Deutsche Bank analyst John Inch believes General Electric should trade at a valuation discount given its “still aggressive” accounting, cash flow and debt pressures, and the potential for additional lawsuits.
The analyst remains surprised by management’s “upbeat tone/pitch.” GE continues to call 2018 a “reset” and “trough” year even though billions of dollars of cost savings are expected to flow into numbers next year from downsizing and other restructuring actions, Inch tells investors in a research note. These costs are no longer going to run through the presentation of earnings as GE adopts a “more aggressive adjusted earnings” presentation framework, the analyst adds. He feels GE has been asserting the strength of its portfolio excluding Power, while pointing to cash flow and profit upside, “despite the recent collapse in both financial measures.”
The analyst cut his price target for the shares to $15 from $18 and reiterates a Sell rating on General Electric. The price target represents the lowest among those published by Wall Street sell-side analysts. The stock closed yesterday at $17.98.
