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Investing.com - A surge in GMS shares following recent speculation around a potential bidding war has left the risk-to-reward profile of the stock more "balanced," analysts at Raymond (NSE:RYMD) James said in a note downgrading their rating of the building-products distributor.
Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported that DIY chain Home Depot (NYSE:HD) was making an offer for GMS, citing people familiar with the matter. However, the exact price or timing of Home Depot’s bid could not be determined, the WSJ noted. Home Depot also declined to comment on the rumors.
The report came one day after serial dealmaker Brad Jacobs’ QXO announced it had submitted its own unsolicited proposal to purchase GMS for roughly $5 billion, or $95.20 a share in cash.
Georgia-based GMS, which supplies tools and building materials for consumers and contractors, confirmed that it had received QXO’s offer and would review it.
GMS has been at the center of recent speculation over a potential takeover, as firms look to take advantage of a recent need for more housing in spite of tariff-related economic uncertainty. Last year, Home Depot notched a deal to snap up SRS Distribution, a seller of professional roofing goods, for $18.25 billion, including debt, betting on increased spending by contractors and construction businesses.
Shares in GMS, which had already spiked in recent weeks, soared by more than 30% over the five trading days ending on Tuesday, when the stock price finished at $99.69. Its market capitalization now stands at nearly $3.8 billion.
Lowering their rating of GMS to "market perform" from "outperform," the strategists said that, with the firm’s shares now trading at a level higher than QXO’s offer price, there is "limited incentive for another buyer to put forth a bid well above" where the stock currently stands.
They added that, given "the unlikelihood of QXO to raise its offer even in the event of an over-the-top bid, we now view the risk/reward as more balanced."
"While there are other potential buyers who could have interest in GMS, we view buyer involvement outside of QXO [or] Home Depot to be unlikely," the analysts wrote.