| Valuation method | Value, € | Upside, % |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial intelligence (AI) | n/a | n/a |
| Intrinsic value (DCF) | n/a | |
| Graham-Dodd Method | 3.69 | -82 |
| Graham Formula | 0.27 | -99 |
Filae S.A. (ALFIL.PA) is a Paris-based company operating in the Internet Content & Information sector, specializing in genealogy and identity searching services. Founded in 1994, Filae runs Genealogie.com, a leading French-language genealogy website that provides archival scanning services and a comprehensive reference platform for genealogists. The company, formerly known as Notrefamille.com Société anonyme, caters primarily to French-speaking audiences, offering digitized historical records and family tree-building tools. As part of the Communication Services sector, Filae plays a niche but vital role in preserving cultural heritage and enabling personal historical research. With increasing global interest in ancestry tracing and digital archiving, Filae is positioned at the intersection of technology and historical preservation. The company's services are particularly relevant in France, where genealogical research is a popular hobby and professional pursuit. Filae's business model combines subscription-based access to digitized archives with value-added services for serious genealogists.
Filae presents a specialized investment opportunity in the growing genealogy services market, with demonstrated profitability (net income of €1.02 million in 2020) in its niche. The company's low beta (0.45) suggests relative insulation from broader market volatility, though this also limits upside potential. While revenue of €4.69 million shows modest scale, the 21.8% net margin indicates efficient operations. Concerns include negative operating cash flow (-€591,730) and significant capital expenditures (-€718,759), suggesting ongoing investment needs. The absence of dividends and €3.06 million in total debt against €1.38 million cash reserves warrants caution. The company's value proposition is geographically concentrated in French-speaking markets, which may limit growth potential unless international expansion occurs. The genealogy market's digitization trend presents opportunities, but competition from free alternatives and larger platforms poses risks.
Filae's competitive advantage lies in its specialized focus on French genealogy, with deep archival resources and language-specific services that global competitors often lack. The company's Genealogie.com platform benefits from first-mover advantage in the French market and established brand recognition among Francophone genealogists. Its archival scanning services create a unique value proposition for serious researchers. However, the company faces challenges from several fronts: global genealogy platforms with greater resources, free ancestry research tools, and government digitization initiatives that may reduce demand for commercial services. Filae's relatively small scale (€4.69 million revenue) limits its ability to compete on price or technology investment with larger players. The company's differentiation strategy relies on superior French-language content and specialized services, but this niche focus also constrains market expansion. Financial constraints (negative operating cash flow) may hinder necessary technology upgrades to keep pace with user experience expectations. The competitive landscape is evolving rapidly as DNA-based genealogy services gain popularity, potentially overshadowing traditional document-based research services like Filae's. The company's future success likely depends on maintaining its content advantage while improving digital capabilities and potentially forming partnerships with larger genealogy platforms.