Elastic stock gets bullish nod from Wedbush as AI demand accelerates

EditorEmilio Ghigini
Published 25/11/2024, 08:02 pm
ESTC
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On Monday, Wedbush showed a positive shift in perspective on Elastic NV (NYSE:ESTC), raising its stock rating from Neutral to Outperform. The adjustment comes alongside a new price target of $135 for the company's shares.

The upgrade is based on Elastic's strategic positioning to benefit from the increasing demand for artificial intelligence (AI). The company's platform approach is anticipated to attract customers aiming to shift their spending away from legacy vendors towards next-generation solutions. This transition is further supported by Elastic's efforts to expedite its express migration program.

Wedbush's analysis suggests that the timing is optimal for Elastic to leverage these market dynamics. The firm's new price target represents approximately an 8x multiple of the company's expected fiscal year 2026 enterprise value to revenue (EV/Revs), signaling confidence in Elastic's growth trajectory.

Elastic NV's focus on AI and platform consolidation is expected to play a pivotal role in its performance. The company's strategic initiatives are designed to meet the evolving needs of customers transitioning to advanced technological solutions.

The new outperform rating and price target reflect a significant increase in Wedbush's expectations for Elastic NV's financial performance and market position in the coming years. The firm's analysis underscores the potential for robust revenue growth as the company continues to execute its migration strategy and capitalize on the growing AI market.

In other recent news, Elastic NV has witnessed a series of significant developments. The company reported an 18% year-over-year increase in total revenue for the second quarter of fiscal year 2025, reaching $365 million. This growth was primarily driven by the generative AI segment, which saw customer commitments nearly double from the previous quarter, and a 25% year-over-year increase in cloud revenue, contributing to 46% of total revenue.

Multiple analyst firms, including Piper Sandler, RBC Capital Markets, Rosenblatt Securities, and DA Davidson, have revised their price targets for Elastic NV, reflecting confidence in the company's performance and growth prospects. Notably, Piper Sandler raised its price target to $130 from the previous $100 while maintaining an Overweight rating, citing the company's improved execution and raised estimates as the primary reasons for the upgrade.

Elastic NV's management team has expressed optimism about future opportunities, leading to an increase in the fiscal year guidance for both revenue and earnings. The company's revenue guidance for fiscal 2025 has been raised to between $1,451 million and $1,457 million, with a non-GAAP operating margin projected at approximately 13.5% and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share (EPS) expected to fall between $1.68 and $1.72.

In addition to financial advancements, Elastic NV announced an upcoming change in its executive team, with CFO Janesh Moorjani set to depart and Group VP of Finance, Eric Prengel, stepping in as interim CFO. This transition is part of the company's ongoing business strategy execution.

InvestingPro Insights

Elastic NV's recent upgrade by Wedbush is further supported by real-time data and insights from InvestingPro. The company's market capitalization stands at $11.2 billion, reflecting its significant presence in the tech sector. Elastic's revenue growth of 18.71% over the last twelve months aligns with Wedbush's positive outlook on the company's ability to capitalize on AI-driven demand.

InvestingPro Tips highlight that Elastic holds more cash than debt on its balance sheet, indicating financial stability as it pursues growth opportunities. Additionally, 21 analysts have revised their earnings upwards for the upcoming period, suggesting growing confidence in the company's prospects.

The stock's recent performance has been particularly strong, with a 25.53% return over the last week and a 36.14% return over the last month. This aligns with Wedbush's upgraded outlook and increased price target. However, investors should note that the stock is trading at a high P/E ratio of 166.53, which may reflect high growth expectations.

For readers interested in a deeper analysis, InvestingPro offers 13 additional tips for Elastic NV, providing a comprehensive view of the company's financial health and market position.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

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