Synovus Financial Corp. Earnings Missed Analyst Estimates: Here's What Analysts Are Forecasting Now
It's been a mediocre week for Synovus Financial Corp. (NYSE:SNV) shareholders, with the stock dropping 17% to US$15.59 in the week since its latest first-quarter results. Sales of US$477m surpassed estimates by 4.4%, although statutory earnings per share missed badly, coming in 67% below expectations at US$0.20 per share. Earnings are an important time for investors, as they can track a company's performance, look at what the analysts are forecasting for next year, and see if there's been a change in sentiment towards the company. So we gathered the latest post-earnings forecasts to see what estimates suggest is in store for next year.
See our latest analysis for Synovus Financial
Taking into account the latest results, the most recent consensus for Synovus Financial from 13 analysts is for revenues of US$1.86b in 2020 which, if met, would be a satisfactory 7.4% increase on its sales over the past 12 months. Statutory earnings per share are forecast to dive 51% to US$1.48 in the same period. Yet prior to the latest earnings, the analysts had been anticipated revenues of US$1.86b and earnings per share (EPS) of US$1.56 in 2020. The analysts seem to have become a little more negative on the business after the latest results, given the small dip in their earnings per share numbers for next year.
It might be a surprise to learn that the consensus price target was broadly unchanged at US$23.42, with the analysts clearly implying that the forecast decline in earnings is not expected to have much of an impact on valuation. Fixating on a single price target can be unwise though, since the consensus target is effectively the average of analyst price targets. As a result, some investors like to look at the range of estimates to see if there are any diverging opinions on the company's valuation. Currently, the most bullish analyst values Synovus Financial at US$30.00 per share, while the most bearish prices it at US$16.00. Analysts definitely have varying views on the business, but the spread of estimates is not wide enough in our view to suggest that extreme outcomes could await Synovus Financial shareholders.
One way to get more context on these forecasts is to look at how they compare to both past performance, and how other companies in the same industry are performing. It's pretty clear that there is an expectation that Synovus Financial's revenue growth will slow down substantially, with revenues next year expected to grow 7.4%, compared to a historical growth rate of 12% over the past five years. By way of comparison, the other companies in this industry with analyst coverage are forecast to grow their revenue at 2.5% next year. So it's pretty clear that, while Synovus Financial's revenue growth is expected to slow, it's still expected to grow faster than the industry itself.
The Bottom Line
The biggest concern is that the analysts reduced their earnings per share estimates, suggesting business headwinds could lay ahead for Synovus Financial. Fortunately, they also reconfirmed their revenue numbers, suggesting sales are tracking in line with expectations - and our data suggests that revenues are expected to grow faster than the wider industry. The consensus price target held steady at US$23.42, with the latest estimates not enough to have an impact on their price targets.
Keeping that in mind, we still think that the longer term trajectory of the business is much more important for investors to consider. We have forecasts for Synovus Financial going out to 2022, and you can see them free on our platform here.
Don't forget that there may still be risks. For instance, we've identified 1 warning sign for Synovus Financial that you should be aware of.
If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. 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. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.
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