Hewlett-Packard Enterprise raised to Buy at BofA on several catalysts; shares up

Source Investing

Investing.com -- Analysts at Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) (BofA) hiked their rating on Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co (NYSE:HPE) shares to Buy from Neutral and lifted the price target on the stock to $24 from $21.

The company’s shares rose roughly 4% in Tuesday’s market pre-open.

The upgrade reflects BofA's positive outlook on the company's potential for significant cost cuts, a cyclical recovery in its core markets, and revenue and cost synergies from its upcoming acquisition of Juniper Networks Inc (NYSE:JNPR)s.

HPE's acquisition of Juniper Networks for approximately $14 billion in cash is expected to close soon, with CEO Neri at the helm. The move is intended to reduce HPE's dependency on compute solutions and enhance its focus on the higher-margin networking business.

Despite a challenging networking market, BofA anticipates that cost synergies from the deal will exceed $450 million, with 70% expected to be realized by the end of 2026, contributing to a significant increase in consensus earnings per share (EPS).

“We expect additional cost takeouts at core HPE of at least 100bps incrementally, which is also likely conservative,” BofA analysts said in a Tuesday note.

In its Q3 financial report, HPE showcased AI server revenues of $1.3 billion and a substantial backlog of $3.4 billion. The company also reported an increase in server operating margins quarter over quarter, highlighting a focus on profitability.

BofA expects HPE to benefit from its partnership with NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA), leveraging AI computing and capitalizing on Juniper’s Mist platform in the networking market.

“With decades of expertise in liquid cooling (CRAY systems) and increased adoption of supercomputing, HPE will be able to command a key position in AI adoption at Enterprise and Sovereign,” analysts continued.

HPE's stock is currently trading at approximately 8x the estimated 2025 consensus EPS, which is at the lower end of its historical range of 6 to 13x. While acknowledging the risks of execution challenges and increased leverage, particularly in a recession scenario, BofA's price objective of $24 is based on a 10 times multiple of the projected 2026 pro-forma EPS of $2.40.

Disclaimer: For information purposes only. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
placeholder
Fed hike odds near 90% into Wednesday's decision — how to trade the dollar, gold and the S&P 500A 0.3% monthly core CPI print has lifted the market-implied probability of a 25bp Fed hike on 16 September to roughly 86.5% ~ 90%, which would be the first increase since July 2023. Here is the decision timeline, the pricing versus the forecasts, both scenarios, and the key levels for the dollar, gold and the S&P 500.
Author  Suzie
Sep 14, Mon
A 0.3% monthly core CPI print has lifted the market-implied probability of a 25bp Fed hike on 16 September to roughly 86.5% ~ 90%, which would be the first increase since July 2023. Here is the decision timeline, the pricing versus the forecasts, both scenarios, and the key levels for the dollar, gold and the S&P 500.
placeholder
Silver breaks $64 as precious metals rebound — can gold hold the $4,280 line into the Fed decision?Silver has climbed back above $64 an ounce for the first time this week, leading a broad rebound across precious metals hours before the Federal Reserve delivers what is expected to be its first rate hike since 2023. Spot silver was last at $64.64, up 1.49% on the day, while gold reclaimed $4,300 and platinum and palladium both advanced. The question now is whether the bounce is a genuine turn — or a pause before the Fed's dot plot decides the next move.
Author  Suzie
Sep 16, Wed
Silver has climbed back above $64 an ounce for the first time this week, leading a broad rebound across precious metals hours before the Federal Reserve delivers what is expected to be its first rate hike since 2023. Spot silver was last at $64.64, up 1.49% on the day, while gold reclaimed $4,300 and platinum and palladium both advanced. The question now is whether the bounce is a genuine turn — or a pause before the Fed's dot plot decides the next move.
placeholder
Dollar index tops 100 for the first time since July as the Fed's hawkish dot plot sinks inThe U.S. dollar index broke back above 100 for the first time since 31 July after the Fed delivered its first rate hike since 2023, with the dot plot showing 16 of 18 officials expect at least one more increase this year. Here are the levels that matter for DXY, the currencies feeling it most, and what to watch next.
Author  Irene Q.
Sep 17, Thu
The U.S. dollar index broke back above 100 for the first time since 31 July after the Fed delivered its first rate hike since 2023, with the dot plot showing 16 of 18 officials expect at least one more increase this year. Here are the levels that matter for DXY, the currencies feeling it most, and what to watch next.
placeholder
Gold rebounds to near $4,350 on weaker US Dollar, falling oil pricesGold price (XAU/USD) rises to near $4,345 during the early Asian session on Friday. The precious metal rebounds from a six-week low amid falling oil prices and a weaker US Dollar (USD). Traders continue to assess the latest Federal Reserve (Fed) rate hike and policy cues.
Author  FXStreet
Yesterday 01: 32
Gold price (XAU/USD) rises to near $4,345 during the early Asian session on Friday. The precious metal rebounds from a six-week low amid falling oil prices and a weaker US Dollar (USD). Traders continue to assess the latest Federal Reserve (Fed) rate hike and policy cues.
placeholder
US to delay new "overcapacity" tariffs on China — what the pause means for trade, inflation and the dollarWashington is expected to hold off announcing new tariffs over Chinese "overcapacity" until after the 24 September summit, according to Bloomberg. The postponed plan would have added 7.5% to Chinese goods, taking second-term US tariffs to around 20%. Here is what is on the table, and what a deal versus no deal would mean for the yuan, Hong Kong equities and the dollar.
Author  Mitrade
19 hours ago
Washington is expected to hold off announcing new tariffs over Chinese "overcapacity" until after the 24 September summit, according to Bloomberg. The postponed plan would have added 7.5% to Chinese goods, taking second-term US tariffs to around 20%. Here is what is on the table, and what a deal versus no deal would mean for the yuan, Hong Kong equities and the dollar.
goTop
quote