The Next Takeover Target |
RealBiz Media Group, Inc. is on the cutting edge of a fast-growing, high value digital media platform for the real estate industry. Based on recent transactions we believe RBIZ could emerge as the next takeover candidate in the space. Our target is $4.00.
COMPANY OVERVIEW RealBiz Media Group, Inc. is a real estate media services company whose proprietary video processing technology has made it one of the leaders in providing home virtual tours to the real estate industry and its client base includes more than 60,000 real estate agents and brokers. Through its wholly owned Home Tour Network, the Company also includes a television video on demand network. The Company is targeting delivery of its multimedia Video on Demand platforms to more than 70 million households along with a supporting web portal and an agent-driven Micro Video App program. Currently, the Company markets promotional services to listing agents and brokers through its proprietary video processing technology or virtual home tours. RealBiz has positioned itself in the following areas: Real Estate Video on Demand Channel – Through its Realtor.com-partnered Home Tour Network, which has its own channels on Comcast’s cable network in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Cox Communications in Atlanta, Georgia, RBIZ creates the high-end video home tours viewed in the channel, on behalf of local real estate agents. In return, RBIZ earns commissions and fees on home sales, pre-roll/post-roll advertising, banner ads and cross-market advertising promotions. The Company also charges a listing and marketing fee and earns revenue from web-based and mobile advertising. With the help of Realtor.com, management hopes to eventually reach 70 million households in 180 cities nationwide. RBIZ enjoys access to the nation’s largest real estate companies with numerous approved vendors and national contacts, both key to its future development programs.
Image I. HomeTourNetwork Screenshot Website and Mobile Applications - RBIZ is developing an upgraded real estate web platform to work in conjunction with its national Video on Demand (VOD) Television Platform. This site will be unique to the world of real estate search sites on multiple levels as the user experience will be completely visual and video centric and could foster interactivity with local neighborhoods as part of the overall listings search and home buying process. On behalf of Realtor.com, the Company will be building a video library of created or converted digital media that can be viewed through a while host of web or mobile applications and mobile devices. Importantly, this Virtual Tour technology is a totally automated system that builds tours, creates video, and automatically syndicates them to popular search engine portals, including YouTube, all without any agent intervention, thus saving time and money for the Broker/Agent. Plus, videos can be viewed in HTML 5, which requires no use of Flash and can be linked with social sites, YouTube, etc. Already 30,000 agents have used the tools and given the Realtor.com relationship, the order flow could be huge for the Company.
Image II. Virtual Tour Screenshot Separately, the Company has a division that holds real estate licenses in 19 states that generates revenue via commissions, fees, etc. Much like essentially every industry, the proliferation of the Web and the mobile Web has had a material impact on the real estate industry. Virtually all prospective buyers routinely search the Internet as part of virtually every stage of the real estate purchase process. As technology has progressed, so too has the use of various tools (such as virtual tours) and multiple web sites, listings, information sources, etc. While this is a trend that has been building for years, the severe downturn since 2008 only had an impact on the growth of the companies until recently. Over the past year, virtually all stocks related to real estate have screamed higher, in response to the start of a resurgence in the market. Companies such as Trulia (NYSE – TRLA), a provider of tools to real estate pros, Reaology (NYSE – RLGY) a conglomeration of real estate agencies and service providers, and Zillow (NASDAQ – Z), the provider of an online portal and marketplace have all risen sharply higher due to a big rise in business. As business has enjoyed a mini-boom, key companies in the space have taken advantage of the current environment to execute mergers and acquisitions, which bodes extremely well for RealBiz Media. Realtor.com has completed a handful of acquisitions and RBIZ comparable Market Leader (NASDAQ – LEDR) a popular provider of digital and other marketing tools to real estate professionals, announced it is being acquired for $355M by its larger competitor, Trulia. Based on this transaction, the assumed valuation for LEDR is around 6x projected FY13 revenue. We believe that the multi-pronged strategy engaged by RealBiz leadership could ultimately result in an acquisition as well, and perhaps at a valuation higher than the Trulia/Market Leader deal. Unlike Trulia, which tends to target the professional side of the market, RealBiz is poised to generate revenue by providing a platform monetizer via its revenue generated by real estate pros and consumers alike. Offering a platform from which to provide rich media content services and delivery through traditional media (television), traditional web and the mobile web, along with partnering with the number one brand name in the space, could put it head and shoulders above the rest of the pack. In the meantime, in order to assure success as a technology provider, media services and content management entity, the Company needed to procure senior intellectual capital from a variety of sources. As illustrated below the RealBiz team is not just long in terms of number, but it is long on experience as well. THE REALBIZ MEDIA TEAM Bill Kerby - Chairman & Chief Executive Officer (Next 1 and RealBizMedia Group)
Don Monaco – Director (Next 1 and RealBiz Media Group)
Rob A. Buntz, Jr. - Director
Doug Checkeris - Acting CMO RealBizMedia Group/ Director Next 1
Phil Bliss - Acting CTO RealBiz Media Group /Director Next 1
Adam Friedman - Chief Financial Officer (Next 1 and RealBizMedia Group)
Steve Marques – President and CRO RealBiz
Pat LaVecchia – Advisor (Director Next 1)
Warren Kettlewell - Advisor (Director Next 1)
