Tonix Pharmaceuticals stock halted ahead of FDA approval news
Investing.com - Investec (LON:INVP) downgraded Astral (JO:ARLJ) Ltd (ASTRA:IN) to Hold from Buy on Tuesday, while lowering its price target to INR1,480.00 from INR1,540.00.
The downgrade follows what Investec described as a "tepid" first quarter performance from the company, though it noted Astral performed better than the market leader. Adjusting for inventory impact, the firm highlighted that spreads remained flat year-over-year.
Investec pointed out that while Astral’s growth engines reported double-digit revenue growth, margins remained subdued during the quarter.
The research firm expressed concern about Astral’s decision to enter CPVC manufacturing to improve its competitive positioning. Investec specifically warned of potential risks to trading multiples if management "falters on execution or slips on cost curve" regarding the CPVC initiative.
Following the first quarter results, Investec reduced its EBITDA estimates for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 by 7% and 2% respectively, contributing to the downgrade decision.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.