Catalent, Inc. (NYSE:CTLT) just released its latest quarterly results and things are looking bullish. It was overall a positive result, with revenues beating expectations by 4.0% to hit US$846m. Catalent also reported a statutory profit of US$0.41, which was an impressive 133% above what the analysts had forecast. This is an important time for investors, as they can track a company's performance in its report, look at what experts are forecasting for next year, and see if there has been any change to expectations for the business. So we gathered the latest post-earnings forecasts to see what estimates suggest is in store for next year.
Check out our latest analysis for Catalent
Taking into account the latest results, the consensus forecast from Catalent's twelve analysts is for revenues of US$3.70b in 2021, which would reflect a meaningful 13% improvement in sales compared to the last 12 months. Statutory earnings per share are predicted to jump 24% to US$2.06. Yet prior to the latest earnings, the analysts had been anticipated revenues of US$3.57b and earnings per share (EPS) of US$1.64 in 2021. There's been a pretty noticeable increase in sentiment, with the analysts upgrading revenues and making a very substantial lift in earnings per share in particular.
It will come as no surprise to learn that the analysts have increased their price target for Catalent 8.4% to US$113on the back of these upgrades. 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. Currently, the most bullish analyst values Catalent at US$130 per share, while the most bearish prices it at US$100.00. With such a narrow range of valuations, the analysts apparently share similar views on what they think the business is worth.
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. Next year brings more of the same, according to the analysts, with revenue forecast to grow 13%, in line with its 12% annual growth over the past five years. Compare this with the wider industry, which analyst estimates (in aggregate) suggest will see revenues grow 6.6% next year. So although Catalent is expected to maintain its revenue growth rate, it's definitely expected to grow faster 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 Catalent following these results. Pleasantly, they also upgraded their revenue estimates, and their forecasts suggest the business is expected to grow faster than the wider industry. We note an upgrade to the price target, suggesting that the analysts believes the intrinsic value of the business is likely to improve over time.
With that said, the long-term trajectory of the company's earnings is a lot more important than next year. We have estimates - from multiple Catalent analysts - going out to 2024, and you can see them free on our platform here.
Even so, be aware that Catalent is showing 3 warning signs in our investment analysis , you should know about...
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.
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