Morgan Stanley initiates EasyJet stock coverage with Underweight rating

Published 15/10/2025, 08:50
Morgan Stanley initiates EasyJet stock coverage with Underweight rating

Investing.com - Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on EasyJet Plc. (LSE:EZJ) with an Underweight rating and a price target of GBP4.00, citing competitive pressures and rising costs. The airline, currently valued at $5.08 billion, trades at 9.3 times earnings, with InvestingPro data showing a strong free cash flow yield of 22%.

The investment bank noted that EasyJet, one of Europe’s largest short-haul carriers with key slots at London Gatwick and Milan Malpensa, faces near-term headwinds that will likely pressure yields and profitability. Despite these challenges, the company maintains a GREAT financial health score according to InvestingPro analysis, with revenue growing at 9.4% over the last twelve months. Morgan Stanley’s fiscal year 2026 profit before tax estimate sits 4% below consensus, reflecting weaker demand trends and industry overlap on UK outbound routes.

The firm expects revenue per available seat kilometer to decline 3% year-over-year in the first half of fiscal 2026, as capacity growth of 7% weighs on yields. New winter routes could take up to three years to mature, further challenging near-term performance.

On costs, Morgan Stanley forecasts cost per available seat kilometer excluding fuel to increase 2.5% year-over-year in fiscal 2026 due to wage and maintenance inflation, despite the company’s guidance for flat costs in fiscal 2025.

Despite EasyJet shares already declining 10% year-to-date and trading at 6.3 times forward price-to-earnings ratio, Morgan Stanley believes higher capital expenditures for fleet renewal and weak profitability will limit free cash flow and shareholder returns until fiscal 2027. With a beta of 2.19, the stock shows significant volatility. For deeper insights into EasyJet’s valuation metrics and growth potential, InvestingPro subscribers can access additional exclusive analysis and financial health indicators.

In other recent news, EasyJet’s Q2 profit before tax met consensus expectations, indicating stable performance despite a dip in its share price. Bernstein SocGen Group adjusted its price target for EasyJet from GBP5.75 to GBP5.60, maintaining a Market Perform rating. The research firm described the quarter as "surprise-free," suggesting that the company’s outlook remains consistent. These developments provide investors with a clear view of EasyJet’s financial health and market position. The unchanged broad outlook suggests that the company is maintaining its current trajectory without significant deviations. Investors may find this information useful for assessing the airline’s future prospects.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

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