Bastei Luebbe (BST) AI Stock Analysis

• Market Cap: €89.76M
• Dividend Yield: 4.16%
• Average Volume (3M): 2.51K
• Price to Earnings (P/E): 10.0
• Beta (1Y): 0.04
• Revenue Growth: -1.26%
• EPS Growth: -11.97%
• Country: DE
• Employees: 323
• Sector: General
• Sector Strength: N/A
• Industry: Publishing
• EPS (TTM): 0.21
• Shares Outstanding: 13,300,000
• 10 Day Avg. Volume: 2,104
• 30 Day Avg. Volume: 2,511
• PEG Ratio: 0.43
• Price to Book (P/B): 2.13
• Price to Sales (P/S): 1.29
• P/FCF Ratio: -46.16
• Enterprise Value/Market Cap: N/A
• Enterprise Value/Revenue: N/A
• Enterprise Value/Gross Profit: N/A
• Enterprise Value/Ebitda: N/A
• 1Y Price Target: N/A
• Price Target Upside: N/A
• Rating Consensus: N/A
• Number of Analyst Covering: 0
• EPS Forecast (FY): 0.72
• Revenue Forecast (FY): €120.37M

• Rating: 69 Neutral
• Price Target: €7.00 ▼(-13.58% Downside)
• Action: Reiterated Date: 03/13/26
• Date: Action: Reiterated 03/13/26

The score is driven primarily by solid underlying financial strength (high margins, strong ROE, and very low leverage), supported by attractive valuation (low P/E and high dividend yield). These positives are offset by weak technicals (price below key moving averages, negative MACD) and fundamental risks around negative revenue growth and challenged cash flow (negative free cash flow).

Positive Factors

High margins & profitability

Sustained high gross (53.75%) and healthy net margins (9.94%) indicate durable pricing power and efficient production in publishing. These margins provide structural ability to fund author advances, marketing and dividends, and to absorb cyclical revenue dips without immediate margin erosion.

Very low financial leverage

A debt-to-equity ratio of ~0.09 and ROE of 16.5% show the company operates with minimal leverage while delivering strong equity returns. This financial flexibility reduces bankruptcy risk, supports strategic investment in content rights, and preserves optionality during industry downturns.

Diversified IP monetization model

Revenue from multiple IP channels—print/digital book sales, audiobooks and rights/licensing—creates durable, multi-year revenue tails. Backlist and licensing amplify lifetime value per title, diversify revenue streams across formats and geographies, and lower reliance on single bestsellers.

Negative Factors

Negative revenue trend

A persistent top-line decline (-2.11%) signals difficulty growing sales of new releases or monetizing the catalog faster. In publishing, sustained revenue contraction limits investments in author acquisition and marketing, reducing long-term catalog renewal and future revenue growth potential.

Weak cash-flow conversion

Negative free cash flow and poor operating cash conversion indicate earnings are not reliably translating to cash. This undermines the company’s ability to self-fund content investments, pay dividends or build reserves, increasing reliance on external financing for strategic moves.

Earnings pressure (EPS decline)

An EPS decline of ~11.7% reflects deteriorating profitability on a per-share basis and may stem from softer sales or cost pressure. Continued EPS contraction reduces retained earnings and hampers the firm’s capacity to invest organically or pursue acquisitions without diluting shareholders.

Bastei Luebbe Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company Description

Bastei Lübbe AG, a media company, publishes books, audio books, e-books, and other digital products in the genres of fiction and popular science content in Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, and Switzerland. It operates through Books and Novel Booklets segments. The Books segment offers a range of printed products under the Lübbe, Lübbe Life, Quadriga, Eichborn, Baumhaus, Boje, ONE, LYX, LYX.audio, be-books, and Lübbe Audio labels. The Novel Booklets segment provides novel booklets under the Der Bergdoktor, Jerry Cotton, Geisterjäger John Sinclair, and the westerns names. The company is also involved in the licensing of its rights. Bastei Lübbe AG was founded in 1953 and is based in Cologne, Germany.

