Online Dating is a Multi Billion Dollar Industry, Thanks to Tinder
December 17, 2018
•2 min read
Wall Street has its eye on Tinder, and it’s not because they’re looking for quick dates. It’s because the online dating industry has what it takes to be the newest hot sector in information tech. Recent estimates evaluate the online dating market at $12 billion by 2020.
It’s all due to the fact that more and more people are willing to give online dating a try, according to Nomura Instinet analyst, Mark Kelly. He said, “About half of Internet users are single. We estimate that 20% of them will take an interest in online dating services by 2020.”
If he’s right, it means the number of people trying online dating for the first time will rise by 15% over new converts in 2015. That comes down to about 300 million people using online dating sites for the first time in one year.
Match Group
“We believe Match.com will be the clear leader in Internet dating for at least the next few years. As Tinder continues to grow, other brands will develop, and Hinge will reach scale. We expect Match to continue acquiring assets it views as a threat,” Kelley said. “We can see this in Match’s majority ownership of Hinge, which is a natural next step for Tinder users seeking long-term relationships.”
One of the biggest shifts in the online dating market is the dramatic increase in users outside the US. Nomura Instinet believes that by 2020, nearly half of online daters will be international.
At present, Tinder is the major driver for Match.com’s growth, which is expected to grow to $815 million early in 2019. This is a direct consequence of the new app “Gold” which was launched in the summer of 2018.
“Gold’s early growth lasted longer than we anticipated,” Kelly said. “The app is adding new mobile services that are driving its popularity. And its new monetization features are adding increasingly greater opportunities to capture more wallet share.”
Match.com grew by just over 5% last quarter, boosting Kelly’s confidence in his bullish price target. Shares of the online dating brand are up by 66% this year.
Alex Hamilton
Alex Hamilton is a regular contributor to numerous news sites.
Trending Now
1
3
4
Read Next
Thought Leaders
Introducing the NEW Equities News: Transforming the world by investing in what matters most
Paula DeLaurentis
Mar 15, 2024
Economic
An opportunity for women in the clean-energy transition
Green Money
Mar 12, 2024
Economic
Making diversity in venture-capital funding a priority
Yinka Faleti
Mar 11, 2024
Environment
E-bike incentives are a costly way to cut carbon emissions, but they also promote health
The Conversation
Mar 7, 2024
3 dividend-paying health-care stocks that top analysts recommend
Benzinga
Mar 7, 2024
Economic
The true cost of food is far higher than what you spend at the grocery checkout
The Conversation
Mar 6, 2024
The Latest
Thought Leaders
Introducing the NEW Equities News: Transforming the world by investing in what matters most
Mar 15, 2024
Economic
An opportunity for women in the clean-energy transition
Mar 12, 2024
Economic
Making diversity in venture-capital funding a priority
Mar 11, 2024
Environment
E-bike incentives are a costly way to cut carbon emissions, but they also promote health
Mar 7, 2024