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On Wednesday, Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) upgraded RTX Corp. (NYSE:RTX) stock from Equal-weight to Overweight, setting a new price target at $135.00. The decision came after the stock experienced a significant downturn the previous day, dropping 10% compared to a 2.5% rise in the S&P 500 index. Analysts at Morgan Stanley believe the market reaction to potential financial impacts from tariffs on RTX was overblown.
According to Morgan Stanley, the market’s response to RTX’s situation, which resulted in a $16 billion reduction in market capitalization due to around $850 million in potential tariff costs, was disproportionate. This response effectively valued the tariff costs at 16 times the price to free cash flow (P/FCF). They noted that RTX stock is now trading at a 12% discount to the S&P 500’s next twelve months P/FCF, compared to a 2.7% discount before the sell-off, which they referred to as ’Liberation Day.’
RTX, a company with a significant portion of its revenue coming from the defense industry, is considered more resilient to tariffs than the broader market. Morgan Stanley highlighted that 54% of RTX’s revenue is generated by the defense sector, which is less affected by tariffs. This defense focus has contributed to RTX’s robust financial performance, with revenue growing at 17.2% year-over-year to $80.7 billion and maintaining a healthy gross profit margin of 19.1%.
Looking ahead, Morgan Stanley analysts expect that any long-term effects of the tariffs would be mitigated by RTX. They predict that the company will be able to fully offset the higher costs as contracts are renewed over the next five years. They also emphasized the strength of RTX’s market position due to the duopolistic nature of Aerospace OEM and the oligopolistic tendencies within the Aerospace and Defense supply chain. For deeper insights into RTX’s financial health, valuation metrics, and growth prospects, investors can access the comprehensive Pro Research Report available on InvestingPro, which covers over 1,400 top US stocks with expert analysis and actionable intelligence.
In other recent news, RTX Corp has reported its Q1 2025 earnings, which exceeded market expectations. The company achieved an adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.47, surpassing the forecasted $1.35, and posted revenue of $20.3 billion, outperforming the expected $19.82 billion. Despite these positive financial results, RTX’s stock experienced a decline in pre-market trading. Additionally, RTX is making significant investments in U.S. manufacturing, allocating $2 billion for capacity expansion in 2025. The company is also preparing for potential tariffs, which could impact its financials by $850 million for the year. In terms of analyst activity, RTX has not seen any recent upgrades or downgrades from major firms. The company remains optimistic about continued growth in its segments, particularly in commercial aerospace and defense, with ongoing efforts to mitigate the effects of global trade uncertainties.
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