On Wednesday, BofA Securities revised its outlook on Spirit Airlines (NYSE:SAVE) shares, reducing the price target to $2.75 from the previous $3.25 while maintaining an Underperform rating on the stock. The adjustment follows Spirit Airlines' recent investor update, which revealed a revenue shortfall of around 300 basis points compared to analyst expectations.
The airline's revenue miss was anticipated in light of the subdued domestic revenue environment, a detail evident in Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL)' results announced last week and the negative updates from American Airlines (NASDAQ:AAL).
Spirit Airlines' financial performance was further impacted by lower ancillary revenues, attributed to changes in its ultra low-cost product offerings, including the bundling of ancillaries.
Spirit Airlines also has upcoming debt maturities, with $1.1 billion due in 2025 and $500 million due in 2026. These obligations are in the spotlight as the airline continues negotiations with creditors.
In response to these developments, BofA Securities has revised its estimated earnings per share (EPS) for the second quarter of 2024 and the full year 2024. The firm now expects Spirit Airlines to post an EPS of $(1.84) for the second quarter and $(5.54) for the year, a significant decrease from the previous estimates of $(1.18) and $(3.16), respectively. This revision underpins the decision to lower the price target for the airline's shares.
In other recent news, Spirit Airlines has released preliminary financial estimates for Q2 2024, along with projections for the full year. The company has also expanded its board of directors with the addition of Richard F. Wallman, a veteran financial expert with past roles at Honeywell International Inc (NASDAQ:HON)., IBM (NYSE:IBM), and Chrysler Corporation.
In a strategic move, Spirit Airlines extended its revolving credit facility's maturity to September 30, 2026, and adjusted its agreement with U.S. Bank National Association for credit card payment processing until at least December 31, 2025.
However, Susquehanna downgraded the company's share price target due to a challenging outlook, citing factors such as an excess of U.S. domestic capacity, an expected plateau in leisure demand, and a shift towards premium products.
Other recent developments include the approval of Spirit Airlines' 2024 Incentive Award Plan and the U.S. Treasury Department raising $556.7 million from the sale of warrants in major U.S. airlines, including Spirit Airlines. These are recent developments in the company's operations.
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