On Tuesday, DA Davidson maintained a Buy rating on e.l.f. Beauty (NYSE:ELF), with a price target of $223.00. The firm observed a recent uptick in year-over-year (Y/Y) point-of-sale (POS) growth, noting an increase to +16.8% from +14.7% the previous week. Despite this growth, there was a slight deceleration in the two-year stack.
Analysts at DA Davidson expect that as prior-year comparisons become easier in the coming weeks, with figures dipping into the +40% range, there could be a potential for POS growth to exceed 20% Y/Y if the two-year stack is maintained.
The firm anticipates that trading for e.l.f. Beauty may experience volatility until evidence of POS growth acceleration emerges. Nonetheless, DA Davidson predicts that e.l.f. Beauty is positioned to surpass consensus estimates for the second fiscal quarter of 2025, although they caution that the extent of the upside and potential guidance raises might be modest.
The $223 price target set by DA Davidson is based on a multiple of 38 times the estimated EBITDA for calendar year 2025, which is projected to be $333 million. This valuation reflects the firm's confidence in e.l.f. Beauty's financial prospects and market performance.
In other recent news, e.l.f. Beauty has demonstrated strong financial growth with a 50% increase in net sales and an 80 basis point growth in gross margin. The company's adjusted EBITDA for the quarter reached $77 million, marking a 22-quarter streak of sales growth.
In response to these developments, Baird raised its price target for e.l.f. Beauty shares from $230 to $240, while maintaining an Outperform rating.
Piper Sandler also defended the company's shares despite a slight sales deceleration, maintaining its Overweight rating and $260.00 stock price target. The firm believes that e.l.f. Beauty's higher-growth segments such as digital, international, and Naturium brands have the potential to outperform expectations.
Additionally, e.l.f. Beauty has authorized a new $500 million share repurchase program, following the full utilization of its previous $25 million repurchase program. This decision reflects the company's robust cash flow and commitment to driving long-term shareholder value.
Lastly, e.l.f. Beauty has raised its full-year outlook, projecting net sales growth of 25-27% and adjusted EBITDA growth of 26-28%.
InvestingPro Insights
As investors consider DA Davidson's optimistic perspective on e.l.f. Beauty (NYSE:ELF), real-time data from InvestingPro provides additional context. With a robust revenue growth rate of 68.32% over the last twelve months as of Q1 2025, e.l.f. Beauty demonstrates a strong expansion in sales. This aligns with analysts' expectations of sales growth in the current year, reinforcing the company's growth trajectory.
The company's gross profit margin stands impressively at 70.91%, highlighting efficient operations and strong pricing power. This financial health is further supported by the fact that e.l.f. Beauty's liquid assets exceed its short-term obligations, suggesting a solid liquidity position. However, the firm's high P/E ratio of 63.49 suggests a premium market valuation that investors should be mindful of, as it trades at a high multiple relative to near-term earnings growth.
For those looking to dive deeper into e.l.f. Beauty's financials and future prospects, InvestingPro offers additional insights. There are 18 more InvestingPro Tips available, which can provide investors with a more comprehensive analysis to inform their investment decisions. These tips can be accessed by visiting the dedicated InvestingPro page for e.l.f. Beauty at https://www.investing.com/pro/ELF.
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