Stifel maintains Procter & Gamble stock hold with $161 target

Published 22/01/2025, 14:48
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On Wednesday, Stifel analysts maintained a Hold rating on Procter & Gamble stock (NYSE:PG) with a steady price target of $161.00. The consumer goods giant reported its second-quarter fiscal year 2025 results, revealing sales that surpassed expectations and earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) that met the consensus estimates. Procter & Gamble achieved a 3% organic sales growth, slightly above the approximate 2% market consensus, and an EBIT of $5.7 billion, aligning with the expected figure.

Despite facing increased foreign exchange and commodity cost pressures, Procter & Gamble has upheld its full-year 2025 guidance. The company projects organic sales growth between 3% and 5%, which is in line with the consensus estimate of roughly 3%. Additionally, Procter & Gamble forecasts earnings per share (EPS) growth of 5% to 7%, centering around $6.98 at the midpoint, slightly above the consensus estimate of $6.94. The anticipated after-tax headwind from foreign exchange and commodity costs is now expected to be around $500 million, a rise from the previous estimate of approximately $200 million.

The second quarter saw organic sales composed of 2% volume growth and 1% from price and mix, marking a modest acceleration in volume growth on a two-year stack basis. The EBIT figure reflected a balance between slightly better-than-expected sales and a gross margin that was marginally below consensus. This was partly compensated by savings in selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expenses, despite the company's significant ongoing reinvestment efforts, which increased year-over-year by 210 basis points.

Stifel's analysis suggests that Procter & Gamble shares may see modest outperformance due to the company's stronger-than-anticipated sales growth. This outlook remains even as Procter & Gamble continues to navigate the challenges of a worsening foreign exchange climate.

In other recent news, Procter & Gamble (P&G) has seen a flurry of activity from financial analysts. Stifel reduced the company's stock price target to $161, citing expectations for organic sales growth around 3.5% and an earnings per share forecast of $6.94 for fiscal year 2025. Meanwhile, RBC Capital Markets maintained their Sector Perform rating on P&G stock, with a consistent price target of $164.00. Raymond (NSE:RYMD) James also held steady with an Outperform rating and a $190.00 price target.

P&G's recent announcement of a quarterly dividend of $1.0065 per share, marking the 134th consecutive year of dividend payments, was another major highlight. The company also plans to return $16-17 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases.

In terms of analyst activity, Deutsche Bank (ETR:DBKGn) lowered its stock price target for P&G to $188, while DA Davidson upgraded P&G stock from Neutral to Buy, raising the price target to $209. Both firms cited the company's performance and growth expectations as key factors in their decisions.

These are recent developments that reflect an evolving landscape for P&G. The company reported a 2% increase in organic sales for the first quarter, primarily driven by volume growth and pricing strategies. Lastly, P&G has committed to greater transparency regarding its wood-pulp supplier audits, aiming for more sustainable sourcing practices.

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