UBS raises Trainline stock rating to Buy, price target to GBP4.80

Published 23/01/2025, 11:58
UBS raises Trainline stock rating to Buy, price target to GBP4.80

On Thursday, UBS analyst Ivar Billfalk-Kelly upgraded Trainline Plc (LON:TRNT). (TRN:LN) (OTC: TNLIY) stock from Neutral to Buy, setting a new price target of GBP4.80, a slight decrease from the previous GBP4.90. The upgrade follows a review of recent government actions regarding the consolidation of train operating companies' ticketing websites. According to InvestingPro data, Trainline boasts impressive gross profit margins of 78.29% and maintains a strong financial health score of 3.26, labeled as "GREAT" by the platform's comprehensive analysis system.

Billfalk-Kelly believes that the market's concerns about the government's plans are exaggerated. The government has indicated that it will work with third-party retailers to ensure a competitive environment where no single entity can undercut prices. This approach suggests that Trainline, which currently holds approximately 35% market share, is unlikely to face significant competition from new government initiatives.

The analyst pointed out that UBER, which has tried to expand its market share with aggressive promotions, has not made significant inroads into Trainline's customer base, holding less than 3% compared to Trainline's strong position. This situation implies a limited likelihood of customers switching away from Trainline's services.

Additionally, the potential shutdown of train operating companies' websites could inadvertently benefit Trainline by driving users to its platform. This shift could positively affect the company's performance beyond current expectations. Despite anticipating some negative impact from the loss of white labelling operations, which UBS estimates at around £10 million from fiscal year 2028, the analyst considers the market's projected £19 million impact to be overstated. InvestingPro analysis reveals that Trainline's revenue grew by 19.44% in the last twelve months, with analysts forecasting continued growth of 12% for the current fiscal year. The company's attractive PEG ratio of 0.21 suggests potential undervaluation relative to its growth prospects.

In conclusion, UBS's revised outlook for Trainline takes into account the company's robust market share, the government's collaborative stance with third-party retailers, and the potential for increased adoption of Trainline's platform, leading to the decision to upgrade the stock to a Buy rating. With a market capitalization of $1.92 billion and strong fundamentals, including a return on equity of 18% and a healthy Altman Z-Score of 24.27, the company shows promising financial stability. For deeper insights into Trainline's valuation metrics and 12 additional ProTips, visit InvestingPro.

In other recent news, Trainline Plc's stock has been downgraded from Buy to Neutral by UBS, citing a potential slowdown in ticket sales growth. Despite this, UBS has increased Trainline's price target to GBP4.90, up from the previous GBP4.10, reflecting a more optimistic view of the company's financial performance. This change is based on the company's strong recent performance and improved profitability expectations, underscored by a 78.29% gross profit margin and 19.44% revenue growth.

UBS acknowledges Trainline's robust commercial momentum, as evidenced by its impressive half-year results, leading to an upward revision in the company's guidance. The firm sees potential benefits for Trainline from the ongoing digitalization of the UK's rail system and intensifying competition in the European high-speed rail sector. However, UBS suggests that the UK market may have fully recovered, potentially leading to a deceleration in ticket sales growth.

Despite these positive indicators, UBS expressed skepticism about the emergence of significant competition in France before fiscal years 2027/28, which could limit Trainline's growth in the French market in the immediate future. These are recent developments that investors should keep in mind while making investment decisions in the context of Trainline's future prospects.

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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