Stock fact sheet · data as of
Liberty Global plc (LBTYK): fair value, margin of safety and Wheel Score
Communication Services · Telecommunications Services · Bermuda · Speculative / Distressed
Is LBTYK undervalued?
At 7.88 (close of 16 Oct 2026), LBTYK trades within a few percent of the GLS average fair value of 7.71 (2.2% above fair value). 1 models produced a value and they split 0 above the price to 1 below. A stock priced at fair value earns about half of the Wheel Score's Value points; the rest of the score comes from health, moat, premium and stability.
Only 1 of the nine models produced a value (10 Cap); the others need a dividend, positive free cash flow or positive book value the company does not have yet, so the average rests on a narrow base.
The nightly engine files LBTYK under Speculative / Distressed - negative earnings or a Piotroski score of 3 or less - which caps its Wheel Score at 45 and keeps it out of the Sunday Scan.
Nine valuation models for LBTYK
Each model turns the latest filed numbers into a value per share; the GLS fair value is the simple average of the ones that produce a positive number. The last two rows are shown for reference and never enter the average. The Quote page lets you switch any model off and add your own margin of safety.
| Model | Value | vs price | What it measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| DCF | - | - | Present value of the projected free cash flows, discounted at the cost of capital; no value tonight |
| Graham Number | - | - | The most a defensive investor pays for the earnings and book value per share; no value tonight |
| Graham Growth | - | - | Graham's growth formula: EPS × (8.5 + 2 × growth), adjusted for bond yields; no value tonight |
| Lynch | - | - | EPS × the earnings growth rate (PEG of 1), growth capped at 25%; no value tonight |
| GLS Growth | - | - | EPS compounded ten years at the blended growth rate, discounted back at 15% a year; no value tonight |
| 10 Cap | 7.71 | -2% | Owner's earnings (operating cash flow less maintenance capex) capitalised at 10% |
| Payback Time | - | - | Eight years of compounded free cash flow: the price at which the business pays for itself; no value tonight |
| DDM | - | - | Dividend discount model: next year's dividend ÷ (10% − 3% growth); needs a dividend; no value tonight |
| EPV | - | - | Earnings power value: current EPS capitalised at 9% with no growth; no value tonight |
| Zombie (liquidation) | -27.13 | -444% | Current assets less all liabilities, per share: the balance-sheet floor. Not in the average |
| Wall St target | 12.67 | +61% | Analysts' average 12-month price target. Not in the average |
Quality and financial health
Financial health is average - LBTYK passes 6 of the nine Piotroski tests, which passes the Sunday Scan's "6 or more" rule. The Financials tab on the Quote page shows which tests fail. The GLS Moat score is low at 2.2 out of 10, which says the ten-year record of revenue, earnings, margins and returns on capital has been inconsistent - growth and shocks rather than steady compounding.
Returns on capital are thin or negative - ROIC -35.9%, ROE -73.3%, ROA -31.6% - with debt at 1.04 times equity and negative free cash flow.
Liberty Global plc pays no dividend, so the DDM model does not apply and a covered-call holder earns only the premium and any price gain. Revenue comes mainly from Residential 50%, Other Category 30%, Business to Business 20% (quarter Q2 FY2026).
Institutional ownership scores 4/10, insider activity 5/10 and Congressional trading 5/10 on the GLS smart-money scales.
| Piotroski F-score | 6 / 9 | ROIC | -35.9% |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLS Moat | 2.2 / 10 | ROE | -73.3% |
| Debt / equity | 1.04 | ROA | -31.6% |
| Free-cash-flow yield | -9.5% | Payout ratio | 0% |
| Institutions | 4 / 10 | Insiders · Congress | 5 · 5 / 10 |
Wheel Score 45: Weak
LBTYK scores 45 out of 100 on the Wheel Score, in the Weak band (under 50), capped at 45 because the engine files it as Speculative / Distressed. Value 12/25, Health 13/20, Moat 3/15, Premium 19/20, Stability 18/20. The score is not a judgement on the company; it says the price, quality and premium do not line up for selling puts on it today.
Implied volatility is 64% on the near-the-money contracts 20-60 days out - above the 60% ceiling of the sweet spot. Premiums are large, but the Wheel Score tapers the Premium points (19 of 20) because volatility this high usually comes with a reason. Chain open interest is 15,746 contracts across all expiries - enough for the wheel at normal size.
