William Blair analyst Brandon Vazquez has maintained their neutral stance on HSIC stock, giving a Hold rating on February 23.
Brandon Vazquez has given his Hold rating due to a combination of factors affecting Henry Schein’s performance. The company’s fourth-quarter sales and earnings per share were consistent with the preliminary results but fell slightly short of market expectations. The recent changes in reporting segments have made it challenging to pinpoint which areas underperformed, though it is believed that ongoing challenges in the dental market, particularly in equipment sales, have impacted results.
Additionally, while management has indicated stable market conditions, the guidance for 2025 is slightly below market expectations. This is likely due to weaker market conditions and investments in growth initiatives, such as a new e-commerce platform, which may temporarily affect profit margins. The stock is currently trading at 15 times the estimated earnings per share for 2025, leading to the decision to maintain a Hold rating as the company navigates these challenges.
In another report released on February 23, Wells Fargo also maintained a Hold rating on the stock with a $80.00 price target.