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Wednesday, Needham analysts reduced the price target for Merit Medical Systems , Inc. (NASDAQ:MMSI) to $116 from $122, while maintaining a Buy rating on the stock. The revision follows Merit Medical (TASE:BLWV)’s fourth-quarter earnings report, which revealed revenue exceeding the company’s preannouncement and earnings per share (EPS) surpassing consensus estimates. With a market capitalization of $5.95 billion, Merit Medical has shown robust financial health, earning a "GREAT" overall score on InvestingPro’s comprehensive assessment framework.
Merit Medical announced its revenue guidance for 2025, which aligns with consensus expectations, and provided EPS guidance that fell short of consensus. Despite this, the company confirmed its sales forecast for the WRAPSODY system, expecting $7-9 million in 2025. Needham analysts predict these figures to be on the conservative side. InvestingPro data reveals the company has maintained strong revenue growth of 8.12% over the last twelve months, with three analysts recently revising their earnings estimates upward.
The company’s organic revenue growth showed an uptick in the fourth quarter of 2024, increasing to 6.1% year-over-year from 5.7% in the previous quarter. Additionally, Merit Medical reported improvements in gross margin, up 310 basis points year-over-year, and operating margin, which rose by 300 basis points. The company maintains a healthy gross profit margin of 46.83%, while operating with moderate debt levels and strong liquidity, as evidenced by a current ratio of 5.36.
The fourth quarter also saw robust free cash flow for the company, amounting to $65 million compared to $38 million in the third quarter of 2024. Needham analysts believe Merit Medical has been effectively implementing its strategy, which should continue to yield strong revenue growth, margin expansion, and solid free cash flow. The company’s trailing twelve-month levered free cash flow stands at $175.5 million, demonstrating consistent cash generation ability. For deeper insights into Merit Medical’s financial health and growth prospects, investors can access the comprehensive Pro Research Report available on InvestingPro, which covers over 1,400 US equities.
The lowered price target reflects Needham’s revised EPS estimate for 2026, despite the firm’s positive outlook on Merit Medical’s performance and continued endorsement of a Buy rating for the stock.
In other recent news, Merit Medical Systems reported a strong performance for Q4 2024, with earnings per share (EPS) of $0.93, surpassing the forecast of $0.82. The company’s revenue for the quarter reached $355.2 million, exceeding the expected $346.76 million and marking a 9% year-over-year increase. Merit Medical also provided optimistic guidance for 2025, projecting revenue growth between 8% and 10%. Raymond (NSE:RYMD) James raised the price target for Merit Medical to $116 from $110, maintaining an Outperform rating, citing the company’s highest-ever gross margin in the fourth quarter as a key factor. The firm also highlighted Merit Medical’s potential to exceed its own forecasts, despite EPS guidance for the upcoming period being slightly below consensus expectations. Analysts at Raymond James noted the company’s solid historical growth, indicating a strong operational foundation. Merit Medical’s strategic acquisitions and product innovations have been driving factors in its growth, as reflected in the company’s robust financial results and future projections.
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