Spotify 20-F Analysis: Why Net Income May Drop as the Business Improves
Spotify nearly doubled net income to €2.2 billion in FY2025 — the best year in the company's history — and Wall Street responded with 33 Buy ratings. But the 20-F reveals that €510 million of the profitability improvement came from a one-time deferred tax asset recognition that will never recur. With unrecognized DTAs exhausted from €818 million to €41 million, FY2026 net income may be flat or decline even as operating income grows 20%. The trailing P/E of 46.6x is tax-inflated; the tax-normalized P/E is 50-57x. Meanwhile, €1.5 billion in exchangeable notes mature in March 2026, the first-ever buyback program is accelerating, and a €358 million royalty lawsuit threatens the audiobook bundling strategy.