On Friday, RBC Capital adjusted its stance on Nufarm (OTC:NFRMY) Ltd. (ASX:NUF) (OTC:NFRMY) stock, downgrading the agrochemical company from Outperform to Sector Perform.
The firm also revised its price target downward to AUD4.75 from the previous AUD6.25. The adjustment follows Nufarm's announcement of a profit downgrade for fiscal year 2024.
Nufarm has revised several financial projections, including a 15% decrease in its FY24 underlying EBITDA guidance, now set between $300 million and $330 million.
Additionally, the company expects a higher leverage ratio, with net debt to EBITDA projected at 2.5 to 2.7 times, up from the earlier forecast of 1.5 to 2.0 times. Nufarm also confirmed its intention to reduce net working capital by $500 million by the end of the first half of FY24.
Alongside these financial revisions, Nufarm has lowered its revenue guidance for Omega-3 products in FY24 to $50 million, a reduction from the previous range of $50 million to $70 million. In light of these updates, RBC Capital has decreased its EBIT estimates for Nufarm for the fiscal years 2024, 2025, and 2026 by 27%, 18%, and 13%, respectively.
The firm cited limited visibility and high operating leverage as reasons for adding a Speculative Risk qualifier to Nufarm's stock. This change reflects the firm's view of the increased uncertainties surrounding Nufarm's financial performance in the near term.
In other recent news, Nufarm Ltd. has experienced a series of financial adjustments following the release of its first-half 2024 results. The company reported earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) at $217 million, a 31% year-over-year decline.
This figure also fell short of both RBC Capital's and consensus estimates by 11%. Additionally, Nufarm declared a dividend of 4 cents per share, which was lower than the expected 5 cents per share.
In response to these results, RBC Capital Markets reduced its price target for Nufarm from AUD6.75 to AUD6.25, maintaining an Outperform rating. The firm anticipates a rebound in pricing power beginning in the fiscal year 2025, forecasting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for EBITDA of approximately 20% over the next three years.
On the other hand, JPMorgan adjusted its stance on Nufarm, downgrading the company's stock rating from Overweight to Neutral. The firm also set a new price target of AUD 5.50, a decrease from the previous target of AUD 6.00.
Despite the downgrade, JPMorgan noted potential for growth in the Seeds division, expecting revenue and earnings to increase as the company continues to commercialize its products. These are among the recent developments surrounding Nufarm Ltd.
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