BofA Securities has maintained a Buy rating and a $179.00 price target on Crocs , Inc. (NASDAQ: NASDAQ:CROX), emphasizing the stock's attractive valuation and the company's consistent performance.
The firm believes that the footwear manufacturer's current price-to-earnings ratio of 9x is reasonable and that continued strong execution could lead to an improved valuation multiple.
The discussion surrounding Crocs centers on whether the core business in North America will keep decelerating. During the last earnings call on August 1, management expressed caution regarding the U.S. consumer outlook and anticipated flat sales in North America for the second half of 2024, compared to a 5.5% growth in the first half of the year.
Concerns have also been raised about the shift in Crocs' dealings with Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), moving from a wholesale to a direct-to-consumer model last September, and whether this change is obscuring any potential underlying issues.
Analysts at BofA Securities have projected that the transition with Amazon will positively influence Crocs' total sales growth by 150 basis points for the year.
For the latter half of 2024, a modest growth of 1% in North America is forecasted, and meeting this guidance is expected to mitigate worries about the brand's vitality, particularly if the fourth quarter shows continued positive growth.
Crocs achieved a historic second quarter with revenues exceeding $1.1 billion, the highest in the company's history. The company's adjusted earnings per share (EPS) rose by 12% to $4.01, achieving a record free cash flow.
These financial results have been attributed to growth in brand awareness, market share gains, and product diversification. Piper Sandler resumed coverage of Crocs with an Overweight rating, emphasizing the brand's attractive valuation and performance.
Meanwhile, Williams Capital upgraded Crocs stock from Hold to Buy, following the recent announcement that Sidney Sweeney, actress, and producer, has become the new face of HEYDUDE, a Crocs brand. Despite a revenue decrease for the HEYDUDE brand, Crocs brand revenues grew by 11%.
InvestingPro Insights
Recent analysis from InvestingPro provides a deeper dive into Crocs, Inc.'s financial health and market performance. With a market capitalization of $7.47 billion and a notably low P/E ratio of 9.44, the company is trading at a discount relative to its near-term earnings growth. This aligns with BofA Securities' assessment of the stock's attractive valuation. Furthermore, the company's revenue for the last twelve months as of Q2 2024 stands at approximately $4.05 billion, with a gross profit margin of 57.11%, showcasing the brand's strong profitability.
InvestingPro Tips highlight that despite 11 analysts revising their earnings downwards for the upcoming period, Crocs has been actively engaged in share buybacks, which could signal management's confidence in the company's future. Additionally, Crocs' liquid assets surpass its short-term obligations, suggesting financial stability. For investors looking for more comprehensive analysis, there are additional InvestingPro Tips available at https://www.investing.com/pro/CROX, which provide further insights into Crocs' financial metrics and market performance.
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