J.P. Morgan analyst David Karnovsky reiterated an Overweight rating on the shares of Sphere Entertainment Co (NYSE:SPHR) and lowered the price target from $57.00 to $54.00.
The analyst has revised the estimates for SPHR following their fourth-quarter earnings report.
The Sphere segment’s AOI came in at -$1 million (or +$4 million excluding management transition costs), which was better than the analyst’s forecast of -$10 million, primarily due to stronger contributions from residencies.
During the call, management expressed confidence in the upcoming Experience show, expected to launch in third-quarter, and noted strong year-end demand for Exosphere, which has carried over into the current quarter.
Additionally, they highlighted growing artist interest in performing at the venue. The company also mentioned opportunities to reduce costs and improve operational efficiency, with the overall message that the Vegas location could significantly contribute to AOI this year.
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Regarding international expansion, SPHR is still in talks for additional locations, potentially adding one or two venues similar to Abu Dhabi. They also discussed the possibility of developing smaller venues, possibly even in U.S. markets.
Despite the improved AOI and what the analyst expects to be higher consensus estimates based on management’s commentary, shares fell by 14% (compared to SPX’s -2%).
This performance seems inconsistent with the results, and the analyst notes the lack of updates on international locations or debt restructuring doesn’t fully explain the drop.
Therefore, the analyst wouldn’t be surprised to see a short-term rebound as the positive messages about the company’s fundamentals are absorbed.
The analyst continues to see a favorable risk/reward outlook with potential catalysts such as additional partner announcements, updates on Abu Dhabi, new residency deals, and the debut of new content.
After more than a year, the Las Vegas Sphere has solidified its position as a key attraction in the destination tourism sector, drawing both visitors and artists.
The company’s financial performance since its opening strengthens the analyst’s confidence that it will successfully secure additional international franchise partners. The analyst notes the potential growth from this expansion is not yet fully reflected in the stock price.
Price Action: SPHR shares are trading higher by 0.42% at $37.85 at last check Tuesday.
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