Bullish indicating open at $55-$60, IPO prices at $37
Investing.com - Freedom Broker upgraded Snap Inc (NYSE:SNAP) from Hold to Buy on Monday, while lowering its price target to $9.00 from $10.00, following the company’s disappointing second-quarter results. The stock, which has declined nearly 22% in the past week and is trading near its 52-week low, maintains strong fundamentals with liquid assets exceeding short-term obligations by a factor of 3.88x.
The research firm noted that Snap’s Q2 FY2025 revenue growth of 13.18% fell short of expectations despite strong user engagement. Profitability deteriorated unexpectedly due to weaker-than-anticipated monetization amid technical disruptions on the advertising platform, which led to lower ad pricing and declining direct response advertising performance. According to InvestingPro, 11 analysts have recently revised their earnings estimates upward for the upcoming period.
Snap’s revenue guidance for Q3 was broadly in line with consensus, while its adjusted EBITDA outlook came in modestly ahead of analyst forecasts. The company remains committed to investing in platform development, including AI-driven tools and AR content, while maintaining disciplined cost control.
Freedom Broker adjusted its financial forecasts downward and reduced its price target from $10 to $9, corresponding to a 23x EV/EBITDA multiple for 2026. The new target still represents potential upside from current levels.
The upgrade to Buy comes as Freedom Broker believes the market’s post-earnings sell-off was disproportionate to Snap’s actual performance and future prospects, despite the firm’s cautiously negative stance on the slower-than-projected evolution of advertising monetization. InvestingPro analysis suggests the stock is currently undervalued, with additional insights available in the comprehensive Pro Research Report, which covers what really matters for investors in SNAP and 1,400+ other top stocks.
In other recent news, Snap Inc. announced the pricing of $550 million in senior notes due in 2034 with an interest rate of 6.875%. The company also plans to offer $500 million in senior notes through a private placement, with these notes being general and unsecured senior obligations. Regarding recent earnings, Snap reported second-quarter revenue that met expectations, but its EBITDA fell $6 million short of prior estimates, as noted by Cantor Fitzgerald. The company faced a deceleration in advertising revenue growth, which slowed to 4% year-over-year, partly due to temporary ad platform issues.
Analysts have responded to these developments with adjustments to their stock evaluations. RBC Capital lowered its price target for Snap to $10, maintaining a Sector Perform rating, citing challenges in ad platform development. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated a Neutral rating with a $7 price target, while Guggenheim also maintained a Neutral rating but reduced its price target to $8, pointing to mixed second-quarter results and slowing growth trends. These analyst insights reflect ongoing concerns about Snap’s advertising revenue and growth trajectory.
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