JFrog stock rises as Cantor Fitzgerald maintains Overweight rating after strong Q2
On Thursday, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods analyst Jade Rahmani upgraded Walker & Dunlop stock (NYSE: NYSE:WD), shifting from a "Market Perform" to an "Outperform" rating. Rahmani cited two main reasons for the upgrade: an anticipated improvement in multifamily rent growth into 2026 and a pent-up demand for multifamily acquisitions and refinancing that has been building since 2022.
Walker & Dunlop, a firm specializing in multifamily brokerage and services, has seen its performance lag behind commercial real estate (CRE) brokerage peers year-to-date and over the past one to two years. This underperformance was largely attributed to prolonged expectations of high interest rates, which have negatively impacted transaction volumes and servicing growth within the sector.
Despite these challenges, Rahmani notes that interest rates have recently shown signs of moderation. While the potential privatization of Government-Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs) remains a point of uncertainty, Rahmani believes there is a higher likelihood that the current situation will remain stable or that GSEs will maintain their share in the multifamily market.
In terms of valuation, Rahmani finds Walker & Dunlop’s stock to be attractive, trading at 13-15 times the firm’s estimated cash earnings per share for 2025-2026. With the outlook for the company improving, the analyst sees Walker & Dunlop as presenting a compelling investment opportunity.
In other recent news, Walker & Dunlop reported a strong performance in its fourth-quarter 2024 earnings, with an earnings per share (EPS) of $1.34, exceeding the forecasted $1.21. The company also surpassed revenue expectations, generating $341.5 million against a projected $311.48 million. Additionally, Walker & Dunlop announced the pricing of a $400 million senior unsecured notes offering, with a 6.625% interest rate per annum, set to close in March 2025. The proceeds from this offering are intended to reduce the outstanding principal of its existing senior secured term loan and for general corporate purposes. Moody’s Ratings upgraded Walker & Dunlop’s senior secured bank credit facility rating to Baa3 from Ba1, reflecting an anticipated improvement in the firm’s debt capital structure. Furthermore, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods adjusted its price target for Walker & Dunlop to $105 from $120, while maintaining a Market Perform rating, citing reduced earnings projections for the coming years. Despite these positive developments, the company’s stock experienced a pre-market decline, which may reflect broader market concerns.
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