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On Wednesday, Kepler Cheuvreux adjusted its stance on Bouvet ASA (BOUVET:NO), downgrading the stock from Buy to Hold and revising its price target to NOK 78.00 from NOK 80.00. The shift in rating comes after Bouvet reported a weaker than expected fourth quarter, with earnings per share (EPS) at NOK 0.96, which fell short of the consensus estimate of NOK 1.07 by 13%. The shortfall was attributed to a reduction of 29 employees quarter over quarter.
The board of Bouvet has put forward a dividend proposal of NOK 3 per share for 2024, with plans to distribute it in the first half of 2025. In the context of the company’s recent performance and broader market conditions, Kepler Cheuvreux anticipates continued challenges in the IT consultancy market throughout 2025.
Kepler Cheuvreux has also adjusted its growth estimates for the company’s workforce in response to market pressures. Additionally, the firm noted that persistent high inflation in Norway is expected to increase salary expenses by 4.5%, which is likely to impact Bouvet’s financials.
Due to these factors, Kepler Cheuvreux has revised downwards its EPS estimates for Bouvet for the years 2025-26. The decision to lower the price target and downgrade Bouvet’s stock rating reflects the research firm’s view that there is limited potential for an increase in the stock’s value going forward.
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