Results: Azimut Holding S.p.A. Beat Earnings Expectations And Analysts Now Have New Forecasts

As you might know, Azimut Holding S.p.A. (BIT:AZM) just kicked off its latest yearly results with some very strong numbers. The company beat expectations with revenues of €1.1b arriving 2.5% ahead of forecasts. Statutory earnings per share (EPS) were €2.73, 7.2% ahead of estimates. Earnings are an important time for investors, as they can track a company's performance, look at what the analysts are forecasting for next year, and see if there's been a change in sentiment towards the company. So we collected the latest post-earnings statutory consensus estimates to see what could be in store for next year.

See our latest analysis for Azimut Holding

After the latest results, the consensus from Azimut Holding's eight analysts is for revenues of €1.03b in 2021, which would reflect a measurable 2.1% decline in sales compared to the last year of performance. Statutory earnings per share are forecast to plunge 24% to €2.10 in the same period. Before this earnings report, the analysts had been forecasting revenues of €1.00b and earnings per share (EPS) of €2.02 in 2021. So there seems to have been a moderate uplift in sentiment following the latest results, given the upgrades to both revenue and earnings per share forecasts for next year.

Althoughthe analysts have upgraded their earnings estimates, there was no change to the consensus price target of €21.51, suggesting that the forecast performance does not have a long term impact on the company's valuation. Fixating on a single price target can be unwise though, since the consensus target is effectively the average of analyst price targets. As a result, some investors like to look at the range of estimates to see if there are any diverging opinions on the company's valuation. Currently, the most bullish analyst values Azimut Holding at €25.00 per share, while the most bearish prices it at €18.00. This shows there is still a bit of diversity in estimates, but analysts don't appear to be totally split on the stock as though it might be a success or failure situation.

One way to get more context on these forecasts is to look at how they compare to both past performance, and how other companies in the same industry are performing. We would highlight that sales are expected to reverse, with a forecast 2.1% annualised revenue decline to the end of 2021. That is a notable change from historical growth of 9.0% over the last five years. By contrast, our data suggests that other companies (with analyst coverage) in the same industry are forecast to see their revenue grow 3.7% annually for the foreseeable future. It's pretty clear that Azimut Holding's revenues are expected to perform substantially worse than the wider industry.

The Bottom Line

The most important thing here is that the analysts upgraded their earnings per share estimates, suggesting that there has been a clear increase in optimism towards Azimut Holding following these results. Fortunately, they also upgraded their revenue estimates, although our data indicates sales are expected to perform worse than the wider industry. There was no real change to the consensus price target, suggesting that the intrinsic value of the business has not undergone any major changes with the latest estimates.

With that said, the long-term trajectory of the company's earnings is a lot more important than next year. At Simply Wall St, we have a full range of analyst estimates for Azimut Holding going out to 2025, and you can see them free on our platform here..

Even so, be aware that Azimut Holding is showing 3 warning signs in our investment analysis , and 1 of those is concerning...

If you’re looking to trade Azimut Holding, open an account with the lowest-cost* platform trusted by professionals, Interactive Brokers. Their clients from over 200 countries and territories trade stocks, options, futures, forex, bonds and funds worldwide from a single integrated account. Promoted

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. 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.
^*Interactive Brokers Rated Lowest Cost Broker by StockBrokers.com Annual Online Review 2020

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.