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On Monday, Citi analyst adjusted the price target for Laurus Labs Ltd (NSE:LAUL) (LAURUS:IN), increasing it to INR500.00 from the previous INR320.00. Despite this significant hike in the price target, the firm's rating on the stock remains at Sell. The assessment followed Laurus Labs' robust financial performance in the third quarter, which saw an 18% year-over-year growth and around a 20% EBITDA margin, marking an improvement of 500 basis points compared to the same period last year.
The positive financial results were attributed to the company's initial deliveries of a new chemical entity (NCE) molecule to a customer, which is currently awaiting approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Citi analyst anticipates that the fourth quarter will continue this strong performance, propelled by the increased supply of this product. Furthermore, Laurus Labs projects that its fiscal year 2026 estimates, particularly in the Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) segment, will surpass those of fiscal year 2025.
In light of the company's momentum in the CDMO sector, Citi has revised its fiscal year 2026/2027 EBITDA estimates upwards by 5% and 14%, respectively. The target multiple has also been raised to 20 times from the previous 16 times, leading to the new price target. While acknowledging Laurus Labs' substantial progress, Agrawal mentioned the need for greater clarity on the company's long-term prospects before adopting a more constructive stance on the stock. However, he has introduced a 90-day short-term positive outlook, citing the potential for the stock to trend upward in anticipation of a robust fourth quarter.
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