Wednesday, Benchmark raised its price target on Sea Ltd (NYNYSE:SE:SE) to $94 from $87, maintaining a Buy rating on the stock. The adjustment follows Sea Ltd's announcement of robust second-quarter 2024 results, which exceeded market expectations in both revenue and profit.
The company's recent confirmation of a stable and rational competitive landscape in its operating region has helped alleviate concerns about unpredictable growth and earnings potential.
The e-commerce platform Shopee, one of Sea Ltd's key services, has increased its full-year guidance, signaling greater confidence and clearer business prospects. This revision is a testament to the company's improved performance and outlook.
Additionally, Garena, Sea Ltd's game development and publishing arm, has shown a significant return to growth with a 21% year-over-year increase in bookings.
The sustained growth of Sea Ltd's digital financial services (DFS) also contributes to the positive outlook. With these developments, Benchmark anticipates that the consensus estimates for Sea Ltd will be adjusted upward following the quarterly results.
In a statement, the analyst noted the importance of the recent results and the implications for Sea Ltd's future trajectory. "SE reported solid 2Q24 results with both revenue and profit ahead of expectations.
More importantly, management's confirmation of a stabilized and rationalized competitive environment in the region helps to ease market fears of an extended period of unpredictable growth and profitability," the analyst said.
"Shopee's raised FY guidance has further demonstrated its enhanced confidence and improved visibility. Along with Garena back on a solid growth track (+21% y/y in booking) and sustained healthy growth of DFS, we anticipate consensus to reset higher post the Q. We reiterate our Buy rating and raise our PT to $94 to reflect our upward estimates revision."
The price target increase reflects Benchmark's positive reassessment of Sea Ltd's earnings potential and market position following the latest financial disclosures.
In other recent news, Sea Ltd has been the subject of positive financial developments. BofA Securities has raised its price target for Sea Ltd to $84, based on the company's successful cost control measures and revenue matching estimates. S
ea Ltd's e-commerce platform, Shopee, reported a 29% year-over-year increase in Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) in the second quarter, reaching $23.3 billion.
Management at Sea Ltd anticipates Shopee to reach an adjusted EBITDA breakeven in the third quarter and projects a mid-20% range growth in GMV for fiscal year 2024.
In addition, Sea Ltd reported strong growth across all segments in its second quarter of 2024, with GAAP revenue increasing by 23% year-over-year to $3.8 billion, while adjusted EBITDA reached $448 million.
However, the company's gaming revenue experienced a 5% quarter-over-quarter decline. Despite this, BofA Securities has revised its FY24/25E EPS projections for Sea Ltd and increased target multiples for the gaming segment, reflecting the improved momentum in Sea's businesses.
These are recent developments for Sea Ltd, which continues to demonstrate solid performance and strategic growth across its diverse portfolio. SeaMoney's loan book and profit grew by 40% year-over-year, with non-performing loans remaining steady.
The company's digital entertainment segment, Garena's Free Fire, maintained strong growth with over 100 million daily active users in Q2 2024. However, Sea Ltd reported a decrease in net income for Q2 2024 to $80 million, down from $331 million in Q2 2023.
InvestingPro Insights
Following the upbeat assessment by Benchmark, current data from InvestingPro supports a strong outlook for Sea Ltd (NYSE:SE). The company's market capitalization stands at an impressive $42.99 billion, indicating a robust presence in the market. While Sea Ltd trades at a high earnings multiple, with a P/E ratio of 1175.91, the adjusted P/E ratio for the last twelve months as of Q1 2024 is significantly lower at 364.28, suggesting that investors are expecting earnings to improve. Additionally, the company's revenue growth for the last twelve months as of Q1 2024 was 9.26%, with an even more remarkable quarterly revenue growth of 22.8% in Q1 2024, showcasing Sea Ltd's ability to expand its top-line performance.
InvestingPro Tips highlight that Sea Ltd holds more cash than debt, a reassuring sign of financial stability, and analysts have revised their earnings upwards for the upcoming period, reflecting optimism in the company's growth trajectory. The company's significant return over the last week of 23.25% aligns with Benchmark's positive outlook and may attract investor attention. For those seeking more detailed analysis, there are additional InvestingPro Tips available at InvestingPro Sea Ltd that can provide deeper insights into Sea Ltd's financial health and market potential.
These insights and metrics underscore the reasons behind Benchmark's raised price target and reiterate the confidence in Sea Ltd's future performance. With the company trading near its 52-week high and analysts predicting profitability this year, the prospects for Sea Ltd appear promising.
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