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On Friday, CFRA analyst Adrian Ng downgraded Lanxess AG (ETR:LXSG) (LXS:GR) (OTC: LNXSF) stock from Hold to Sell and adjusted the price target to EUR26.00 from the previous EUR30.00. The downgrade comes as the stock has experienced a significant 12.3% decline over the past week, according to InvestingPro data. Ng cited anticipated macroeconomic challenges and trade disputes as key factors that may negatively affect the company’s performance in the coming years.
In his statement, Ng expressed concerns over the potential impact of ongoing trade conflicts on Lanxess, noting the company’s significant revenue exposure to the Americas and its customer industries that are likely to be affected by these disputes. InvestingPro analysis reveals that Lanxess currently maintains a Fair Value rating, with a beta of 1.65 indicating higher market sensitivity than average. He suggested that these factors could lead to pressured results for Lanxess in 2025 and 2026.
Despite the downgrade, Lanxess demonstrated robust fourth-quarter results in 2024, showcasing strong sales and EBITDA growth even amid weak macroeconomic conditions. The company’s performance was partly attributed to pre-buying activities by customers. With an EBITDA of $556.7 million and a current ratio of 1.96, InvestingPro data shows the company maintains strong liquidity position. Ng also mentioned that the first quarter of 2025 might surpass consensus expectations due to trade dispute freezes and continued pre-buying activity, although he warned that this could result in weaker performance later in the year. InvestingPro subscribers have access to 8 additional key insights about Lanxess’s financial health and market position.
The new price target set by CFRA reflects a 2025 P/E ratio of 19x and an EV/EBITDA of 7x, which aligns with the 10-year average multiples for Lanxess. Current EV/EBITDA stands at 8.77x, while two analysts have recently revised their earnings estimates downward, according to InvestingPro data. Ng further adjusted the earnings per share (EPS) estimates for Lanxess, lowering the 2025 forecast to EUR1.40 from EUR1.60 and maintaining the 2026 estimate at EUR2.00. These revised figures underscore CFRA’s cautious outlook for the company’s financial prospects in the near term.
In other recent news, Lanxess AG has seen notable developments concerning its earnings and stock ratings. The company announced that it anticipates its fourth-quarter 2024 earnings to exceed market expectations, driven by increased pre-buying activities from U.S. customers. Lanxess projects its full-year 2024 EBITDA to be 20% higher than the previous year, placing it at the upper end of its guidance range. For the fourth quarter of 2024, the company expects its EBITDA to be 22% above consensus expectations. However, Lanxess has noted that macroeconomic conditions remain challenging as it approaches 2025.
In response to these earnings forecasts, CFRA upgraded Lanxess’s stock from Sell to Hold, raising the price target to EUR30.00. The firm also adjusted its earnings per share estimates, increasing the 2024 forecast to EUR1.00 and decreasing the 2025 projection to EUR1.60. Meanwhile, Berenberg downgraded Lanxess’s stock rating from Buy to Hold, setting a price target of EUR31.00. This decision was influenced by the stock’s recent rally and uncertainties surrounding industrial demand and energy costs. Both analyst firms have expressed a cautious outlook, reflecting the current market dynamics and external uncertainties impacting Lanxess.
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