Arm Holdings stock gets 20% upside call from UBS on AI and data center demand

EditorEmilio Ghigini
Published 25/11/2024, 09:52
Arm Holdings stock gets 20% upside call from UBS on AI and data center demand
ARM
-

On Monday, UBS began coverage of Arm Holdings (NASDAQ: NASDAQ:ARM) stock, issuing a Buy rating and setting a price target of $160. The new target suggests a 20% upside potential for the company's shares. The UBS analyst highlighted that artificial intelligence (AI) is contributing to growth in all of Arm Holdings' key markets, with the data center segment showing particular promise.

The expansion of the customer base for Arm's intellectual property licenses and the increasing demand from cloud customers for power-optimized CPU architectures, which are among Arm's strengths, were noted as positive factors. The analyst also pointed out that, despite Arm's already high penetration in the smartphone market, which accounts for about half of its revenue, the company is expected to grow faster than the market. This growth is anticipated due to rising royalty rates and the growing cost contribution of processors in smartphones.

According to the analyst, Arm Holdings' valuation may appear high, but the market's appetite for growth-oriented stocks supports the potential for an increase to the $160 price target. The analyst's statement emphasized the company's strong positioning across its end markets and the opportunities for further growth.

Arm Holdings, known for its chip designs and intellectual property licensing, has become a significant player in the technology sector, especially with the rise of AI and the growing need for efficient and powerful computing architectures. The company's focus on these areas is expected to continue driving its financial performance and market position.

The UBS analyst's coverage initiation comes at a time when investors are keenly observing tech stocks, particularly those with a robust presence in AI and cloud computing. Arm Holdings' stock performance and market valuation will likely be influenced by its ability to capitalize on the trends and growth opportunities identified by the analyst.

In other recent news, Arm Holdings has been the focus of positive assessments from both Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC) and Loop Capital. Wells Fargo initiated coverage on Arm Holdings with an Overweight rating and a price target of $155, based on anticipated gains from the adoption of the company's v9 and CSS solutions. Loop Capital maintained a positive outlook, raising the price target to $180 and keeping a Buy rating, citing potential growth in the Data Center segment and the PC market.

Arm Holdings recently reported strong second quarter financial results for fiscal year 2025. Total (EPA:TTEF) revenue reached $844 million, largely due to a 23% year-over-year increase in royalty revenue, driven by a 40% surge in smartphone royalties following the adoption of the company's Armv9 technology. Despite a 15% decline, licensing revenue outperformed expectations with an annualized contract value increase of 13%.

The company anticipates a 40-45% increase in licensing revenue for the fiscal year, and a continued 23% year-over-year growth in royalties across various sectors. Significant partnerships with Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and MediaTek were also announced, underscoring the demand for Arm's Compute platform. These recent developments highlight Arm Holdings' strategic positioning and the potential for increased market share as technological advancements and partnerships come to fruition.

InvestingPro Insights

The UBS analyst's bullish stance on Arm Holdings is further supported by recent data and insights from InvestingPro. The company's financial metrics reveal a strong growth trajectory, aligning with the analyst's positive outlook.

According to InvestingPro data, Arm's revenue growth stands at an impressive 24.56% for the last twelve months as of Q2 2025, indicating robust market demand for its products and services. This growth is particularly noteworthy given the company's already high penetration in the smartphone market, as mentioned in the article.

InvestingPro Tips highlight that Arm's net income is expected to grow this year, and 13 analysts have revised their earnings upwards for the upcoming period. These tips suggest a positive financial outlook, supporting the UBS analyst's optimistic price target.

The company's strong market position is reflected in its substantial market capitalization of $142.93 billion. However, investors should note that Arm is trading at a high P/E ratio of 227.49, which could be justified by its growth prospects in AI and data center markets, as discussed in the article.

For those interested in a deeper analysis, InvestingPro offers 11 additional tips on Arm Holdings, providing a comprehensive view 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.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers
© 2007-2025 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.