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On Tuesday, Citi analysts reiterated a Sell rating and a $62.00 price target for IPG Photonics (NASDAQ:IPGP) stock, with the stock currently trading near its 52-week low of $61.86. The reiteration comes after the company released its fourth-quarter results for 2024. IPG Photonics reported quarterly sales of $234 million, a 22% decline year-over-year but a 1% rise quarter-over-quarter, aligning with the upper end of their guidance. According to InvestingPro data, this continues a broader trend of revenue decline, with trailing twelve-month revenue down 21.2%. Despite the sales figures, the company’s gross profit margin (GPM) outperformed expectations, expanding by 0.4 percentage points year-over-year to 38.6%. This surpassed both Citi’s estimate of 36.1% and the Bloomberg consensus of 36.0%, attributed to reduced product costs, lower tariffs and shipping expenses, as well as stable inventory provisions. InvestingPro analysis reveals the company maintains exceptional financial flexibility with a current ratio of 8.09, indicating strong short-term liquidity. Subscribers can access 10+ additional ProTips and comprehensive financial metrics.
However, IPG Photonics’ earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter was $0.18, which marked an 80% drop from the previous year and fell 20% short of the consensus estimate. This shortfall was primarily due to unusual tax items amounting to $3.4 million, which reduced EPS by $0.80. Looking ahead, the first-quarter guidance for 2025 appears bleak, with the company expecting EPS to plummet by 90% to 33% year-over-year, landing between $0.05 and $0.35. The anticipated decline in earnings is due to projected lower revenues ranging from $210 to $240 million, representing a 17% to 5% decrease year-over-year, coupled with high operating expenses and tax rates.
Management at IPG Photonics has indicated that in response to the subdued demand environment, the company is concentrating on execution, cost management, and exploring strategic investments. However, the outcomes of these efforts are not expected to be evident until 2026. While currently not profitable over the last twelve months, InvestingPro’s analysis shows the company maintains a strong balance sheet with minimal debt and substantial cash reserves, providing flexibility for its strategic initiatives. For detailed insights, access the comprehensive Pro Research Report available for IPGP and 1,400+ other US stocks.
In other recent news, IPG Photonics Corporation has completed its acquisition of Clean-Lasersysteme GmbH (cleanLASER), a German-based company known for its laser cleaning systems. This strategic move is part of IPG Photonics’ initiative to penetrate new markets and applications. The acquisition is expected to strengthen IPG’s presence in the precision laser cleaning market, providing customers with cost-effective and environmentally sustainable alternatives to traditional industrial processes. CleanLASER, with an annual revenue nearing $30 million and a global installation base of around 2,000 systems, serves diverse industries such as automotive, aerospace, and medical sectors. The integration of cleanLASER’s team is anticipated to enhance IPG Photonics’ ability to deliver comprehensive solutions across various markets. These developments represent the recent efforts of IPG Photonics to expand its market reach and enhance its portfolio.
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