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Peloton settles lawsuit, amends bylaws; pays legal fees

Published 09/11/2024, 08:32 am
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Peloton Interactive, Inc. (NASDAQ:PTON) has amended its bylaws and resolved a legal dispute that accused the company and some of its directors of fiduciary breaches. The class action lawsuit, initiated by plaintiff Eric Gilbert on behalf of Peloton stockholders, was filed on December 13, 2023, and challenged specific provisions in Peloton's Amended and Restated Bylaws set on April 21, 2020.

The defendants, which included Peloton and certain current and former directors, have denied any wrongdoing. However, to moot the plaintiff's claims, Peloton's Board of Directors approved the Second Amended and Restated Bylaws on April 4, 2024. These amendments were publicly filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on April 8, 2024.

On April 23, 2024, the court dismissed the lawsuit with prejudice regarding the plaintiff but allowed for the possibility of other class members to pursue claims. The court retained jurisdiction solely to adjudicate the plaintiff's counsel's application for attorneys' fees and expense reimbursement.

The parties agreed to settle the fee application to avoid further litigation costs, resulting in Peloton paying $125,000 to the plaintiff's counsel. This settlement was not subjected to court review concerning the payment's reasonableness. On November 1, 2024, the court ordered the closure of the action, contingent upon Peloton confirming the issuance of this notice through an affidavit.

Peloton Interactive, based in New York, specializes in manufacturing fitness equipment and has faced various legal challenges in the past. This settlement marks the end of one such challenge, allowing the company to move forward without the cloud of this particular lawsuit. The information in this article is based on a press release statement.

In other recent news, Peloton Interactive has been the subject of several financial analyses and strategic shifts. The company's emphasis on profitability has been recognized by Deutsche Bank (ETR:DBKGn), which maintained its Hold rating while adjusting the stock price target to $6.20. This adjustment reflects an improved outlook for Peloton's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) for FY25, with a projected increase of 25% to approximately $279 million.

BMO Capital Markets also acknowledged Peloton's strategic shift towards profitability, upgrading its stock target from $6.50 to $8.50, while maintaining a Market Perform rating. Macquarie and Telsey Advisory Group echoed this sentiment, raising their respective stock targets for Peloton following the company's strong first-quarter performance.

Peloton's recent earnings report revealed $13 million in GAAP operating income, $11 million in free cash flow, and $116 million in adjusted EBITDA. The company's connected fitness subscription base now includes over 6 million members, generating $1.7 billion in annualized subscription revenue at a 68% gross margin.

In addition to financial developments, Peloton has seen changes in leadership, with Peter Stern (AS:PBHP) set to take the helm as CEO in January. The company has also launched a marketing campaign targeting millennial males featuring football stars T.J. and J.J. Watt, and announced plans for international expansion, particularly in Germany. These developments reflect Peloton's ongoing efforts to adapt to market demands and internal changes.

InvestingPro Insights

Peloton's recent legal settlement and bylaw amendments come amid a period of significant stock performance and financial challenges. According to InvestingPro data, PTON has seen a remarkable 169.13% price return over the last three months and is trading near its 52-week high. This surge in stock price is particularly noteworthy given the company's financial situation.

InvestingPro Tips highlight that Peloton is not currently profitable, with a negative P/E ratio of -8.42. The company's revenue for the last twelve months stands at $2.69 billion, with a slight decline of 3.19% year-over-year. Despite these challenges, Peloton's liquid assets exceed its short-term obligations, providing some financial stability as it navigates legal and operational hurdles.

Investors should note that analysts anticipate a sales decline in the current year, and the company is not expected to be profitable this year. However, three analysts have revised their earnings upwards for the upcoming period, suggesting potential improvements on the horizon.

For readers interested in a deeper dive into Peloton's financials and market position, InvestingPro offers 13 additional tips that could provide valuable insights for investment decisions.

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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