On Monday, Baird upgraded Carrier Global (NYSE:CARR) stock from Neutral to Outperform, simultaneously raising the price target to $75 from $64.
The firm identified multiple catalysts that could drive the company's performance in the next 12-18 months. These include potential asset sales, more aggressive capital deployment strategies, and a resurgence in U.S. residential market trends.
The upgrade reflects Baird's optimism about Carrier Global's prospects for longer-term multiple expansion. The firm anticipates that Carrier's reconfigured portfolio and execution capabilities will contribute to its growth trajectory. Baird's analysis suggests that while Europe poses a significant risk, the rest of Carrier's portfolio is performing well or showing signs of improvement.
Carrier Global, a provider of heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, is anticipated to benefit from these strategic moves. The increased price target of $75 represents a notable rise from the previous target of $64, indicating a stronger confidence in the company's value proposition and market position.
The firm's commentary highlighted the potential for Carrier to leverage various growth levers. Baird's positive outlook is hinged on the expectation that Carrier will actively engage in asset sales and capital deployment, which could accelerate its growth and enhance shareholder value.
In summary, Baird's upgrade to an Outperform rating for Carrier Global underscores the firm's belief in the company's ability to navigate through potential market challenges, particularly in Europe, while capitalizing on opportunities within the U.S. residential sector and through strategic portfolio management.
In other recent news, Carrier Global Corporation has been making significant strides in its ongoing transformation. The company has recently finalized two major divestitures, selling its Industrial Fire business to Sentinel Capital Partners for $1.425 billion and its security business, Global Access Solutions, to Honeywell (NASDAQ:HON) for $4.95 billion. These sales are part of Carrier's strategy to streamline its operations and focus on its core businesses.
Mizuho Securities has raised the price target for Carrier Global shares to $65, maintaining a neutral stance on the stock. The firm's analysis takes into account various assumptions to align with the company's projected "core" earnings. Despite the increase in the price target, Mizuho has made no changes to its earnings estimates for Carrier Global.
Citi has upgraded Carrier Global's stock from Neutral to Buy, setting a new price target of $74.00. This upgrade reflects Citi's belief in Carrier's ability to navigate known challenges and complete its transformation into a pure-play HVAC entity by 2025.
The company's financial performance in the first quarter of 2024 was robust, with a 17% increase in sales to $6.2 billion and a 44% rise in adjusted operating profit to $927 million. Carrier's earnings per share grew by 19%, demonstrating its continued momentum.
Carrier plans to allocate the net proceeds from these sales toward reducing its debt, aiming to achieve a net leverage ratio of around 2 times by the end of 2024. The company also anticipates resuming share repurchases this year. The process of selling Carrier's Commercial and Residential Fire businesses is also underway and progressing as planned.
InvestingPro Insights
Baird's recent upgrade of Carrier Global (NYSE:CARR) to Outperform is further supported by a selection of metrics and tips from InvestingPro. According to real-time data, Carrier Global boasts a solid market capitalization of $59.47 billion, and while trading at a high earnings multiple with a P/E ratio of 45.63, the company is expected to see net income growth this year. The firm's revenue growth also appears robust, with a 9.35% increase over the last twelve months as of Q1 2024, and an even more impressive quarterly revenue growth rate of 17.24% in Q1 2024.
An InvestingPro Tip highlights Carrier's consecutive dividend raises for the past four years, which may appeal to income-focused investors. Additionally, the company is not just trading near its 52-week high but has also provided a strong return over the last three months with a price total return of 19.73%. This could signal a positive momentum that aligns with Baird's optimistic outlook. For those interested in deeper analysis, Carrier Global has many more InvestingPro Tips available, which can be accessed with the use of coupon code PRONEWS24 for up to 10% off a yearly Pro and a yearly or biyearly Pro+ subscription.
Overall, these insights from InvestingPro complement Baird's positive stance, painting a picture of a company with solid financials and a potential for continued growth and shareholder value enhancement.
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