Yougov plc (YOU) AI Stock Analysis

• Market Cap: £391.73M
• Dividend Yield: 2.82%
• Average Volume (3M): 609.78K
• Price to Earnings (P/E): 296.0
• Beta (1Y): 0.96
• Revenue Growth: 42.19%
• EPS Growth: -94.16%
• Country: UK
• Employees: 1,960
• Sector: Communication Services
• Sector Strength: 84
• Industry: Advertising Agencies
• EPS (TTM): 0.17
• Shares Outstanding: 117,108,150
• 10 Day Avg. Volume: 766,221
• 30 Day Avg. Volume: 609,782
• PEG Ratio: 1.89
• Price to Book (P/B): 2.15
• Price to Sales (P/S): 0.00
• P/FCF Ratio: 9.46
• 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: £565.00
• Price Target Upside: 79.94% Upside
• Rating Consensus: Moderate Buy
• Number of Analyst Covering: 0

• Rating: 62 Neutral
• Price Target: 354.00p ▲(12.74%Upside)

YouGov PLC's overall score reflects strong financial performance and positive corporate events, offset by technical analysis indicating bearish trends and a high P/E ratio suggesting overvaluation. The recent increase in stake by Octopus Investments boosts confidence, but profitability challenges and market momentum need addressing.

Yougov plc Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company Description

YouGov plc is a global public opinion and data company headquartered in the United Kingdom. It specializes in market research and data analytics, providing insights into consumer sentiment and behavior through a range of digital services. The company's core offerings include online surveys and panels, which gather data from a large and diverse group of respondents. YouGov operates across various sectors including media, politics, and consumer markets, helping organizations understand public opinion and make informed decisions.

How the Company Makes Money

YouGov makes money primarily through its subscription-based data services and custom research projects. The company's revenue model is centered around its syndicated data products, such as YouGov BrandIndex and YouGov Profiles, which clients subscribe to for ongoing consumer insights and brand performance tracking. Additionally, YouGov generates income through custom research services, where it conducts tailored surveys and data analysis projects for businesses, governments, and non-profits. Key revenue streams include client subscriptions, bespoke research contracts, and partnerships with media organizations that utilize YouGov's data for content creation. The company's digital-first approach and extensive global panel network are significant factors contributing to its earnings.

Yougov plc Financial Statement Overview

Summary

The company shows strong revenue growth but faces profitability challenges with a decline in net income and EBIT margin. The balance sheet is stable with manageable leverage, though recent debt increases warrant caution. Cash flow generation is robust, supporting operations and potential investments.

Income Statement

The company exhibits strong revenue growth, with a notable increase from 2023 to 2024. However, profitability margins have declined, indicated by the negative net income in 2024 and a significant drop in EBIT margin compared to the previous year. The gross profit margin remains robust, suggesting operational efficiency despite the profitability challenges.

Balance Sheet

The balance sheet shows a solid equity base, with a reasonable debt-to-equity ratio. However, recent increases in total debt have raised leverage, which could be a potential risk if not managed properly. The equity ratio is healthy, reflecting a good proportion of assets funded by equity capital.

Cash Flow

Cash flow generation remains strong, with consistent free cash flow over the years. Despite a decline in operating cash flow in 2024, the company maintains a solid ratio of operating cash flow to net income. The free cash flow to net income ratio is favorable, indicating efficient cash generation relative to earnings.

Breakdown	Sep 2024	Sep 2023	Sep 2022	Sep 2021	Sep 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue	335.30M	258.30M	221.10M	169.00M	152.44M
Gross Profit	271.10M	199.90M	167.00M	127.50M	118.28M
EBITDA	49.40M	70.50M	51.50M	39.70M	30.77M
Net Income	-2.40M	34.50M	17.10M	12.50M	9.60M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets	609.70M	304.30M	240.40M	198.50M	178.35M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments	73.60M	107.20M	37.40M	35.50M	35.31M
Total Debt	238.80M	11.20M	12.20M	13.20M	9.35M
Total Liabilities	426.50M	108.10M	115.40M	86.50M	69.01M
Stockholders Equity	183.20M	196.40M	125.30M	112.70M	110.06M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow	37.70M	42.10M	44.40M	16.60M	16.76M
Operating Cash Flow	39.70M	59.50M	61.90M	37.70M	35.40M
Investing Cash Flow	-280.90M	-17.40M	-42.90M	-23.90M	-26.01M
Financing Cash Flow	208.30M	29.10M	-20.00M	-11.50M	-9.65M

Yougov plc Technical Analysis

• Technical Analysis Sentiment: Negative
• Last Price: 314.00
• 50DMA: Negative
• 100DMA: Negative
• 200DMA: Negative
• MACD: Positive
• RSI: Neutral
• STOCH: Positive

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For GB:YOU, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 314 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 366.25, below the 50-day MA of 338.98, and below the 200-day MA of 366.23, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of 0.13 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 35.24 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 1.91 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for GB:YOU.

