Baird has made a significant adjustment to the price target for e.l.f. Beauty (NYSE: NYSE:ELF), bringing it down from $240.00 to $175.00.
Despite this change, the firm maintained its Outperform rating on the company's stock. The revision was prompted by indications of slowing U.S. demand, as observed through the second fiscal quarter.
The tracked channel sales data fell short of management's expectations of approximately a 20% increase, coupled with a deceleration in search trends and Earned Media Value (EMV).
The analyst from Baird cited the need to adjust the fiscal year 2024 estimates to align with more conservative growth and valuation assumptions. This decision comes in light of the observed deceleration in the U.S. market.
Despite the reduction in the price target, the analyst expressed continued optimism about e.l.f. Beauty's ability to outperform, particularly highlighting the company's potential to gain market share even as the broader category shows signs of sluggishness.
The report acknowledges that e.l.f. Beauty is still positioned for growth in the U.S. and has opportunities to expand internationally. The analyst's perspective suggests that the recent decline in the company's share price mirrors a more cautious sentiment and set of expectations among investors as the company approaches its earnings report.
In other recent news, e.l.f. Beauty has been the subject of several analyst adjustments, following a 50% increase in net sales and an 80 basis point growth in gross margin. Truist Securities lowered its price target to $130, but maintained a Buy recommendation, citing a buying opportunity due to the stock's current valuation. Similarly, DA Davidson reaffirmed a Buy rating, maintaining a price target of $223.00, despite a deceleration in point-of-sale growth.
On the other hand, Morgan Stanley reduced the price target from $184.00 to $139.00, maintaining an Equalweight rating due to concerns about U.S. scanner data. Piper Sandler remained optimistic, maintaining an Overweight rating and a $162.00 price target, despite a slowdown in recent sales data.
InvestingPro Insights
To complement Baird's analysis of e.l.f. Beauty (NYSE: ELF), recent data from InvestingPro offers additional context to the company's financial position and market performance. Despite the lowered price target, e.l.f. Beauty's financials show some strengths. The company boasts impressive gross profit margins, with InvestingPro data indicating a gross profit margin of 70.91% for the last twelve months as of Q1 2025. This aligns with one of the InvestingPro Tips, which highlights the company's "impressive gross profit margins."
However, the market's recent reaction to slowing demand is reflected in the stock's performance. InvestingPro data shows that e.l.f. Beauty's stock price has fallen significantly over the last three months, with a 39.05% decline. This corroborates Baird's observation of more cautious investor sentiment.
Despite these challenges, analysts remain optimistic about e.l.f. Beauty's future. An InvestingPro Tip notes that "analysts anticipate sales growth in the current year," which supports Baird's view on the company's potential to gain market share. The company's revenue growth of 68.32% over the last twelve months as of Q1 2025 further underscores this growth narrative.
Investors considering e.l.f. Beauty should note that the stock is currently trading at a high earnings multiple, with a P/E ratio of 48.89. This valuation metric, along with 13 additional InvestingPro Tips, provides a more comprehensive view of the company's financial health and market position for those seeking deeper insights.
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