Entain shares upgraded by Goldman Sachs to neutral on performance miss

Published 16/08/2024, 16:26
Entain shares upgraded by Goldman Sachs to neutral on performance miss

On Friday, Goldman Sachs adjusted its stance on shares of Entain PLC (ENT:LN) (OTC: GMVHF), upgrading the stock from Sell to Neutral. The firm also set a new price target of £7.10, revised from the previous target of £7.75. This change comes after a period of underperformance for Entain's shares, which saw a decline of approximately 29%, lagging behind the FTSE World Europe's 9% gain by roughly 38 percentage points.

The original downgrade to Sell was based on expectations that Entain's fundamentals would take longer to improve, with potential downside risks to consensus estimates.

Concerns included Entain's valuation not fully accounting for the company's weak near-term online growth, possible lower-than-expected earnings per share (EPS), poor free cash flow conversion, and sustained higher leverage. Moreover, there were uncertainties regarding the valuation of BetMGM within Entain's share price and potential lower earnings for BetMGM.

Despite the upgrade, Goldman Sachs still recognizes that Entain's fundamentals are weaker compared to its peers within the gaming industry. The firm acknowledges that Entain has more work to do in order to achieve a successful business turnaround. However, the revised rating suggests that the current valuation of Entain's shares now more accurately represents the balance of risks and rewards.

Goldman Sachs' reassessment is based on the recent performance of Entain's stock and a reevaluation of the company's potential to address its challenges. The new price target of £7.10 reflects this updated perspective on the company's value and future prospects.

Investors and market watchers will be monitoring Entain's progress closely, as the company strives to strengthen its online growth and financial performance in alignment with industry standards. The upgrade to Neutral indicates a shift in expectations, with Entain's valuation now considered to be more in line with its current market position and potential for improvement.

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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