On Friday, HSBC initiated coverage on AES Corp (NYSE:AES) with a Buy rating and set a price target of $17.00. The firm believes that the recent decline in AES Corp's stock price presents a buying opportunity for investors. Over the last three months, AES Corp's shares have fallen by 16%, in contrast to a 3% rise in the S&P 500 Renewables and a 5% increase in the FTSE Utilities, while FTSE EM Utilities saw a 5% decrease.
The recommendation is based on the expectation that the demand for renewable energy from large corporations aiming to reduce their carbon footprint will continue to drive strong earnings growth for AES Corp. With a market capitalization of $9.6 billion and a notable dividend yield of 5.2%, AES has maintained 13 consecutive years of dividend growth, as revealed by InvestingPro.
HSBC highlights AES Corp's expertise in development with a customer solutions approach, its focus on solar energy with Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) over wind energy, and its relatively smaller size compared to others in the sector, which could lead to significant growth.
AES Corp's greenfield renewable projects are anticipated to become more apparent in the coming years and are expected to add approximately $10 per share in equity value. HSBC notes that the current market has not fully recognized the potential of AES Corp, suggesting that there are more opportunities for the stock to rise than risks of it falling.
The coverage comes at a time when the energy sector is navigating a complex landscape, with challenges for US renewables due to more conservative 2024 guidance and concerns over potential delays in tax incentives. Despite these hurdles, HSBC maintains a positive outlook on AES Corp's ability to capitalize on the ongoing shift towards renewable energy.
This aligns with the broader analyst consensus, as tracked by InvestingPro, which shows strong bullish sentiment with price targets ranging from $11 to $25. For deeper insights into AES's financial health, valuation metrics, and growth prospects, investors can access the comprehensive Pro Research Report, available exclusively to InvestingPro subscribers.
In other recent news, AES Corp secured $500 million through a junior subordinated notes offering.
The notes, bearing a 6.950% fixed-to-fixed reset rate, are due in 2055. This financial move was facilitated by an agreement with major financial institutions, including J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC) Securities, LLC. In recent developments, BofA Securities initiated an Underperform rating on AES Corp, citing potential risks in the company's ambitious renewable energy expansion plans. Meanwhile, Susquehanna revised their stock price target for AES, reducing it from $24 to $21, while maintaining a positive view on the stock.
AES Corp's third-quarter results revealed earnings per share surpassing expectations at $0.71, exceeding the analyst consensus of $0.59, while the company's revenue of $3.29 billion fell short of the projected $3.46 billion. The company continues to benefit from the rising demand for data center power, completing the construction of 2.8 gigawatts of new projects year-to-date. AES reaffirmed its full-year 2024 adjusted EPS guidance range of $1.87 to $1.97, aligning with the $1.92 consensus, and expects results to be in the upper half of that range.
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