(Bloomberg) — General Electric Co. shares hit a more than six-year high, adding some $87 billion in value on bets that the company’s second and final split will bring a windfall for investors. But it could be difficult to make further gains.
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The stock’s rise of more than 85% over the past year comes as CEO Larry Culp takes on the challenge of dismantling the industrial giant and reignites investor enthusiasm. As stocks move closer to Wall Street’s 12-month consensus target, however, trading is becoming crowded.
“In the midst of a substantial rally, investors should approach further gains with caution,” says Jim Osman, founder of Edge Group, a research firm focused on special situations. “While the separation heralds two impressive entities, one has to wonder to what extent this rise has already been priced into the current valuation.”
The upcoming spinoff of GE’s aerospace and energy businesses, after spinning off its healthcare arm, has attracted investors’ attention because of the sectors involved and its name recognition. GE HealthCare Technologies Inc. returned more than 50% after its debut, outpacing gains in the S&P 500 and a Bloomberg basket of split companies.
That in turn has sparked fears of missing out among investors, who are returning to stocks after avoiding them for years, said Morningstar Inc. analyst Joshua Aguilar, who rates the stocks as a hold. The potential of both standalone companies has been “grounded,” Aguilar said in an interview, with recent gains pushing the stock into “hot territory.”
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Among the reasons investors bought the shares ahead of the split, which will see GE retain just its aerospace division, are Culp-led improvements and strong interest in owning a standalone aerospace company. Sheila Kahyaoglu, an analyst at Jefferies Financial Group Inc., expects the aerospace company to increase earnings before items such as interest and franchises to $10 billion in 2028 and value GE Aerospace at $155 per share.
A key factor that makes the transaction special is that both GE units will be companies with minimal debt, “a rarity in the spin-off space,” said Osman of Edge Group, who has been tracking such deals for 18 years. .
Companies often divest from dull, heavily indebted businesses. This is not the case for GE Vernova, the energy segment, whose trading is expected to begin later this month before regular negotiations begin on April 2. As it stands, GE holders will get one share of GE Vernova for every four shares of GE Vernova. GE which they own as part of the split.
The surge in GE shares has pushed up the consensus 12-month price target among Wall Street analysts. While shares climbed to $168.89 on Friday, analysts on average estimate they will be around $172 a year by then, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Of the 20 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg, 14 recommend stocks to their clients. However, at least three stocks with Buy-equivalent ratings have lower price targets as of Friday’s close.
For those like Jefferies and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. that raised their targets after two GE investor days, the argument for investing in GE before the split is complete focuses on growth and execution revenues. Other bullish analysts, including Deutsche Bank AG’s Scott Deuschle, have highlighted GE Aerospace’s plan to buy back $15 billion worth of stock.
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