On Thursday, Berenberg reiterated its Buy rating and CHF640.00 price target on shares of Lonza Group (LONN:SW) (OTC: LZAGY). Following Lonza's investor event held on December 12, 2024, in Basel, Berenberg shared a positive outlook on the company's financial prospects.
The firm noted that after a period of approximately 18 months marked by downward revisions, the consensus estimate for Lonza's EBITDA for 2025 might only require a slight adjustment at most.
The analysis by Berenberg also highlighted the potential for Lonza to achieve a valuation multiple in the low to mid-20s range for EV/EBITDA. This optimism is partly due to Lonza's strategy to divest from its slower-growing Capsules and Health Ingredients (CHI) segment. The move is expected to enhance the company's financial profile.
In addition to the strategic shift, there has been a recent management reshuffle at Lonza. Gordon Bates, previously head of the small molecules division, has been promoted to oversee the biologics segment, a change attributed to the strong performance of his former division.
Despite a modest rise in Lonza's stock price of about 3% since the investor event, Berenberg sees further potential for appreciation, especially if Swiss risk-free interest rates continue to decline.
The firm anticipates that Lonza's financial guidance for the fiscal year 2025 will suggest sales in line with the consensus estimate of CHF7.8 billion, representing high teens in underlying growth, and EBITDA margins between 27% and 29%.
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