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Needham analysts have revised the price target for Nlight (NASDAQ:LASR) shares, reducing it to $14.00 from the previous $16.00, while still maintaining a Buy rating on the company. According to InvestingPro data, analyst targets for the stock range from $12 to $20, with six analysts recently revising their earnings expectations downward. The adjustment follows Nlight's preannouncement of its fourth-quarter earnings before the 27th Annual Needham Growth Conference last week, which indicated revenues falling short of expectations.
The company's updated guidance suggested a top-line revenue approximately 9% below the midpoint of prior forecasts. This shortfall, amounting to around $4.5 million, has led to significantly lower gross margins and a larger-than-anticipated adjusted EBITDA loss. The revenue miss was evident in both the Commercial and Defense segments, with the Defense shortfall being particularly unexpected. InvestingPro data shows current gross profit margins at 20.53%, confirming the margin pressure, while the company maintains a strong balance sheet with a current ratio of 5.83.
Nlight's Commercial sector is currently facing a challenging environment, with no immediate signs of improvement. Despite these headwinds, Needham analysts express confidence in the stock's potential. They highlight the attractiveness of the risk-reward opportunity for Nlight, which trades at 1.7 times enterprise value to out-year revenues.
Based on InvestingPro's Fair Value analysis, the stock appears slightly overvalued at current levels. This valuation, coupled with the prospects of the company's Directed Energy business, supports their decision to maintain a Buy rating. The analysts believe that Nlight holds promise for both near-term and long-term growth, though investors should note the stock's high volatility with a beta of 2.19.
In other recent news, Nlight, a laser technology company, reported preliminary financial results for the fourth quarter that fell short of expectations. The company projected a revenue range between $46 million and $48 million, which is below their prior guidance of $49 million to $54 million. This shortfall has been attributed to persistent weakness in industrial markets, operational hurdles within their microfabrication business, and delays in the shipment of certain defense-related products. On the other hand, the company saw an 11% year-over-year revenue increase to $56.1 million in Q3 2024, largely driven by growth in its aerospace and defense segment.
Despite the revenue miss, Stifel analysts maintain a Buy rating on Nlight, suggesting confidence in the company's long-term prospects. Nlight leadership, including CEO Scott Keeney and CFO Joe Corso, recently participated in the 27th Annual Needham Growth Conference, engaging in one-on-one meetings with investors and presenting a webcast.
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