Groupon Inc Is Still A Buy: Deutsche Bank

Analysts at Deutsche Bank have reiterated their Buy rating on Groupon. In a report released on Wednesday, the DB analysts put a price target of $8.50 on the stock.

Encouraging growth targets

For the most recent quarter, Groupon reported revenues of $925.4 million, which was above the consensus estimate of $908.2 million. Adjusted earnings for the company came in at 6 cents, and was also above the consensus estimate of 3 cents. The daily deal company has been able to beat estimates over the past eight quarters,

For 2015, the company expects the top line to grow by 15%, which is impressive considering revenue for the first-quarter of 2015 is expected to grow between 4% and 11%. Long-run revenue and adjusted EBITDA growth targets are even more encouraging at over 20% and 25%, respectively, by 2017.

A number of analysts have come out with their verdict on Groupon in recent weeks. In a research note on February 25^th, analysts at Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on the daily deal company with an Equal Weight rating and a price target of $9.00. Sterne Agee analysts, in a report issued on February 25^th, gave a Buy rating to Groupon with a price target of $12. Credit Suisse analysts initiated coverage on the stock with a Hold rating and $8.00 price target, in a note issued on February 13^th. RBC Capital analysts gave a Sector Perform rating to the company, and raised their price target from $7.00 to $8.00, in a research note on February 13^th. Groupon currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $8.85.

Recent insider sales for Groupon

Groupon Director Theodore Leonsis, in a transaction dated March 16^th, sold 19,750 shares of the company’s stock at an average price of $7.78, for a total value of $153,655.00. After the transaction, Leonsis directly owns 810,754 shares in the company valued around $6,307,666.12, according to a SEC filing.

Separately, in another transaction dated March 13^th, CEO Eric P. Lefkofsky sold 454,166 shares in an open market transaction. Lefkofsky sold the shares at an average price of $7.87, and the total transaction amounted to $3,574,286.42, according to a filing with the SEC.

As of around 11 am EDT Thursday, Groupon shares were up 0.13% to $7.75, and year to date the stock is down almost 6%.