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Investing.com - Bill.com Holdings Inc (NYSE:BILL) faces a mixed outlook following Xero Limited’s acquisition of payment platform Melio, according to Keefe, Bruyette & Woods.
The research firm reiterated its Market Perform rating and $54.00 price target on Bill.com stock in a note released Wednesday, while analyst targets range widely from $40 to $120. Xero announced the acquisition of Melio after U.S. markets closed Tuesday for an upfront consideration of $2.5 billion in cash and equity, plus contingent consideration of up to $0.5 billion for Melio employees.
While the takeout valuation provides a positive comparison to Bill.com’s current market capitalization, KBW noted that Xero’s acquisition of Melio "will add to questions around Bill’s capabilities and should increase competition."
The acquisition removes a direct standalone competitor for Bill.com but simultaneously validates that upstream players in accounting software and ERPs are pursuing strategies to bundle AP/AR automation functionality, which KBW identified as "a risk to the stand-alone model."
The research firm also highlighted that Intuit (NASDAQ:INTU), a competitor to Xero, "has also been clear that at this point it will enhance its capabilities organically," suggesting further competitive pressure in the financial automation space.
In other recent news, Bill.com Holdings Inc. announced the appointment of Rohini Jain as the new Chief Financial Officer, effective July 7. This leadership change aims to enhance Bill.com’s growth strategy and strengthen its market position. Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) downgraded Bill.com’s stock rating from Overweight to Equalweight, lowering the price target from $60 to $55 due to a reassessment of small and medium-sized business spending trends and monetization strategies. Despite this, Morgan Stanley maintains a positive long-term outlook for the company, citing potential for expansion and monetization of its software platform.
In related developments, Needham maintained its Buy rating with a $75 price target, highlighting Bill.com as a potential acquisition target following Xero’s acquisition of Melio. Citi also reiterated its Buy rating with a $67 price target, emphasizing Bill.com’s dominant position in the SMB B2B payments space. The acquisition by Xero underscores the scarcity value of integrated payment solutions, although it does not significantly alter the competitive landscape according to Citi. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reaffirmed their Market Perform rating with a $54 price target, noting the leadership changes could positively influence Bill.com’s strategic direction. These developments collectively highlight the evolving dynamics and strategic considerations surrounding Bill.com in the financial technology sector.
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