Wells Fargo has reaffirmed its positive stance on Alphatec Holdings (NASDAQ: NASDAQ:ATEC), maintaining an Overweight rating and a $19.00 price target for the company's stock.
The firm's analysis highlighted Alphatec's ongoing investor interest, particularly regarding the company's cash burn during the third quarter.
The second quarter saw Alphatec with a cash burn of $45 million, surpassing both Wells Fargo's estimate and management's expectations.
The increased cash burn experienced by Alphatec in the first half of 2024 has been attributed to strategic investments in inventory and instruments.
These expenditures are part of Alphatec's efforts to broaden its distribution network and introduce new products to the market. As a result, management has revised its expected cash usage for 2024 to between $125 and $135 million, an increase from the previously projected $100 to $110 million.
This $25 million uptick in anticipated cash burn is due to approximately $10 million in higher Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) and about $15 million associated with inventory inefficiencies. Despite this, Alphatec anticipates a reduction in cash burn from the second to the third quarter, with third-quarter cash use projected to be around $25 to $30 million. Moreover, the company expects to generate cash in the fourth quarter, ranging from $5 to $15 million.
In other recent news, Alphatec Holdings reported a strong performance in the second quarter of 2024, with total revenue hitting $146 million, marking a 25% increase year over year. The firm also achieved profitability with an adjusted EBITDA of $5.6 million.
These recent developments come amidst analyst attention, with TD Cowen maintaining a Buy rating and a price target of $22.50 for Alphatec. Lake Street Capital Markets and Needham also held their Buy ratings, albeit with reduced price targets due to concerns about the company's cash position and free cash flow breakeven timeline.
Despite these concerns, all three firms expressed confidence in Alphatec's growth trajectory and profitability targets. Alphatec's management remains committed to reaching its long-term financial goals, including a revenue target of $1 billion and an 18% adjusted EBITDA margin by 2027.
InvestingPro Insights
Alphatec Holdings' financial situation, as highlighted by Wells Fargo's analysis, is further illuminated by recent InvestingPro data. The company's revenue growth remains strong, with a 28.09% increase over the last twelve months as of Q2 2024, reaching $540.28 million. This aligns with the company's strategic investments in inventory and distribution network expansion.
However, InvestingPro Tips caution that Alphatec is "quickly burning through cash," which corroborates Wells Fargo's focus on the company's cash burn rates. This rapid cash consumption is reflected in the operating income margin of -26.21% for the last twelve months, indicating significant operational costs.
Despite these challenges, an InvestingPro Tip notes that "liquid assets exceed short term obligations," suggesting that Alphatec maintains a degree of financial flexibility as it pursues its growth strategy. This could be crucial as the company aims to reduce cash burn in the coming quarters.
For investors seeking a more comprehensive analysis, InvestingPro offers 5 additional tips that could provide deeper insights into Alphatec's financial health and market position.
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