Needham cuts Ultra Clean stock price target to $26, maintains Buy

Published 29/04/2025, 13:12
Needham cuts Ultra Clean stock price target to $26, maintains Buy

Tuesday, Ultra Clean Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:UCTT) experienced a significant adjustment as Needham analysts revised the company’s price target downward to $26 from the previous $40, while still upholding a Buy rating on the stock. The adjustment follows Ultra Clean’s latest financial results, which did not meet expectations and prompted a downward revision of future performance estimates. According to InvestingPro data, the stock has declined over 36% in the past six months, though analysis suggests the company is currently undervalued based on its Fair Value assessment.

The company’s recent earnings report revealed challenges, including technical difficulties encountered by key customers in Europe and China. These issues have contributed to a less optimistic outlook for the semiconductor market’s recovery pace. Despite these challenges, InvestingPro data shows the company maintains a healthy current ratio of 2.89, indicating strong liquidity to meet short-term obligations. Additionally, the ongoing global tariff situation is expected to continue affecting the business throughout the year, though the company’s gross profit margin stands at 17%.

Ultra Clean’s management has indicated that they expect the second half of 2025 to mirror the performance of the second quarter, with no anticipated half-over-half growth. While specific figures on the impact of tariffs were not disclosed, the company believes it can pass more than half of the component tariff costs on to its customers.

In response to the current market conditions, Ultra Clean announced plans to streamline its global operations. The goal is to enhance efficiency and safeguard profitability while aligning with a $4 billion revenue run rate, which represents the higher end of Ultra Clean’s margin model.

The revised price target by Needham reflects a more cautious outlook, as the analysts have adjusted their projections for the company’s performance in 2025 and 2026. Despite the reduction in the price target, Needham maintains a Buy rating, suggesting continued confidence in Ultra Clean’s long-term prospects.

In other recent news, Ultra Clean Holdings Inc. reported its financial results for the first quarter of 2025, revealing a shortfall in both earnings per share (EPS) and revenue. The company posted an EPS of $0.28, missing the forecasted $0.31, and reported revenue of $518.6 million, which was below the expected $561.33 million. These results highlight ongoing challenges in the semiconductor sector, compounded by technical issues with two key customers. Additionally, Ultra Clean Holdings has provided revenue guidance for the second quarter of 2025, estimating it to be between $475 million and $525 million, with an EPS range of $0.17 to $0.37. The company is implementing cost reduction measures and optimizing its supply chain to navigate market uncertainties. Interim CEO Clarence Granger emphasized a focus on cost reduction and scalability, stating that initiatives will gain momentum once economies of scale align with market recovery. The company also noted that geopolitical uncertainties and potential tariff impacts remain concerns. Ultra Clean Holdings is actively monitoring the geopolitical landscape and making necessary adjustments to maximize efficiency.

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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