Barclays lifts Atlas Copco to 'overweight' as 'forgotten' stock returns to growth

Atlas Copco AB

04/12/2025 13:40

** Barclays upgrades Swedish industrial group Atlas Copco ATCOA.ST to "overweight" from "equal weight", seeing a growth acceleration in 2026 driving a stock re-rating

** It sees growth driven by the company's Compressors and Vacuum Technology divisions, forecasting mid-to-high single-digit order growth for both business areas in 2026

** The broker calls Atlas Copco "the best-quality business in European CapGoods," noting its valuation is attractive with the lowest premium to its sector peers in seven years

** A special capital return event in 2026 also seems likely and could bring the total yield to nearly 4%, according to the brokerage, following a historical pattern

** Barclays raises its price target by 23% to SEK 178, seeing the company as a "top-quality business forgotten" by the market during a period of slower growth that is now poised to rebound

** Out of 21 analysts that cover Atlas Copco, 13 rate the stock "strong buy" or "buy", six rate it "hold" and two rate the stock "sell" - LSEG data

 (Reporting by Marta Frackowiak)

 ((marta.frackowiak@thomsonreuters.com))