On Friday, BofA Securities announced an upgrade for ABB LTD (ST:ABBN:SW) (NYSE: ABB), shifting its rating from Neutral to Buy. The firm also increased the price target for ABB shares to CHF60.00, up from the previous CHF51.00. According to InvestingPro analysis, ABB currently shows a WEAK overall Financial Health score, making this upgrade particularly interesting for investors seeking turnaround opportunities. The upgrade is based on several factors that suggest a positive outlook for the company's future performance.
The analyst at BofA Securities highlighted ABB's inclusion in their '25 stocks for 2025' and has added it to the Europe 1 list, which features top investment ideas. A key reason for the upgrade is the potential for margin improvement as ABB continues to integrate the ABB Way across its portfolio.
Recent data from InvestingPro shows a gross profit margin of 32.41%, suggesting room for improvement through operational efficiency. The ABB Way is a company-wide operating system aimed at driving performance and creating value. Want deeper insights? InvestingPro offers exclusive access to over 30 additional financial metrics and professional analysis tools.
ABB's end market resilience is another contributing factor to the positive assessment. The company is expected to benefit from consistent spending on electrical grids, which is bolstered by robust demand from data centers and the oil & gas sector. This outlook is further reinforced by ABB's significant exposure to the United States market.
Despite ABB's stock having re-rated over the past five years, BofA Securities believes there is further potential for the company as it transitions into a 'quality moniker'. This assessment comes as InvestingPro data reveals challenging metrics, including negative EBITDA and return on assets, highlighting the importance of monitoring the company's transformation. This term refers to a company that is recognized for its high-quality management, stable earnings, and strong balance sheet.
The new price objective of CHF60.00, which equates to an ADR value of $67.74, has been calculated by valuing ABB in line with its electrical industry peers. An 18.5x multiple has been applied to the estimated 2026 Enterprise Value/Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, and Amortization (EV/EBITA), which is then discounted back 12 months. This valuation reflects the anticipated evolution and growth of ABB in the coming years.
In other recent news, ABB Ltd (SIX:ABBN)'s third-quarter earnings report showed a mixed performance. Orders matched expectations while sales fell short by 3%. However, the Operational EBITA exceeded forecasts by 1%, with a margin of 19.0%. ABB has adjusted its 2024 guidance, reducing its comparable revenue growth expectation from about 5% to below 5%, while slightly raising its operational EBITA margin forecast from about 18% to just over 18%.
Goldman Sachs downgraded ABB stock from Buy to Neutral, citing significant re-rating and margin improvements. Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) maintained its Underweight rating, expressing reservations about ABB's ability to achieve its group margin target of 19% in 2026. Citi maintained a Neutral rating with a CHF49.00 target, noting potential for productivity improvements and higher future earnings but also highlighting short-term cyclical challenges.
On the strategic front, ABB is reportedly exploring the sale of part of its Emobility electric vehicle charging division, possibly retaining its global DC fast charging business while considering the sale of its China DC and global AC operations.
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