We don’t support this browser anymore.
This means our website may not look and work as you would expect. Read more about browsers and how to update them here.

Spotify Technology S A (SPOT) EUR0.025

Sell:$264.05 Buy:$264.07 Change: $3.60 (1.38%)
Market closed |  Prices as at close on 28 March 2024 | Switch to live prices |
Sell:$264.05
Buy:$264.07
Change: $3.60 (1.38%)
Market closed |  Prices as at close on 28 March 2024 | Switch to live prices |
Sell:$264.05
Buy:$264.07
Change: $3.60 (1.38%)
Market closed |  Prices as at close on 28 March 2024 | Switch to live prices |
The selling price currently displayed is higher than the buying price. This can occur temporarily for a variety of reasons; shortly before the market opens, after the market closes or because of extraordinary price volatility during the trading day.

HL comment (31 January 2023)

Revenue rose 18% to €2.7bn in the fourth quarter, reflecting double digit growth across Premium and Ad-Supported revenue, which were supported by podcasting gains. Better than expected Monthly Active User (MAU) growth saw a quarterly record of 33m net additions.

Gross margins also came in better than expected, partly because of lower spending on podcast content. Despite this, operating losses widened significantly to €231m, reflecting higher staff costs as the group's headcount expanded and also higher marketing costs. Spotify expects total revenue will begin to grow faster than operating expenses in the near-term.

Free cash flow was negative €73m.

Looking ahead, Spotify expects to add 11m MAUs in the current financial quarter.

The shares rose 3.9% in pre-market trading.

Our view

A booming desire to listen to podcasts has seen Spotify deliver a better-than-expected end to the year. We're pleased with progress but the longer-term view hasn't changed.

Spotify's model depends on people signing up to its service, whether that's through a free trial, or the free-to-use ad supported service. Historically, a decent proportion of these users then ultimately become premium, or paying, users, boosting revenue and margins in the process. Though, that cycle's likely to come under pressure if consumer income's keep getting squeezed.

Finding ways to improve the profitability of its users is key for Spotify because the underlying cost model isn't supportive of margin growth. Spotify's variable cost base, with a large portion of costs coming from royalties paid to record labels and publishers, doesn't leave too much room for natural margin expansion.

There lies one of the toughest hurdles to overcome for Spotify, and the music streaming industry for that matter, which is the reliance of record labels for access to content. Labels can, in theory, push prices up as streaming providers grow the top line, meaning little of that growth falls into profit.

Spotify needs to grow premium users, as mentioned, or increase profits from advertising for those who'd rather listen for free. But, as we've seen in recent results across the industry, advertising spend looks to be coming under pressure as businesses rethink budgets in light of weakening economic conditions.

The other challenge facing Spotify is the lack of real barriers to entry to the market. Competitors with much deeper pockets like Amazon and Apple have the firepower to keep knocking on Spotify's door. Ultimately for listeners there's not much difference between the various products on offer, which means there's little in the way of pricing power on offer.

There are some positives though, unlike some rival streaming services Spotify is self-sufficient from a cash perspective - albeit only marginally. That means there's no need to rely on investors for new cash, giving it flexibility. It allows it to pounce on opportunity - like the Megaphone deal to help boost its reach in the mushrooming podcast industry.

We still admire Spotify's increasingly direct access to content producers, relatively low and flexible costs, and a roll-out story that should help it leverage the benefits of scale. But we're a little more cautious than we have been in a while. Markets look to share that sentiment with the group trading hands well below its longer-term price to sales ratio.

The Share Research team is ceasing covering of Spotify. This is the last update and house view HL will produce on this stock. You can still find out more about our thoughts on the Financials industry by signing up to our Share Insight email.

Spotify key facts

  • Forward price/sales ratio (next 12 months): 1.31

  • Average forward price/sales ratio since listing (2018) 3.24

  • Prospective dividend yield (next 12 months): 0.0%

All ratios are sourced from Refinitiv. Please remember yields are variable and not a reliable indicator of future income. Keep in mind key figures shouldn't be looked at on their own - it's important to understand the big picture.

Sign up for updates on Spotify

This article is original Hargreaves Lansdown content, published by Hargreaves Lansdown. It was correct as at the date of publication, and our views may have changed since then. Unless otherwise stated estimates, including prospective yields, are a consensus of analyst forecasts provided by Refinitiv. These estimates are not a reliable indicator of future performance. Yields are variable and not guaranteed. Investments rise and fall in value so investors could make a loss.

This article is not advice or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any investment. No view is given on the present or future value or price of any investment, and investors should form their own view on any proposed investment. This article has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and is considered a marketing communication. Non-independent research is not subject to FCA rules prohibiting dealing ahead of research, however HL has put controls in place (including dealing restrictions, physical and information barriers) to manage potential conflicts of interest presented by such dealing. Please see our full non-independent research disclosure for more information.


Previous Spotify Technology S A updates

Data policy - All information should be used for indicative purposes only. You should independently check data before making any investment decision. HL cannot guarantee that the data is accurate or complete, and accepts no responsibility for how it may be used.

Share

The London Stock Exchange does not disclose whether a trade is a buy or a sell so this data is estimated based on the trade price received and the LSE-quoted mid-price at the point the trade is placed. It should only be considered an indication and not a recommendation.

Trades priced above the mid-price at the time the trade is placed are labelled as a buy; those priced below the mid-price are sells; and those priced close to the mid-price or declared late are labelled 'N/A'.