How the Company Makes Money

Bastei Luebbe generates revenue primarily through the sale of books in both print and digital formats. Key revenue streams include direct sales through retail partnerships, online platforms, and its own eCommerce site. Additionally, the company earns income from licensing agreements for its content, allowing third-party publishers and platforms to distribute its works. Significant partnerships with major retailers and digital platforms enhance its market reach. The increasing demand for audiobooks also contributes to revenue, as the company expands its offerings in this growing segment.

Bastei Luebbe Financial Statement Overview

Summary

Strong profitability and balance sheet (gross margin 53.75%, net margin 9.94%, ROE 16.51%, very low debt-to-equity 0.09) support a solid financial base, but the score is tempered by negative revenue growth (-2.11%) and cash flow concerns including negative free cash flow and a negative operating cash flow to net income ratio.

Income Statement

Bastei Luebbe has shown a consistent improvement in profitability metrics over the years, with a strong gross profit margin of 53.75% and a net profit margin of 9.94% in the latest year. However, the revenue growth rate has turned negative at -2.11%, indicating challenges in expanding sales. The EBIT and EBITDA margins are healthy, reflecting efficient cost management.

Balance Sheet

The company maintains a strong balance sheet with a low debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09, indicating low financial leverage and reduced risk. The return on equity is robust at 16.51%, showcasing effective use of equity capital. The equity ratio is also strong, highlighting a solid financial position.

Cash Flow

Cash flow metrics indicate some concerns, with negative free cash flow and a decline in free cash flow growth. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is negative, suggesting potential cash flow management issues. However, the free cash flow to net income ratio is high, indicating that the company is generating cash relative to its net income.

Breakdown	Jun 2025	Jun 2024	Jun 2023	Mar 2022	Jun 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue	114.01M	110.33M	100.02M	94.51M	92.69M
Gross Profit	61.27M	55.45M	50.52M	49.02M	44.85M
EBITDA	19.81M	15.60M	10.20M	17.53M	13.73M
Net Income	11.34M	8.72M	3.92M	10.96M	7.50M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets	114.34M	103.94M	107.91M	104.29M	90.14M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments	9.45M	18.39M	19.48M	17.97M	14.47M
Total Debt	6.40M	8.25M	9.66M	11.50M	13.23M
Total Liabilities	45.43M	42.38M	52.92M	48.00M	47.51M
Stockholders Equity	68.68M	61.34M	54.78M	56.09M	42.52M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow	-3.17M	1.63M	9.55M	12.30M	15.53M
Operating Cash Flow	-648.00K	2.66M	10.42M	12.85M	16.88M
Investing Cash Flow	-1.18M	1.55M	-761.00K	-2.78M	-5.33M
Financing Cash Flow	-7.28M	-5.27M	-8.18M	-6.63M	16.00K

Bastei Luebbe Technical Analysis

• Technical Analysis Sentiment: Neutral
• Last Price: 8.10
• 50DMA: Negative
• 100DMA: Negative
• 200DMA: Negative
• MACD: Negative
• RSI: Neutral
• STOCH: Neutral

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For DE:BST, the sentiment is Neutral. The current price of 8.1 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 6.80, above the 50-day MA of 7.38, and below the 200-day MA of 8.81, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.23 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 46.08 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 37.77 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Neutral sentiment for DE:BST.

Bastei Luebbe Peers Comparison

Name	Overall Rating	Market Cap	P/E Ratio	ROE	Dividend Yield	Revenue Growth	EPS Growth
BST	69 Neutral	€89.76M	9.95	11.70%	4.16%	-1.26%	-11.97%
Sector *	55 Neutral	$6.65B	3.83	-15.92%	6.20%	10.91%	7.18%
H9W	45 Neutral	€36.77M	―	-117.72%	―	―	―