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On Thursday, BMO Capital Markets maintained its Outperform rating and $89.00 price target for Block Inc. (NYSE: SQ), a financial services and mobile payment company. Currently trading at $58.44, Block appears undervalued according to InvestingPro analysis, with significant upside potential. BMO Capital’s analysis suggests that the recent layoffs announced by Block Inc. could lead to significant cost savings and potentially boost the company’s adjusted operating income by more than 10% for the year 2025.
According to the firm’s estimates, the reduction of approximately 8% of Block’s workforce could result in around $350 million in total expense savings, which is about 5% of the company’s adjusted operating expenses. With current revenue growth of 10.06% and a market capitalization of $36.26 billion, BMO Capital anticipates that approximately $250 million of these savings could be realized in 2025, potentially offering a 12% upside to the Street’s adjusted operating income (AOI) expectations, assuming all other factors remain constant.
The strategic layoffs come as part of Block’s efforts to streamline operations and improve financial performance. Despite the anticipated positive impact on the company’s bottom line, BMO Capital noted that investors are currently skeptical about Block’s ability to significantly accelerate its gross profit growth, as projected in the company’s guidance for 2025. The analyst from BMO Capital expressed that while the layoffs might be seen positively due to the possible beat-and-raise cycle for 2025 estimates, they are not expected to substantially increase investor confidence in the company’s near-term revenue growth prospects. InvestingPro data shows Block maintains a GOOD financial health score, with strong liquidity ratios and reasonable debt levels.
Block Inc.’s stock performance will continue to be watched closely by investors as the company navigates through its cost-saving measures and strives to meet its long-term financial targets. Trading at a P/E ratio of 12.48 and showing high volatility with a beta of 2.78, BMO Capital’s reaffirmation of the Outperform rating indicates a belief in the company’s potential to outperform the broader market or its sector, despite current investor reservations.
In other recent news, Block Inc. reported several significant developments that are of interest to investors. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods maintained their Outperform rating on Block’s stock, even as the company announced layoffs affecting about 8% of its global workforce. The layoffs, attributed to performance issues and strategic changes, have sparked discussions about Block’s future investment strategies, particularly in sales and marketing. Meanwhile, KeyBanc Capital Markets lowered Block’s price target from $115.00 to $85.00, citing a softer spending outlook for small and medium-sized businesses on point-of-sale systems. Despite this adjustment, KeyBanc maintained an Overweight rating, indicating continued confidence in Block’s market position.
In another development, Block launched Cash App Afterpay, merging the two brands to expand payment options for users. This integration aims to leverage Cash App’s extensive user base with Afterpay’s Buy Now, Pay Later services. Additionally, Block’s subsidiary, Square Financial Services, received FDIC approval to offer consumer loans through Cash App Borrow, enhancing its financial service offerings. BTIG maintained a Sell rating on Block, with a price target of $110.00, while acknowledging the strategic benefits of Square Financial Services. These recent developments highlight Block’s ongoing efforts to optimize its operations and expand its financial services portfolio.
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