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Lowering her target price - but keeping her Hold rating intact - on Credit Suisse Group (CS) is Zacks senior foreign banks analyst Ann Heffron, CFA. Here are some details:
We are continuing our Hold recommendation on Credit Suisse Group, but reducing our target price to $70. CSG reported 2007 second quarter earnings above our estimate, largely due to stronger-than-expected net revenue growth on record equity and fixed income trading levels that rose 178% year over year. Costs were well controlled, with the cost:income ratio improving over 400 basis points.
We are increasing our EPADS [earnings per American Depositary Share] estimates to $7.50 from $6.56 for 2007 and to $8.10 from $7.22 for 2008. We expect growth to be supported by CSG's continuing international expansion and improved operating efficiency. CSG announced a CHF8 billion share repurchase program and a 12% rise in the annual dividend to a $1.87 indicated rate.
At its current stock price, Credit Suisse trades at substantial discounts to the industry median, based on 2007 and 2008 consensus estimated earnings and price/book. The 3-5 year outlook for CSG's earnings growth is 10% versus 11% for the industry and CSG's dividend yield of 2.8% is below average. Our target price of $70 represents roughly an 8 ½X multiple of 2008 estimated earnings of $8.10 per share, providing a PEG (P/E divided by estimated future growth rate) ratio roughly in line with that of the industry.
Read the analyst note on CS
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