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On Friday, Goldman Sachs analyst Matt Greene increased the price target on ArcelorMittal (NYSE:MT:NA) (NYSE: MT) shares to EUR26.10, up from the previous EUR25.70, while keeping a Neutral rating on the stock. The stock has shown remarkable momentum, currently trading at $28.33 with a 14.65% gain in the past week. The adjustment follows ArcelorMittal’s report of a stronger-than-anticipated end to the year, particularly in its iron ore division, which helped the company surpass earnings expectations. According to InvestingPro, the company has 13 additional key insights available for subscribers, including valuable information about management’s share buyback strategy and growth prospects.
ArcelorMittal, with a market capitalization of $22.96 billion, reported Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) of $1.65 billion for the December quarter, exceeding analysts’ forecasts. This performance was attributed to robust volumes from the iron ore division. The steel division’s EBITDA declined quarter-over-quarter, with results in Europe and Brazil remaining relatively stable and North America experiencing a drop due to decreased pricing. InvestingPro’s Fair Value analysis suggests the stock is currently undervalued, with strong financial health metrics supporting future growth potential.
The company’s cash generation in the December quarter was positive, bolstered by a larger-than-expected working capital unwind. There is anticipation of additional cash generation in 2025. Strategic capital expenditure was reported to be below expectations, with group capital expenditure finishing at the lower end of the guidance range at $4.4 billion, compared to the forecasted $4.5 to $5 billion.
ArcelorMittal declared a 10% year-over-year increase in its dividend to $0.55 per share, aligning with market expectations and showing a robust dividend growth of 13.64% in the last twelve months. The reported Free Cash Flow (FCF) for the full year stood at $260 million, with the estimated dividend payment for 2025 being approximately $420 million. For a comprehensive analysis of ArcelorMittal’s financial position and future prospects, investors can access the detailed Pro Research Report available exclusively on InvestingPro, which covers over 1,400 top stocks with expert insights and actionable intelligence. Under the company’s capital returns policy, which allocates 50% of FCF post-dividends, the analyst noted that with negative adjusted FCF, there is limited scope for continuing or expanding the buyback program without utilizing the balance sheet, a scenario not included in the base case.
In other recent news, ArcelorMittal has been making significant strides in the financial sector. The company’s fourth-quarter financial performance was particularly strong, with an EBITDA rise to $1.65 billion, an 8% increase compared to company-consensus and a 9% increase versus JPMorgan’s estimate. The company’s cash flow exceeded JPMorgan’s expectations, and the company reported a net debt of $5.1 billion. This positive financial performance led JPMorgan to raise ArcelorMittal’s price target to EUR23.50 from the previous EUR23.00, maintaining a neutral rating on the stock.
CFRA also raised ArcelorMittal’s price target from EUR23.00 to EUR26.00, maintaining a hold rating on the stock. The company’s fourth-quarter earnings for 2024 saw a 4.6% quarter-over-quarter increase in EBITDA, attributed to better performance in the Mining segment due to increased iron ore shipments.
BofA Securities upgraded ArcelorMittal from Neutral to Buy, increasing the price target from EUR28.00 to EUR31.00. The upgrade was based on a new valuation approach, shifting from a price-to-book (P/B) multiple methodology to a Sum of the Parts (SOTP) analysis. This change was due to a shift in ArcelorMittal’s earnings, with North America now surpassing Europe as the company’s largest source of EBITDA, accounting for about 28%.
Citi also increased its price target for ArcelorMittal to EUR40.00 from the previous EUR38.00, maintaining a Buy rating on the steel manufacturer’s shares. Citi’s analysis highlights the growth potential of the Indian steel market, where ArcelorMittal is currently positioned as the fourth largest flat steel producer. The company is expected to see its volumes grow by an annual rate of 11% leading up to the year 2040, outpacing the Indian market’s growth forecast of 7%.
These are recent developments that reflect ArcelorMittal’s strong financial performance and positive outlook from various financial analysts.
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