Two 59%+ winners, four above 25% in Aug – How this AI model keeps picking winners
Monday, Mizuho (NYSE:MFG) Securities has increased its price target on Sunoco (NYSE: SUN) shares from $61.00 to $66.00 while maintaining an Outperform rating. Currently trading at $56.33, with a market capitalization of $7.66 billion and an attractive 6.3% dividend yield, the stock appears overvalued according to InvestingPro Fair Value metrics. The adjustment reflects a positive stance on the company’s prospects, despite a year of underperformance relative to the broader market.
Sunoco’s stock has lagged in the past year, with a decline of 4.0% compared to a 37.2% gain in the broader American Energy Independence Index (AMEI). Trading between $49.45 and $64.89 over the past 52 weeks, the stock maintains a P/E ratio of 12.31 and received a "GOOD" Financial Health Score from InvestingPro. Analysts at Mizuho point to the lack of connection between Sunoco’s operations and the popular artificial intelligence and data center sectors, which have driven higher valuations for many companies.
The energy partnership’s performance was also affected by its acquisition of NS, which led to some investor concerns regarding corporate governance and its role within the Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET) family, including issues related to Incentive Distribution Rights (IDRs) and its Master Limited Partnership (MLP) structure. These factors may have made Sunoco less appealing in a market that favored corporations over MLPs.
Despite the challenging year in 2024, Mizuho analysts believe Sunoco is currently undervalued. They cite several reasons for their optimistic outlook, including anticipated growth in adjusted EBITDA from fuel distribution (currently at $826 million), the quality improvement of the base business following the NS acquisition, and an enhanced scale and balance sheet. These factors underpin the increased price target, signaling confidence in Sunoco’s potential for growth. Discover more detailed analysis and 12+ key financial metrics with a InvestingPro subscription, including exclusive access to the comprehensive Pro Research Report for SUN and 1,400+ other stocks.
In other recent news, Sunoco LP reported a record third-quarter adjusted EBITDA of $470 million, indicating a robust performance despite one-time expenses. The company maintained its quarterly distribution at $0.8756 per unit and reported a healthy coverage ratio of 2.3x for the quarter. In addition, Sunoco’s Fuel Distribution segment saw an 8% year-over-year increase in adjusted EBITDA, reaching $253 million, demonstrating the beneficial integration of NuStar assets.
Sunoco is also exploring further growth and acquisitions in the fuel distribution and midstream sectors. Barclays (LON:BARC) maintains the stock Overweight with a $59 target, while RBC Capital Markets maintained an Outperform rating on Sunoco’s shares, raising the price target from $63.00 to $64.00. RBC Capital Markets revised upward the financial forecasts for Sunoco, expecting the company to present promising Adjusted EBITDA figures for the years 2024, 2025, and 2026 at $1,573 million, $1,913 million, and $1,985 million, respectively.
These recent developments highlight Sunoco’s resilience and margin durability, which have been proven through the company’s execution during various market conditions. The company’s strategic moves, including the acquisition of NuStar and a joint venture with Energy Transfer, have been instrumental in this positive outlook.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.