Duolingo: falling Growth But There Is Still Value

u/thecryptofoolyt · Reddit — r/ValueInvesting · January 23, 2026 at 06:21 · ⬆ 23 pts · 💬 51 comments  | View on Reddit ↗
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Original Reddit post

Author presents a DCF-based bull case for Duolingo, modeling declining user and revenue growth but improving margins, and has taken a starter position.

DUOL — LONG The author models Duolingo's user growth stabilizing around 20% and revenue growth falling to 20% before trailing to 5%, while EBIT margins improve from 13% to ~25%. He notes the asset-light business, $1B cash pile, no debt, and potential for buybacks with a $7B market cap. A DCF yields a $309 value (110% upside), prompting a starter position, with risks being continued user growth decline and management's ability to manage a mature high-margin company.

I ran a DCF valuation on it, and I got a value of $309, which is 110% upside. At this price, there is too much upside to ignore it. I am taking a starter position, and will think about making it a more conviction play if I get clarity on my concerns.

Score 23
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u/thecryptofoolyt Reddit r/ValueInvesting
Duolingo DCF shows 110% upside, starter position
The author models Duolingo's user growth stabilizing around 20% and revenue growth falling to 20% before trailing to 5%, while EBIT margins improve from 13% to ~25%. He notes the asset-light business, $1B cash pile, no debt, and potential for buybacks with a $7B market cap. A DCF yields a $309 value (110% upside), prompting a starter position, with risks being continued user growth decline and management's ability to manage a mature high-margin company.
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This Reddit post, published January 23, 2026, features u/thecryptofoolyt discussing DUOL. 1 trade idea extracted by AI with direction and confidence scoring.

Speakers: u/thecryptofoolyt  · Tickers: DUOL