On Monday, Goldman Sachs initiated coverage on shares of Altice USA (NYSE:ATUS), assigning a Sell rating to the telecommunications and media company. The firm set a price target of $2.00 on the stock, pointing to several challenges that may impact the company's performance.
The coverage by Goldman Sachs suggests that Altice USA is contending with significant competitive pressure in its primary markets, particularly from fiber and fixed wireless services. These competitive forces are expected to create persistent headwinds for the company.
Altice USA is also grappling with high financial leverage, which, coupled with limited free cash flow, is believed to constrain the company's operational flexibility. This financial position could make it difficult for Altice USA to adapt to market changes or invest in growth opportunities.
The analyst from Goldman Sachs expressed concern that the stock might underperform, especially in a climate of rising interest rates. The combination of fundamental challenges faced by the company and broader macroeconomic headwinds are seen as potential obstacles to stock performance.
In summary, the outlook for Altice USA, as per Goldman Sachs, is cautious due to the mix of competitive market dynamics and financial constraints, alongside an environment of increasing interest rates which may further hinder the company's ability to thrive.
In other recent news, Altice USA reported mixed results for the first quarter of 2024, with a slight decline in total revenue by 1.9%, amounting to around $2.3 billion. Despite this, the company saw growth in key areas such as Residential Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) and specific segments like Business Services and News and Advertising. Altice USA also added 45,000 fiber passings in the first quarter, with a target of 3 million by the end of the year.
Altice USA's recent developments include plans for network expansion, with over 175,000 additional passings expected in 2024. The company also emphasized its focus on customer satisfaction, evidenced by low churn rates and improving Net Promoter Scores. Capital expenditure for the first quarter was $336 million, a decrease of 42% year-over-year, with a full-year expectation of $1.6 to $1.7 billion.
The company is actively managing its debt maturity profile and has taken steps to clear near-term maturities until 2027. The company expects moderately better ARPU trends for the full year. These are among the recent developments in the company's operational and financial performance.
InvestingPro Insights
As Goldman Sachs weighs in on Altice USA's prospects, a glance at real-time data from InvestingPro further elucidates the company's position. With a market capitalization of $938.32 million, Altice USA is trading at a high earnings multiple, with a P/E ratio of 156.54, which adjusts to a more modest 23.91 when considering the last twelve months as of Q1 2024. The company's revenue has slightly contracted, showing a -3.42% change over the last twelve months as of Q1 2024.
InvestingPro Tips highlight that Altice USA is expected to see net income growth this year, which aligns with analysts' predictions of profitability within the same timeframe. However, the stock's price has suffered recently, with a 1-month total return of -17.74% and a significant 6-month total return drop of -37.23%. This volatility is worth noting for investors considering entry points or assessing risk.
For those seeking deeper insights, InvestingPro offers additional tips on Altice USA, including considerations of the company's free cash flow yield and short-term obligations. Using the coupon code PRONEWS24, readers can get an additional 10% off a yearly or biyearly Pro and Pro+ subscription, granting access to a full suite of analytics and tips, which currently number over nine for Altice USA alone. The combination of Goldman Sachs' analysis and InvestingPro's real-time data and tips provides a comprehensive view of Altice USA's financial health and market position.
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