On Monday, JPMorgan (NYSE:JPM) initiated coverage of StandardAero stock, a company specializing in the aerospace engine aftermarket, bestowing an Overweight rating and setting a price target of $36.00. The firm sees the company as a leading maintenance provider for a variety of commercial, military, and business aviation engines and highlights its efforts to expand capacity and services.
StandardAero (NYSE:SARO) is recognized for its prominence in the maintenance of key engines, having been ranked as the number one or two provider for platforms that accounted for approximately 80% of its Engine Services sales in the previous year. This demonstrates the company's integral role in supporting the fleets it services, reinforced by its close ties with major engine original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
The firm forecasts a double-digit compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in sales from 2024 to 2027, exceeding $7 billion, with a margin expansion of around 200 basis points to over 14%. These projections are based on StandardAero's strong position to meet the rising demand for maintenance services.
StandardAero's strategy includes not only maintaining its lead in the current market but also growing its Repair unit and adding new capacity for overhauling CFM engines. The company's diversified and significant engine population, which powers a range of aircraft beyond the most high-profile Boeing (NYSE:BA) and Airbus models, is expected to provide a reliable and profitable workload.
JPMorgan's price target of $36.00 is based on a 16 times multiple of the firm's projected 2026 adjusted EBITDA of $885 million, looking ahead to year-end 2025. The analyst's outlook suggests confidence in StandardAero's future performance and its ability to capitalize on the anticipated surge in maintenance demand.
In other recent news, StandardAero, Inc. has successfully completed its initial public offering (IPO). The company sold a total of 69 million shares at $24.00 per share. This comprised 53.25 million shares sold by the company and 15.75 million by existing stockholders.
The IPO raised approximately $1.201 billion in net proceeds, which the company strategically used to redeem all outstanding senior unsecured PIK toggle notes due 2027 at $475.5 million and to partially repay the 2024 Term B-1 Loan Facility and the 2024 Term Loan B-2 Facility by $523.7 million and $201.9 million, respectively.
As a result, the remaining outstanding loans under these facilities are approximately $1.464 billion and $564.8 million. In addition to the IPO, StandardAero entered into a stockholder agreement with certain stockholders and filed an amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws with the Secretary of State of Delaware. These latest developments are based on a recent SEC filing.
InvestingPro Insights
To complement JPMorgan's optimistic outlook on StandardAero (NYSE:SARO), recent data from InvestingPro provides additional context for investors. Despite the firm's positive growth projections, InvestingPro Tips highlight that StandardAero is currently not profitable over the last twelve months and suffers from weak gross profit margins. This aligns with the company's reported gross profit margin of 13.96% for the last twelve months as of Q2 2024, which supports JPMorgan's expectation of margin expansion in the coming years.
On the financial health front, an InvestingPro Tip notes that StandardAero's liquid assets exceed short-term obligations, suggesting a solid near-term financial position as the company pursues its growth strategies. This liquidity could be crucial for funding the capacity expansion and service growth initiatives mentioned in JPMorgan's analysis.
The company's revenue for the last twelve months as of Q2 2024 stands at $4.84 billion, with a quarterly revenue growth of 16.41% in Q2 2024. These figures lend credence to JPMorgan's projection of a double-digit CAGR in sales through 2027.
For investors seeking a more comprehensive analysis, InvestingPro offers additional tips and metrics that could provide deeper insights into StandardAero's financial position and growth potential. There are 6 more InvestingPro Tips available for StandardAero, which could be valuable for making informed investment decisions in light of the company's expansion plans and market positioning.
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