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AGF.B: Rising Buy Ratings Will Drive Shares Amid Sector Competition

Published
11 Mar 25
Updated
31 Oct 25
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AnalystConsensusTarget's Fair Value
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1Y
26.8%
7D
0.6%

Author's Valuation

CA$16.1312.8% undervalued intrinsic discount

AnalystConsensusTarget Fair Value

Last Update 31 Oct 25

Analysts have raised their price targets for AGF Management, with recent increases reflecting positive sentiment regarding the company's current valuation and outlook. For example, the target price shifted from C$16.50 to C$17.75, driven by steady revenue growth and profitability expectations.

Analyst Commentary

Recent research by several analysts has highlighted both opportunities and potential risks in AGF Management's outlook, as reflected by updated price targets and ratings. Their perspectives offer valuable insight into how the market views the company’s value and execution capabilities.

Bullish Takeaways

  • Bullish analysts point to consistent upward revisions in AGF Management’s price targets, which underscores confidence in ongoing revenue growth and operational execution.
  • Profitability expectations remain positive, with multiple analysts maintaining optimistic ratings. This suggests strong belief in the company’s ability to sustain and improve margins.
  • The company’s current valuation is seen as attractive, especially given its recent financial results and growth profile.
  • There is an expectation of continued performance resilience in a competitive sector. Analysts highlight AGF Management’s strategy and adaptability as key strengths.

Bearish Takeaways

  • Some bearish analysts maintain more cautious ratings. While price targets have been increased, the upgrades are incremental, which may reflect tempered enthusiasm about near-term upside.
  • Concerns persist about market volatility and sector competition, which could limit AGF Management’s ability to achieve more aggressive growth rates.
  • Analysts point out that further valuation expansion could be constrained if execution does not meet rising expectations, especially in a challenging macroeconomic environment.

What's in the News

  • AGF Management has completed the repurchase of 856,600 shares, representing 1.32% of outstanding shares, for CAD 10.1 million under a buyback program announced on February 6, 2025. Of this total, 621,200 shares were repurchased between June 1, 2025 and August 31, 2025 (Key Developments).
  • Judy Goldring has been named Chief Executive Officer following the passing of former CEO and Chief Investment Officer, Kevin McCreadie. Ms. Goldring brings over 30 years of industry experience and has played a pivotal role in shaping the company's strategic direction (Key Developments).

Valuation Changes

  • Fair Value remains unchanged at CA$16.13, reflecting stable estimates for the company’s intrinsic worth.
  • Discount Rate has decreased marginally from 7.49% to 7.48%, which indicates a slightly more favorable assessment of risk.
  • Revenue Growth is steady at 2.03%, with no material change in projected expansion.
  • Net Profit Margin holds essentially flat at 13.51%, suggesting stable profitability expectations.
  • Future P/E has edged down from 15.41x to 15.40x, which represents a minimal reduction in anticipated valuation multiples.

Key Takeaways

  • AUM growth and fund diversification in retail mutual and alternative products signal strong potential for future revenue expansion.
  • Strategic acquisitions and a balanced capital allocation approach, including dividend increases, promise enhanced earnings and shareholder value.
  • Volatility, shifting client preferences, and competitive pressures may challenge AGF's revenue and margin stability despite strong retail mutual fund sales.

Catalysts

About AGF Management
    AGF Management Limited is one of Canada’s premier investment management companies with offices across Canada and subsidiaries around the world.
What are the underlying business or industry changes driving this perspective?
  • AGF's assets under management (AUM) and fee-earning assets have grown significantly, particularly in their retail mutual fund and alternative products segments, suggesting future revenue growth as these areas continue to expand.
  • The launch of new alternative products such as the AGF NHC Tactical Alpha Fund and the AGF Enhanced U.S. Income Plus Fund is expected to provide attractive risk-adjusted returns, potentially increasing AGF's future revenue and earnings through diversification and innovation in volatile markets.
  • Strong investment performance, including multiple funds receiving FundGrade A+ Awards, is likely to lead to higher net margins and revenues as these funds attract more inflows by outperforming peers.
  • AGF's private wealth and institutional business segments, bolstered by strategic acquisitions like the Kensington transaction, are driving AUM growth, which may enhance future earnings and revenue diversity.
  • The company's commitment to a balanced capital allocation strategy, including a 9% increase in dividends and a focus on opportunistic buybacks, suggests a positive impact on earnings per share (EPS) and shareholder value, potentially supporting future stock price appreciation.

