Orange (EPA:ORAN) (NYSE:ORAN) shares were double-upgraded to Buy from Underperform at BofA on Wednesday, with analysts lifting the price target to $13 from $8.80 per share.
They told investors that the French telecommunications company is "ticking all boxes," and they see a potential 25% upside in the stock.
Analysts explained that across the European telecom sector, there are several thematic drivers and financial profiles investors favor, such as improving competitive trends, a path to lower investment needs, in-market consolidation opportunities, infra ownership, and a route to growing dividend returns.
"Orange’s investment case stands out, in our view, as one of the few in the sector that captures all these elements while still at an attractive valuation," analysts argue.
"We see Orange as uniquely positioned to combine the positive thematic drivers for EU telecoms," they added. The analysts pointed to a stabilising domestic market with improved competition, a head start in the fibre roll-out, direct involvement in Spanish consolidation, and one of the last 100%-owned tower assets with "Totem" as factors they see driving the stock and company's performance.