On Wednesday, Wolfe Research maintained its Underperform rating on Medtronic , Inc. (NYSE:MDT) stock with a steady price target of $82.00.
The firm's stance reflects a cautious outlook on the company's financial performance, citing a comparison to broader market expectations and Medtronic's historical growth rates.
Medtronic's stock is currently valued at a significant discount compared to the estimated S&P 500 multiple for the calendar year 2025, which Wolfe Research attributes to the company's historical earnings performance and near-term projections.
The medical device manufacturer's earnings per share (EPS) has seen a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3% over the past 12 years, with a recent fiscal year showing a 2% decline and an anticipated 4%-6% increase for the upcoming fiscal year.
Wolfe Research's price target is based on a 15 times multiple applied to their forecasted adjusted EPS for Medtronic's fiscal year 2025. This multiple represents about a 25% discount to the S&P 500's current multiple, which aligns with the lower quartile of the past decade's range. The firm justifies this discount due to Medtronic's performance track record and short-term expectations.
The research also involved a discounted cash flow (DCF) model that projects mid-single-digit organic revenue growth and an EBIT margin improvement.
Despite the DCF model indicating a higher valuation than the target price, the firm emphasizes that Medtronic's challenges, such as the scale conundrum and growth drivers often countered by competitive risks, support an Underperform rating.
Wolfe Research highlights several product areas where Medtronic faces competitive pressures, including surgical innovations, pacemaker technology, and insulin pump developments.
These factors contribute to the firm's perspective that Medtronic's stock does not present a strong case for outperformance compared to its sector peers.
In other recent news, Medtronic Inc (NYSE:MDT). reported a revenue increase of 5.3% for the first quarter of fiscal 2025. The company's highest-grossing businesses saw an 8% growth, leading to a raise in full-year revenue and EPS guidance.
Medtronic expects organic revenue growth between 4.5% and 5% for fiscal year 2025. Amidst this financial growth, the company announced a global partnership with Abbott and appointed Gary Corona as the Interim CFO.
On the other hand, Deutsche Bank (ETR:DBKGn) maintained its Hold rating on Medtronic, with a consistent price target of $85.00. The firm's analysis noted that despite Medtronic's recent financial achievements, the updated guidance was roughly equivalent to the first quarter's earnings beat, suggesting that the EPS estimates for 2026 may not see a significant upward revision.
Deutsche Bank reiterated both its Hold rating and the $85.00 price target for Medtronic, emphasizing the need for a more substantial beat and raise pattern for the company's stock to gain momentum. These are among Medtronic's recent developments.
InvestingPro Insights
While Wolfe Research maintains a cautious stance on Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE:MDT), recent data from InvestingPro shows a company that is actively managing its assets and rewarding its shareholders. Medtronic's management has been aggressively buying back shares, a sign that the company believes in its intrinsic value. Additionally, it has raised its dividend for 10 consecutive years, indicating confidence in its financial health and commitment to returning value to shareholders.
InvestingPro data reveals that Medtronic has a market capitalization of $109.51 billion and a Price/Earnings (P/E) ratio of 28.57, with an adjusted P/E ratio over the last twelve months as of Q4 2024 at 22.94. This suggests a potentially more attractive valuation in comparison to historical figures. The company's revenue growth over the last twelve months sits at 3.64%, showing steady business expansion.
Investors may also find Medtronic's dividend yield of 3.28% appealing, especially as the company has maintained dividend payments for an impressive 48 consecutive years. With the stock trading near its 52-week high and analysts predicting profitability this year, Medtronic's financial stability seems to be recognized by the market.
For those considering a deeper dive into Medtronic's financials, InvestingPro offers additional insights and tips, including 9 more InvestingPro Tips that could help in making a well-informed investment decision. The full suite of tips and metrics can be accessed through InvestingPro's platform, offering a comprehensive analysis of Medtronic's financial health and market position.
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