Health Catalyst shares target cut by Stephens, maintain Equal Weight rating

Published 08/08/2024, 12:20
Health Catalyst shares target cut by Stephens, maintain Equal Weight rating

Stephens has adjusted the price target for Health Catalyst Inc. (NASDAQ: NASDAQ:HCAT) to $7.00, down from the previous target of $8.00, while maintaining an Equal Weight rating on the stock in view of the second quarter results for the fiscal year 2024, which showed performance above expectations, countering the recent negative market sentiment that led to a 28% decline in share price over the last two weeks.

Health Catalyst's recent earnings report highlighted a "beat-and-maintain" quarter, which also included a reaffirmation of the company's early 2025 targets. These targets consist of double-digit revenue growth and a 50% increase in EBITDA.

Despite these positive indicators, Stephens noted that the company is undergoing a transformation that is affecting its valuation. The transition includes less reliance on software, lower average selling prices, and reduced growth leverage from high single-digit annual pricing escalators.

The company is also altering its professional services approach, moving from recurring full-time equivalent rentals and outsourced services to a project-based model. This change, according to the analyst, might lead to vulnerability to cuts when hospitals face margin pressures again.

Additionally, Health Catalyst has revised its expectations for fiscal year 2024 dollar-based retention, reducing it by 400 basis points.

On a more optimistic note, the company has raised its guidance for new platform customer additions, which are tracking ahead year-to-date and could potentially drive upside in fiscal year 2025.

This potential for increased customer growth supports the analyst's decision to reiterate the Equal Weight rating while adjusting the price target to reflect the company's evolving business profile and market conditions.

Health recently reported its Q1 2024 financial results, reporting a total revenue of $74.7 million and an adjusted EBITDA of $3.4 million, surpassing the midpoint of its guidance. This indicates a year-over-year revenue increase of 1%, highlighting the company's consistent growth. Furthermore, the company is actively evaluating potential acquisitions and maintains a strong cash position, ending Q1 with $327.8 million in cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments.

InvestingPro Insights

As Health Catalyst Inc. navigates through its transformation phase, real-time data from InvestingPro offers additional context for investors. With a market capitalization of $323.51 million, the company's valuation reflects the challenges it faces. The adjusted price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio in the last twelve months stands at -4.08, indicating that investors are anticipating future profitability despite current losses. Moreover, the company's revenue has grown by 5.24% over the same period, showing some positive momentum in its financial performance.

Two InvestingPro Tips highlight critical aspects for Health Catalyst. Firstly, the company holds more cash than debt on its balance sheet, providing some financial stability in turbulent times. Secondly, despite recent setbacks, analysts predict that the company will be profitable this year, offering a glimmer of hope for a turnaround in its fortunes. These insights, among others available on InvestingPro, can help investors gauge the company's potential for recovery and growth.

For those seeking a deeper dive into Health Catalyst's financial health and future prospects, InvestingPro provides additional analysis and tips. In fact, there are 9 more InvestingPro Tips available that could offer further guidance for investors considering this stock.

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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