Ryanair shares rise as UBS upgrades rating to 'buy'

Investing.com -- Shares of Ryanair rose following an upgrade by UBS, which shifted its rating on the airline to "buy" from “neutral.”

At 7:56 am (12:56 GMT), Ryanair was trading 1.2% higher at €19.175.

The brokerage cited an improved outlook for both revenue and cost structures through 2026 as key factors driving its decision. 

UBS analysts now foresee a more favorable pricing environment and tighter industry supply dynamics, which are expected to benefit Ryanair's financial performance.

Ryanair’s projected growth in passenger numbers and its strategic capacity expansion are expected to sustain positive yield trends. 

Analysts flagged that while broader market expectations for Ryanair’s returns remain conservative, the airline is well-positioned to outperform.nUBS has also raised its 12-month price target for the stock to €23.15 from €17.25.

As per UBS, Ryanair is trading at less than five times its estimated 2026 enterprise value to EBITDA ratio, compared to its historical pre-pandemic average of eight times. 

UBS emphasized that the airline's lean cost structure and robust demand recovery could drive significant earnings growth, particularly as pricing normalizes across the sector.

UBS’s research underpins the notion that Ryanair’s management of capacity and cost controls, combined with anticipated industry tailwinds, make its stock an attractive investment. 

Source: Investing.com