Value
5.7/10data confidence 100%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| P/E | 4.8 |
| P/S | 6.9 |
| EV/EBITDA | 0.8 |
| Fwd P/E | 7.2 |
| PEG | 5.7 |
| Analyst target | 7.5 |
- ▸Forward P/E: 17.3x
- ▸PEG: 1.32
TRI · Why this verdict
Why Thomson Reuters (TRI) is rated SELL
Updated
Model-generated analysis — not investment advice. Not a registered investment advisor. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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VerdictSELL
Overall score5.4/10
ConfidenceMEDIUM
MacroNEUTRAL
TrendMatrix Research · core thesis
Engine thesis — one sentence
Thomson Reuters has delivered a perfect four-quarter earnings beat streak with strong operating margins of 20% and a Piotroski F-Score of 8 out of 9, while analysts see 33% upside to approximately $107. The stock is in a confirmed downtrend — trading below its 200-day moving average with a death cross and a -11.3%/30-day slope — creating a wide valuation opportunity that is counterbalanced by serious near-term technical risk.
Falsifiable statement — pillar-level invalidators below. Engine-derived; not personalized advice.
Thesis pillars
| Pillar | Expectation | Trend |
|---|---|---|
Thomson Reuters beat earnings estimates in all four of the last four quarters with an average positive surprise of 2.4%, maintaining a consistent pattern of narrow but reliable outperformance, supported by operating margins of 20% that rank best in class among specialty business services peers. Earnings | Earnings beats continue in at least 3 of the next 4 quarters with positive surprises averaging above 1%. | →Stable |
| CounterAn average earnings surprise of only 2.4% with a narrow range from 0.75% to 4.55% suggests estimates are well-calibrated and the beat streak reflects marginal outperformance rather than a durable guidance conservatism pattern. | ||
The stock is in a confirmed downtrend with a 200-day moving average declining at -11.3% over 30 days, a death cross on the chart, and falling on-balance volume, indicating that sellers are in control of price action at every time frame currently visible in the data. Momentum breakdown | The 200-day moving average slope flattens to less than -5% per 30 days within 6 months as price stabilizes. | ↓Deteriorating |
| CounterStocks with strong fundamental earnings records frequently experience extended technical downtrends without fundamental deterioration; the -11.3% moving average slope may reflect macro sector rotation out of information services rather than company-specific weakness. | ||
Analyst consensus sees 33% upside from $80.47 to approximately $107, backed by a Piotroski F-Score of 8 out of 9 and a competitive moat score of 7.0, suggesting the market is discounting a high-quality, consistent business more than the fundamentals warrant. Sentiment breakdown | Price rises above $95, more than 18% above the current $80.47, within 12 months as the downtrend reverses. | Tripped↑Improving |
| CounterA 33% gap between price and analyst target in a downtrending stock often indicates that analysts have not yet revised their models to reflect new information; the risk-reward is only favorable if the technical breakdown does not signal a fundamental deterioration not yet visible in earnings. | ||
A dividend coverage ratio of 326% and a Piotroski F-Score of 8 out of 9 indicate that Thomson Reuters can sustain its dividend comfortably from earnings and free cash flow, reducing capital return risk even as the stock price declines. Catalyst breakdown | Dividend is maintained or increased, and free cash flow coverage of the dividend remains above 150% over the next 4 quarters. | →Stable |
| CounterInformation services companies with high dividend coverage ratios can see those ratios compress quickly if AI-driven disruption accelerates and forces significant reinvestment in product transformation to remain competitive. | ||
Thomson Reuters beat earnings estimates in all four of the last four quarters with an average positive surprise of 2.4%, maintaining a consistent pattern of narrow but reliable outperformance, supported by operating margins of 20% that rank best in class among specialty business services peers.
→StableEarnings
- Expectation
- Earnings beats continue in at least 3 of the next 4 quarters with positive surprises averaging above 1%.
CounterAn average earnings surprise of only 2.4% with a narrow range from 0.75% to 4.55% suggests estimates are well-calibrated and the beat streak reflects marginal outperformance rather than a durable guidance conservatism pattern.
The stock is in a confirmed downtrend with a 200-day moving average declining at -11.3% over 30 days, a death cross on the chart, and falling on-balance volume, indicating that sellers are in control of price action at every time frame currently visible in the data.
↓DeterioratingMomentum breakdown
- Expectation
- The 200-day moving average slope flattens to less than -5% per 30 days within 6 months as price stabilizes.
CounterStocks with strong fundamental earnings records frequently experience extended technical downtrends without fundamental deterioration; the -11.3% moving average slope may reflect macro sector rotation out of information services rather than company-specific weakness.
Analyst consensus sees 33% upside from $80.47 to approximately $107, backed by a Piotroski F-Score of 8 out of 9 and a competitive moat score of 7.0, suggesting the market is discounting a high-quality, consistent business more than the fundamentals warrant.
Tripped↑ImprovingSentiment breakdown
- Expectation
- Price rises above $95, more than 18% above the current $80.47, within 12 months as the downtrend reverses.
CounterA 33% gap between price and analyst target in a downtrending stock often indicates that analysts have not yet revised their models to reflect new information; the risk-reward is only favorable if the technical breakdown does not signal a fundamental deterioration not yet visible in earnings.
