On Thursday, Piper Sandler adjusted its outlook on SEI Investments (NASDAQ:SEIC), a financial services firm, by reducing the price target from $72.00 to $69.00, while keeping a Neutral rating on the stock. The adjustment follows SEI Investments' recent financial performance, which showed a core earnings beat after discounting one-time severance costs for the quarter.
SEI Investments has seen firmwide operating margins increase, with notable improvements in the private banks segment. The company's management has been concentrating on controlling expenses and pursuing long-term margin expansion. SEI's revenues have grown 9% year-over-year, assisted by favorable market conditions, as the average levels in the S&P 500 rose by 12% sequentially.
Despite this growth, the markets have started to pose a challenge in the second quarter. Piper Sandler has revised its earnings per share (EPS) estimates for SEI Investments for the years 2024 and 2025 to $4.08 and $4.30, respectively, down from the previous $4.25 and $4.51 estimates. This revision is a result of updating the firm's financial model to reflect current market conditions.
The new price target of $69 is based on a 17 times multiple of the revised lower 2024 EPS estimate, which remains unchanged from the prior multiple.
The analyst from Piper Sandler acknowledged the company's margin expansion as a positive factor but indicated a desire to see more consistent sales activity that could potentially accelerate revenue growth and justify a higher valuation multiple over time.
InvestingPro Insights
InvestingPro data highlights SEI Investments' (NASDAQ:SEIC) solid financial footing, with a market capitalization of $8.61 billion and a healthy P/E ratio, which stands at 17.63 based on the last twelve months as of Q1 2024. The company's revenue growth is also notable, with a 4.45% increase over the last twelve months leading up to Q1 2024 and an even more impressive quarterly revenue growth of 9.05% for Q1 2024. These metrics underscore the robustness of SEI's business model and the effectiveness of its growth strategies.
Two InvestingPro Tips shed further light on SEI Investments' strengths. The company has a track record of raising its dividend for 10 consecutive years, demonstrating its commitment to returning value to shareholders. Additionally, SEI's cash flows are more than capable of covering interest payments, which speaks to the company's financial stability and prudent management. For investors looking for more insights, InvestingPro offers additional tips on SEI Investments. With the use of coupon code PRONEWS24, readers can get an extra 10% off a yearly or biyearly Pro and Pro+ subscription, unlocking valuable information to inform investment decisions.
For those interested in a deeper dive, there are 6 more InvestingPro Tips available for SEI Investments, offering a comprehensive look at the company's financial health and future prospects.
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