Morgan Stanley Upgrades Michelin to Overweight, Doubles Target Price
Morgan Stanley analysts have upgraded Michelin shares to “overweight” and more than doubled their target price from 36 – 80 euros, commenting that the French tyre manufacturer “can surprise again.” This means analysts believe Michelin will beat consensus earning projections by more than a fifth: “We expect earnings to come in 20-25 per cent above consensus and cash generation to surprise significantly.”
In an investors note published 25 August, Morgan Stanley’s Eduardo Spina explained that the upgrade is based on the fact that while Michelin stock trades at a roughly 25 per cent discount historically, “high earnings visibility” and pent-up demand contribute to making it attractive. As a result Spin predicts that earnings per share will ramp up to 10 euros by 2012, 25 per cent above the consensus of 8 euros by the same point.