A dividend coverage ratio of 326% and a Piotroski F-Score of 8 out of 9 indicate that Thomson Reuters can sustain its dividend comfortably from earnings and free cash flow, reducing capital return risk even as the stock price declines.
→StableCatalyst breakdown
- Expectation
- Dividend is maintained or increased, and free cash flow coverage of the dividend remains above 150% over the next 4 quarters.
CounterInformation services companies with high dividend coverage ratios can see those ratios compress quickly if AI-driven disruption accelerates and forces significant reinvestment in product transformation to remain competitive.
Per-dimension breakdown
Quality
6.5/10data confidence 100%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| ROE | 4.2 |
| ROA | 4.6 |
| Gross margin | 3.9 |
| Op margin | 10.0 |
| Net margin | 10.0 |
| Current ratio | 2.4 |
| FCF quality | 7.5 |
| Moat | 7.0 |
| Piotroski F | 8.9 |
- ▸Strong margins: 20%
- ▸Strong Piotroski F-Score: 8/9
Growth
4.0/10data confidence 67%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| Rev growth | 5.0 |
| EPS growth | 3.1 |
Momentum
3.5/10data confidence 100%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| RSI | 4.5 |
| MACD | 6.8 |
| OBV | 1.0 |
| MA position | 3.0 |
| Volume | 2.2 |
- ▸Volume distribution (falling OBV)
- ▸Below 200-MA, MA slope -10.1%/30d — confirmed downtrend
Sentiment
7.2/10data confidence 100%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| Analyst rating | 7.1 |
| Price target | 9.1 |
| erm sentiment | 5.0 |
- ▸Analyst upside: 38%
Insider
5.0/10data confidence 50%Peer rank
6.4/10data confidence 80%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| value rank | 3.8 |
| quality rank | 7.5 |
| growth rank | 6.9 |
- ▸Best-in-class margins
Technical
4.3/10data confidence 100%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| bollinger | 5.8 |
| support resistance | 6.4 |
| 52w position | 0.0 |
| gap | 5.0 |
Risk (lower is worse)
4.0/10data confidence 100%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| days to cover | 3.0 |
| volatility | 0.0 |
| put call | 0.0 |
| implied vol | 2.6 |
| max pain risk | 3.0 |
| beta | 10.0 |
| debt equity | 9.1 |
- ▸Elevated put/call: 2.42
- ▸High IV: 64%
- ▸Above max pain $45
Catalyst
5.8/10data confidence 100%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| erm | 5.0 |
| earnings history | 10.0 |
| earnings timing | 5.0 |
| surprise avg | 3.7 |
| dividend safety | 5.5 |
- ▸Perfect beat streak: 4Q
- ▸Earnings in 13 days
How the verdict was assembled
Engine trigger
Multiple concerning factors. Consider reducing position.
Engine technical detail
verdict_path:
L4:PATH_F_SELLPassed (6)
- ASYMMETRY:2.0>=1.5
- INSIDER:OK
- 8K:CLEAN
- NEWS_EVENTS:NONE_RECENT
- SEMI_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
- MATERIALS_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
Failed (2)
- MOMENTUM:3.5<4.5
- DEATH_CROSS:HARD_BLOCK
Warning (1)
- EARNINGS_PROXIMITY:13d<=14d (soft)
Reward-to-Risk
1.96
Upside
+19.7%
Downside
10.1%
Sizing output
AVOID
SetupRecovery — Death cross but MACD improving, RSI 53
EdgeCatalyst-Driven — Earnings in 13d with 4/4 beat streak
SuitabilitySpeculative — Drawdown -60% (>40% off 52w high)
Investment implication
The F-path SELL output reflects an overall score of 5.4 below the 5.6 soft trigger — multiple weakening dimensions accumulated rather than a single hard-floor breach. The strongest dimension ( Sentiment at 7.2) was not enough to lift the adjusted overall above the threshold. Co-occurring failed gates ( MOMENTUM:3.5<4.5, DEATH_CROSS:HARD_BLOCK) reinforce the read. Current asymmetry R:R is 1.96 — supplementary context, not the trigger for this path.
The strongest dimensions are Sentiment at 7.2, Quality at 6.5, and Peer rank at 6.4; the weakest are Momentum at 3.5, Risk (lower is worse) at 4.0, and Growth at 4.0. The V9 engine flagged 2 failed gates with 1 warning, producing an asymmetric reward-to-risk of 1.96 and an engine sizing output of AVOID.
What would invalidate the thesis
Falsifying conditions — when triggered, the corresponding pillar's thesis is invalidated.
- P1Perfect Beat Streak With High Margins
Trip ifEPS surprise falls below 0% in at least 3 of the next 4 quarters, indicating the historically consistent beat pattern has broken down.
- P2Severe Downtrend With Death Cross
Trip if200-day moving average slope declines beyond -15% per 30 days, indicating acceleration of the downtrend rather than stabilization.
- P3Large Analyst Upside With High QualityTripped
Trip ifAnalyst consensus price targets are revised below $90, more than 16% below current targets, indicating fundamental concerns are now driving model changes.
- P4Sustainable Dividend With Piotroski Strength
Trip ifDividend is cut by more than 15% below the current level, indicating free cash flow has deteriorated enough to force a capital allocation change.