Barclays maintains Chewy at Overweight with $32 target By Investing.com

On Monday, Barclays reiterated its Overweight rating on Chewy Inc . (NYSE:) with a steady price target of $32.00. The reaffirmation of the rating comes after a detailed analysis of the current state of pet household formations in the United States. The study, which included a survey of animal shelters and review of public shelter data, indicated that pet surrenders are increasing at a faster pace than adoptions in the second quarter of 2024 to date.

The report suggests that the trend of pet surrenders outpacing adoptions has not shown signs of reversal. Although the analysis does not include pet adoptions from breeders—which are believed to account for a significant share of total pet household formations—the recent data and comments from the company have led to a tempered outlook on the anticipated positive shift in pet household formations.

Despite these findings, Barclays remains positive on Chewy’s prospects. The firm’s outlook is supported by the expectation that there will eventually be an upward trend in net additions to pet households. However, the analyst stopped short of declaring an immediate positive change in industry trends, suggesting caution in anticipating a quick turnaround.

Chewy, an online retailer of pet food and other pet-related products, has been closely monitored by investors for signs of growth in the pet industry, which can directly influence the company’s performance. The current analysis by Barclays, while not altering the firm’s overall positive stance on Chewy, introduces a note of restraint regarding the short-term expectations for the industry’s expansion.

Investors and market watchers alike will be looking to see if Chewy’s performance aligns with Barclays’ projections as the year progresses. The company’s ability to navigate the challenges of varying pet adoption and surrender rates will be pivotal to its continued success in the competitive online pet retail market.

In other recent news, Chewy Inc. has seen a series of positive analyst updates following its strong first-quarter performance. Major firms such as Mizuho Securities, Evercore ISI, Piper Sandler, RBC Capital, and Morgan Stanley have all raised their price targets for the company. The increases in price targets come after Chewy reported robust revenue, gross margin, EBITDA, and consistently positive free cash flow.

The company’s announcement of a $500 million share repurchase program was also a factor in these revisions. Analysts anticipate that Chewy will be actively purchasing shares in the market during the second quarter, a move that is expected to positively impact the company’s financial metrics.

Despite a slight decline in active customers, Chewy’s revenue for the second quarter is expected to match Wall Street forecasts and the company has reiterated its revenue guidance for the full fiscal year 2024. Additionally, Chewy has improved its FY24 EBITDA margin guidance, raising the midpoint from 3.8% to 4.2%.

Analysts have also noted Chewy’s promising signs in the market, including positive trends in pet ownership and improving customer metrics. These factors are seen as indicators of sustained growth and are part of the rationale behind the continued positive ratings from these firms.

InvestingPro Insights

In light of the recent analysis by Barclays on Chewy Inc. (NYSE:CHWY), current metrics from InvestingPro offer additional insights into the company’s financial health and market performance. Notably, Chewy holds more cash than debt on its balance sheet, which may provide a cushion against the uncertain trend in pet household formations. Additionally, with 6 analysts revising their earnings upwards for the upcoming period, there is an undercurrent of optimism regarding Chewy’s potential to grow net income this year.

On the financial front, Chewy’s market capitalization stands at a robust $11.39 billion. Despite the challenges in the pet industry, the company has demonstrated a significant return over the last week, with a price total return of 11.66%. Moreover, the revenue growth over the last twelve months as of Q1 2023 is 7.19%, indicating a steady upward trajectory. However, investors should be aware that Chewy is trading at a high earnings multiple, with a P/E ratio of 134.74, which suggests a premium valuation relative to near-term earnings growth.

For those looking for a deeper dive into Chewy’s financials and market prospects, InvestingPro offers additional valuable tips. In fact, there are 14 more InvestingPro Tips available that can provide further guidance on investing in Chewy. Take advantage of these insights and use the coupon code PRONEWS24 to get an additional 10% off a yearly or biyearly Pro and Pro+ subscription at InvestingPro.

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