On Monday, Goldman Sachs adjusted its stance on Toast Inc. (NYSE: NYSE:TOST), shifting the stock's rating from Buy to Neutral. The firm, however, increased the price target to $45.00, up from the previous target of $34.00.
According to InvestingPro data, the stock appears overvalued at current levels, with the stock trading near its 52-week high of $44.12. The revision reflects a mixed perspective, acknowledging the company's positive performance yet signaling a more cautious approach moving forward.
The decision to downgrade comes after Toast's shares witnessed a significant surge, climbing 138.44% year-to-date. With impressive revenue growth of 29.5% and a market capitalization now reaching $24.73 billion, Goldman Sachs acknowledges the company's success in improving operating leverage and the potential for price increases to sustain gross profit growth.
The initial optimism was also based on the valuation upside, as Toast's trading moved more in line with its payments peers, suggesting room for growth towards a software-based valuation framework. InvestingPro analysis reveals 12 additional key insights about Toast's performance and valuation metrics.
Despite the downgrade, the new price target represents a 32% increase from the previous target, indicating an adjustment to the recent valuation uptick for companies with pro-cyclical exposures. This rise in the target price is a nod to the company's robust performance and the broader market's receptiveness to its business model.
Notably, InvestingPro data shows that 5 analysts have revised their earnings upwards for the upcoming period, and the company is expected to achieve profitability this year.
Goldman Sachs has expressed a belief that Toast's near-term fundamentals are likely to remain stable, which has influenced their revised rating. The firm's analysts suggest that the current stock price now adequately reflects the positive developments that were previously anticipated, leading to a more balanced view of the stock's risk-reward profile.
For a comprehensive analysis of Toast's valuation and growth prospects, investors can access the detailed Pro Research Report available exclusively on InvestingPro, covering over 1,400 US stocks with expert insights and actionable intelligence.
The adjustment by Goldman Sachs is a direct response to market dynamics and Toast Inc.'s performance. It underscores the firm's ongoing analysis of the company within the context of its sector and the overall financial landscape.
The updated rating and price target are indicative of a shift in strategy based on the latest available data and market trends.
In other recent news, Toast Inc. has been in the spotlight following a strong Q3 performance.
The cloud-based restaurant software company reported a significant expansion with approximately 7,000 net new locations, a 28% year-over-year increase, bringing the total to nearly 127,000.
Recurring gross profit streams grew by 35%, with adjusted EBITDA reaching $113 million. Following these developments, DA Davidson lowered its stock target for Toast Inc. by 20%, but maintained a Buy rating due to strong EBITDA growth.
Mizuho (NYSE:MFG) Securities, on the other hand, increased its price target for Toast from $33.00 to $40.00, maintaining an Outperform rating. This positive adjustment reflects the company's ability to raise its annual recurring non-GAAP Gross Profit forecast from 27-29% to 32-33%, a testament to its operational strength.
In addition to financial growth, Toast launched new customer engagement products and expanded into food and beverage retail and international markets, including a partnership with Potbelly (NASDAQ:PBPB) Sandwich Works. However, operational expenditures increased by 11% due to investments in sales, marketing, and research and development.
For the full year, Toast projects an adjusted EBITDA between $352 million to $362 million, reflecting a 26% margin. These are the recent developments surrounding Toast Inc.
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