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Investing.com - Evercore ISI upgraded Allegiant Travel Company (NASDAQ:ALGT) from In Line to Outperform on Tuesday, setting a price target of $75.00 as the airline prepares to refocus on its core business. The stock, currently trading at $54.95, appears undervalued according to InvestingPro analysis, with a market capitalization of approximately $970 million.
The upgrade comes as Allegiant plans to sell its Sunseeker Resort this summer, allowing the company to concentrate entirely on its leisure-focused airline operations. Evercore ISI cited "business model simplification" as a key factor in its decision to upgrade the stock, which has lagged year-to-date with a 42% decline. InvestingPro data shows the company trades at an EV/EBITDA multiple of 7.15x, with a price-to-book ratio of 0.87x, suggesting potential value opportunity.
Allegiant’s core business retains a flexible model with the ability to adjust capacity based on demand, though these strengths have been less visible recently. The firm views 2025 as a transition year as Allegiant grows into infrastructure investments already made, including Boeing (NYSE:BA) Max pilot hiring and training that was front-loaded due to aircraft delivery delays. According to InvestingPro analysis, while the company isn’t currently profitable, analysts expect positive earnings in 2025, with an EPS forecast of $3.60. Get access to 6 more exclusive InvestingPro Tips and comprehensive financial analysis in the Pro Research Report.
With the anticipated hotel sale and more modest capacity growth projected into 2026, Evercore ISI believes Allegiant is well-positioned to restore its core earnings power. The firm’s bull case envisions over $10 in earnings per share potential with a 12x price-to-earnings ratio, compared to mid-teens historically. The company’s revenue growth forecast for 2025 stands at 6%, according to InvestingPro data.
The sale of Sunseeker is expected to benefit both Allegiant and the potential buyer, with the property likely requiring additional investment from the new owner to improve demand drivers, including more group meeting space and possibly a waterpark for off-peak periods. This strategic move could help address the company’s current debt position, which stands at $2.09 billion.
In other recent news, Allegiant Travel Company reported a notable increase in its Q1 2025 earnings per share (EPS), achieving $1.81 compared to the forecasted $1.70, despite a slight revenue shortfall. The company recorded a net income of $33.4 million, with the airline segment alone contributing $39 million, emphasizing its robust core operations. Additionally, Allegiant experienced a 9.2% rise in scheduled service passengers for May 2025 compared to the previous year, continuing its trend of growth in passenger numbers. The company’s available seat miles grew by 16.3%, although the load factor saw a decrease to 80.3%. Goldman Sachs maintained a Neutral rating on Allegiant, with a price target set at $56, highlighting the company’s surpassing of March quarter EPS expectations due to reduced non-fuel costs. However, Allegiant’s guidance for the June quarter EPS, ranging from break-even to $1.00, fell below Goldman Sachs’ expectations. The company has also faced challenges with weaker demand during off-peak periods, although it remains optimistic about maintaining profitability in 2025.
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