Raymond James sets $40 target on SmartStop Self Storage stock

Published 28/04/2025, 11:58
Raymond James sets $40 target on SmartStop Self Storage stock

On Monday, Raymond (NSE:RYMD) James initiated coverage on SmartStop Self Storage , traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker (NYSE:SMA), with an Outperform rating and a price target of $40.00. The $1.3 billion market cap company, currently trading at $33.45, has seen its stock approach its 52-week high of $35.07. The firm’s analysts highlighted the company’s high-quality portfolio and operational capabilities as on par with established industry peers like Public Storage (NYSE:PSA), Extra Space Storage (NYSE:EXR), and CubeSmart (NYSE:CUBE).

The analysis pointed to two key advantages for SmartStop Self Storage: the potential for higher organic growth and margin improvement, and a more significant impact from external growth due to the company’s smaller size. According to InvestingPro data, the company maintains a healthy gross profit margin of 69.29%, though it currently faces profitability challenges with negative earnings per share of -$0.20 over the last twelve months. These factors are seen as differentiators that could drive the company’s performance.

Raymond James also noted the current market dynamics, mentioning that self storage Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) are presently under-owned by REIT-focused investors, despite having a history of strong performance. This under-ownership is seen despite the sector’s historical trend of outperforming the average REIT.

The analysts believe that the downside risk for SmartStop Self Storage is limited, especially considering that the self storage REIT sector is trading below its historical relative valuation spreads compared to the REIT average. This assessment suggests a favorable risk-reward scenario for investors considering SmartStop Self Storage shares. The strong analyst consensus, as tracked by InvestingPro, supports this view with a bullish 1.5 rating, while additional financial health metrics and insights are available to Pro subscribers.

The Outperform rating and $40.00 price target reflect a positive outlook for SmartStop Self Storage, as Raymond James anticipates the company to perform better than the overall market based on the identified growth opportunities and market position.

In other recent news, SmartStop Self Storage has garnered attention with several firms initiating coverage on its stock. Notably, Stifel has given the company a Buy rating with a price target of $40.00, highlighting SmartStop’s diversified portfolio and financial fortification post-IPO. Similarly, Truist Securities, Baird, and KeyBanc have all set a price target of $38.00, each with a positive outlook on the company’s growth potential and strategic positioning. Truist Securities emphasized SmartStop’s significant market exposure and projected funds from operations growth. Baird’s Outperform rating is based on the company’s potential expansion in Canadian and U.S. markets, while KeyBanc noted the company’s reduced leverage and strategic acquisitions as key growth drivers.

JPMorgan also initiated coverage with an Overweight rating and a price target of $36.00, citing SmartStop’s expansive reach and promising growth prospects. The firm noted the company’s potential for acquisitions and its strategic focus on building market scale. Analysts across the board have highlighted the Managed REIT platform as a potential growth area, despite some associated risks. SmartStop’s recent IPO, which raised $875 million, has positioned the company for future investments and growth. These developments reflect a broad consensus among analysts on the company’s strong market position and growth potential.

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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