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Citi raises Zoom stock target, maintains neutral stance on 2Q results

EditorNatashya Angelica
Published 23/08/2024, 16:22
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On Friday, Citi analyst Tyler Radke adjusted the stock price target for Zoom Video Communications , Inc. (NASDAQ:ZM), increasing it to $69.00 from the previous $67.00, while maintaining a Neutral rating on the stock. The adjustment follows Zoom's second-quarter earnings report, which Radke noted contained "positive signals" despite a challenging market for small and medium businesses and increased competition.

The report highlighted Zoom's revenue exceeding expectations by a modest 1.5 percentage point, with particular stability in its Online segment, improved enterprise bookings and billings, and notable profitability.

The company's guidance for fiscal year 2025 was revised upward more than the actual beat, suggesting confidence in stronger performance in the third quarter. However, this guidance also indicates a potential slowdown in growth for the fourth quarter.

Radke pointed out that while the fourth-quarter outlook might be better than some had feared, it does not imply a sustained acceleration into fiscal year 2026. Concerns include a softer forecast for the final quarter, further declines in net dollar retention and customer growth, and the recent departure of CFO Kelly Steckelberg. The analyst expressed skepticism regarding Zoom's ability to significantly accelerate growth without engaging in mergers and acquisitions.

In conclusion, Radke stated that while the price target was raised slightly to $69 based on updated regression models and guidance adherence, the Neutral rating remains unchanged. For investors looking for value and growth at a reasonable price within the communications software sector, Citi prefers NICE Ltd. (NASDAQ:NICE), which is rated as Buy. NICE is noted for trading at a comparable GAAP earnings per share excluding cash multiple to Zoom but with substantially stronger top-line growth.

In other recent news, Zoom Video Communications reported a promising performance in the second quarter of fiscal year 2025. The company showcased a slight revenue increase of 1% year-over-year, with its enterprise segment, accounting for nearly 60% of total revenues, growing by 4%.

Zoom's earnings per share significantly outperformed due to better-than-expected margins. Deutsche Bank (ETR:DBKGn) responded to these results by raising its price target for Zoom from $71 to $75, while maintaining a hold rating.

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) also raised its stock price target from $70 to $72, noting Zoom's operational efficiency and a record low online churn rate of 2.9%. The company's Contact Center customer base has seen significant growth, indicating progress in its multi-product strategy. The firm, however, maintains a neutral rating due to several factors including potential execution risk with the departure of Zoom's CFO.

Zoom also reported a 2% year-over-year increase in total revenue, reaching $1.16 billion for the second quarter. Non-GAAP income from operations exceeded guidance at $456 million, and non-GAAP diluted net income per share surpassed expectations at $1.39.

With strong performance in its Enterprise segment and growth in offerings like Workvivo and Zoom Contact Center, Zoom raised its full-year revenue outlook to between $4.63 billion and $4.64 billion, and expects non-GAAP earnings per share to be $5.29 to $5.32. These are part of the recent developments at Zoom.

InvestingPro Insights

Zoom Video Communications (NASDAQ:ZM) continues to be a topic of interest for investors, especially following its recent earnings report and the subsequent price target adjustment by Citi analyst Tyler Radke. To provide further context to the discussion, let's consider some key insights from InvestingPro that could be relevant to investors.

Firstly, an InvestingPro Tip worth noting is that Zoom holds more cash than debt on its balance sheet, which is a positive sign of financial health and may provide the company with the flexibility to navigate market fluctuations or invest in growth opportunities. 26 analysts have revised their earnings upwards for the upcoming period, indicating a potential upside in Zoom's financial performance that could be of interest to investors.

From a data perspective, Zoom's market capitalization stands at $21.57 billion, reflecting its significant presence in the market. The company's P/E ratio is 23.79, which can be compared to industry benchmarks to assess valuation. Moreover, Zoom's impressive gross profit margin of 76.05% over the last twelve months as of Q1 2023 highlights its ability to maintain profitability despite competitive pressures.

For those considering investment decisions, these metrics and tips, alongside the 9 additional InvestingPro Tips available at https://www.investing.com/pro/ZM, could provide a deeper understanding of Zoom's financial standing and market potential.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

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