# YouGov plc (YOU.L) fundamentals

Data as of 2026-09-08. LSE, United Kingdom. Sector: Communication Services / Diversified Telecommunication Services. Price 272p, market value 318 millionp.

## Valuation
- **P/E (trailing): 27.2×** (5-yr avg 6192.9×, 3-yr avg 2981.2×). YouGov plc trades at 27.2× trailing earnings, well below its own five-year average of 6192.9×: cheap by its own standards. The Communication Services median in the September 2026 study was 21.1×. Forward P/E is 8.2×, lower than trailing, so analysts expect earnings to grow.
- **PEG: 0.01**. A PEG of 0.01 means the P/E is low relative to expected earnings growth: the market is not paying much for that growth.
- **Price / sales: 0.4×**. Each dollar of revenue is priced at 0.4×, a low multiple typical of thin-margin businesses or out-of-favour stocks.
- **Price / book: 1.7×**. The shares trade at 1.7× book value; book value is a meaningful part of the valuation.
- **EV / EBITDA: 3.4×**. Enterprise value is 3.4× operating earnings before depreciation, the multiple that ignores how the company is financed; below 8× is inexpensive for most sectors.
- **Free-cash-flow yield: 23.6%** (5-yr avg 0.1%). Free cash flow equals 23.6% of the market value, above its five-year average of 0.1%, so the shares are cheaper on cash than they have usually been. Above 5% is generally attractive.
- **Earnings yield: 3.7%**. The inverse of the P/E: 3.7% of the price is earned each year.

## Profitability
- **Gross margin: 72.8%**. YouGov plc keeps 72.8% of revenue after the direct cost of what it sells, the kind of margin that comes with software, brands or pricing power.
- **Operating margin: 9.9%**. 9.9% of revenue is left after running the business.
- **Net margin: 3.4%**. 3.4% of each dollar of sales reaches the bottom line.
- **Return on equity: 7.0%**. 7.0% on shareholders' equity is weak; the business earns little on the capital its owners have in it.
- **Return on invested capital: 14.2%**. Return on all capital, debt included, is 14.2%.
- **Return on assets: 2.2%**. Each dollar of assets produces 2.2% of profit.

## Growth
- **Revenue growth (1 yr): 16.0%** (3-yr 20.7%/yr, 5-yr 20.6%/yr). Revenue grew 16.0% over the last year, against 20.6% a year compounded over five years: growth is slowing.
- **EPS growth (1 yr): 644.6%** (3-yr -9.8%/yr, 5-yr 5.3%/yr). Earnings per share rose 644.6%, faster than revenue, so margins expanded or the share count shrank.
- **Free-cash-flow growth (3 yr): -0.2%/yr**. Free cash flow has compounded at -0.2% a year over three years, keeping pace with earnings: the growth is real cash.

## Financial health
- **Debt to equity: 1.16**. Debt is 1.16 times equity, a leveraged balance sheet that needs steady cash flow to service.
- **Net debt / EBITDA: 1.2×**. It would take 1.2 years of operating earnings to repay net borrowings, within the comfortable range.
- **Interest coverage: 2.8×**. Operating profit covers interest 2.8×, thin but manageable.
- **Current ratio: 0.64** (quick 0.64). Current liabilities exceed current assets, so the company depends on ongoing cash generation or refinancing to pay the next year's bills.
- **Altman Z-score: 1.65**. A Z-score of 1.65 is in the distress zone, a signal to examine the balance sheet closely.
- **Piotroski F-score: 7/9**. 7 of 9 fundamental checks pass: strong and improving financials.

## Dividends
- **Dividend yield: 3.33%** (0p per share, trailing). YouGov plc yields 3.33%, a modest yield more typical of a growth-oriented payer.
- **Payout ratio: 79%** (28% of free cash flow). 79% of earnings goes out as dividends, leaving a thin cushion.
- **Consecutive years of increases: 14**. 14 straight years of increases, a record that survived at least one recession.
- **Dividend growth (5 yr): 13.1%/yr** (1-yr 2.8%). The dividend has compounded at 13.1% a year over five years, doubling roughly every 5 years at that pace.
- **Shareholder yield: 3.3%**. Dividends plus net buybacks return 3.3% of the market value a year.

## Analyst view
- **Analyst consensus: strong_buy** (7 analysts). 7 analysts cover YouGov plc; the consensus is strong_buy, with an average price target of 374p (+37% from the current price). Analyst opinion is shown for context; it is not part of the Fundamental Score.

## Price and momentum
- **Total return (1 yr): -24.4%** (YTD 6.5%, 3-mo 29.7%). The shares are down 24.4% over twelve months including dividends.
- **From 52-week high: -26.5%** (100.7% above the low). Trading 27% below its 52-week high.
- **200-day average: above**. The price sits above its 200-day moving average, the usual definition of an uptrend.
- **RSI (14-day): 57**. An RSI of 57 is neutral.
- **Beta (1 yr): 0.57** (volatility 46%). Beta of 0.57 against the FTSE All-Share: the shares move much less than the market.

Live score and charts: https://foliofundamentals.com/analyzer?s=YOU.L · Page: https://foliofundamentals.com/stocks/you.l

Not investment advice.