Highlights
- Flight Centre (FLT) revenue shows robust growth trend
- Strong recovery from past losses, turning profitable
- Shares trading below historical average price-to-sales ratio
Flight Centre Travel Group (ASX:FLT), one of Australia's most recognisable names in travel, is more than just a flight booking service. With a global footprint spanning over 80 countries, FLT operates through multiple brands and offers a diverse range of travel services, from retail bookings to corporate travel, tour operations, and hotel management.
Unlike many online-only agencies, FLT maintains physical storefronts, offering face-to-face service—something that continues to attract a loyal customer base. These in-person locations provide access to exclusive travel deals, thanks to the company’s scale and reach.
Strong Growth Indicators
Flight Centre’s financials reflect a compelling growth narrative. In its most recent financial year, FLT posted an annual revenue of $2,708 million, supported by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 89.8% over the past three years. This surge points to strong momentum, particularly in the post-pandemic recovery era.
Gross margin stands at 42.4%, suggesting the core travel services remain solidly profitable before accounting for operational overheads. After several challenging years, FLT returned to profitability with a reported net profit of $140 million in FY24—an impressive turnaround from a loss of $433 million three years ago.
Financial Position and Stability
Examining Flight Centre’s financial health reveals a net debt of $283 million. While this indicates some leverage, the company’s debt/equity ratio of 84.1% shows that it has more equity than debt—a relatively balanced capital structure.
Another notable metric is the return on equity (ROE), which came in at 11.9%. This suggests efficient capital use, translating to steady value creation for shareholders.
Valuation Context
Flight Centre shares currently trade at a price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 1.00x, well below their five-year average of 3.42x. This valuation gap could imply that the market hasn’t fully priced in the company’s revenue recovery. Whether due to increased sales, a drop in share price, or both, this discrepancy offers potential interest for those tracking ASX200 index.
While no single metric paints the full picture, Flight Centre’s performance and valuation suggest it is a company evolving with the market while holding onto its traditional strengths.