On Friday, Bernstein SocGen Group maintained its Market Perform rating on Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize NV (AD:NA) (OTC: ADRNY (OTC:ADRNY)), with a steady price target of EUR32.00. The stock currently trades near its 52-week high of $35.91, with a market capitalization of $32.3 billion. The firm addressed challenges facing the retailer, particularly in its United States operations. According to InvestingPro analysis, the company maintains strong financial health with consistent dividend payments spanning 18 years and a current yield of 3.9%. The company is pressured to revitalize its U.S. business, which involves narrowing the pricing difference with competitors like Walmart (NYSE:WMT), modernizing the Stop & Shop stores, and sustaining growth at Food Lion.
Ahold Delhaize, which announced a turnaround plan during its 2024 Strategy Day, is attempting to innovate without undergoing a significant margin reset—a move often seen as a necessary step in successful retail turnarounds. With annual revenues of $99.4 billion and a P/E ratio of 17.1, the company maintains a solid market position. Bernstein’s analysis points out that while Food Lion has seen success, its momentum is waning, and there are heightened expectations for U.S. margins to remain above 4.5%. For deeper insights into Ahold Delhaize’s financial metrics and growth potential, InvestingPro subscribers can access comprehensive analysis and 12 additional ProTips.
The analyst, William Woods, expressed the need for more confidence in Ahold Delhaize’s strategy, both in the immediate and longer-term. He highlighted the rarity of successful food retail turnarounds without margin adjustments, referencing Tesco (OTC:TSCDY)’s experience in 2014 and 2015 as a case study. Woods is looking for tangible results, especially from the Stop & Shop brand, to be convinced of the company’s recovery potential.
Despite the comprehensive plan laid out by management, Bernstein’s stance remains cautious until evidence of the turnaround’s effectiveness, particularly at Stop & Shop, becomes apparent. The firm’s current rating and price target reflect a wait-and-see approach to Ahold Delhaize’s strategic efforts in the competitive food retail market.
In other recent news, Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize NV reported a 1% increase in net sales to €22 billion in its third quarter 2024 earnings call, alongside an improved underlying operating margin of 3.9% and a 7% rise in diluted earnings per share to €0.62. The company continues its €1 billion share buyback program, having repurchased 27 million shares for €761 million. Citi has reinstated coverage on Ahold Delhaize with a Neutral rating, adjusting its fourth-quarter 2024 U.S. sales growth estimates and raising its Q4 CSS forecast in Europe. The research firm projects a full-year 2024 group EBIT margin of 4.02% and expects a €3 billion sales contribution from the recently acquired Profi Rom in the fiscal year 2025.
HSBC has upgraded Ahold Delhaize stock from Hold to Buy, reflecting confidence in the company’s ability to maintain consistent performance amidst market uncertainty. The firm praised Ahold Delhaize for its strong execution in stores, consistent market share gains, and resilient EBIT margins, contributing to robust free cash flow generation. Ahold Delhaize also reported significant growth in online sales, particularly in the U.S. through partnerships like DoorDash (NASDAQ:DASH), but closed 32 underperforming Stop & Shop stores. The company is optimistic about maintaining positive volume trends and a U.S. EBIT margin in Q4 at least equal to the 4.2% reported in Q3. These are part of the recent developments in the company’s financial health.
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