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Universal Music Group (NL:UMG)
:UMG
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Universal Music Group (UMG) AI Stock Analysis

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NL:UMG

Universal Music Group

(UMG)

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Outperform 71 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:71Outperform
Price Target:
€25.00
▲(12.51% Upside)
Universal Music Group's overall stock score is driven by its strong financial performance and positive earnings call sentiment, highlighting robust revenue growth and strategic initiatives. However, the technical analysis indicates bearish momentum, which weighs down the score. The valuation is fair, supported by a reasonable P/E ratio and attractive dividend yield.
Positive Factors
Revenue Growth
Consistent revenue and EBITDA growth indicate strong market demand and effective business strategies, supporting long-term financial health.
International Expansion
Expanding international presence enhances UMG's market reach and potential revenue streams, strengthening its competitive position globally.
Innovation in AI and Streaming
Innovative AI and streaming agreements position UMG at the forefront of digital transformation, enhancing future growth and adaptability.
Negative Factors
High Leverage Ratio
High leverage can increase financial risk, potentially impacting UMG's ability to invest in growth opportunities and manage economic downturns.
Cash Flow Volatility
Volatile cash flows can challenge liquidity management, affecting UMG's capacity to sustain operations and fund strategic initiatives.
Challenges in Monetizing Short-Form Video
Difficulty in monetizing short-form video content may limit revenue growth in digital media, a critical area for future expansion.

Universal Music Group (UMG) vs. iShares MSCI Netherlands ETF (EWN)

Universal Music Group Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionUniversal Music Group (UMG) is a leading global music company engaged in the acquisition, production, and distribution of music. It operates across multiple sectors, including recorded music, music publishing, and merchandising, representing a diverse roster of artists and songwriters. UMG is home to some of the world's most popular music labels, such as Interscope, Def Jam, and Capitol Records, and is involved in various initiatives that promote music across digital platforms and traditional media.
How the Company Makes MoneyUniversal Music Group generates revenue through several key streams. Primarily, it earns money from the sale and streaming of recorded music, which includes physical sales of CDs and vinyl, as well as digital downloads and streaming royalties from platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. Additionally, UMG derives significant income from music publishing, which involves licensing songs for use in films, television, advertisements, and other media, generating royalties for songwriters and rights holders. Merchandising, particularly related to its artists, adds another revenue stream through merchandise sales at concerts and online. Strategic partnerships with tech companies and platforms enhance UMG's ability to monetize its music catalog, while ongoing investments in emerging markets and technologies also contribute to its financial growth.

Universal Music Group Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Oct 30, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Feb 26, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
UMG reported strong revenue and EBITDA growth, driven by successful artist achievements and strategic international expansions. The company is at the forefront of innovation with new AI and streaming agreements, despite facing challenges in monetizing short-form video content.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Revenue and EBITDA Growth
UMG reported a 10% revenue growth and a 12% adjusted EBITDA growth for Q3 2025, both in constant currency.
Successful Artist Achievements
Taylor Swift's album 'The Life of a Showgirl' broke records with over 4 million U.S. and 5.5 million global album equivalent sales.
Expanding International Presence
UMG increased its stake in Japan's A-Sketch and entered strategic partnerships in India and Vietnam, expanding its global reach.
Innovative AI and Streaming Agreements
UMG concluded major Streaming 2.0 agreements with YouTube and announced a groundbreaking partnership with Udio for AI-driven music services.
Physical and Merchandising Revenue Growth
UMG's physical revenue grew 23% and merchandising revenue increased 15%, driven by strong demand for artist products.
Negative Updates
Challenges in Monetizing Short-Form Video
Ad-supported streaming revenue was flat due to difficulties in monetizing short-form video content.
Company Guidance
During Universal Music Group's third-quarter earnings call, CEO Lucian Grainge highlighted a 10% revenue growth and a 12% increase in adjusted EBITDA, both in constant currency, as part of the company's continued strong financial performance. Grainge detailed strategic initiatives, such as UMG's expansion into high-potential markets and collaborations with partners to leverage generative AI technology for artists and fans. The call also celebrated significant achievements, including Taylor Swift's record-breaking album sales and the historic chart success of the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack. CFO Matt Ellis reported a 10.2% year-over-year increase in quarterly revenue to EUR 3.02 billion and a 22% adjusted EBITDA margin. Recorded music revenue grew 8.3%, driven by strong performances from artists like Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter. Music publishing revenue rose 13.6%, while merchandising revenue increased 15%. UMG's strategic realignment and cost savings initiatives contributed to a 40-basis-point margin expansion. The company anticipates further monetization benefits from its Streaming 2.0 initiatives and plans to capture growth through new AI-driven products and expanded geographical presence.

