Morgan Stanley sets Dover stock price target at $185 with Equalweight rating

Published 14/04/2025, 09:30
Morgan Stanley sets Dover stock price target at $185 with Equalweight rating

On Monday, Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) initiated coverage on Dover Corp (NYSE:DOV), a diversified global manufacturer, bestowing an Equalweight rating and setting a price target of $185. The new assessment reflects a recognition of the company’s potential for improved growth, as Dover has enhanced its portfolio to better align with expanding markets, particularly in biopharma and clean energy sectors. According to InvestingPro data, Dover demonstrates strong financial health with a GOOD overall score, and notably has raised its dividend for 54 consecutive years, showcasing its commitment to shareholder returns.

The firm acknowledges that Dover has historically seen a modest compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 2% over the last decade. However, analysts at Morgan Stanley project that the company is poised for a more robust growth trajectory moving forward. This optimism is tempered by the observation that consensus forecasts already anticipate a significant acceleration in growth, expecting an organic CAGR of 4% from 2025 to 2027, which is nearly triple Dover’s historical performance. The company currently trades at a P/E ratio of 16x with a healthy current ratio of 2.04, indicating strong liquidity management.

Morgan Stanley anticipates that Dover will increase its organic growth to a mid-single-digit (MSD) rate in 2025, potentially outpacing its peers as it moves past acute headwinds of 300 to 400 basis points. Despite this, there are concerns regarding the sustainability of this growth. Analysts express caution over the possibility that once the company normalizes comparative figures, the growth rate may revert to a low-single-digit (LSD) rate. This potential for a growth slowdown poses a challenge for Dover’s stock to achieve a higher rating in the future.

The analyst’s commentary underscores the delicate balance between Dover’s strategic positioning in growth markets and the pressures of market expectations. While the company’s shift towards sectors with strong secular growth is acknowledged, the question of whether this will translate into a lasting re-rate of the equity remains open.

In other recent news, Duverio reported stable gross revenues of $479 million for the fourth quarter of 2024, maintaining the same level as the previous year. Despite this stability, the company’s EBITDA, excluding non-recurring items, decreased by 7.8% to $165 million. The acquisition of Gartan contributed $15-16 million in revenue and $7 million in EBITDA, highlighting its strategic value. Looking forward, Duverio has set ambitious targets for 2025, projecting gross revenues between $510 and $615 million and an EBITDA range of $210 to $220 million. In terms of mergers, the company has been focusing on the integration of Gartan, with 20% of planned synergies already realized. Analyst firms have not indicated any upgrades or downgrades for Duverio, but the company’s strategic initiatives and market positioning suggest confidence in its future performance. The company also exceeded its annual gross book value target by 25%, reaching $9.9 billion. These recent developments underscore Duverio’s commitment to growth and operational efficiency amidst a challenging market environment.

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