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On Friday, Goldman Sachs adjusted its price target on Vestas Wind Systems A/S (VWS:DC) (OTC: VWDRY), reducing it to DKK259.00 from the previous DKK274.00. Despite this change, the firm has opted to maintain its Buy rating on the stock. The revision follows the company's second-quarter results for 2024, which prompted a reassessment of forecasts for the wind turbine manufacturer.
The guidance for the fiscal year 2024 was downgraded, influencing the new price target. During the conference call, the company indicated that near-term Service EBIT margins are expected to align with recent quarters, around 20%, which contrasts with the prior estimate of 24%. Additionally, there are anticipated higher costs within the Offshore business for the fiscal year 2025 as the unit expands its capacity.
As a consequence of these factors, Goldman Sachs has reduced its EBIT estimates for Vestas by an average of 13% over the fiscal years 2024-2026. The lowered estimates reflect challenges to Vestas' profit recovery narrative. Nonetheless, the investment firm remains optimistic about the company's future.
Goldman Sachs believes that despite the short-term setbacks, the potential for stronger pricing and normalized costs will lead to a recovery in margins. This, coupled with a significant growth story propelled by increased volumes in renewable energy, supports the firm's continued endorsement of Vestas with a Buy rating. The analyst's comments underscore the expectation that the company's long-term prospects remain robust despite near-term headwinds.
In other recent news, Vestas Wind Systems A/S reported mixed results for the second quarter. The Danish wind turbine manufacturer's revenue fell by 4% to €3.3 billion due to a negative adjustment in the service sector.
However, this was partially offset by a 54% year-over-year increase in order intake for Power Solutions, driven by robust onshore project demand in Europe and Asia-Pacific. The service order backlog rose to nearly €35 billion, while the development pipeline stood at 29 gigawatts.
Vestas has also offered a revised full-year outlook, projecting a turnover of 16.5%-17.5% and an EBIT margin of 4%-5%. The company highlighted a strong cash flow for the first half of the year and a decrease in net interest-bearing debt relative to EBITDA. These recent developments underscore the company's ability to navigate a complex market environment while maintaining profitability and cash flow management.
Despite the decline in service revenue, Vestas anticipates significant revenue increases in the Power Solutions business due to improved installation volumes and prices. The company also expects the underlying profitability of the business to continue improving.
InvestingPro Insights
As Vestas Wind Systems A/S (VWS:DC) (OTC: VWDRY) navigates through its fiscal challenges, real-time data from InvestingPro offers a nuanced perspective on the company's financial health. With a current market capitalization of $23.69 billion, the company has been grappling with a negative P/E ratio, standing at -445.94, reflecting recent profitability struggles. Despite this, analysts have a positive outlook, with four analysts recently revising their earnings upwards for the upcoming period, hinting at a potential turnaround.
InvestingPro Tips highlight that Vestas is expected to become profitable this year, which aligns with the optimism from Goldman Sachs regarding the company's long-term prospects. Additionally, Vestas is recognized as a prominent player in the Electrical Equipment industry, operating with a moderate level of debt. However, it is worth noting that the company has not been profitable over the last twelve months as of Q1 2023, and it is currently trading at high EBIT and EBITDA valuation multiples.
For those considering an investment in Vestas, the InvestingPro platform lists several additional tips, providing deeper insights into the company's performance and potential investment value. To explore these further, investors can visit the dedicated InvestingPro page for Vestas at https://www.investing.com/pro/VWDRY.
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