HSBC downgrades Bloom Energy on valuation

Investing.com - HSBC in a note said the recent 79% surge Bloom Energy Corp (NYSE:BE ) shares driven by a record data center order and expectations of additional deals has made its valuation “fair”.

Brokerage raised its price target for Bloom Energy to $24.50 from $17.20, citing a stronger long-term outlook fueled by demand from AI data centers. However, the revised target represents a modest 3.2% upside, prompting the downgrade.

HSBC downgraded Bloom Energy Corp to "hold" from "buy,"

Bloom Energy announced a long-term contract with American Electric Power (NASDAQ:AEP ), including an initial order of 100 megawatts (MW) of its solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) to power an AI data center. The deal could expand up to 1 gigawatt (GW) as AEP explores additional customer contracts for Bloom's technology, the brokerage noted.

HSBC expects Bloom’s installed base to grow by about 300 MW in 2024 and 400 MW in 2025, surpassing previous records. Despite the accelerated growth, the brokerage flagged near-term concerns over working capital drag and capacity expansion at Bloom’s Fremont facility.

“Our estimates assume the company adds capacity gradually to its existing roofline while working capital continues to be a drag in the near term,” HSBC analysts wrote in a note.

Bloom is forecasted to generate positive free cash flow by 2026, a year earlier than previously expected, with HSBC attributing this to increasing demand and operational efficiencies.

Shares of Bloom Energy, were trading down 2% at $24.35 on Thursday, have surged over 100% year-to-date.

Source: Investing.com