** Shares of Tinder owner Match Group MTCH.O down 7.5% to $33.74 premarket after announcing CEO switch and disappointing forecast

** Co late Tues named Spencer Rascoff as new CEO, succeeding Bernard Kim, at a time it looks to attract more users to its dating app

** Dallas-basd firm, which also operates Hinge, OkCupid and Plenty of Fish, said it sees 2025 rev of $3.38-$3.5 bln compared to LSEG estimate of $3.5 bln

** Its Q1 rev outlook also missed consensus

** Rascoff, co-founder and former CEO of online home-listing firm Zillow Group ZG.O, was appointed to MTCH's board last year after talks with activist investor Elliott Investment Management to improve its performance

** BTIG, which rates MTCH 'neutral', in a note late Tues said visibility on a Tinder turn-around remains "very low", adding that "the question at hand is whether adding Mr. Rascoff can bring a turn-around into better focus"

** Of 26 analysts covering MTCH, recommendation breakdown is 11 "strong buy" or "buy" and 15 "hold"; median PT of $35 down from $45 on Nov 5 - LSEG data

** Through Tues close, shares up 11.5% YTD following ~10% decline in 2024. Stock well off its record-high close of $175.53 set in Oct 2021

(Lance Tupper is a Reuters market analyst. The views expressed are his own)

((lance.tupper@tr.com 1-646-279-6380))