Fed Governor Cook sues Trump over firing attempt
On Monday, TD Cowen has updated its outlook on Skechers USA (NYSE:SKX), raising the footwear company's price target from $77.00 to $79.00, while maintaining a "Buy" rating on the stock. The firm attributes this positive adjustment to the company's accelerating innovation cycle and its competitive pricing strategy.
Skechers' ongoing innovation, particularly in its comfort technology, is seen as a key driver of momentum. This, combined with a market environment characterized by inventory normalization and a cautious consumer mindset, positions Skechers favorably against competitors who are currently restructuring. TD Cowen believes these factors create an opportunity for Skechers to increase its market share profitably.
The analyst from TD Cowen expects that Skechers' strategic focus on innovation and market positioning will lead to robust earnings growth. The firm forecasts a mid-teens compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in earnings per share (EPS) through the fiscal year 2028.
The new price target of $79.00 is based on a 16 times multiple of the forecasted fiscal year 2025 earnings per share (EPS) and an 8 times multiple of the enterprise value to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EV/EBITDA). This valuation reflects TD Cowen's confidence in Skechers' potential for sustained financial performance and market expansion.
In other recent news, Saks Fifth Avenue's parent company, HBC, has acquired its competitor Neiman Marcus in a deal valued at $2.65 billion. The acquisition is expected to strengthen the position of these luxury retailers, with tech giants Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) and Salesforce (NYSE:CRM) set to acquire minority stakes in the newly formed entity, Saks Global. Despite facing challenges due to a slowdown in consumer spending on high-end goods, the merger is anticipated to enhance their bargaining position.
Simultaneously, Skechers USA has been in the spotlight with Deutsche Bank, Wells Fargo, UBS, and BofA Securities providing positive outlooks. Deutsche Bank has set a price target of $82 on Skechers, highlighting its potential for revenue growth. Wells Fargo initiated coverage on Skechers with an Overweight rating and a price target of $83, emphasizing strong revenue and earnings per share growth prospects.
UBS maintained its Buy rating on Skechers, setting a price target of $88, predicting a compound annual growth rate of approximately 15% in earnings per share over the next five years. BofA Securities upgraded Skechers' stock from Neutral to Buy, raising the price target to $87.
These developments come as Skechers reported a record-breaking first quarter in 2024, with sales reaching $2.25 billion, a 12.5% increase from the previous year. The company's gross margin improved to 52.5%, and the operating margin reached 13.3%. As part of its expansion strategy, Skechers opened 52 new company-owned stores and 95 third-party stores in the first quarter, with plans to open between 155 to 170 new stores in 2024.
InvestingPro Insights
As Skechers USA (NYSE:SKX) garners a favorable outlook from TD Cowen, real-time data from InvestingPro further supports the optimistic sentiment. With a market capitalization of $9.71B and a robust P/E ratio of 16.6, which adjusts to 16.28 over the last twelve months as of Q1 2024, Skechers demonstrates a strong financial standing. The company's PEG ratio during the same period stands at a compelling 0.37, suggesting that the stock is potentially undervalued relative to its earnings growth. Additionally, the revenue growth of 8.17% over the last twelve months, coupled with a gross profit margin of 52.79%, underscores Skechers' efficiency and scalability.
InvestingPro Tips highlight the company's stock performance, indicating that despite recent underperformance over the last month with a -12.65% return, the long-term view remains positive with a high return over the last decade. Furthermore, with liquid assets surpassing short-term obligations and a moderate level of debt, Skechers appears well-positioned to navigate market fluctuations. Analysts also predict profitability for the company this year, reinforcing the potential for investment opportunities.
For investors seeking more in-depth analysis, there are additional InvestingPro Tips available at https://www.investing.com/pro/SKX. Use the coupon code PRONEWS24 to get up to 10% off a yearly Pro and a yearly or biyearly Pro+ subscription, and gain access to valuable insights that could further inform investment decisions. Currently, there are 5 more tips listed on InvestingPro that can provide a deeper understanding of Skechers' financial health and market prospects.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.