United Bankers Oyj Just Beat Analyst Forecasts, And Analysts Have Been Updating Their Predictions

Investors in United Bankers Oyj (HEL:UNITED) had a good week, as its shares rose 8.0% to close at €14.90 following the release of its yearly results. United Bankers Oyj reported €51m in revenue, roughly in line with analyst forecasts, although statutory earnings per share (EPS) of €1.23 beat expectations, being 7.9% higher than what the analyst expected. Earnings are an important time for investors, as they can track a company's performance, look at what the analyst is forecasting for next year, and see if there's been a change in sentiment towards the company. With this in mind, we've gathered the latest statutory forecasts to see what the analyst is expecting for next year.

See our latest analysis for United Bankers Oyj

Taking into account the latest results, the most recent consensus for United Bankers Oyj from sole analyst is for revenues of €55.3m in 2024. If met, it would imply a meaningful 8.8% increase on its revenue over the past 12 months. Statutory per-share earnings are expected to be €1.23, roughly flat on the last 12 months. In the lead-up to this report, the analyst had been modelling revenues of €55.2m and earnings per share (EPS) of €1.18 in 2024. The analyst seem to have become more bullish on the business, judging by their new earnings per share estimates.

The consensus price target rose 6.3% to €17.00, suggesting that higher earnings estimates flow through to the stock's valuation as well.

Another way we can view these estimates is in the context of the bigger picture, such as how the forecasts stack up against past performance, and whether forecasts are more or less bullish relative to other companies in the industry. We would highlight that United Bankers Oyj's revenue growth is expected to slow, with the forecast 8.8% annualised growth rate until the end of 2024 being well below the historical 13% p.a. growth over the last five years. By way of comparison, the other companies in this industry with analyst coverage are forecast to grow their revenue at 6.5% annually. Even after the forecast slowdown in growth, it seems obvious that United Bankers Oyj is also expected to grow faster than the wider industry.

The Bottom Line

The biggest takeaway for us is the consensus earnings per share upgrade, which suggests a clear improvement in sentiment around United Bankers Oyj's earnings potential next year. Fortunately, they also reconfirmed their revenue numbers, suggesting that it's tracking in line with expectations. Additionally, our data suggests that revenue is expected to grow faster than the wider industry. There was also a nice increase in the price target, with the analyst clearly feeling that the intrinsic value of the business is improving.

Following on from that line of thought, we think that the long-term prospects of the business are much more relevant than next year's earnings. We have analyst estimates for United Bankers Oyj going out as far as 2026, and you can see them free on our platform here.

Before you take the next step you should know about the 1 warning sign for United Bankers Oyj that we have uncovered.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.