| Valuation method | Value, £ | Upside, % |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial intelligence (AI) | 10.40 | -61 |
| Intrinsic value (DCF) | 8.44 | -68 |
| Graham-Dodd Method | 7.50 | -72 |
| Graham Formula | 28.80 | 9 |
Compagnie des Alpes SA (CDA) is a leading European leisure and tourism operator, specializing in ski resorts and theme parks. Headquartered in Paris, France, the company operates iconic ski destinations such as La Plagne, Les Arcs, and Méribel, alongside renowned leisure parks like Parc Astérix and Futuroscope. With a diversified portfolio across the Ski Areas and Leisure Parks segments, CDA capitalizes on seasonal and year-round tourism, offering high-margin experiences in the consumer cyclical sector. The company also engages in real estate development and consulting services through its Holdings and Supports segment. Founded in 1989, CDA has established itself as a key player in Europe's leisure industry, leveraging its strong brand recognition and strategic locations to attract millions of visitors annually. Its dual focus on winter sports and family entertainment provides resilience against seasonal fluctuations, making it a unique investment proposition in the leisure sector.
Compagnie des Alpes presents a compelling investment case due to its diversified leisure portfolio and strong brand equity in European ski and theme park markets. With a market cap of €908 million and revenue of €1.24 billion, the company demonstrates stable cash flow generation (€341 million operating cash flow) despite high leverage (total debt of €1.5 billion). The beta of 1.33 indicates higher volatility, reflecting sensitivity to tourism demand and weather conditions. However, its asset-light model in ski operations and real estate monetization provides downside protection. Risks include exposure to climate change (reduced snowfall) and economic downturns affecting discretionary spending. The dividend yield (~2.2% based on €1/share) adds appeal, but investors should monitor debt levels and capex efficiency (€253 million in FY24).
Compagnie des Alpes holds a unique competitive position through its dual expertise in ski resorts and theme parks—a rare combination in the leisure industry. In ski operations, it benefits from long-term concessions on prime French Alpine terrain, creating high barriers to entry. Unlike pure-play ski operators, CDA's theme parks (e.g., Parc Astérix) provide year-round revenue diversification, reducing seasonal volatility. Its competitive advantages include: 1) Geographic clustering of ski resorts enabling pass interoperability (e.g., Les Arcs/La Plagne), 2) IP-driven theme parks with local cultural resonance (e.g., Astérix comics), and 3) Vertical integration through in-house lift engineering capabilities. However, it faces pricing pressure from all-inclusive competitors like Club Med in ski tourism and global players like Disney in theme parks. The company's mid-scale positioning—between luxury resorts and budget options—allows broad demographic appeal but limits premium pricing power. Its main weakness is limited international diversification beyond France/Benelux, unlike competitors with global footprints.