UBS upgrades Wipro shares to Buy, raises price target after strong 3Q performance

Published 20/01/2025, 10:28
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On Monday, UBS analyst Shaleen Kumar upgraded Wipro Ltd (NS:WIPR). shares from Neutral to Buy, with an increased price target set at INR335.00, up from the previous INR325.00. The stock, currently trading at $3.44 and near its 52-week high of $3.75, has been consistently delivering at the upper end of its guidance for the past two quarters.

Wipro (NYSE:WIT) has provided a Q4 revenue guidance that ranges from a 1% decrease to a 1% increase quarter-over-quarter. Kumar suggests this forecast may be conservative and anticipates the company will perform closer to the higher end of this spectrum. According to InvestingPro, Wipro maintains strong financial health with an overall score of "GREAT."

Wipro's EBIT margin for the third quarter reached a 12-quarter peak at 17.5%, despite wage increases and seasonal furloughs during the period. This strong performance is reflected in the company's robust revenue of $10.47 billion and healthy gross profit margin of 31.4%. With the company expecting to maintain margins around this level, the analyst foresees potential margin upside due to factors like operating leverage, favorable foreign exchange trends, and a boost in consulting services.

The management's positive outlook regarding a resurgence in discretionary spending and heightened demand for its Capco services, particularly within the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) sector, adds to the optimism. Wipro's strong margin performance and guidance enhancement, coupled with an anticipated increase in capital allocation from 45-50% of net income to over 70%, are key drivers behind the upgrade.

Kumar's analysis indicates that Wipro's current valuation may not fully reflect the expected growth in its consulting division, which could lead to a market re-evaluation of the company's stock. Trading at a P/E ratio of 25.2, InvestingPro analysis suggests the stock is slightly overvalued at current levels. The upgrade and price target adjustment are based on higher earnings forecasts and the belief that the market will soon recognize the company's robust margin and increased capital allocation.

For deeper insights into Wipro's valuation and growth prospects, including 8 additional ProTips and comprehensive financial analysis, check out the full Pro Research Report available on InvestingPro.

In other recent news, Wipro Ltd . had a strong performance in 2024, surpassing the Nifty IT index with a 26% gain, as per Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS)'s analysis.

The firm expects Wipro to issue improved sequential growth guidance for the fourth quarter, albeit still falling short of larger-cap peers' forecasts. Morgan Stanley reiterated its Underweight rating on Wipro, noting that the company's utilization levels are nearing their peak.

Meanwhile, CFRA maintained its Hold rating on Wipro but adjusted the stock's price target to $4.00, reflecting updated earnings per share estimates for the fiscal years 2025 and 2026. The company reported a 21% increase in revenue to INR 6.12 billion for the second quarter of the fiscal year 2025, with operating profit margins improving to 16.8% due to better overall utilization.

CFRA later raised the price target on Wipro to $7.00, aligning with the company's peers based on a forward multiple for the fiscal year ending March 2026.

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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