JPMorgan lifts Grab stock rating to Overweight, sets $5.60 target

Published 21/02/2025, 03:36
JPMorgan lifts Grab stock rating to Overweight, sets $5.60 target

On Friday, JPMorgan upgraded Grab Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:GRAB) stock from Neutral to Overweight and established a new price target of $5.60. The upgrade comes after the company’s shares fell by 10% on Thursday, while the NASDAQ index saw a marginal decline of 0.5%. Currently trading at $4.78, Grab has demonstrated strong momentum with a 49% gain over the past six months. The drop in Grab’s share price was attributed to the company’s adjusted EBITDA guidance for FY25, which did not meet the expectations of some investors. According to InvestingPro data, the company maintains a robust financial position with more cash than debt on its balance sheet.

Ranjan Sharma of JPMorgan noted that the guidance provided by Grab may be on the conservative side. Sharma believes that as the company continues to report earnings throughout the year, there is potential for positive adjustments in earnings expectations. The analyst emphasized Grab’s ability to use its network effects to strengthen its market leadership and improve both monetization and spending efficiency. InvestingPro analysis shows the company’s strong liquidity position with a healthy current ratio of 2.7, indicating efficient working capital management. While analysts don’t expect profitability this year, revenue growth remains robust at 21.65%.

Grab Holdings Inc., with a market capitalization of $19.73 billion, is recognized for its strong presence in the Southeast Asian market, offering a range of services including ride-hailing, food delivery, and digital payments. The company’s performance and strategic position are key factors that JPMorgan analysts have considered in their optimistic upgrade. InvestingPro rates Grab’s overall financial health as GREAT, with particularly strong scores in growth and cash flow metrics.

The upgrade by JPMorgan suggests confidence in Grab’s future performance, despite the immediate reaction to its financial guidance. Sharma’s comments reflect a belief that the current investor expectations, which are now set to the company’s guidance, could result in upward revisions if Grab manages to outperform those expectations.

In conclusion, JPMorgan’s upgrade to an Overweight rating for Grab Holdings Inc. stock and the new price target of $5.60 indicate a positive outlook for the company’s shares in the coming months. The firm anticipates that Grab’s earnings reports over the year will likely catalyze a reevaluation of earnings expectations among investors. For deeper insights into Grab’s financial health and growth prospects, investors can access comprehensive analysis and additional ProTips through InvestingPro’s detailed research reports.

In other recent news, Grab Holdings Inc. reported a strong performance for the fourth quarter of 2024, with total IFRS revenues rising by 17% year-over-year to $764 million. The company achieved its first full year of positive group adjusted EBITDA, amounting to $313 million, and reported an adjusted net profit of $27 million for the quarter, exceeding expectations. Citi analyst Alicia Yap responded to these results by raising the price target for Grab’s shares to $6.25, maintaining a Buy rating on the stock. This comes as Grab anticipates revenue growth of 19-22% in 2025, with a focus on expanding its product offerings and operational efficiency.

Grab’s management has provided guidance for continued momentum in on-demand Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV) driven by growth in Monthly Transacting Users (MTU) and increased transaction frequency. The company reported a record 44 million monthly transacting users, marking a 17% increase year-on-year. Strategic investments in AI, mapping, and infrastructure, alongside the expansion of the EV fleet, are expected to support these growth projections. The potential impact of autonomous vehicles is also noted, with Citi viewing them as complementary to Grab’s operations.

Despite these positive developments, Grab’s stock experienced a decline of 11.07% in aftermarket trading. The company’s forward guidance projects a 40-50% growth in EBITDA relative to 2024, with plans to improve group EBITDA to revenue margins by 200-300 basis points. Grab’s strategic focus includes leveraging Generation AI tools to boost merchant sales conversion and exploring cross-selling opportunities to enhance revenue.

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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