Trump announces trade deal with EU following months of negotiations
On Tuesday, Goldman Sachs adjusted its stance on Cathay Financial Holding Co (2882:TT), downgrading the company’s stock rating from Buy to Neutral. The new price target is set at NT$65.00, a slight decrease from the previous NT$66.00. Thomas Wang of Goldman Sachs noted that Cathay Financial’s share price had experienced a significant rebound, rising 33% from its April low, largely due to a dividend for FY24 that surpassed expectations. This boost in share value was also supported by a stable New Taiwan Dollar (NTD), especially after a sharp appreciation in early May.
Despite the recent performance, the analyst expressed caution about the future, citing potential uncertainties regarding the company’s FY25 profit. Goldman Sachs’ economists anticipate the NTD to appreciate by approximately 5% to 28.5 against the USD over the coming year. This projected currency appreciation could pose downside risks to the firm’s FY25 profit forecasts and consequently affect the anticipated dividend.
The report further elaborates that while Cathay Financial has shown lower sensitivity to foreign exchange movements than Goldman Sachs had estimated, a 5% appreciation from the current level could still introduce significant risks. The firm’s expected dividend yield for FY25 is now considered to be broadly aligned with the sector average, leading to a more balanced risk/reward outlook.
Goldman Sachs also provided a retrospective look at Cathay Financial’s stock performance since it was added to the Buy list on May 22, 2017. Since then, the stock has risen by 37%, which trails behind the gains seen by its insurance-centric and bank-centric Financial Holding Company (FHC) peers, which have increased by 94% and 113% respectively, as well as the TAIEX’s overall growth of 117%.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.