Citi analysts resumed coverage of Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO) with a Buy rating and $1,100 price target in a note Monday, stating that AI tailwinds offset the semiconductor downturn.
Citi also noted the strength in the company's core business, alongside accretion from the VMware acquisition, as other factors that will push the stock higher.
"F4Q23 revenue of $9.30 billion (up 5% QoQ) was above Consensus of $9.27 billion (up 4% QoQ) driven by strength in its networking business (27% of F23 sales)," explained Citi.
When it comes to AI, Citi believes demand is offsetting the semiconductor downturn. The investment bank expects sales from AI infrastructure to double from $4 billion in FY23 to over $8 billion in FY24.
Furthermore, Citi believes the acquisition of VMware could be more than 30% accretive to AVGO's FY25 EPS.
"AVGO expects the VMware business (14% of F24 sales) to grow at a double-digit CAGR. We believe VMware could be $12.50, or 34% accretive to AVGO's F25 EPS," added the investment bank. "We believe Broadcom should eventually achieve gross margins of 78% and operating margins of 58% for peak EPS of $60.00."