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On Wednesday, Citi made a significant change to its stance on Next Plc. (NXT:LN) (OTC: NXGPY) stock, upgrading from Sell to Neutral. This adjustment is accompanied by a notable increase in the price target, now set at £91.20, up from the previous £65.00. The revision reflects Citi's expectation of Next's improved performance in a strengthening UK consumer market.
The upgrade comes as Citi acknowledges the positive trends in real wages and consumer confidence in the UK, which have been on the upswing for three consecutive quarters.
These factors are seen as beneficial for Next's business, prompting the firm to revise its financial forecasts for the retailer. For the fiscal year 2024, Citi now projects a 0.9% increase in sales and a 2.0% rise in adjusted earnings per share (EPS) for Next.
Citi's analysis suggests that Next is on track to generate approximately £2 billion in surplus cash over the next five years. The firm anticipates that Next's strategic equity investments could yield up to a 10% upside to its fiscal year 2025 earnings per share estimates.
This positive outlook is based on the assumption that around half of Next's surplus cash will be allocated to equity investments, with an expected return on capital employed (ROCE) of 25%, while the remainder is likely to be used for share buybacks.
The new price target of £91.20 is grounded on a 13 times multiple of Next's forecasted fiscal year 2025 earnings per share, factoring in a 5% increase from potential earnings boosts tied to the company's investment and buyback strategies. Citi's revised rating and price target reflect a more constructive view on Next's financial prospects in the context of the current UK economic environment.
InvestingPro Insights
Following Citi's upgrade of Next Plc. (NXT:LN) (OTC: NXGPY), current data from InvestingPro further supports the positive outlook. Next Plc. is trading at a low P/E ratio of 13.21 relative to near-term earnings growth, which may indicate that the stock is undervalued given its growth prospects. Additionally, the company has demonstrated a strong financial position, with liquid assets exceeding short-term obligations and operating with a moderate level of debt. These factors suggest a solid foundation for the company’s financial health.
InvestingPro data shows that Next has experienced a 9.08% revenue growth in the last twelve months as of Q4 2024, with a gross profit margin of 44.74%, underlining the company's ability to maintain profitability. Moreover, with a dividend yield of 2.99% as of the last dividend date, investors may find Next an attractive option for both growth and income.
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