Risk factor
Meaningful price volatility
Profitability factor
Greatly overvalued vs peers
About
Network18 Media & Investments Limited stands as a prominent Indian conglomerate in the media and entertainment sector. Its expansive operations encompass television broadcasting, digital content creation, film production, online commerce, print publishing, and various ancillary services. The company boasts a comprehensive portfolio of news channels, featuring business-focused platforms like CNBC-TV18, CNBC Awaaz, and CNBC Bajar, alongside national general news channels including CNN News18, News18 India, News18 International, and News18, complemented by a broad network of regional news channels under the News18 banner. Beyond news, Network18 offers a diverse range of entertainment channels. These include popular Hindi general entertainment channels (GECs) such as Colors, Colors Cineplex, Colors Rishtey, Rishtey Cineplex, MTV India, and MTV Beats. Its English entertainment offerings feature VH1, Comedy Central, and Colors Infinity, while regional audiences are served by channels like Colors Kannada, Colors Super, Kannada Cinema, Colors Bangla, Colors Marathi, Colors Gujarati, Colors Oriya, and Colors Tamil. The group's offerings further extend to children's entertainment, with channels including Nickelodeon, Sonic, Nick Jr., and Nick HD+. It also provides factual and lifestyle programming through HistoryTV18 and FYI TV18. Network18 is additionally responsible for VOOT, Viacom18's digital video-on-demand platform, and Viacom18 Motion Pictures for film production. Its content monetization efforts are managed through IndiaCast, with Tipping Point handling digital content creation. In the digital domain, Network18 operates significant websites such as MoneyControl, News18.com, CNBCTV18.com, and Firstpost. It also owns BookMyShow, a leading online ticketing service, and TopperLearning, a provider of K-12 educational content and assessment solutions. The company's print division publishes well-known magazines including Forbes India, Overdrive, and Better Photography, and is actively involved in producing both films and television shows. Originally incorporated in Mumbai, India, in 1996 as Network18 Fincap Private Limited, the company adopted its current name, Network18 Media & Investments Limited, in December 2007. It operates as a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited.
Company Valuation
Based on key historical and expected multiples, the stock is greatly overvalued relative to its peers. In particular, the stock is 'expensive' on EV/EBITDA.