On Friday, Citi reaffirmed a Neutral rating on Orsted A/S (CSE:ORSTED:DC) (OTC: DNNGY (OTC:DNNGY)) stock with a steady price target of DKK428.00. The financial institution is looking ahead to the company's third-quarter and nine-month results, set to be disclosed on November 5th. According to the analyst, the upcoming third-quarter figures are anticipated to be unremarkable, with potential volatility in earnings due to the mark-to-market of interest rates on U.S. assets.
The focus for investors will likely be on any operational challenges affecting Orsted's portfolio of assets currently under development. While the company is expected to see some growth at the EBITDA level, driven by capacity additions in both its Offshore and Onshore divisions, this increase might be negated by the absence of disposal gains that had previously boosted third-quarter 2023 numbers.
Citi suggests that the market is awaiting further asset disposals by Orsted, which would underscore the value of its holdings and help to strengthen its balance sheet. The financial institution's forecasts are detailed in a report referred to as Figure 1, providing a comprehensive outlook on the company's financial performance ahead of the official release of its financial results.
In other recent news, Orsted, a Denmark-based renewable energy company, reported a substantial rise in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) for the second quarter of 2024. The company's EBITDA reached DKK 5.3 billion, a 59% increase from the same period last year, primarily due to a higher output from offshore wind farms. In addition, Orsted's management reiterated their disposal plan of DKK 70-80 billion for the period of 2024-2026, aiming for a more even distribution of proceeds over the three years.
RBC Capital Markets adjusted its price target on Orsted to DKK450.00, up from the previous DKK380.00, maintaining a Sector Perform rating on the stock. Deutsche Bank (ETR:DBKGn), on the other hand, adjusted its price target on Orsted's shares to DKK470.00 from DKK480.00, while maintaining a Buy rating.
These developments come as Orsted continues to focus on executing its strategy for renewable portfolio growth, with the company expecting to reach final investment decisions on a backlog of onshore development projects by the end of 2024 or early 2025. However, the commissioning of the Revolution Wind project has been delayed to 2026 due to onshore substation construction delays. Despite these challenges, Orsted is maintaining its full-year EBITDA guidance of DKK 23 billion to DKK 26 billion.
InvestingPro Insights
As Orsted A/S prepares to release its Q3 results, InvestingPro data and tips offer additional context to Citi's analysis. Despite the anticipated unremarkable quarter, InvestingPro Tips highlight that Orsted is a "Prominent player in the Independent Power & Renewable Electricity Producers industry," aligning with its position as a key player in the renewable energy sector.
The company's financial health appears stable, with InvestingPro data showing a market capitalization of $26.69 billion USD. An InvestingPro Tip notes that "Liquid assets exceed short term obligations," which could be reassuring for investors concerned about the company's financial stability amidst operational challenges.
While Citi maintains a Neutral rating, it's worth noting that Orsted's revenue for the last twelve months as of Q2 2024 stands at $10.51 billion USD, with a robust gross profit margin of 48.73%. This financial performance, coupled with the InvestingPro Tip that "Net income is expected to grow this year," may provide some optimism for investors looking beyond the immediate quarter.
For those seeking a more comprehensive analysis, InvestingPro offers 7 additional tips on Orsted, providing deeper insights into the company's financial outlook and market position.
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