Services

Match Investors Found Something to Like in Its Q4 Earnings

Chris Lange

Published: February 7, 2019 9:45 am

Last Updated: January 11, 2020 11:30 am

When Match Group Inc. (NASDAQ: MTCH) released its fourth-quarter financial results after the markets closed on Tuesday, the online dating firm said that it had $0.43 in earnings per share (EPS) on $457.3 million in revenue. That compared with consensus estimates of $0.38 in EPS and $448.43 million in revenue, as well as the $0.18 per share and $378.91 million posted in the same period of last year.

During the latest quarter, total revenue grew 21% over the prior-year quarter, driven by 17% average subscriber growth and 4% average revenue per user growth, which came in at $0.58.

Average subscribers increased to 8.2 million from 7.0 million in the prior-year quarter. Tinder average subscribers were 4.3 million in the fourth quarter, increasing 233,000 sequentially and 1.2 million year-over-year

The company offered no guidance in the report, but consensus estimates call for $0.35 in EPS and $469.6 million in revenue for the first quarter.

For the past year, operating cash flow increased 88% to $603 million, and free cash flow increased 96% to $573 million.

On the books, Match’s cash and cash equivalents totaled $186.95 million at the end of the quarter, down from $272.62 million at the end of the previous fiscal year.

Shares of Match traded up more than 11% at $59.26 shortly after the opening bell. The 52-week range is $33.06 to $60.95, and the consensus price target is $50.24.