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American Tower stock holds Outperform at BMO, data centers seen as investment focus

EditorAhmed Abdulazez Abdulkadir
Published 10/30/2024, 11:53 AM
AMT
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On Wednesday, BMO Capital Markets adjusted its outlook on American Tower Corporation (NYSE:AMT), reducing the price target from $255.00 to $245.00. Despite the lower target, BMO Capital sustained its Outperform rating on the stock. The firm's analyst pointed out that American Tower's third-quarter performance was complicated by discontinued operations, which obscured the financial picture. However, when looking more closely, the underlying results showed some improvements.

The unchanged guidance for continuing operations' Adjusted Funds From Operations (AFFOps) was a positive note. In the U.S. market, leasing activity was slightly below expectations, but ongoing carrier activity is on an upward trend. The analyst also highlighted that the projected growth of 4.5% for 2025 is more promising than previously anticipated.

Data centers were identified as a particularly strong area for American Tower, with investments in this sector expected to outpace others. While the initial 2025 AFFOps target of $10.50 was considered somewhat conservative, it was suggested that this figure likely includes a margin of caution.

BMO Capital concluded that, in their view, American Tower's valuation remains attractive. They based this on a 20 times multiple of the company's projected 2025 Adjusted Funds From Operations. Despite the adjustment to the price target, the overall outlook for American Tower by BMO Capital suggests confidence in the company's performance and growth prospects.

In other recent news, American Tower Corporation reported lower-than-expected Q3 earnings, with total revenue reaching $2.52 billion, falling short of the $2.76 billion estimate. This was primarily due to a decrease in its leasing business, attributed to reduced telecom spending.

The company's full-year 2024 total property revenue forecast was revised to between $9.89 billion and $9.98 billion. Analysts from Scotiabank and Wells Fargo adjusted their stock price targets for American Tower, citing factors like the sale of its Indian assets and a slight downward revision in expected organic tenant billing growth.

American Tower's subsidiary, CoreSite, launched AWS Direct Connect's native 400 Gbps (400G) Dedicated Connections at select locations, aiming to cater to applications requiring ultra-high bandwidth and low latency. Furthermore, American Tower finalized the sale of its Indian subsidiary, ATC India, to Data Infrastructure Trust for approximately $2.5 billion, a strategic move expected to streamline operations and enhance financial metrics. Following this transaction, BMO Capital Markets raised their price target for American Tower's shares to $260.00.

These are among the latest developments for American Tower Corporation, a leading player in wireless and broadcast communications infrastructure. The company also declared a quarterly cash distribution of $1.62 per share, following its consistent performance in the communications infrastructure sector.

InvestingPro Insights

Building on BMO Capital's analysis, recent data from InvestingPro offers additional context to American Tower Corporation's (NYSE:AMT) financial landscape. The company's market capitalization stands at a substantial $100.99 billion, underscoring its significant presence in the Specialized REITs industry.

AMT's revenue for the last twelve months as of Q2 2024 reached $11.34 billion, with a modest growth of 3.89%. This aligns with the analyst's observation of improvements in the company's underlying results. The company's strong gross profit margin of 71.45% reflects efficient cost management, which could contribute to the positive AFFOps outlook mentioned in the article.

InvestingPro Tips highlight that AMT has raised its dividend for 13 consecutive years, maintaining payments for 14 years. This consistent dividend policy, coupled with a current yield of 3.04%, may appeal to income-focused investors. Additionally, the company's profitability over the last twelve months and analysts' expectations of continued profitability this year support BMO Capital's optimistic stance.

It's worth noting that AMT has experienced a significant price uptick of 26.04% over the last six months, potentially reflecting market confidence in its growth strategy, particularly in data centers as highlighted in the article.

For investors seeking a more comprehensive analysis, InvestingPro offers 8 additional tips that could provide further insights into AMT's financial health and market position.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

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