Citi sees Endava stock under pressure as growth outlook disappoints

Published 20/09/2024, 11:34
Citi sees Endava stock under pressure as growth outlook disappoints


On Friday, Citi adjusted its financial outlook for Endava PLC (NYSE: NYSE:DAVA) stock, reducing the price target from the previous $33.00 to $30.00, while keeping a Neutral rating. This revision follows Endava's recent earnings report, which revealed lower-than-anticipated results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2025 and a full-year outlook that did not meet expectations.

The analyst from Citi noted that several factors contributed to the disappointing forecast. These include ongoing macroeconomic challenges, a decline in spending by major clients, and specific market and sector vulnerabilities, such as those in the payments industry and the UK market. Additionally, the trend of companies focusing on artificial intelligence is leading to longer decision-making processes for discretionary spending, which may also be affecting Endava's performance.

Despite these challenges, Endava is taking steps to improve its business prospects. The acquisition of GalaxE is seen as a positive move to enhance the company's diversification and support future growth. Endava is also investing in employee training, new technologies, and cross-selling opportunities. However, these initiatives are creating some pressure on near-term margins.

The Citi analyst anticipates that Endava's stock will likely trade within a narrow range until the company can demonstrate consistent execution and an uptick in growth trends. For now, the Neutral rating reflects a cautious stance on the stock's near-term performance potential.

In other recent news, Endava, a global technology services provider, reported mixed results in its Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Earnings Call. Despite facing economic challenges and reduced IT spending by major clients, the company managed a slight revenue increase for the quarter, while experiencing a decline for the full fiscal year. The company's Q4 FY'24 revenue rose 2.4% year-over-year to GBP194.4 million, but full fiscal year 2024 revenue declined by 6.8% to GBP740.8 million.

Endava has announced plans to diversify its business, launching Dava.X to specialize in AI, cloud, and cybersecurity, and forming strategic partnerships with OpenAI. Collaborations with the Phoenix Suns and Mercury are also underway to enhance service offerings. Despite bearish highlights such as decreased revenue from top clients and substantial drops in adjusted free cash flow, the company expects Q1 FY'25 revenue between GBP194 million and GBP195 million and full FY'25 revenue between GBP800 million and GBP810 million.

These are the recent developments for Endava as it navigates a challenging economic landscape and lays the groundwork for future expansion.


InvestingPro Insights


In light of the recent Citi analysis on Endava PLC (NYSE: DAVA), additional insights from InvestingPro can provide further context for investors. Endava's market capitalization stands at approximately $1.61 billion, suggesting a moderate size within the tech services sector. Despite the challenging economic landscape, Endava holds a substantial cash position relative to its debt, indicating financial resilience. This is complemented by the fact that its liquid assets exceed short-term obligations, providing flexibility in managing short-term financial commitments.

However, investors should note that the company's P/E ratio, as of the last twelve months leading up to Q3 2024, is 30.09, which may be considered high relative to industry averages, potentially signaling a premium on its earnings. Moreover, the stock has seen significant volatility, with a one-week price total return showing a sharp decline of 13.57%. This could be indicative of market reactions to recent developments and earnings reports.

For those looking deeper into Endava's financial health, InvestingPro features additional tips that can provide more nuanced investment considerations. Currently, there are six more InvestingPro Tips available for Endava at https://www.investing.com/pro/DAVA, offering insights such as expectations for profitability and dividend policies which can be crucial for investment decisions.

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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