Jefferies cuts Virgin Galactic target to $8; retains buy rating

Published 16/05/2025, 18:12
Jefferies cuts Virgin Galactic target to $8; retains buy rating

On Friday, Jefferies analyst Greg Konrad adjusted the price target for Virgin Galactic (NYSE:SPCE) shares to $8.00, down from the previous $9.00, while maintaining a Buy rating on the stock. The stock currently trades at $6.12, having shown significant volatility with a 52-week range of $2.18 to $23.00. According to InvestingPro data, the company’s shares have demonstrated strong momentum with a 9.12% return over the past week. Konrad’s remarks followed the company’s first-quarter results, noting that Virgin Galactic is on track with its operational timeline, with Delta research flights expected to commence in the summer of 2026 and passenger flights projected for the fall of that year. The company plans to reopen sales in the first quarter of 2026, with a current backlog of 675 customers.

Konrad highlighted that Virgin Galactic’s financial position appears secure, with $567 million in cash, supplemented by an At-the-Market (ATM) offering, which is anticipated to bridge the company to free cash flow positivity in 2027. InvestingPro analysis reveals that while the company holds more cash than debt on its balance sheet and maintains a healthy current ratio of 3.81, it is quickly burning through cash. For deeper insights into Virgin Galactic’s financial health and 19 additional ProTips, consider exploring the comprehensive Pro Research Report available on InvestingPro. This expectation is based on the company’s annualized flight tempo.

The analyst underscored the importance of operational milestones for Virgin Galactic, suggesting that achieving these could unlock a value of $8 per share on a discounted cash flow (DCF) basis. This valuation is contingent on the company’s clear path to becoming free cash flow positive. Based on InvestingPro Fair Value analysis, the stock appears to be trading above its intrinsic value, with analyst targets ranging widely from $1 to $36 per share, reflecting the high uncertainty in the space tourism sector.

Virgin Galactic’s steady progress in the first quarter, as well as the firm schedule for upcoming research and passenger flights, lays the foundation for the company’s future financial performance. The analyst’s comments reflect a positive outlook on the company’s ability to meet its operational goals and eventually generate positive free cash flow.

In other recent news, Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. reported a first-quarter loss of $2.38 per share on revenue of $460,000, a decrease from $2 million in the same quarter last year. This revenue decline was due to a pause in commercial spaceflights as the company focuses on producing its new Delta Class SpaceShips. Despite the revenue drop, the company’s cash position remained strong at $567 million as of March 31, 2025. Virgin Galactic’s net loss narrowed to $84 million from $102 million year-over-year, primarily due to lower operating expenses. Adjusted EBITDA improved to -$72 million from -$87 million in the prior-year quarter. The company announced plans for its first research spaceflight in summer 2026, followed by private astronaut flights in fall 2026. Additionally, Virgin Galactic is exploring the possibility of a second spaceport in Italy, which is currently under a feasibility study. The company expects free cash flow for the second quarter of 2025 to be between -$105 million and -$115 million.

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