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Piper Sandler sees upside in Lightspeed shares but cites ongoing transition concerns

EditorEmilio Ghigini
Published 11/12/2024, 06:08 PM
LSPD
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On Monday, Piper Sandler adjusted its outlook on Lightspeed Commerce (NYSE:LSPD) shares, a provider of commerce platforms, by increasing the price target to $17.00 from the previous $15.00. The firm maintained a Neutral rating on the company's stock.

Lightspeed Commerce, which is set to shift its focus back to software-centric sales, is expected to see its subscription revenue grow by 8-10% year-over-year in the second half of the fiscal year 2025.

This anticipated growth is attributed to several strategic initiatives, including a significant expansion of its sales team, with over a 60% increase in sales representatives by the end of the year.

Additionally, the introduction of new software modules, selective price increases for its software, and a strategy to redirect the majority of account managers back to selling software are factors contributing to the expected revenue growth.

The company's current transition phase is highlighted by a pending strategic review, which has led to speculation around potential deals that may overshadow the company's fundamental performance for the time being.

Furthermore, Lightspeed Commerce has decided to cancel its upcoming Analyst Day, indicating that new financial targets from this event should not be anticipated in the near future.

The increased price target to $17 is a result of Piper Sandler's valuation approach, which projects financial metrics five years into the future. Despite the raised target, the firm's stance on Lightspeed Commerce remains cautious due to the company's ongoing state of change and the uncertainty surrounding its strategic direction.

In other recent news, Lightspeed Commerce Inc. showcased impressive growth in its Q2 2025 earnings call, with a 20% year-over-year revenue increase to $277.2 million. This exceeded the expected range of $270 million to $275 million.

The company's growth was fueled by a substantial rise in payments penetration, which jumped to 37% from 25% the previous year. Additionally, Lightspeed achieved a new milestone, surpassing $1 billion in trailing 12-month revenues.

The company's adjusted EBITDA also saw a significant increase, reaching a record $14 million, well above the forecasted $12 million. This is a marked improvement from the breakeven point in the same quarter last year.

In other developments, Lightspeed's subscription revenue grew by 6% to $85.5 million, and gross margins improved to 79%. The company also raised its adjusted EBITDA expectations for fiscal 2025. These recent developments indicate a positive trend in the company's financial performance.

InvestingPro Insights

Lightspeed Commerce's recent performance and financial metrics offer additional context to Piper Sandler's analysis. According to InvestingPro data, the company's revenue growth remains strong, with a 24.73% increase over the last twelve months as of Q1 2023, reaching $1.01 billion. This aligns with the anticipated growth in subscription revenue mentioned in the article.

However, profitability remains a challenge for Lightspeed. An InvestingPro Tip notes that the company is not profitable over the last twelve months, with an adjusted operating income of -$137.14 million. This underscores the importance of the company's strategic shift towards software-centric sales and its efforts to boost revenue growth.

Another relevant InvestingPro Tip highlights that Lightspeed's stock price movements are quite volatile. This volatility is reflected in the company's recent performance, with a significant 37.33% return over the last three months, despite a year-to-date decline of 18.68%. This volatility aligns with the article's mention of the ongoing transition phase and pending strategic review, which may be contributing to market uncertainty.

For investors seeking a more comprehensive analysis, InvestingPro offers 7 additional tips for Lightspeed Commerce, providing a deeper understanding of the company's financial health and market position.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

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