Volume runs at 2.0M shares a day on a market cap of $2.7B, with a beta of 0.74 - a low beta, so day-to-day moves are smaller than the market's; the Stability part of the Wheel Score gives that 18 of 20.
| Part | Points | From | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value | 12 / 25 | -2% margin of safety | |
| Health | 13 / 20 | Piotroski 6/9 | |
| Moat | 3 / 15 | moat 2.2/10 | |
| Premium | 19 / 20 | implied volatility 64% | |
| Stability | 18 / 20 | 2.0M shares/day, $2.7B cap, beta 0.74 |
The Wheel Score ranks ~7,400 US stocks for selling cash-secured puts and covered calls; it is updated nightly and is not a recommendation. The walkthrough lesson shows how the score fits into a trade, start to finish.
Upcoming events
Liberty Global plc reports earnings on 29 Oct 2026 (before the open) - inside the 14-day window the Sunday Scan avoids, because a put sold now would carry the report's gap risk.
Earnings, dividend, IPO, split and economic calendars for the whole market, filterable to your watchlists.
Similar stocks in Telecommunications Services
The 12 companies below are the closest to Liberty Global plc by market cap within the Telecommunications Services industry, each with its own fact sheet; the Compare page puts up to eight of them side by side.
| Stock | Close | Fair value | MoS | Wheel | Mkt cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LBTYA Liberty Global plc | 8.04 | 7.63 | -5% | 45Weak | $2.7B |
| KYIV Kyivstar Group Ltd. Common Shares | 12.29 | 28.48 | +57% | 87Prime | $2.8B |
| UZF Array Digital Infrastructure, Inc. 5.500% Senior Notes due 2070 | 15.63 | 118.50 | +87% | 39No options | $2.9B |
| UZE Array Digital Infrastructure, Inc. 5.500% Senior Notes due 2070 | 15.63 | 118.50 | +87% | 39No options | $2.9B |
| UZD Array Digital Infrastructure, Inc. 6.250% Senior Notes due 2069 | 17.54 | 125.50 | +86% | 39No options | $2.9B |
| AD Array Digital Infrastructure Inc | 33.51 | 112.42 | +70% | 45Weak | $2.9B |
| LILA Liberty Latin America Ltd. | 8.25 | 37.49 | +78% | 45Weak | $2.4B |
| LILAK Liberty Latin America Ltd. | 8.19 | 37.51 | +78% | 45Weak | $2.4B |
| LILAB Liberty Latin America Ltd. | 7.45 | 37.76 | +80% | 39No options | $2.4B |
| LILAP Liberty Latin America Ltd. 9% Cum Perp Red Pfd Shs Series A When-issued | 20.06 | 45.03 | +55% | 39No options | $3.1B |
| IDT IDT Corporation | 82.24 | 69.06 | -19% | 59Fair | $2.0B |
| TDS Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. | 33.93 | 56.51 | +40% | 80Prime | $3.6B |
⚖ Compare LBTYK with 7 of them All Communication Services stocks →
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Start free See the Sunday ScanQuestions about LBTYK
Is LBTYK undervalued right now?
Not meaningfully: at 7.88 the stock trades within a few percent of the GLS average fair value of 7.71 (2.2% above fair value, data as of 16 Oct 2026).
What is the Wheel Score of LBTYK and what does it mean?
LBTYK scores 45 out of 100 (Weak). The Wheel Score blends the margin of safety (25 points), Piotroski health (20), the GLS moat (15), the option premium on offer (20) and trading stability (20) into one number that ranks stocks for the wheel strategy - selling cash-secured puts, then covered calls if assigned. 80 and above is Prime, 65-79 Good, 50-64 Fair, under 50 Weak.
What is the GLS fair value for LBTYK?
7.71 per share as of 16 Oct 2026 - the simple average of the 1 valuation models (out of nine: DCF, Graham Number, Graham Growth, Lynch, GLS Growth, 10 Cap, Payback Time, DDM and EPV) that produced a positive value. The models run every night on the latest filings; the Quote page lets you switch any of them off and add a margin of safety of your own.
When does Liberty Global plc report earnings next?
The next earnings report is due on 29 Oct 2026 (before the open), 13 days from the data date of 16 Oct 2026. The Calendars page lists every upcoming report with its time of day.
Does LBTYK have listed options, and how liquid are they?
Yes. The nightly snapshot found 82 listed contracts with 15,746 open interest across all expiries and implied volatility of 64% on the near-the-money contracts. The Options scanner lists the cash-secured put and covered call set-ups with premium and annualised yield worked out.