AGF Management Earnings and Revenue Growth

AGF Management Future Earnings and Revenue Growth

Assumptions

How have these above catalysts been quantified?
  • Analysts are assuming AGF Management's revenue will grow by 3.2% annually over the next 3 years.
  • Analysts assume that profit margins will shrink from 17.5% today to 11.4% in 3 years time.
  • Analysts expect earnings to reach CA$70.1 million (and earnings per share of CA$1.11) by about May 2028, down from CA$98.0 million today.
  • In order for the above numbers to justify the analysts price target, the company would need to trade at a PE ratio of 14.4x on those 2028 earnings, up from 6.8x today. This future PE is greater than the current PE for the CA Capital Markets industry at 10.7x.
  • Analysts expect the number of shares outstanding to grow by 0.81% per year for the next 3 years.
  • To value all of this in today's terms, we will use a discount rate of 7.27%, as per the Simply Wall St company report.

AGF Management Future Earnings Per Share Growth

AGF Management Future Earnings Per Share Growth

Risks

What could happen that would invalidate this narrative?
  • The increased volatility in global markets due to trade wars and an uncertain macroeconomic backdrop could negatively impact AGF's revenue and overall earnings.
  • The decline in segregated accounts and sub-advisory AUM by 9% due to clients shifting to passive management could lead to a decrease in revenue from these traditional investment segments.
  • Although AGF reported strong net sales in retail mutual funds, the expectation of continued market volatility could dampen future sales growth, potentially affecting subsequent revenue.
  • Long-term investment revenues were lower compared to the previous year, with fair value adjustments that can be inconsistent, introducing potential fluctuations in earnings.
  • The possibility of ongoing basis point compression in net management fees due to changes in product mix and competition could impact AGF's net margins over time.

Valuation

How have all the factors above been brought together to estimate a fair value?
  • The analysts have a consensus price target of CA$12.393 for AGF Management based on their expectations of its future earnings growth, profit margins and other risk factors. However, there is a degree of disagreement amongst analysts, with the most bullish reporting a price target of CA$17.0, and the most bearish reporting a price target of just CA$11.0.
  • In order for you to agree with the analyst's consensus, you'd need to believe that by 2028, revenues will be CA$616.2 million, earnings will come to CA$70.1 million, and it would be trading on a PE ratio of 14.4x, assuming you use a discount rate of 7.3%.
  • Given the current share price of CA$10.2, the analyst price target of CA$12.39 is 17.7% higher. Despite analysts expecting the underlying buisness to decline, they seem to believe it's more valuable than what the market thinks.
  • We always encourage you to reach your own conclusions though. So sense check these analyst numbers against your own assumptions and expectations based on your understanding of the business and what you believe is probable.

How well do narratives help inform your perspective?

Disclaimer

AnalystConsensusTarget is a tool utilizing a Large Language Model (LLM) that ingests data on consensus price targets, forecasted revenue and earnings figures, as well as the transcripts of earnings calls to produce qualitative analysis. The narratives produced by AnalystConsensusTarget are general in nature and are based solely on analyst data and publicly-available material published by the respective companies. These scenarios are not indicative of the company's future performance and are exploratory in nature. Simply Wall St has no position in the company(s) mentioned. Simply Wall St may provide the securities issuer or related entities with website advertising services for a fee, on an arm's length basis. These relationships have no impact on the way we conduct our business, the content we host, or how our content is served to users. The price targets and estimates used are consensus data, and do not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and they do not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Note that AnalystConsensusTarget's analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.

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