Piper Sandler lifts Methanex stock rating, raises target to $48

Published 19/05/2025, 10:28
Piper Sandler lifts Methanex stock rating, raises target to $48

On Monday, Methanex (TSX:MX) Corporation (NASDAQ:MEOH) saw its stock rating upgraded by analysts at Piper Sandler from Neutral to Overweight. Accompanying the improved rating, the firm also increased the price target for Methanex shares to $48.00, up from the previous target of $36.00. The upgrade was influenced by a combination of recent fundamental data and positive outcomes from the last quarter, which are anticipated to have beneficial long-term effects on the company’s stock. According to InvestingPro data, the company maintains a strong financial health score of GREAT, with particularly robust cash flow and relative value metrics.

The revised valuation is based on a multiple of 5.7 times the estimated 2026 enterprise value to EBITDA (EV/EBITDA), an increase from the prior multiple of 4.9 times. Analysts at Piper Sandler explained that the boost in the multiple reflects an enhanced outlook for Methanex’s midcycle earnings potential. As earnings are currently below midcycle levels, the valuation multiple has been adjusted upward, which is a common trend for cyclical stocks. Current InvestingPro analysis indicates the stock is trading below its Fair Value, with a compelling PEG ratio of 0.42 and an impressive free cash flow yield of 35%.

The analysts have updated their financial model for Methanex to incorporate the company’s first-quarter 2025 earnings, second-quarter and full-year 2025 guidance, recent channel checks, and a revised forecast for oil and natural gas supply and demand (S/D) as well as pricing. Adjustments in the global supply landscape and some Methanex-specific factors could potentially improve the company’s underlying earnings in the future.

Methanex, which is the world’s largest producer and supplier of methanol to major international markets, stands to benefit from these positive shifts. The company’s performance and stock price are closely tied to the demand for methanol, which is used in various applications including energy, plastics, and pharmaceuticals.

The stock market responded to the announcement from Piper Sandler with an anticipated increase in investor interest in Methanex shares. As markets opened on Monday, investors were keen to see how the upgraded rating and raised price target would translate into Methanex’s stock performance on the NASDAQ exchange. The company currently trades at a P/E ratio of 10.18x, with a market capitalization of $2.26 billion.

In other recent news, Methanex Corporation has been the focus of several analyst updates regarding its stock valuation and market performance. Jefferies has maintained a Buy rating on Methanex but reduced its price target to $45, citing easing methanol market dynamics and expectations of reduced earnings in the second quarter. Similarly, Raymond (NSE:RYMD) James has also adjusted its price target downward to $40 while maintaining an Outperform rating, attributing the change to a weaker macroeconomic environment and declining global methanol prices. RBC Capital, on the other hand, has kept a Sector Perform rating with a price target of $55, noting economic uncertainties and challenges related to Methanex’s G3 technology.

In another development, Jefferies revised Methanex’s price target to $64 following an unexpected outage at the company’s G3 facility, which could impact volume outlooks for 2025. Despite these adjustments, analysts from Jefferies and Raymond James see potential for Methanex’s stock value to double in the future, driven by new methanol applications, especially in the marine sector. The company’s recent acquisition of OCI N.V.’s methanol and ammonia assets is also under scrutiny, with concerns about its timing and financial implications. Investors are closely watching Methanex’s strategic positioning and market developments as it navigates these challenges.

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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