On Thursday, Jefferies made a bullish move on Zoom Video Communications Inc. (NASDAQ:ZM) by upgrading the stock from Hold to Buy and raising the price target to $100 from $85. The upgrade comes with a positive outlook on the company's prospects through 2025. According to InvestingPro analysis, Zoom maintains a "GREAT" financial health score and appears undervalued based on its Fair Value assessment.
The firm's analyst cited several factors that contribute to the more favorable view of Zoom's future performance. One of the key drivers for the upgrade is the potential for AI monetization to accelerate revenue growth.
Additionally, Zoom is increasingly integrating its services into broader enterprise workflows, which goes beyond its core communications offerings. The company's impressive 75.8% gross profit margin demonstrates strong operational efficiency, while 23 analysts have recently revised their earnings expectations upward.
The analyst also pointed out that the expectations set for fiscal year 2026 appear to be reasonable and achievable. Furthermore, the potential for effective capital management to improve returns was highlighted as another reason for the upgrade. With a robust current ratio of 4.6 and more cash than debt on its balance sheet, Zoom appears well-positioned for strategic investments.
Zoom's current enterprise value to free cash flow (EV/FCF) multiple is 11 times the fiscal year 2027 projections, which is considered low compared to the average of the communications sector at 13 times and the IGV (a software index) at 31 times. The new price target of $100 is based on a 14 times EV/2027 FCF multiple.
The analyst's statement concluded with a reaffirmation of the upgrade and price target increase: "We believe any one of these items could drive a re-rating. Upgrade to Buy, raise PT to $100 (14x EV/2027 FCF)." This reflects a confidence in Zoom's potential for a valuation increase in the coming years.
In other recent news, Zoom Video Communications has been the focus of numerous financial analysts following its impressive third-quarter earnings report. The company reported a 4% year-over-year revenue increase, reaching $1.178 billion, surpassing expectations. Zoom's forecast for fiscal year 2025 anticipates total revenue to be between $1.175 billion and $1.180 billion, surpassing analysts' expectations of $1.170 billion. This is attributed to the company's efforts to grow its share of spending among current customers by introducing innovative solutions.
Wedbush, Piper Sandler, Mizuho (NYSE:MFG) Securities, Benchmark, and Rosenblatt Securities have all revised their price targets for Zoom, citing reasons ranging from stable growth in enterprise and online segments to the company's expanding product offerings and reduced risk of competition.
Zoom's product offerings, including the Contact Center and Workvivo, are gaining traction, contributing to the company's momentum. The company also highlighted its commitment to AI innovation with the introduction of Zoom AI Companion 2.0.
Furthermore, Zoom's Board of Directors authorized an additional $1.2 billion for its share repurchase program, aiming to execute it by the end of fiscal year 2026. Despite these positive developments, some analysts, including those from Goldman Sachs, Citi, and Bernstein, expressed cautious stances due to concerns about the sustainability of revenue growth. These are recent developments that investors should consider in their analysis of Zoom Video Communications.
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