FINWIRES · TerminalLIVE
FINWIRES

Research Alert: CFRA Reiterates Hold Opinion On Shares Of Iex

By

CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:

We lift our 12-month target to $235 from $220 following Q1, valuing shares at 26x our 2027 EPS outlook of $9.04 (up from $8.99; 2026 EPS view revised to $8.50 from $8.28). IEX posted a robust Q1, with operating EPS of $2.00 rising 14% Y/Y and exceeding consensus by $0.23, propelled by standout performance in Health & Science Tech. Organic sales growth accelerated to 5% Y/Y from 1% in Q4, while orders hit a record $988M (up 10% Y/Y), signaling broadened demand. Health & Science Tech was the clear growth engine, delivering 11% organic sales growth alongside 100-bp adjusted EBITDA margin expansion to 26.6%. This strength was fueled by AI-driven demand for data center power solutions, semiconductor applications, and space & defense markets. Despite gross margin compression of 40 bps, adjusted EBITDA margin expanded 50 bps to 26%, suggesting the company's 80/20 initiatives are gaining traction.Overall, Q1 results were encouraging and contributed to our raised growth outlook for the year.

Related Articles

Research

Research Alert: CFRA Keeps Buy Opinion On Shares Of Ventas, Inc.

CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:We increase our 12-month target price by $6 to $100, a forward P/FFO of 25.1x our 2026 FFO estimate, a premium to VTR's historical forward one-year average (20.8x) due to continued Senior Housing Operating (SHO) operational execution and current acquisition pipeline. We increase our 2026 FFO estimate by $0.13 to $3.99 and increase 2027 by $0.17 to $4.47. Management continues to be aggressive on the acquisition front closing on $1.7B in senior housing investments YTD and increasing FY 26 acquisition guidance by $500M to $3B while highlighting that 90% of these deals were relationship driven with 60% sourced off-market. We continue to see increasing deal activity in the senior housing space with management noting competition for deals has negatively impacted cap rates. We still believe 6%-6.5% yields are achievable, but could see rate compression later this year. Slowing new construction has hit the point that makes new developments more viable with 20%-40% increase in renewals possible.

$VTR
Research

Research Alert: CFRA Maintains Hold Opinion On Shares Of Asbury Automotive Group Inc.

CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:We lower our 12-month target by $30 to $220, based on a 2027 P/E of 7.5x, a justified discount to ABG's 10-year average forward P/E of 8.6x. We lower our adjusted EPS estimates to $26.15 from $28.50 for 2026 and to $29.50 from $31.30 for 2027. ABG's same-store sales remains concerning, with revenue declining 9% Y/Y in Q1, as it continues to feel pressure from broader industry headwinds and consumer spending constraints, and is particularly notable given ABG's favorable geographic footprint concentrated in faster-growing southeastern U.S. markets. While we liked ABG's mid-2025 Herb Chambers acquisition (a top 20 private U.S. auto dealership in terms of annual revenue), the acquired assets weren't enough to offset disappointing same-store sales, driving a $260M top-line shortfall relative to consensus. We remain at Hold, seeing more compelling opportunities across the space.

$ABG
Research

Research Alert: Pbr Q1 Production: Fpso Ramp-ups Push Petrobras Production Up 16% Y/y

CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:Total production reached 3.23 MMboed in 1Q26, up 16.1% Y/Y, driven by FPSO ramp-ups in Buzios, Mero, Marlim and Voador fields. Pre-salt oil production increased 17.8% to 2,189 Mbpd, representing 85% of total oil output, while refining utilization reached 95%, up 6pp Q/Q with March hitting 97.4% (highest in over a decade). The strong operational performance reflects successful execution of the company's pre-salt development strategy and refining optimization initiatives. Oil products production rose 6.7% Q/Q to 1,816 Mbpd, with diesel up 7.4% and net exports increasing 1.3% to 852 Mbpd as imports declined 32.2%. We believe the company's strategic positioning benefits from geopolitical dynamics, with China comprising 62% of oil exports (up from 33% Y/Y), highlighting Brazil's role as a key supplier amid Middle East tensions. The 10 wells connected during the quarter and rapid P-78 gas injection timeline demonstrate operational efficiency in our view.

$PBR