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Investing.com -- Shares in German integrated photonics company Jenoptik AG (ETR:JENGn) slid more than 4% on Friday after Deutsche Bank (ETR:DBKGn) downgraded the stock to Hold from Buy and trimmed the price target to €26 from €39.
The revision comes after Jenoptik released its audited fourth-quarter results and 2025 guidance on Tuesday.
“When we upgraded JEN back in October, the upgrade was based on a three-step path to higher valuation: 1) the disposal of Prodomax, 2) an improved segment structure and 3) the disposal of the Smart Mobility Services segment (SMS),” said Deutsche Bank analyst Michael Kuhn.
Together, these actions were expected to create a more streamlined company with improved visibility.
“After the release on Tuesday and the latest developments in North America, we think JEN has missed the window of opportunity for the disposal of Prodomax and might have to stick with the business beyond 2025,” Kuhn said.
Deutsche Bank anticipated that the company would implement its streamlining steps sequentially, but with rising uncertainties around SMS in North America, they now project that a potential disposal of SMS will occur no earlier than 2027.
As a result, the new segment reporting remains the only step toward enhancing visibility, which they note is "probably not enough."
Jenoptik’s Q4 results matched the preliminary figures announced in February, but its guidance for 2025 reflects caution due to ongoing macroeconomic uncertainties.
The company expects 2025 revenue to remain close to 2024 levels of €1,116 million, with a potential variance of plus or minus 5%, aligning with the consensus estimate of €1,128 million.
EBITDA margin guidance is set between 18-21%, compared to 19.9% in 2024 and a consensus of around 19.8%.
Capital expenditures are projected to be significantly lower than the €115 million spent last year, following the completion of its Dresden manufacturing facility.
For the full fiscal 2024, Jenoptik said its EBITDA increased by 5.7% to €221.5 million. Revenue grew by 4.7% to 1.12 billion euros.