SEEKING ALPHA – Dec 7 – Match Group is known to favor acquisitions to counter competition. Since January 2009, it has invested ~$1.3B to acquire 25 brands for its dating portfolio. Match Group went public a year ago and is worth ~$4B. Currently, its portfolio consists of 45 brands. Analysts are concerned over its dependence on Tinder. In Q3 2016 Match Group dating revenues jumped 22% to $287.5M, driven by strong contribution from Tinder, Pairs and PlentyOfFish. Average paid member count grew 33% to 5.5M, with strong contribution from Tinder, Meetic and PlentyOfFish. Average revenue per paying user declined 8% to $0.54 primarily due to the comparatively low revenue rates for Tinder and PlentyOfFish. Match Group expects revenue growth of 15% to 20% next year.
