On Wednesday, Truist Securities adjusted its outlook on Mercury Systems (NASDAQ:MRCY), a company specializing in aerospace and defense technology. The firm raised the price target to $31 from $26, while maintaining a Hold rating on the stock. The revision follows Mercury Systems' fourth-quarter financial results, which surpassed market expectations and recorded a quarterly high free cash flow (FCF) of $61.4 million.
The company's fiscal year 2025 guidance suggests flat revenues, low double-digit EBITDA margins, and continued positive free cash flow. Despite revenue forecasts falling short, management's projections for other financial metrics appear to align with expectations.
The forthcoming year's performance is anticipated to be more robust in the second half. Management also confirmed its long-term operating model remains intact.
Mercury Systems has made significant strides in improving its operations, reducing the number of challenged programs from nineteen to just six. Additionally, the company expects its Cross Program Analysis (CPA) to reach full production in the first half of fiscal year 2025.
However, the transition phase that the company is currently undergoing is projected to continue, potentially extending into fiscal year 2026. As Mercury Systems navigates through this period, the updated price target reflects a cautious but recognizant outlook on the company's financial and operational advancements.
In other recent news, Mercury Systems surprised investors with its fourth-quarter earnings and revenue results. The company's adjusted earnings per share stood at $0.23, a considerable beat compared to analyst estimates of a $0.06 loss per share. Revenue reached $248.6 million, exceeding the forecasted $231.02 million.
In addition to financial results, Mercury Systems reported a notable increase in its book-to-bill ratio to 1.14 for the quarter, with total bookings valued at $284.4 million. The company's backlog also grew, reaching a record $1.3 billion, a 16% year-over-year increase.
Free cash flow for the fourth quarter was $61.4 million, a significant rise from the previous year's $3.8 million. However, for the full fiscal year 2024, the company reported a decrease in revenue to $835.3 million from $973.9 million in fiscal 2023, and an adjusted loss per share of $0.69.
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