Benchmark maintains FTAI Aviation buy rating, $300 target

Published 04/02/2025, 17:04
Benchmark maintains FTAI Aviation buy rating, $300 target

On Tuesday, Benchmark analysts maintained their Buy rating and $300.00 price target for FTAI Aviation (NASDAQ:FTAI), emphasizing the company’s solid fundamentals and growth prospects. The stock, currently trading at $108.94, has demonstrated remarkable momentum with a 95% return over the past year. According to InvestingPro analysis, FTAI is currently trading above its Fair Value, though analysts maintain significant upside potential with price targets ranging from $100 to $300. The endorsement comes after a series of investor meetings with FTAI’s CEO, Joe Adams, which aimed to address concerns raised by a January short report and to shed light on the company’s financial practices and innovative strategies.

Benchmark’s Josh Sullivan highlighted that the short report’s accusations of improper accounting and questions about the value of FTAI’s Engine Module Swaps are misinformed. Sullivan referenced the detailed explanations provided by Adams regarding the company’s depreciation methods, which include a process developed by E&Y, third-party book value testing, and clear definitions of cost of goods sold versus gain-on-sale.

Furthermore, Sullivan pointed out the transformative impact of FTAI’s Engine Module Swaps on the traditional engine maintenance model. This innovation, along with the Strategic Capital Initiative (SCI), which is expected to add more than $200 million in EBITDA annually for at least five years, was not addressed by the short report. According to Sullivan, the short report’s omission of the over $3 billion SCI announced in December is a telling sign.

The analyst anticipates a series of catalysts that could benefit FTAI in the near term. These include the conclusion of a narrow-scope internal audit, the company’s fourth-quarter 2024 results and outlook, progress on SCI, a potential Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) announcement, and the filing of the 10-K report.

Sullivan concluded with a positive outlook for FTAI’s future, suggesting that fiscal year 2025 could be when the market fully recognizes the company’s free cash flow potential, especially given the SCI and the end of a heavy investment cycle. With a market capitalization of $11.08 billion and EBITDA of $723 million, FTAI shows significant scale. Discover more detailed insights and 12+ additional ProTips about FTAI’s potential through InvestingPro’s comprehensive research report, available along with advanced financial metrics and expert analysis.

In other recent news, FTAI Aviation has been the subject of scrutiny following concerns raised by Snowcap Research and Muddy Waters (NYSE:WAT), suggesting potential irregularities in the company’s financial reporting. Despite these allegations, BTIG maintains a Buy rating for FTAI Aviation, demonstrating confidence in the company’s fundamentals. Stifel analysts have also retained a Buy rating, albeit with a revised price target, pending clarification on sales composition details. Jefferies continues to support FTAI Aviation with a $200 price target, emphasizing the importance of the ongoing audit committee review in addressing the allegations.

FTAI Aviation has initiated a review process to address the allegations, which may affect the timeline for filing its full-year 2024 financial statements. The company has engaged an independent auditor to investigate these claims, highlighting its commitment to transparency and shareholder trust. As these developments unfold, investors are advised to monitor the situation closely. While the outcome of the review is anticipated to clarify the situation, it is crucial to note that these are recent developments and the company has not yet publicly responded to the allegations.

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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