Goldman Sachs sets Clearwater Analytics stock at Neutral, $26 target

Published 19/05/2025, 11:00
Goldman Sachs sets Clearwater Analytics stock at Neutral, $26 target

On Monday, Goldman Sachs resumed coverage on Clearwater Analytics Holdings (NYSE:CWAN), assigning a Neutral rating and establishing a price target of $26.00. The new price target suggests a 9% potential upside from the stock’s last closing price. According to InvestingPro data, analyst targets range from $28 to $40, with the company currently trading at high valuation multiples across several metrics.

The firm’s analyst highlighted the strength of Clearwater’s core accounting platform, which constitutes approximately 70% of the company’s revenue. The platform is seen as having significant competitive advantages over legacy competitors, positioning Clearwater for a sustainable 20% growth in this segment. The analyst also noted Clearwater’s impressive unit economics, which at 5.6 times, surpass the peer average of 4.6 times. InvestingPro data shows strong fundamentals with a gross profit margin of 73% and revenue growth of 23% in the last twelve months.

The optimistic outlook on the company’s core business is tempered by the challenges associated with scaling into a multi-product company, especially after its $1.5 billion acquisition of Enfusion. The acquisition presents Clearwater with the chance to increase its market share by offering a broader range of products. InvestingPro analysis reveals the company maintains a strong financial position with a current ratio of 5.09 and operates with moderate debt levels, providing flexibility for its expansion plans.

For Clearwater to achieve higher growth rates sustainably, the integration of new technologies into its existing framework is crucial. The ability to incorporate these technologies into its security master and data plane is key to fulfilling its goal of providing institutional investors with a comprehensive portfolio view. Additionally, the company must effectively navigate customer relations, optimize its pricing and packaging, and provide specialized training to its sales force.

Goldman Sachs’ neutral stance reflects a balance between the company’s strong fundamentals in its core business and the risks associated with expanding its product offerings and integrating new technologies. The success of these initiatives is anticipated to be a determinant of Clearwater’s growth trajectory.

In other recent news, Clearwater Analytics Holdings reported its Q1 2025 earnings, surpassing analyst expectations with an earnings per share (EPS) of $0.13, slightly above the forecasted $0.12. The company’s revenue also exceeded projections, reaching $126.9 million compared to the anticipated $125.08 million. Clearwater demonstrated a robust 23.5% increase in revenue from the previous year and a significant 40% growth in adjusted EBITDA. In addition to its strong financial performance, Clearwater has been focusing on integrating three recent acquisitions, which are expected to enhance its technology offerings significantly.

DA Davidson maintained a Buy rating on Clearwater, with a price target of $36, highlighting the company’s impressive first-quarter performance. The acquisitions are seen as strategic moves that could advance Clearwater’s technology road map by several years. Clearwater has also revised its 2025 financial outlook, setting a revenue guidance between $720 million and $728 million, representing a growth rate of 59% to 61%. The company projects its EBITDA to range from $230 million to $235 million.

Clearwater’s strategic focus includes expanding in the European market and targeting institutional investors, with a particular emphasis on integrating its cloud-native investment platform. The company’s management has expressed optimism about achieving its growth and profitability targets, supported by the maintained Buy rating from DA Davidson.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

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