Kepler Cheuvreux downgrades Buzzi Unicem stock to Hold on margin pressure

Published 17/07/2025, 09:02
Kepler Cheuvreux downgrades Buzzi Unicem stock to Hold on margin pressure

Investing.com - Kepler Cheuvreux downgraded Buzzi Unicem SpA (BIT:BZU) from Buy to Hold and reduced its price target to EUR49.00 from EUR52.00 ahead of the cement maker’s first-half results.

The research firm expects Buzzi Unicem to report positive organic growth of 0.8% in the second quarter when it releases results on August 5. Growth in Central and Eastern Europe should offset organic decline in the U.S. market, where volumes have decreased.

Kepler Cheuvreux anticipates Buzzi Unicem will report a 220 basis point margin squeeze in the first half of 2025, marking the first margin contraction after several reporting periods of expansion. The firm projects EBITDA will decline 2% year-over-year.

The margin pressure stems primarily from U.S. operations, where negative operating leverage from lower volumes and insufficient price increases failed to cover fixed-cost inflation. Germany also contributed to the pressure with a 3% price decrease and 15% higher power costs.

Kepler Cheuvreux cut its 2025-2027 EBITDA estimates by 6% and earnings per share forecasts by 8%, moving below consensus. The firm noted that with the discount versus the sector back to long-term levels, it was taking "a pause" after maintaining a Buy rating on Buzzi Unicem for ten years.

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