On Monday, Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) raised its rating on e.l.f. Beauty (NYSE:NYSE:ELF) stock from Equal-weight to Overweight, while also increasing the price target to $153 from $139. The upgrade comes as the firm sees a more attractive valuation for e.l.f. Beauty, with the stock down nearly 41% over the past six months according to InvestingPro data. The stock currently trades at a P/E ratio of 64.7x, reflecting its premium growth status.
In the analyst's view, e.l.f. Beauty presents a compelling long-term growth profile, which now seems more appealing after the recent reduction in stock value. This view is supported by the company's impressive 59% revenue growth over the last twelve months and robust 71% gross profit margins, as reported by InvestingPro. The analyst highlights the potential for near-term revenue and EBITDA growth in the second half of the fiscal year, driven by robust market share gains in the U.S., strong international growth, and expansion opportunities for the Naturium business.
Despite a slowdown in U.S. scanner data over the last few quarters, the analyst notes that trends are beginning to show improvement, particularly in e.l.f. Beauty's market share within a still-weak beauty category. The expectation of easier comparisons in the near future is seen as a potential catalyst that could lead to performance surpassing even the above-consensus forecasts.
Morgan Stanley also points to the long-term potential for international and Naturium growth as reasons for the upgrade. The current valuation of e.l.f. Beauty at 30 times next twelve months (NTM) earnings per share (EPS) is considered below its last five-year average of 40 times, suggesting that the valuation may have become too pessimistic.
The firm recommends taking advantage of the current valuation as an entry point into what they believe is a strong long-term growth story for e.l.f. Beauty. While analyst targets range from $115 to $200, investors seeking deeper insights into e.l.f. Beauty's valuation can access comprehensive analysis and 12+ additional ProTips through InvestingPro's detailed research reports, available as part of its coverage of 1,400+ US stocks.
In other recent news, e.l.f. Beauty has been the focus of multiple analyst notes. The company experienced impressive revenue growth of 59% over the last twelve months and maintains a strong gross profit margin of 71%. Truist Securities reaffirmed a Buy rating on e.l.f. Beauty and increased the price target to $150, highlighting the company's potential for sustained double-digit growth.
Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) initiated coverage with a Buy rating, emphasizing the potential for international expansion.
Piper Sandler also reaffirmed an Overweight rating, expressing confidence in the company's ability to exceed full-year guidance.
Deutsche Bank (ETR:DBKGn) initiated coverage with a Hold rating, acknowledging growth potential and strong cash flow prospects but highlighting concerns about competition. These recent developments reflect the ongoing momentum and growth opportunities for e.l.f. Beauty.
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