Cloud data stock can jump nearly 20% thanks to new playbook: Stifel
An improved firm playbook can assist NetApp outperform going ahead, in keeping with Stifel. Stifel upgraded the inventory to purchase from maintain with a $75 value goal, which represents 19% upside from Thursday’s shut of $63 per share. NetApp , a cloud storage supplier that additionally gives bodily {hardware} to different firms, is in the course of a shakeup that would result in extra earnings per share and bigger margins, analyst Matthew Sheerin wrote Sunday. Sheerin mentioned the agency performed conferences with NetApp the place executives detailed a number of initiatives, which embody layoffs to eight% of the workforce and reorganizing the corporate’s gross sales technique, to climate broader market headwinds. “We got here away from the conferences extra assured in our FY24 estimate — $5.49 — which displays a smooth 1H however a return to gross sales and EPS progress in 2H24,” the analyst wrote. Shares of NetApp closed at $63 on Thursday and have added practically 5% in 2023. Stifel added that the shakeup to NetApp’s gross sales staff encompasses staff being assigned to particular merchandise and sectors to raised talk with clients on their particular wants. NTAP YTD mountain NTAP in 2023 Different firm efforts to enhance its outlook embody improved {hardware} provide that can enhance margins in addition to the latest plunge into merchandise that make use of quad-level cell flash reminiscence, which is the very best capability out there, which may assist enhance the corporate’s market dominance. “We view the present risk-reward arrange as compelling as NTAP continues to increase its product portfolio and consider the present valuation provides the corporate little credit score for its company-specific initiatives,” Sheerin mentioned. — CNBC’s Michael Bloom contributed to this report.