Beamr video compression achieves up to 50% improvement for AVs
On Friday, Loop Capital adjusted its outlook on Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA), reducing the price target from the previous $53.00 to $50.00 but maintaining a Buy rating on the stock. The decision by analyst Alan Gould came after Comcast reported its fourth-quarter earnings, which revealed a miss on several key performance indicators. The media giant, with a market capitalization of $127 billion and an attractive 3.73% dividend yield, currently trades at a P/E ratio of 9x. According to InvestingPro analysis, the stock appears undervalued based on its Fair Value model.
Comcast’s fourth-quarter results showed a shortfall in the number of broadband and wireless subscribers, with a slight miss on Peacock subscribers. Despite these misses, the company surpassed expectations in revenue, EBITDA, primarily driven by its studio and theme parks, as well as free cash flow and earnings per share (EPS). In response to the mixed results, Loop Capital revised its broadband subscriber estimate down to a loss of 540,000 from the previous estimate of a loss of 250,000 for 2025. Additionally, the broadband average revenue per user (ARPU) estimate was adjusted to a 3.1% increase from the previously expected 3.3%. InvestingPro subscribers have access to 8 additional key insights about Comcast’s financial health and growth prospects through exclusive ProTips.
The market reaction to the earnings report was significant, as Comcast stock experienced an 11% drop. This decline marked the company’s worst single-day performance since 2008, an unexpected movement for a company known for its low leverage and low beta in the telecom sector.
Despite the disappointing broadband figures, Loop Capital believes that the market has now adjusted its expectations for Comcast. The firm highlights Comcast’s valuation at 5.5 times the estimated EBITDA, its strong balance sheet, and robust free cash flow as reasons for maintaining its Buy rating on the stock. Loop Capital suggests that these factors provide a margin of safety for investors, even as they recalibrate their outlook based on the latest performance data.
In other recent news, Comcast Corporation reported a shortfall in domestic broadband growth in its fourth-quarter 2024 results, which prompted Goldman Sachs to revise the company’s price target from $50.00 to $44.00, while maintaining a Buy recommendation. Charter Communications (NASDAQ:CHTR) shares also felt the impact of Comcast’s broadband losses, falling 6.3%. Despite these challenges, Comcast announced an increase in its annual dividend and the authorization of a $15 billion share repurchase program, demonstrating its commitment to shareholder returns.
Furthermore, Comcast introduced a new video bundle, Sports & News TV, for Xfinity Internet customers. Analysts from Benchmark and Seaport Global Securities maintained a Buy rating on Comcast stock, while Loop Capital adjusted its price target due to lower estimates for 2025 broadband subscribers. Comcast also experienced a leadership change at MSNBC, with Rebecca Kutler stepping into the interim role following President Rashida Jones’ departure. These are the recent developments at Comcast Corporation.
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