On Tuesday, Citi analyst Pat Cunningham adjusted the price target for Axalta Coating Systems (NYSE:AXTA), increasing it to $42.00, up from the previous $40.00, while keeping a Neutral rating on the stock. Currently trading at $37.75, InvestingPro data shows the company is fairly valued, with a PEG ratio of 0.6 indicating attractive pricing relative to growth. The adjustment follows Axalta's recent earnings call, where several key points were highlighted regarding the company's performance and outlook.
Axalta has been successfully expanding its market share in the Light Vehicle (LV) segment in China, bolstering its position through robust partnerships and proactive customer engagement. With annual revenue of $5.26 billion and a healthy gross margin of 33.72%, the company demonstrates strong market presence. For the fiscal year 2025, the company anticipates continued outperformance in a market that is expected to remain flat or experience a low single-digit decline across most of its business areas. However, Axalta expects its Industrial segment to maintain a steady pace or possibly see a low single-digit increase.
The company presented an EBITDA bridge for FY25, which includes a net sales contribution of $35-40 million, assuming a conversion rate of approximately 35-40%. With current EBITDA at $1.06 billion and an overall InvestingPro Financial Health Score of "GREAT," Axalta shows robust operational efficiency. The company expects to realize $30-40 million in cost savings. These positive factors, however, may be partially counterbalanced by challenges such as labor inflation, a potential tariff impact estimated at around $10 million, and foreign exchange headwinds. While a lower variable cost of about 7% in FY24 is seen as a favorable factor, it is not anticipated to recur, with low single-digit raw material inflation expected for FY25. Nevertheless, Axalta plans to continue its focus on productivity programs to mitigate these impacts.
The company's Refinish segment demonstrated robust performance in FY24, attributing success to approximately 2,800 body-shop wins, the accretive contribution from CoverFlexx, and the launch of the Irus mix, which saw around 300 launches in 2024. This figure is projected to double in 2025, with the majority occurring in Europe. With a strong current ratio of 2.0 and market capitalization of $8.23 billion, Axalta remains well-positioned to pursue accretive mergers and acquisitions opportunities to further strengthen its market position. For deeper insights into Axalta's financial health and growth prospects, access the comprehensive Pro Research Report available on InvestingPro.
In other recent news, Pulse Biosciences (NASDAQ:PLSE) has appointed Jon Skinner as its new Chief Financial Officer. The move aims to strengthen the company's operational excellence and commercialization efforts for its CellFX nsPFA platform. Skinner, with a rich background in the healthcare sector, is poised to bring strategic and financial insights to support Pulse Biosciences' scaling activities.
Additionally, Axalta Coating Systems reported fourth-quarter earnings that exceeded analyst expectations. The company recorded an adjusted earnings per share of $0.60 and revenue of $1.31 billion. Axalta's net income rose by 85% to $137 million, with an improved net income margin of 10.5%. The company also reported record fourth-quarter Adjusted EBITDA of $275 million.
These are among the recent developments for both companies. While Axalta anticipates full-year 2025 net sales between $5.35 billion and $5.4 billion and Adjusted EBITDA between $1.15 billion and $1.175 billion, Pulse Biosciences continues to advance its bioelectric medicine with its CellFX nsPFA technology.
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