| Valuation method | Value, € | Upside, % |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial intelligence (AI) | 41.03 | 118 |
| Intrinsic value (DCF) | 30.55 | 62 |
| Graham-Dodd Method | n/a | |
| Graham Formula | 21.74 | 15 |
Lagardere SA (MMB.PA) is a diversified French media and travel retail conglomerate with a rich heritage dating back to 1826. Headquartered in Paris, the company operates through two core divisions: Lagardère Publishing and Lagardère Travel Retail. The Publishing division is a global leader in book and e-publishing, covering education, general literature, and youth works in multiple languages. The Travel Retail division is a dominant player in transit hubs, operating nearly 3,000 stores under brands like Relay, Aelia Duty Free, and Bread&Co., alongside partnerships with luxury and F&B brands such as Hermès and Burger King. Lagardere also owns prominent media assets, including Europe 1 radio, Paris Match magazine, and the Elle global media imprint. With a strong presence in high-traffic locations like airports and train stations, Lagardere benefits from captive consumer demand, while its publishing arm leverages enduring content franchises. The company's dual focus on media and travel retail positions it uniquely in the consumer cyclical sector, though it faces cyclical exposure to travel trends and advertising markets.
Lagardere SA presents a mixed investment case. On the positive side, its Travel Retail division benefits from recovering global travel post-pandemic, with high-margin duty-free sales and essential retail in transit hubs. The Publishing division provides stable cash flows with strong backlist titles. However, the company carries significant debt (€4.9B against €393M cash), and its beta of 0.78 suggests moderate volatility. The dividend yield (~2.3% at current prices) is modest. Key risks include reliance on travel recovery, advertising cyclicality in media segments, and potential disruption from digital publishing trends. The €128.8M operating cash flow demonstrates solid cash generation, but capex requirements are meaningful. Investors should weigh the company's market leadership in travel retail against its leveraged balance sheet.
Lagardere's competitive advantage stems from its entrenched positions in two distinct but complementary businesses. In Travel Retail, its global network of 2,928 stores in transit hubs creates a high-barrier-to-entry business, as airport concessions are limited and require strong operational expertise. Brands like Aelia Duty Free benefit from tourist spending, while Relay captures commuter demand. The Publishing division's strength lies in its deep backlist (particularly educational and French-language titles) and iconic magazines like Paris Match. However, the company faces intensifying competition. In travel retail, Dufry (now Avolta) and Gebr. Heinemann are scaling globally, while digital media pressures Lagardere's traditional publishing models. The company's dual focus provides diversification but may lack the pure-play focus of competitors. Its partnerships with luxury brands (e.g., Hermès concessions) are a differentiator, as is its French-language publishing dominance. Operating leverage in travel retail could boost margins as volumes recover, but the division requires continuous capex for store refreshes. The media assets, while prestigious, face secular challenges in advertising and print circulation.