Gold prices steady ahead of Fed decision; weekly weakness noted
On Friday, Canaccord Genuity adjusted its outlook on Quipt Home Medical Corp. (NASDAQ: QIPT), reducing the price target to $6.00 from the previous $8.00 while still endorsing the stock with a Buy rating. The revision follows Quipt's recent performance, which fell short of both the analyst's and consensus estimates, primarily due to the expiration of the 75/25 blended rate and patient losses stemming from the shift to two competitors after last year's Humana (NYSE:HUM) capitation contracts.
Despite these challenges, Canaccord Genuity remains optimistic about Quipt's prospects. The firm notes that the company's organic growth has decelerated to approximately 3% year-over-year. However, the third-quarter revenue showed stability, contrasting with a 2.1% sequential decline in the second quarter.
The analyst highlights the stable year-over-year growth metrics for patient and setup/deliveries as positive indicators. In the third quarter, Quipt saw a 9.0% increase in unique patients served, a 6.7% rise in unique setups and deliveries, and a 10.8% boost in respiratory setup and deliveries, suggesting consistent demand.
Canaccord Genuity expresses confidence that Quipt's organic growth could potentially rebound to the 8-10% range once the effects of the 75/25 rate and the Humana patient shift are fully realized by early second quarter of fiscal year 2025, which would start in March 2024.
Additionally, Canaccord Genuity points out an uptick in bad debt expense, which increased by 100 basis points year-over-year to 5.0% and by 80 basis points sequentially. This rise was attributed to the Change cybersecurity event, marking an area of concern as it has deviated from several quarters of consistently lower levels.
On a positive note, Quipt's management has identified potential opportunities for market share gains following the Owens & Minor/Rotech merger. The management is also optimistic about the merger and acquisition landscape.
Canaccord Genuity suggests that if Quipt can navigate the current minor headwinds, which are expected to be temporary through the calendar year 2024, the stock could be attractive at a sub-4x EV/EBITDA ratio, despite some near-term uncertainties.
Quipt Home Medical Corp has been in the spotlight due to several developments. The company's stock target was recently lowered by both Benchmark and Canaccord Genuity, citing challenges such as the end of Medicare's 75/25 rate relief, a lost contract with a Medicare Advantage provider, and the aftermath of a cyberattack on Change Healthcare (NASDAQ:CHNG).
Quipt has recently reported its financial results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2024, with a 10% increase in revenue to $64 million and an adjus
ted EBITDA growth of 14% to $14.9 million. The company also announced a new $5 million share repurchase authorization.
Furthermore, Quipt is expanding into the diabetes market with a range of products that can be sold to its existing patient base without incurring additional expenses.
InvestingPro Insights
Quipt Home Medical Corp.'s recent stock performance and future outlook present a nuanced picture for investors. According to InvestingPro Tips, while the stock has experienced significant declines over the past week and month, trading near its 52-week low, analysts remain optimistic about the company's potential profitability this year. This is underscored by the expectation of net income growth and the valuation implying a strong free cash flow yield. Notably, Quipt does not pay a dividend, which may influence the investment decisions of those seeking regular income streams.
InvestingPro Data offers further context. With a market capitalization of $118.36M, Quipt's price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio stands at -28.06, reflecting its current lack of profitability over the last twelve months. However, the company's revenue growth remains robust at 29.31% for the same period, indicating potential for future earnings improvement. Additionally, the gross profit margin is substantial at 72.34%, suggesting efficient operations and strong pricing power.
For investors seeking a deeper dive into Quipt's financials and future prospects, additional InvestingPro Tips are available, offering valuable insights to inform investment decisions.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.