Universal Music Group Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Universal Music Group demonstrates strong financial performance with significant revenue growth and solid profit margins. The company effectively manages its cash flow, maintaining healthy free cash flow levels. Despite a high leverage ratio, the growth in equity indicates financial stability. Overall, the company is well-positioned within the entertainment industry, though careful management of debt levels and cash flow volatility is advisable.
Income Statement
85
Very Positive
Universal Music Group shows strong revenue growth with a consistent upward trend, increasing from €7.16 billion in 2019 to €11.83 billion in 2024. Gross profit margin and EBIT margin are solid, indicating efficient operational management. However, net profit margin has fluctuated slightly, suggesting room for improvement in cost management. Overall, the company demonstrates robust income generation capabilities.
Balance Sheet
70
Positive
The balance sheet reveals a stable increase in stockholders' equity, although the debt-to-equity ratio is relatively high, indicating significant leverage. The absence of total assets and liabilities data for 2024 limits detailed analysis, but previous years show a stable equity ratio, suggesting prudent asset management. Despite the higher leverage, the company's equity growth is a positive indicator.
Cash Flow
78
Positive
Universal Music Group's cash flow statement reflects healthy free cash flow generation, with a positive trajectory in operating cash flow. The free cash flow to net income ratio is strong, reflecting effective cash management. However, recent fluctuations in investing and financing cash flows highlight potential volatility in cash usage, posing a risk to liquidity management.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue12.19B11.83B11.11B10.34B8.50B7.43B
Gross Profit4.78B5.09B4.90B4.59B3.90B3.52B
EBITDA4.14B3.47B1.83B1.35B1.49B2.07B
Net Income2.60B2.09B1.26B782.00M886.00M1.37B
Balance Sheet
Total Assets18.30B17.86B13.09B11.64B12.09B11.54B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments525.00M580.00M504.00M439.00M585.00M1.14B
Total Debt3.73B3.19B2.51B2.67B3.10B3.53B
Total Liabilities13.39B13.31B10.11B9.29B10.06B9.91B
Stockholders Equity4.88B4.53B2.96B2.35B2.03B1.43B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow1.64B1.31B1.59B1.64B1.08B-69.00M
Operating Cash Flow1.73B1.75B1.89B1.73B1.14B-3.00M
Investing Cash Flow-1.10B-1.05B-622.00M-520.00M-391.00M-46.00M
Financing Cash Flow-743.00M-552.00M-1.28B-1.35B-1.34B217.00M

Universal Music Group Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price22.22
Price Trends
50DMA
23.37
Negative
100DMA
24.29
Negative
200DMA
25.18
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.35
Negative
RSI
43.66
Neutral
STOCH
42.43
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For NL:UMG, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 22.22 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 22.64, below the 50-day MA of 23.37, and below the 200-day MA of 25.18, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -0.35 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 43.66 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 42.43 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for NL:UMG.

Universal Music Group Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (60)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
71
Outperform
$42.02B16.1060.27%2.34%6.12%67.59%
60
Neutral
$48.67B4.58-11.27%4.14%2.83%-41.78%
56
Neutral
€4.21B19.883.95%7.13%117.79%
* Communication Services Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
NL:UMG
Universal Music Group
22.61
0.55
2.51%
NL:BNJ
Banijay Group N.V. Class A
8.75
0.54
6.58%
Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Nov 05, 2025