Yahoo Finance Momo Inc. (NASDAQ:MOMO) Analysts Are Way More Bearish Than They Used To Be
One thing we could say about the analysts on Momo Inc. (NASDAQ:MOMO) - they aren't optimistic, having just made a major negative revision to their near-term (statutory) forecasts for the organization. Revenue and earnings per share (EPS) forecasts were both revised downwards, with analysts seeing grey clouds on the horizon.
Following the latest downgrade, Momo's 18 analysts currently expect revenues in 2020 to be CN¥17b, approximately in line with the last 12 months. Statutory earnings per share are expected to be CN¥14.15, roughly flat on the last 12 months. Prior to this update, the analysts had been forecasting revenues of CN¥20b and earnings per share (EPS) of CN¥19.74 in 2020. It looks like analyst sentiment has declined substantially, with a measurable cut to revenue estimates and a large cut to earnings per share numbers as well.
View our latest analysis for Momo
It'll come as no surprise then, to learn that the analysts have cut their price target 23% to CN¥232. That's not the only conclusion we can draw from this data however, as some investors also like to consider the spread in estimates when evaluating analyst price targets. Currently, the most bullish analyst values Momo at CN¥326 per share, while the most bearish prices it at CN¥184. Note the wide gap in analyst price targets? This implies to us that there is a fairly broad range of possible scenarios for the underlying business.
One way to get more context on these forecasts is to look at how they compare to both past performance, and how other companies in the same industry are performing. It's pretty clear that there is an expectation that Momo's revenue growth will slow down substantially, with revenues next year expected to grow 1.7%, compared to a historical growth rate of 53% over the past five years. By way of comparison, the other companies in this industry with analyst coverage are forecast to grow their revenue at 13% per year. Factoring in the forecast slowdown in growth, it seems obvious that Momo is also expected to grow slower than other industry participants.
The Bottom Line
The most important thing to take away is that analysts cut their earnings per share estimates, expecting a clear decline in business conditions. Regrettably, they also downgraded their revenue estimates, and the latest forecasts imply the business will grow sales slower than the wider market. Given the scope of the downgrades, it would not be a surprise to see the market become more wary of the business.
With that said, the long-term trajectory of the company's earnings is a lot more important than next year. At Simply Wall St, we have a full range of analyst estimates for Momo going out to 2022, and you can see them free on our platform here.
Another way to search for interesting companies that could be reaching an inflection point is to track whether management are buying or selling, with our free list of growing companies that insiders are buying.
If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.
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