Wolfe Research backs Workiva stock amid EU compliance concerns

Published 22/01/2025, 21:08
Wolfe Research backs Workiva stock amid EU compliance concerns
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Wednesday saw a notable rebound in Workiva (NYSE:WK) shares after Wolfe Research came out in defense of the company. The stock, which had dipped to its low of the day (LOD), recovered despite being down 14.5%. According to InvestingPro data, Workiva has demonstrated strong momentum with a 57.41% return over the past six months, though current analysis suggests the stock is slightly overvalued. Wolfe Research analysts provided insights after a brief discussion with Workiva’s investor relations team about a recent report that sparked investor concern.

The analysts relayed a message from Workiva’s management stating that "objectively, nothing has changed" in the wake of the news. This response came in reference to a report suggesting that the French and German authorities are considering making the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) less burdensome for smaller companies. The company maintains strong fundamentals with impressive gross profit margins of 76.72% and a healthy current ratio of 1.83, indicating solid financial positioning.

Workiva has previously indicated that their primary target market under CSRD consists of approximately 8,000 large enterprise, publicly-traded companies, rather than the full 50,000 companies affected by the directive. According to Wolfe Research, the proposed adjustments to the CSRD, which were recommended by the Chair of the French Accounting Standards Authority, would not significantly impact Workiva’s addressable market.

The analysts also noted that no formal proposals have been presented as of yet, and any changes to the law would need to pass through a vote by the European Union parliament, a process that could take time. They suggested that the market’s reaction may be overstated, given the absence of a formal proposal and the minimal impact the discussed changes would likely have on Workiva’s total addressable market (TAM). InvestingPro subscribers can access 12 additional key insights and a comprehensive analysis of Workiva’s market position in the Pro Research Report, which provides detailed valuation metrics and growth indicators.

Wolfe Research concluded that the stock movement was an overreaction, emphasizing that the potential changes outlined in the report would not materially affect Workiva’s long-term outlook. They maintain that the core fundamentals of Workiva’s target market remain intact despite the news, supported by the company’s robust 16.18% revenue growth and $5.31 billion market capitalization.

In other recent news, Workiva has been in the spotlight due to significant developments. Workiva retained its Outperform rating from BMO Capital Markets amid potential changes to the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). Despite the possibility of these alterations, BMO Capital’s analysis indicates that this is unlikely to significantly affect Workiva’s business.

Workiva also received upgrades from several financial firms including Raymond (NSE:RYMD) James, Stifel, and Baird, all of which cited the company’s strong performance and potential for sustained growth. Raymond James analyst Brian Peterson raised the rating from Market Perform to Outperform, while Stifel upgraded Workiva from Hold to Buy, and Baird maintained an Outperform rating, increasing the price target to $130.

The company’s revenue has been growing at 16.18%, and with a market capitalization of $5.7 billion, Workiva has identified the sustainability reporting sector in Europe as a major opportunity. These are the recent developments that have shaped Workiva’s current standing in the market.

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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