On Monday, Benchmark, a financial analysis firm, adjusted its stock price target for LiveRamp Holdings Inc. (NYSE: NYSE:RAMP) shares, reducing it to $48.00 from the previous $56.00. Despite the lowered target, Benchmark continues to endorse a Buy rating for the company's stock.
LiveRamp is anticipated to announce its fiscal second quarter earnings during the week of November 4, 2024. The analyst expects the company to present total revenue for the quarter that aligns with or surpasses forecasts, bolstered by the strength of its Marketplace.
It is also predicted that the company's Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) and Remaining Performance Obligations (RPO) will show more favorable results in the fiscal third quarter, which is traditionally LiveRamp's most robust period for renewals.
The company's ARR for the fiscal second quarter is expected to remain relatively stable sequentially, following a 2.2% quarter-over-quarter increase in the first quarter. Similarly, the current RPO is also projected to experience little change, after a 3.9% quarter-over-quarter decline in the first quarter. The Marketplace's momentum is anticipated to persist into the second quarter, likely surpassing the company's high-teen year-over-year growth guidance.
However, the forecast for LiveRamp's fiscal year 2026 subscription revenue has been slightly reduced, including a conservative $1 million decrease in projected revenue from Habu, down to $17 million. Despite this, Benchmark maintains a positive outlook on LiveRamp, citing its leading position in identity resolution and data clean room services, which are becoming increasingly vital in a market that relies heavily on first-party data.
In summary, while the immediate momentum for the fiscal second quarter is expected to be limited, it is believed to be already factored into the current stock price. Benchmark's stance remains optimistic about LiveRamp's future due to its strategic market positioning.
In other recent news, LiveRamp, a data collaboration platform, has increased its share repurchase authorization from $1.1 billion to $1.3 billion, extending the program's expiration to December 31, 2026. The company's CEO, Scott Howe, has underscored the firm's financial capacity to leverage the share price drop, given its robust cash balance and projected fiscal year free cash flow. The repurchase strategy remains adaptable to market conditions, share price, and capital availability.
In terms of earnings and revenue, LiveRamp reported strong first quarter results for Fiscal 2025, exceeding market expectations with double-digit growth in revenue and annual recurring revenue (ARR). The company's Q1 financial performance included revenue of $176 million and an operating income of $27 million. The Data Marketplace segment saw a growth of 23%, reflecting the trend in the US digital advertising market.
On the analyst front, LiveRamp has revised its revenue guidance for FY'25 upwards, now expecting between $715 million and $735 million. While facing macroeconomic challenges and changes in Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL)'s privacy policies, the company remains confident in its strategic position and its solutions, including the Authenticated Traffic Solution (ATS) and RampID. These advancements follow LiveRamp's ongoing efforts to promote data collaboration and standardize terms of service and query templates with digital publishers.
InvestingPro Insights
To complement Benchmark's analysis of LiveRamp Holdings Inc. (NYSE: RAMP), InvestingPro data provides additional context for investors. As of the latest available data, LiveRamp's market capitalization stands at $1.63 billion, with a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 270.56, indicating a high valuation relative to current earnings. This aligns with the InvestingPro Tip that RAMP is "trading at a high earnings multiple."
The company's revenue for the last twelve months as of Q1 2025 was $681.55 million, with a growth rate of 12.02%. This growth trend supports the InvestingPro Tip that "net income is expected to grow this year." Moreover, LiveRamp's gross profit margin of 72.77% suggests a strong ability to generate profit from its revenue.
Despite recent stock price declines, with a 32.96% drop over the past six months, InvestingPro Tips highlight that LiveRamp "holds more cash than debt on its balance sheet" and "liquid assets exceed short term obligations." These factors may provide financial stability as the company navigates market challenges.
For investors seeking a more comprehensive analysis, InvestingPro offers 11 additional tips for LiveRamp, which can provide deeper insights into the company's financial health and market position.
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