holders remain at the bottom of a fragile capital stack.

Market Sentiment & Smart Money

Short Interest %

6.10%

Analyst Consensus

2.92

Average Analyst Price Target

$14.06

Institutional Ownership %

102.70%

1-Year Beta

0.59

Insider Buying % (6 Mo)

4.00%%

Distance to 52-Week High

89.60%

Distance to 52-Week Low

134.20%

EARNINGS SURPRISE %

50-DAY SMA

200-DAY SMA

⚠️ Financial Disclaimer:
This content is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice. Information may be delayed or inaccurate. We may earn a commission from partner links.