Yougov plc Peers Comparison

Name	Overall Rating	Market Cap	P/E Ratio	ROE	Dividend Yield	Revenue Growth	EPS Growth
PEBB	73 Outperform	£77.07M	12.66	7.08%	3.81%	0.88%	10.37%
SYS1	68 Neutral	£51.39M	11.49	36.26%	1.23%	33.67%	154.85%
NFG	68 Neutral	£271.49M	6.84	23.38%	7.88%	-0.66%	-26.16%
SAA	67 Neutral	£235.45M	18.68	33.95%	0.73%	-12.89%	―
YOU	62 Neutral	£391.73M	296.02	0.70%	2.82%	42.19%	-94.16%
Sector *	58 Neutral	C$3.43B	8.17	-17.94%	4.81%	-2.63%	-19.63%
SFOR	49 Neutral	£137.83M	99.88	-42.53%	4.42%	-16.14%	-5856.63%

Yougov plc Corporate Events

YouGov PLC Announces Change in Major Shareholder Voting Rights

YouGov PLC has announced a change in the voting rights held by Liontrust Investment Partners LLP, which now holds a total of 9.4211% voting rights in the company. This adjustment in holdings reflects a decrease from the previous 9.998% and could impact the company’s shareholder dynamics and decision-making processes.

The most recent analyst rating on (GB:YOU) stock is a Hold with a £495.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Yougov plc stock, see the GB:YOU Stock Forecast page.

YouGov CEO’s Share Transaction Notification

YouGov plc announced a managerial dealing notification involving its CEO, Stephan Shakespeare, who granted a charge over 1,800,648 shares as security for a personal loan. This transaction, conducted on the London Stock Exchange, reflects internal financial management activities and may impact stakeholders’ perceptions of the company’s leadership stability.

The most recent analyst rating on (GB:YOU) stock is a Hold with a £495.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Yougov plc stock, see the GB:YOU Stock Forecast page.

YouGov Announces Total Voting Rights and Share Capital Details

YouGov PLC announced the total voting rights as of June 30, 2025, with an issued share capital of 117,857,148 ordinary shares. The company highlighted that 749,005 of these shares are held by the YouGov Employee Benefit Trust for employee share schemes. This announcement is significant for shareholders as it provides the denominator for calculating changes in their interests under the Financial Conduct Authority’s rules, impacting their notification obligations.

The most recent analyst rating on (GB:YOU) stock is a Hold with a £495.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Yougov plc stock, see the GB:YOU Stock Forecast page.

YouGov PLC Announces Voting Rights and Block Listing Update

YouGov PLC announced its total voting rights and block listing return as of May 30, 2025, with an issued share capital of 117,852,819 ordinary shares. The announcement included details about the company’s employee share schemes and the balance of unallotted securities under its Deferred Share Bonus Plan. This update is significant for stakeholders to assess their interests in the company under the Financial Conduct Authority’s rules.

The most recent analyst rating on (GB:YOU) stock is a Hold with a £495.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Yougov plc stock, see the GB:YOU Stock Forecast page.

Octopus Investments Increases Stake in YouGov PLC

YouGov PLC has announced a change in its major holdings, with Octopus Investments Limited increasing its voting rights in the company to 7.15% as of May 2, 2025. This acquisition of voting rights signifies a strategic move by Octopus Investments, potentially impacting YouGov’s governance and future decision-making processes, while also reflecting confidence in YouGov’s market position and growth potential.

YouGov Issues New Shares to Non-Executive Directors

YouGov plc has announced the issuance of 21,350 new ordinary shares as part of its remuneration policy, allowing Non-Executive Directors to receive a portion of their annual fee in shares instead of cash. This move reflects the company’s strategy to align the interests of its directors with those of shareholders, potentially enhancing stakeholder value. The new shares will be admitted to trading on AIM, increasing the total number of shares with voting rights to 117,851,085, which may impact shareholder calculations under regulatory rules.