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One thing we could say about the analysts on Liberty Global Ltd. (NASDAQ:LBTY.A) - they aren't optimistic, having just made a major negative revision to their near-term (statutory) forecasts for the organization. Both revenue and earnings per share (EPS) forecasts went under the knife, suggesting the analysts have soured majorly on the business.
Following this downgrade, Liberty Global's eleven analysts are forecasting 2025 revenues to be US$4.4b, approximately in line with the last 12 months. Following this this downgrade, earnings are now expected to tip over into loss-making territory, with the analysts forecasting losses of US$3.64 per share in 2025. Yet prior to the latest estimates, the analysts had been forecasting revenues of US$5.4b and losses of US$2.54 per share in 2025. So there's been quite a change-up of views after the recent consensus updates, with the analysts making a serious cut to their revenue forecasts while also expecting losses per share to increase.
View our latest analysis for Liberty Global
The consensus price target fell 8.0% to US$17.92, with the analysts clearly concerned about the company following the weaker revenue and earnings outlook.
Another way we can view these estimates is in the context of the bigger picture, such as how the forecasts stack up against past performance, and whether forecasts are more or less bullish relative to other companies in the industry. It's also worth noting that the years of declining sales look to have come to an end, with the forecast for flat revenues to the end of 2025. Historically, Liberty Global's sales have shrunk approximately 16% annually over the past five years. By contrast, our data suggests that other companies (with analyst coverage) in a similar industry are forecast to see their revenue grow 3.0% per year. So it's pretty clear that, although revenues are improving, Liberty Global is still expected to grow slower than the industry.
The Bottom Line
The most important thing to note from this downgrade is that the consensus increased its forecast losses this year, suggesting all may not be well at Liberty Global. 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.
After a downgrade like this, it's pretty clear that previous forecasts were too optimistic. What's more, we've spotted several possible issues with Liberty Global's business, like a weak balance sheet. Learn more, and discover the 3 other flags we've identified, for free on our platform here.