On Thursday, Piper Sandler confirmed its Neutral stance on Shopify shares (NYSE:NYSE:SHOP), maintaining a price target of $67.00. The firm conducted an in-depth analysis of Shopify's sales and marketing expense growth to address key questions about the fluctuations in the company's operating expenses (OpEx).
They examined quarterly changes, particularly the increase in OpEx in the first quarter and the subsequent decline in the second quarter, as well as expectations for sales and marketing growth in the future.
The analysis by Piper Sandler was based on Shopify's interim and annual financial filings, which provide details on the components of GAAP expense growth. The firm also reviewed web data to gauge the trend of expense growth across various areas such as employee-related costs, and marketing expenditures including online and offline spending and partner payouts.
Piper Sandler's findings indicate that quarter-over-quarter growth in sales and marketing (S&M) expenses is likely to resume in the second half of the year. Despite shifts in spending between different marketing channels, the overall marketing expenditure for Shopify has increased by $110 million in the first half compared to the same period last year.
The firm suggests that low single-digit percentage sequential growth in S&M expenses in the latter half of the year aligns with historical trends.
The focus of the analysis was to provide clarity on the drivers behind the recent changes in Shopify's operational spending and to set expectations for the company's future sales and marketing expense trajectory. Piper Sandler's maintained price target reflects their current assessment of the stock's value based on their analysis.
In other recent news, Shopify, a major player in the e-commerce sector, has been the focus of several recent analyst adjustments. Loop Capital has raised its price target for Shopify to $80, citing the company's discounted valuation compared to its peers. Mizuho Securities has also increased its price target for Shopify to $68 following strong second-quarter earnings that exceeded expectations.
Yet, Citi has reduced its price target for Shopify to $90, despite endorsing the stock with a Buy rating, due to market conditions. On the other hand, Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) has shown confidence in Shopify's future financial performance by raising the company's price target to $85, highlighting the company's growth initiatives across Enterprise, Point of Sale, and International markets.
These adjustments come in the wake of Shopify's recent financial results, which have been well-received by the market. The company reported a significant 25% year-over-year revenue growth for the second quarter, along with a notable increase in gross profit and a doubling of its free cash flow margin to 16%. Shopify's operating expenses have decreased compared to the previous quarter, marking the fourth consecutive quarter of profitability.
These recent developments highlight Shopify's robust growth trajectory and its strategic focus on expanding its market presence. The company has projected the growth of Q3 revenue at a low to mid-20s percentage rate. As these developments continue to unfold, investors and market watchers will likely continue to monitor Shopify closely.
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