Street Calls of the Week
Investing.com - JPMorgan has upgraded CEMEX (NYSE:CX) from Neutral to Overweight and raised its price target to $10.50 from $8.10, representing an 18% upside potential. The stock, currently trading at $8.87 with a market cap of $12.89 billion, appears undervalued according to InvestingPro analysis.
The upgrade comes despite CEMEX stock’s strong performance, having gained 58.32% year-to-date and trading near its 52-week high of $9.04, outperforming European peers (up 48% YTD) and U.S. peers (up 12%).
JPMorgan attributes the positive outlook to significant transformational changes within the company, including cost-saving programs and strategic initiatives implemented under the new CEO to enhance free cash flow and return on invested capital. InvestingPro data supports this view, showing a "GOOD" overall Financial Health Score of 2.85, with particularly strong momentum metrics.
The investment bank’s revised EBITDA estimates for 2025 and 2026 are now 0% and 4% above consensus, respectively, projecting flat growth for this year and 13% growth for fiscal year 2026.
JPMorgan also notes that positioning in CEMEX remains relatively light among dedicated Latin American and emerging market funds, as well as local pension funds, which could change given the company’s lower leverage at 2.0x and potentially enhanced free cash flow conversion rate.
In other recent news, Cemex has announced several significant developments. The company successfully completed a $1 billion subordinated notes offering, which was finalized recently. These notes are perpetual and were sold to qualified institutional buyers under U.S. regulations. Additionally, Cemex declared a cash dividend totaling $130 million, which will be distributed in four equal installments. The first installment is scheduled for June 18, 2025, with subsequent payments planned for later in the year and into 2026.
Moreover, BofA Securities has adjusted its price target for Cemex, raising it to $8.00 from a previous target of $7.30. This adjustment is based on a lower cost of capital in BofA’s valuation model, although the Neutral rating for the stock remains unchanged. These recent developments provide investors with a broader view of Cemex’s financial activities and strategic decisions.
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