UBS cuts Stanley Black & Decker target to $100, maintains Buy

Published 13/05/2025, 15:40
UBS cuts Stanley Black & Decker target to $100, maintains Buy

On Tuesday, UBS analyst Damian Karas revised the price target for Stanley Black & Decker (NYSE:SWK) stock, reducing it to $100 from the previous $120, while continuing to recommend a Buy rating. The adjustment follows the latest developments in the US-China trade relations, which could serve as a significant positive influence for the company.

The US/China trade deal announced today has the potential to positively impact Stanley Black & Decker, especially as the company’s shares have been trading near their lowest levels in decades. The reduction of China tariffs from 145% to 30% is expected to improve investor sentiment toward the company, which has suffered from high tariff exposure relative to its industry peers and the cyclical nature of tool demand.

Despite the lowered price target, UBS maintains a positive outlook on Stanley Black & Decker’s future performance. The company is on track to achieve approximately $325 million in pretax cost savings this year due to previous operational improvements, which could enhance gross margins by around 200 basis points.

Karas notes that while the 2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimates have been lowered to reflect possible short-term challenges, such as price increase delays, supply chain adjustments, and demand uncertainties, confidence in the company’s prospects for 2026 and beyond remains high. The analyst believes that Stanley Black & Decker’s stock is currently undervalued, as it does not fully account for potential volume growth or significant margin improvements over the next two years.

The optimistic stance is further supported by ongoing progress in US trade negotiations, which could lead to better-than-expected margin expansion for Stanley Black & Decker. UBS reaffirms the Buy rating, indicating a belief in the company’s ability to overcome near-term obstacles and achieve long-term financial growth.

In other recent news, Stanley Black & Decker reported its first-quarter earnings for 2025, with an earnings per share (EPS) of $0.75, surpassing analyst expectations of $0.66. The company’s revenue for the quarter was $3.7 billion, just shy of the anticipated $3.71 billion. Despite the slight revenue miss, the company’s DEWALT brand continued to drive growth, and significant cost savings contributed to improved margins. Barclays (LON:BARC) analyst Julian Mitchell upgraded Stanley Black & Decker’s stock from Equal Weight to Overweight, raising the price target to $90, reflecting a more optimistic outlook due to eased U.S.-China trade tensions. Mitchell’s revised EPS estimates for 2025 and 2026 are $5 and $5.76, respectively, based on anticipated organic sales growth and margin expansion. The company maintains its 2025 GAAP EPS guidance at $3.30 ± 15¢ and adjusted EPS guidance at $4.50, expecting low single-digit sales increases. Stanley Black & Decker’s strategic focus on cost-saving measures and market expansion is aimed at navigating current challenges and achieving sustained growth.

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