On Friday, Citi reaffirmed its Neutral rating on Commerzbank AG (CBK:GR) (OTC: OTC:CRZBY), with a price target of €13.70. The decision follows Commerzbank (ETR:CBKG)'s recent announcement of its updated financial goals. The bank now aims for a net income (pre-AT1 coupon) of €3.6 billion by 2027, which is approximately 15% higher than Visible Alpha consensus estimates. This increase is attributed primarily to an expected improvement in non-net interest income.
Commerzbank has also revised its Return on Tangible Equity (RoTE) target to 12.3% for 2027, up from the previous target of 11.5%. This figure takes into account tangible book value adjusted for accrued distributions. Citi analysts believe that on a reported basis, this RoTE goal equates to around 11%, compared to the Visible Alpha consensus of around 10%.
The bank's new CEO confirmed Commerzbank's commitment to pursuing a standalone strategy but also expressed a willingness to consider other options that may benefit shareholders. This statement comes as the bank prepares for its first meeting with Unicredit (BIT:CRDI), which has recently become a new shareholder.
The market's reaction to Commerzbank's ambitious targets may be contingent on the bank providing further details and demonstrating its ability to meet these objectives.
In other recent news, Commerzbank AG has been the subject of major financial developments. RBC Capital has adjusted its outlook on Commerzbank, increasing the price target to €20.00 from the previous €17.50, maintaining a Sector Perform rating. The revision reflects an increased standalone valuation and the potential for an acquisition deal, which now holds a 75% probability according to the analyst.
Similarly, Barclays upgraded its rating for Commerzbank from Underweight to Equalweight, raising the price target to €16.00, a significant increase from the previous €12.00. This decision was influenced by the market response to Unicredit's strategic stake acquisition in Commerzbank.
Moreover, Commerzbank's planned share buyback, expected to account for around 5% of its market capitalization between November 2024 and March 2025, is anticipated to mitigate potential downside risks. Both RBC Capital and Barclays' revised forecasts took into account current interest rate expectations and market trends, using sector-average price-to-earnings multiples in their analysis.
InvestingPro Insights
Recent data from InvestingPro sheds additional light on Commerzbank's financial position and market performance. The bank's P/E ratio of 9.31 and adjusted P/E ratio of 8.84 for the last twelve months as of Q2 2024 suggest that the stock may be undervalued relative to its earnings. This aligns with an InvestingPro Tip indicating that Commerzbank is trading at a low P/E ratio relative to its near-term earnings growth.
The bank's strong recent performance is evident in its impressive price returns, with a 23.79% increase over the past month and an 84.89% gain over the last year. These figures support another InvestingPro Tip highlighting Commerzbank's strong returns across various timeframes. The stock is currently trading at 100% of its 52-week high, further underscoring its recent momentum.
Commerzbank's revenue growth of 11.27% in the last twelve months as of Q2 2024 and its operating income margin of 36.21% for the same period indicate solid financial performance. These metrics, combined with the bank's ambitious targets discussed in the article, suggest that Commerzbank may be well-positioned to achieve its updated financial goals.
For investors seeking more comprehensive analysis, InvestingPro offers additional tips and insights, with 10 tips currently available for Commerzbank.
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