Jefferies sees Aussie pathology lab chain Healius missing annual outlook

Healius

03/04/2024 05:23

** Jefferies analysts cut price target on Australia's
Healius Ltd  HLS.AX  to A$1.18 from A$1.20, retain
"underperform" rating
    ** HLS down 2.4% at A$1.2975 at 0357 GMT after falling as
much as 3.8% earlier
    ** Brokerage says HLS, which runs pathology laboratories and
diagnostics imaging centres, is unlikely to meet its annual
operating earnings guidance given "subdued" healthcare
environment in Australia
    ** Jefferies expects FY24 EBIT of about A$67 mln ($43.70
mln), below HLS' outlook of between A$70 mln and A$80 mln and
below last year's A$99 mln
    ** For HLS, things continue to look tough in the near-term -
Jefferies
    ** Five of 12 analysts rate the stock "buy" or higher, while
seven rate it "sell" or lower; their median PT is A$1.25 – LSEG
data
    ** HLS down 20.6% so far this year


($1 = 1.5330 Australian dollars)

 (Reporting by Sameer Manekar in Bengaluru)
 ((Sameer.Manekar@thomsonreuters.com; Twitter: https://twitter.com/sameer_manekar))