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On Wednesday, Benchmark analyst Matthew Harrigan adjusted the price target for Grupo Televisa SA (NYSE:TV) shares, lowering it to $7 from the previous $8, while still recommending a Buy rating for the stock. The revision was attributed to new concerns over increased tariffs and the weakening of the Mexican peso. Harrigan noted that the new 25% tariffs pose significant challenges for addressing the undervaluation of Televisa’s stock. This view aligns with InvestingPro analysis, which indicates the stock is currently undervalued, trading at just 0.21 times book value while offering a 4.73% dividend yield. For deeper insights into undervalued opportunities, explore our Most Undervalued Stocks list.
The analyst pointed out that Grupo Televisa’s approximate $1.0 billion equity market capitalization fails to reflect its dominant position in Spanish-language television through the TelevisaUnivision joint venture, which includes both linear and ViX streaming services. He also highlighted the company’s potential to generate substantial free cash flow from its cable and satellite operations in Mexico, operated under the izzi and Sky brands, respectively. Recent data from InvestingPro shows the company has maintained strong liquidity with a current ratio of 2.49, though profitability remains challenged with a negative EPS of $0.15 over the last twelve months.
Despite the stock trading as if it were in distress, Harrigan estimated that Televisa’s net debt to EBITDA ratio by the end of 2025 would not exceed 2.4 times, slightly better than the 2.6 times ratio recorded in 2024. He also projected an improvement in the TelevisaUnivision net debt position, anticipating a decline from 5.9 times as of December 31, 2024, to no worse than 5.5 times by the end of 2025. This forecast includes expectations of progress in debt reduction and no debt maturities until June 2027. According to InvestingPro’s comprehensive analysis, the company maintains a "GOOD" overall Financial Health Score of 2.61, with particularly strong ratings in relative value and cash flow metrics.
Harrigan’s analysis suggests that the market’s concern regarding Grupo Televisa’s and TelevisaUnivision’s balance sheets might be exaggerated. He maintains that despite a difficult advertising market, the company’s financial health is likely more stable than current stock prices indicate. This view is supported by the stock’s positive YTD performance of 13.1%, though it remains significantly below its 52-week high of $3.47.
In other recent news, Grupo Televisa’s financial performance and strategic moves have garnered attention. Benchmark analysts have maintained a Buy rating on Grupo Televisa, setting a price target of $8.00. This reflects their confidence in the company’s financial health, particularly highlighting its cable and satellite operations in Mexico, which are expected to generate strong free cash flow. Despite a challenging advertising market, Benchmark projects a significant improvement in TelevisaUnivision’s net debt to EBITDA ratio by the end of 2025. The analysts also noted that Televisa’s debt situation is manageable, with no maturities until June 2027.
However, Benchmark’s Matthew Harrigan adjusted the price target from $11.00 to $8.00 due to the recent weakness of the Mexican peso and uncertainties surrounding tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. Harrigan pointed out that 65% of third-quarter revenues for TelevisaUnivision were generated in the U.S., somewhat mitigating currency risks. The success of the ad-supported streaming service ViX has been a positive development, becoming profitable quickly. Additionally, Grupo TelevisaUnivision has initiated further layoffs as part of efforts to streamline operations and enhance financial performance.
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