Morgan Stanley initiates Lufthansa stock with Underweight rating on margin concerns

Published 15/10/2025, 08:44
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Investing.com - Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on Deutsche Lufthansa AG (ETR:LHA) (OTC:DLAKY) with an Underweight rating and a price target of EUR5.40. Currently trading at $8.59, with a P/E ratio of 5.01, InvestingPro analysis suggests the stock is slightly undervalued, despite its recent 28.5% gain over the past six months.

The investment bank cited Lufthansa’s ongoing challenges following a weak performance in 2024 and the first half of 2025, which prompted management to announce a transformational plan targeting a doubling of margins to 8-10% by fiscal years 2028-2030. The airline, with annual revenue of $45.55 billion and a market capitalization of $10.29 billion, maintains a "GOOD" financial health score according to InvestingPro metrics.

Lufthansa’s strategy heavily relies on new-generation aircraft like the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350, which are expected to reduce fuel and maintenance costs by up to 30% while enhancing premium capacity and yields.

Morgan Stanley expressed concerns about execution risks, including persistent inflation, labor strikes, supply chain delays, and Europe’s structurally high cost environment. Additional headwinds include weak German demand, low-cost carrier competition, limited pricing power, and increased capacity from U.S. carriers in Lufthansa’s key markets.

The investment bank forecasts cost per available seat kilometer excluding fuel to increase 2% in the third quarter of 2025 and 3.5% for fiscal year 2025, while revenue per available seat kilometer is expected to decline by low single digits in the second half of 2025.

In other recent news, Lufthansa is facing potential disruptions as pilots have voted in favor of a strike due to a pension dispute. The pilots’ union, Vereinigung Cockpit, reported that a significant majority of its members backed the strike action. However, no specific timeline has been announced for when the industrial action might take place. This development adds to the existing labor challenges for the German airline. Investors may want to monitor the situation closely, as labor disputes can impact operations and financial performance. The outcome of this dispute could have implications for Lufthansa’s future labor relations and operational stability.

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