Jefferies keeps Hold rating on Bristol-Myers Squibb stock, citing a 4% upside potential By Investing.com

On Wednesday, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE:) received an updated price target from Jefferies, a financial services company. The target was raised to $51.00 from the previous $49.00, while the firm maintained a Hold rating on the stock. The adjustment follows recent developments in the pharmaceutical industry related to anticoagulant drugs.

The revision of the price target comes as Bayer (OTC:) is set to present data on asundexian at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). The data, which compares asundexian to Eliquis, showed that the trial was halted due to asundexian’s inferior efficacy. Despite the halt, Jefferies expressed a more positive outlook on Bristol-Myers Squibb’s factor XIa (FXIa) inhibitor, milvexian.

Jefferies’ optimism is based on several factors. First, the dose for Phase 3 of milvexian was chosen based on the results from a Phase 2 trial in total knee replacement (TKR) patients. Second, there is a possibility that the dose of asundexian used in atrial fibrillation (AF) might be too low, and a thrombin generation assay could be a more appropriate method of evaluation compared to FXIa inhibition.

The firm also pointed out that the assay used for asundexian appears to have high variability, which could affect the reliability of its results. In contrast, the Phase 3 trial for milvexian is still ongoing, suggesting that there is still potential for positive outcomes.

As a result of these considerations, Jefferies has increased the projected sales for milvexian to $2.8 billion.

This projection contributed to the decision to raise the price target for Bristol-Myers Squibb, reflecting a cautiously optimistic stance on the company’s prospects in light of the competitive landscape of anticoagulant therapies.

InvestingPro Insights

Following Jefferies’ updated price target for Bristol-Myers Squibb, the InvestingPro data presents a multifaceted view of the company’s financial health and market performance. With a market capitalization of $97.56 billion and a robust revenue stream of $46.51 billion over the last twelve months as of Q2 2024, the company’s financial stability is evident. The revenue growth rate for the same period stands at 2.93%, showcasing a steady increase. Furthermore, a notable 20.65% return over the last three months suggests a rising investor confidence in the pharmaceutical giant.

One of the InvestingPro Tips highlights Bristol-Myers Squibb’s aggressive share buyback strategy, which could be indicative of management’s confidence in the company’s value. Additionally, the company’s longstanding history of maintaining dividend payments for 54 consecutive years, with a current dividend yield of 4.99%, may appeal to income-focused investors. For those seeking further insights, there are additional InvestingPro Tips available that delve into analysts’ earnings revisions, valuation implications, and profitability projections for the current year.

The company’s strong free cash flow yield, as implied by its valuation, and the positive sales outlook for milvexian, as indicated by Jefferies, could signal a favorable investment opportunity. As investors weigh these factors, they can find more comprehensive analysis and tips on Bristol-Myers Squibb by visiting InvestingPro.

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