Mettler-Toledo International Inc. Beat Analyst Estimates: See What The Consensus Is Forecasting For This Year

Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD) defied analyst predictions to release its first-quarter results, which were ahead of market expectations. Mettler-Toledo International beat earnings, with revenues hitting US$926m, ahead of expectations, and statutory earnings per share outperforming analyst reckonings by a solid 12%. The analysts typically update their forecasts at each earnings report, and we can judge from their estimates whether their view of the company has changed or if there are any new concerns to be aware of. With this in mind, we've gathered the latest statutory forecasts to see what the analysts are expecting for next year.

Check out our latest analysis for Mettler-Toledo International

Taking into account the latest results, Mettler-Toledo International's ten analysts currently expect revenues in 2024 to be US$3.83b, approximately in line with the last 12 months. Statutory earnings per share are predicted to increase 4.4% to US$37.96. In the lead-up to this report, the analysts had been modelling revenues of US$3.83b and earnings per share (EPS) of US$38.39 in 2024. So it's pretty clear that, although the analysts have updated their estimates, there's been no major change in expectations for the business following the latest results.

The consensus price target rose 5.9% to US$1,248despite there being no meaningful change to earnings estimates. It could be that the analystsare reflecting the predictability of Mettler-Toledo International's earnings by assigning a price premium. There's another way to think about price targets though, and that's to look at the range of price targets put forward by analysts, because a wide range of estimates could suggest a diverse view on possible outcomes for the business. The most optimistic Mettler-Toledo International analyst has a price target of US$1,575 per share, while the most pessimistic values it at US$880. There are definitely some different views on the stock, but the range of estimates is not wide enough as to imply that the situation is unforecastable, in our view.

Taking a look at the bigger picture now, one of the ways we can understand these forecasts is to see how they compare to both past performance and industry growth estimates. We would highlight that Mettler-Toledo International's revenue growth is expected to slow, with the forecast 1.6% annualised growth rate until the end of 2024 being well below the historical 7.2% p.a. growth over the last five years. Compare this against other companies (with analyst forecasts) in the industry, which are in aggregate expected to see revenue growth of 6.5% annually. So it's pretty clear that, while revenue growth is expected to slow down, the wider industry is also expected to grow faster than Mettler-Toledo International.

The Bottom Line

The most important thing to take away is that there's been no major change in sentiment, with the analysts reconfirming that the business is performing in line with their previous earnings per share estimates. On the plus side, there were no major changes to revenue estimates; although forecasts imply they will perform worse than the wider industry. There was also a nice increase in the price target, with the analysts clearly feeling that the intrinsic value of the business is improving.

With that said, the long-term trajectory of the company's earnings is a lot more important than next year. We have forecasts for Mettler-Toledo International going out to 2026, and you can see them free on our platform here.

And what about risks? Every company has them, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Mettler-Toledo International you should know about.

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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.