Analysts’ Opinions Are Mixed on These Services Stocks: Habit Restaurants (NASDAQ: HABT) and Express Scripts (NASDAQ: ESRX)


Analysts have been eager to weigh in on the Services sector with new ratings on Habit Restaurants (NASDAQ: HABT) and Express Scripts (NASDAQ: ESRX).

Habit Restaurants (NASDAQ: HABT)

Maxim Group analyst Stephen Anderson maintained a Buy rating on Habit Restaurants (NASDAQ: HABT) today and set a price target of $12. The company’s shares closed yesterday at $10.25.

Anderson wrote:

“We maintain our Buy rating and $12 price target on The Habit Restaurants (HABT) following yesterday’s release of 1Q18 (March) results.”

According to TipRanks.com, Anderson is a 5-star analyst with an average return of 11.6% and a 69.8% success rate. Anderson covers the Services sector, focusing on stocks such as Dave & Busters Entertainment, Good Times Restaurants Inc, and Dine Brands Global Inc.

Habit Restaurants has an analyst consensus of Moderate Buy, with a price target consensus of $11.40.

See today’s analyst top recommended stocks >>

Express Scripts (NASDAQ: ESRX)

In a report released today, Anthony Vendetti from Maxim Group maintained a Hold rating on Express Scripts (NASDAQ: ESRX). The company’s shares closed yesterday at $74.05.

Vendetti observed:

“As a reminder, Cigna (CI – NR) has a definite agreement to acquire ESRX for $48.75 per share in cash and 0.2434 shares of CI stock, pending shareholder and regulatory approval. We expect the deal to close by the end of 2018. 1Q18 adjusted EPS of $1.77, up 33.1% y/y, was slightly above both our estimate and consensus of $1.76. GAAP EPS of $1.10, up 22.2% y/y, was below both our estimate of $1.22 and consensus of $1.25. ESRX maintained its 2018 adjusted claims, revenue, and adjusted EBITDA guidance, but lowered its adjusted EPS guidance due solely to the suspension of its share repurchase program. Due to the pending acquisition, the company is not holding a conference call.”

Vendetti has an average return of 11.3% when recommending Express Scripts.

According to TipRanks.com, Vendetti is ranked #437 out of 4774 analysts.

Currently, the analyst consensus on Express Scripts is Hold and the average price target is $86, representing a 16.1% upside.

In a report released yesterday, Oppenheimer also assigned a Hold rating to the stock.

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Read More on ESRX:

Here’s What the Street Thinks About the Express Scripts Holding Company (ESRX) Acquisition

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