On Wednesday, UBS adjusted the price target for Celsius Holdings (NASDAQ:CELH) shares, a global beverage company, to $92.00 from the previous target of $99.00. Despite this reduction, the firm maintained a Buy rating on the stock.
Celsius Holdings reported first-quarter 2024 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.27, surpassing consensus estimates. This was primarily due to a gross margin (GM) that was approximately 400 basis points higher than expected, which helped to mitigate weaker-than-anticipated sales. Sales for the quarter were 9% below Street expectations.
The market's reaction to the earnings report was volatile, with Celsius Holdings' stock initially dropping over 8% at the opening of trading. However, by the close of the session, the shares had recovered significantly, ending with a less than 2% decline.
The analyst attributed this recovery to a mix of factors including short sellers covering positions and long-term investors re-engaging after the earnings release, which they viewed as clarifying some of the uncertainties around revenue.
The company's management highlighted that the lower revenue was largely due to $45 million in inventory timing issues. While some inventory unwind from the previous year was anticipated, the actual figure exceeded expectations.
UBS had projected a $15 million impact from this factor. The magnitude of this discrepancy was greater than what investors were prepared for, according to the analyst.
Looking forward, UBS believes that the risk/reward balance for Celsius Holdings leans toward the positive. The firm expects that market share gains will bolster long-term confidence in the company's revenue trajectory.
Additionally, the strong margin performance in the first quarter suggests that Celsius Holdings is on track to close the profitability gap with its largest publicly traded competitor more quickly than previously thought.
InvestingPro Insights
As Celsius Holdings (NASDAQ:CELH) navigates recent market volatility, InvestingPro data highlights several key metrics that investors may find valuable. With a robust market capitalization of $17.2 billion and an impressive revenue growth of 81.22% in the last twelve months as of Q1 2024, the company stands out in the beverage sector. Despite a high Price/Earnings (P/E) ratio of 86.12, the PEG ratio of 0.38 suggests that the company's earnings growth could be undervalued relative to its peers.
Additionally, two InvestingPro Tips for CELH indicate that the company holds more cash than debt on its balance sheet and analysts predict it will be profitable this year. These insights, coupled with a strong gross profit margin of 49.62%, provide a glimpse into the financial health and future prospects of Celsius Holdings. Investors can explore further insights and tips on InvestingPro, with over 16 additional tips available to help make informed decisions. Use the coupon code PRONEWS24 to receive an additional 10% off a yearly or biyearly Pro and Pro+ subscription.
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