RISK FACTORS In our view, RealBiz’s biggest risk factors are the typical issues firms that engage in a revenue-sharing and advertising generated model. Slower deployment and lower than expected advertising due to TV ratings or Web visitors, could negatively impact the Company’s growth. The Company could also receive less than expected average returns based on changes in industry metrics. Finally, competition from larger firms or even from newer entrants is another typical concern and is also consistent with firms of RealBiz’s size and standing. However, we believe that management’s positioning of the Firm has enabled it to have a meaningful head start over competition of all sizes and would likely foster “co-opetition” (a combo of competition and cooperation) instead. CONCLUSION RealBiz Media Group, Inc. is on the cutting edge of a fast-growing, high value digital media platform for the real estate industry. Still, pending further clarity on future penetration and revenue generation (beyond its $1M annual revenue run-rate from its static business) we have elected to defer engaging in financial projections at this time. The current structure of the Firm is based on financial transactions that occurred in the second half of 2012. For example, the current shares outstanding is roughly 6.5M with only a few hundred thousand shares in the public float. This fact is a double edged sword as there is not a great deal of liquidity and the stock could be subject to swings and spreads, but the market isn’t flooded with paper, either. However, there are provisions which could prompt investors to convert financial instruments into common shares within the next 2 years, driving the share count markedly higher. We are not concerned with the dilutive effect at this time as it is hard to predict. Plus, given the type of growth that lies ahead, we believe that investors will be rewarded. For example, based on recent transactions, we believe that RealBiz’s market could be valued in the billions. Consumers and agents routinely use Web and technology tools to research and execute real estate transactions, driving the industry market size ever higher. The Company offers its platform to provide rich media content services and delivery through traditional media (television), traditional web and the mobile web. Furthermore, our confidence in management’s success is aided by the partnership with the number one brand name in the space (Realtor.com). Based on the recent Market Leader acquisition and expected broad deployment of the Firm’s offerings, we have a great deal of confidence that the stock will gain considerable accumulation as the RealBiz story is told to the Street. Considering there are few head-to-head competitors with its technology and reach, RBIZ could even become the next M&A candidate. We rate these shares Speculative Buy with a $4.00 price target.
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Analyst: Robert Goldman Rob Goldman has over 20 years of investment and company research experience as a senior research analyst and as a portfolio and mutual fund manager. During his tenure as a sell side analyst, Rob was a senior member of Piper Jaffray's Technology and Communications teams. Prior to joining Piper, Rob led Josephthal & Co.'s Washington-based Emerging Growth Research Group. In addition to his sell-side experience Rob served as Chief Investment Officer of a boutique investment management firm and Blue and White Investment Management, where he managed Small Cap Growth portfolios and The Blue and White Fund. Analyst Certification I, Robert Goldman, hereby certify that the view expressed in this research report accurately reflect my personal views about the subject securities and issuers. I also certify that no part of my compensation was, is, or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the recommendations or views expressed in this research report. Disclaimer This Opportunity Research report was prepared for informational purposes only. Goldman Small Cap Research, (a division of Two Triangle Consulting Group, LLC) produces research via two formats: Goldman Select Research and Goldman Opportunity Research. The Select product reflects the Firm’s internally generated stock ideas while the Opportunity product reflects sponsored research reports. It is important to note that while we may track performance separately, we utilize the same coverage criteria in determining coverage of all stocks in both research formats. While stocks in the Opportunity format may have a higher risk profile, they typically offer greater upside as well. Goldman Small Cap Research has been compensated by Treasure Coast Health Associates LLC in the amount of $4,000 for a research subscription service. The Firm does not accept any equity compensation. All information contained in this report was provided by the Company. Our analysts are responsible only to the public, and are paid in advance to eliminate pecuniary interests, retain editorial control, and ensure independence. Analysts are compensated on a per report basis and not on the basis of his/her recommendations. The information used and statements of fact made have been obtained from sources considered reliable but we neither guarantee nor represent the completeness or accuracy. Goldman Small Cap Research did not make an independent investigation or inquiry as to the accuracy of any information provided by the Company, or other firms. Goldman Small Cap Research relied solely upon information provided by the Company through its filings, press releases, presentations, and through its own internal due diligence for accuracy and completeness. Such information and the opinions expressed are subject to change without notice. A Goldman Small Cap Research report or note is not intended as an offering, recommendation, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell the securities mentioned or discussed. This report does not take into account the investment objectives, financial situation, or particular needs of any particular person. This report does not provide all information material to an investor’s decision about whether or not to make any investment. Any discussion of risks in this presentation is not a disclosure of all risks or a complete discussion of the risks mentioned. Neither Goldman Small Cap Research, nor its parent, is registered as a securities broker-dealer or an investment adviser with FINRA, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or with any state securities regulatory authority. ALL INFORMATION IN THIS REPORT IS PROVIDED “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, OR REPRESENTATIONS OF ANY KIND. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMISSIBLE UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, TWO TRIANGLE CONSULTING GROUP, LLC WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR THE QUALITY, ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, RELIABILITY OR TIMELINESS OF THIS INFORMATION, OR FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES THAT MAY ARISE OUT OF THE USE OF THIS INFORMATION BY YOU OR ANYONE ELSE (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOST PROFITS, LOSS OF OPPORTUNITIES, TRADING LOSSES, AND DAMAGES THAT MAY RESULT FROM ANY INACCURACY OR INCOMPLETENESS OF THIS INFORMATION). TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, TWO TRIANGLE CONSULTING GROUP, LLC WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU OR ANYONE ELSE UNDER ANY TORT, CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, PRODUCTS LIABILITY, OR OTHER THEORY WITH RESPECT TO THIS PRESENTATION OF INFORMATION. For more information, visit our Disclaimer: www.goldmanresearch.com |