Barclays cuts ZipRecruiter stock rating to Equal Weight, target to $6

Published 26/02/2025, 16:26
Barclays cuts ZipRecruiter stock rating to Equal Weight, target to $6

On Wednesday, Barclays (LON:BARC) analysts downgraded ZipRecruiter shares (NYSE:ZIP), shifting from an Overweight to an Equal Weight rating. Alongside the rating change, the price target was adjusted to $6.00, a decrease from the previous target of $10.00. The stock, which trades at a P/E ratio of 156x and has fallen nearly 46% over the past year, has seen its revision following the company’s fourth-quarter earnings report and guidance for the fiscal year 2025.

ZipRecruiter’s fourth-quarter performance surpassed expectations, yet the forecast for the fiscal year 2025 EBITDA margin was significantly lower than the consensus prior to the earnings release. Despite maintaining impressive gross profit margins of 89.5% and a strong current ratio of 7.4x, the company’s strategy to increase marketing investments was noted as a contributing factor to the conservative EBITDA margin outlook.According to InvestingPro, which offers 15+ additional insights about ZIP’s financial health and valuation, the company appears undervalued based on its Fair Value analysis.

The analysts expressed concern over the company’s valuation, particularly in light of the reduction in their earnings estimates and the unclear trajectory towards positive revenue growth. This has led to the decision to lower the stock’s rating to Equal Weight.

The reevaluation by Barclays follows ZipRecruiter’s latest earnings report, which has placed the spotlight on the company’s financial strategies and future revenue prospects. The new price target of $6.00 set by Barclays reflects a more cautious stance on the stock’s potential performance.

Investors are now observing how ZipRecruiter’s increased marketing efforts will influence its path to achieving revenue growth and how these initiatives will impact the company’s financial position moving forward.

In other recent news, ZipRecruiter reported its fourth-quarter 2024 financial results, which exceeded revenue expectations by posting $111 million, surpassing the anticipated $107.77 million. Despite this, the company faced a net loss of $12.9 million for the year. Analysts from Evercore ISI and Goldman Sachs have adjusted their price targets for the company, with Evercore ISI reducing it to $10 and Goldman Sachs lowering it to $8, both maintaining neutral ratings. The adjustments reflect the firms’ reassessment of ZipRecruiter’s earnings potential amid ongoing strategic investments.

The company demonstrated growth in web traffic, with a 15% year-over-year increase, indicating strong user engagement. Management remains cautiously optimistic about the fiscal year 2025 outlook, with plans to increase sales and marketing investments. ZipRecruiter also launched new products and acquired Break Room, a UK-based employer rating site, as part of its strategic initiatives. The company anticipates potential revenue growth by the fourth quarter of 2025, contingent on labor market recovery. Despite these developments, the labor market’s recovery timing remains uncertain, prompting analysts to adopt a wait-and-see approach.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

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