Baird cuts Centuri Holdings stock target but keeps Outperform rating By Investing.com

Tuesday, Baird adjusted its price target on shares of Centuri Holdings Inc (NYSE:CTRI), a company specializing in utility infrastructure services, to $19.00, down from the previous target of $30.00. Despite the reduction, Baird maintained an Outperform rating on the stock.

The price target revision follows Centuri Holdings’ inaugural post-IPO earnings release, which did not meet expectations. The company’s 2024 guidance reflected continued challenges, including reduced utility spending under Master Service Agreements (MSAs). The unexpected departure of the company’s CEO further contributed to the adjustment of expectations that were established at the time of the IPO.

Baird’s analyst noted that the second half of 2024 is anticipated to bring some relief from one-time headwinds that have been affecting the company’s performance. There is also an expectation of a better contribution from storm-related work, considering a positive start to this activity through July. Additionally, the company is expected to benefit from approximately $30 million in annualized cost savings and has seen recent improvements in MSA activity.

The analyst also pointed out Centuri Holdings’ year-end leverage target of 3.5 times, which suggests a significant increase in free cash flow, supported by ongoing improvements in fleet efficiency.

In other recent news, Centuri Holdings has experienced significant changes in its earnings and revenue figures, as well as in its stock ratings by various analyst firms. Wells Fargo reported a revenue decline of 16.6% for Centuri, attributing this to factors such as a bid project shortfall and reduced volume from existing Master Service Agreements. The company’s revenue guidance for the year has been set at $2.5 to $2.7 billion, lower than the previous estimate of $2.9 billion.

In terms of analyst ratings, UBS downgraded Centuri’s stock from Buy to Neutral, lowering the price target to $17.00. This followed three consecutive quarters of missed earnings expectations, leading UBS to revise its earnings forecast for Centuri to $293 million.

BofA Securities also downgraded Centuri’s stock rating from Neutral to Underperform, following the announcement of CEO Bill Fehrman’s departure.

On the other hand, Wells Fargo initiated coverage on Centuri, assigning an Overweight rating and setting a price target of $29.00. They recognized the company’s significant growth and expansion strategy. KeyBanc also initiated coverage on Centuri with a Sector Weight rating, emphasizing the company’s involvement in growing sectors such as Electric and Gas Transmission & Distribution, clean energy infrastructure, and 5G.

InvestingPro Insights

As Centuri Holdings Inc (NYSE:CTRI) navigates through its post-IPO journey, the latest InvestingPro data and tips shed light on some key aspects of the company’s current financial health and market sentiment. With a market capitalization of $1.39 billion, the company operates with a significant debt burden, reflected in a negative P/E ratio of -8.24, highlighting challenges in profitability. Despite this, net income is expected to grow this year, according to InvestingPro Tips, providing a glimmer of hope for investors.

The company’s stock has experienced substantial volatility, with the price taking a big hit over various timeframes, including a 23.32% drop over the last week and a 36.48% fall over the last three months. This has led the stock to trade near its 52-week low, with the price at the previous close standing at $15.72. However, the stock’s RSI suggests it is in oversold territory, which could indicate a potential turning point for interested investors.

The financials also show a gross profit margin of 8.82% for the last twelve months as of Q1 2024, which is relatively modest and points to weak gross profit margins, an area that the company may need to address. Yet, analysts predict the company will be profitable this year, providing a positive outlook amidst the current challenges.

For those looking to delve deeper into the financial intricacies of Centuri Holdings, InvestingPro offers additional insights and metrics. Readers can explore these by visiting the dedicated page for Centuri Holdings at https://www.investing.com/pro/CTRI. Moreover, there are 12 more InvestingPro Tips available that could further inform investment decisions. To access these valuable resources, use the coupon code PRONEWS24 to get up to 10% off a yearly Pro and a yearly or biyearly Pro+ subscription.

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