Mizuho maintains Outperform stock rating on Zoom with steady target

Published 22/08/2024, 08:52 pm
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Mizuho Securities has maintained its Outperform rating on Zoom Video Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: NASDAQ:ZM), with a steadfast price target of $90.00. The firm's endorsement follows Zoom's announcement of robust financial results for the second fiscal quarter, which included a $15 million revenue beat and a $149 million operating cash flow surpassing expectations. Zoom's management has effectively steered the company towards a promising revenue growth trajectory.

Zoom's recent financial performance has been marked by exceptional profitability and cash flow generation. In light of these results, the company has revised its full-year growth forecast upward to 2.4% year-over-year, an increase from the previous 1.9% projection. Although the fourth fiscal quarter is forecasted to conclude with a 2% year-over-year growth rate, this estimate may prove to be conservative, with potential for acceleration.

The current economic climate continues to challenge small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), but Zoom is finding avenues for growth through its budding products, such as the Zoom Contact Center, Workvivo, and AI Companion.

The firm anticipates that Zoom will capitalize on its substantial user base to promote the Zoom Contact Center and initiate the monetization of its AI capabilities by converting free users to paid subscribers.

The upcoming Zoomtopia conference, scheduled for October 9-10, is highlighted as a significant upcoming event that could further influence the company's trajectory. Mizuho's reiterated Outperform rating and price target of $90 implies a valuation of 4 times enterprise value to next twelve months' (NTM) revenue and 12 times enterprise value to NTM free cash flow for Zoom.

In other recent news, analysts from Evercore ISI and Citi have maintained their respective target prices on Zoom's shares, acknowledging the company's strong quarterly performance and robust operational execution. Evercore ISI highlighted Zoom's newer product offerings, such as its contact center solution (CCaaS), phone services, and Workvivo, which have shown impressive momentum.

Revenue acceleration is expected to start in the third fiscal quarter, with an upward trend in enterprise net revenue retention in the second half of the fiscal year 2026. Zoom's updated guidance suggests a slight increase in both revenue and earnings, with operating margins projected to increase to 38.7%. Free cash flow margins are also expected to rise to 34.5%, amounting to $1.6 billion.

The company has increased its annual revenue forecast due to robust demand for its AI-powered collaboration tools. For the fiscal year 2025, Zoom now projects revenue to reach between $4.63 billion and $4.64 billion. The company also reported better-than-expected second-quarter earnings and provided upbeat guidance, including an adjusted earnings per share of $1.39, surpassing analyst estimates.

However, Zoom's CFO, Kelly Steckelberg, is set to resign at the end of November, with no successor yet announced. This development, along with Citi's maintained neutral stance on the stock, reflects a balance between the positive aspects of Zoom's recent financial achievements and the uncertainties that may affect future growth and investor returns.

InvestingPro Insights

Zoom Video Communications Inc. (NASDAQ:ZM) not only outperformed in its recent earnings but also shows a strong balance sheet, according to InvestingPro Tips. The company holds more cash than debt, which is a reassuring sign for investors looking for stability in uncertain economic times. Additionally, Zoom boasts impressive gross profit margins, which have been a consistent highlight in its financial reports. With a gross profit margin of 76.18% over the last twelve months as of Q1 2023, the company's ability to retain a significant portion of revenue after accounting for the cost of goods sold is evident.

The market has responded positively to Zoom's performance, as reflected in a steady market capitalization of $18.63 billion. The company's P/E ratio stands at 21.66, indicating investor confidence in its earnings potential. Furthermore, Zoom's stock price often moves contrarily to market trends, providing a potential hedge for investors during market downturns. It's worth noting that analysts predict the company will be profitable this year, a sentiment backed by Zoom's profitability over the last twelve months.

For investors seeking more in-depth analysis and additional insights, there are 9 InvestingPro Tips available on https://www.investing.com/pro/ZM, which delve further into Zoom's financial health and market performance.

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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