Olga Pirogova, Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer of Azenta, Inc. (NASDAQ:AZTA), recently sold a portion of her company stock. According to a recent SEC filing, Pirogova sold 548 shares of Azenta stock, valued at approximately $21,958. The sale was executed at an average price of $40.07 per share, with transactions occurring between November 18 and November 19, 2024, at prices ranging from $38.83 to $41.48.
The sale was conducted to cover tax obligations related to the vesting of restricted stock units. Following these transactions, Pirogova retains ownership of 19,373 shares in the company.
In other recent news, Azenta Inc. experienced a mixed bag of developments. The company’s fourth fiscal quarter of 2024 results aligned with consensus on revenue and EBITDA and exceeded expectations on earnings per share (EPS). However, Azenta reported a 2% dip in organic revenue for the fourth quarter, amounting to $170 million. Despite a decrease in annual revenue for FY 2024, totaling $656 million, Azenta’s core businesses, Sample Management Services (SMS) and Multiomics, experienced an organic growth of 4%.
The company also announced several strategic shifts, including the divestiture of B Medical (TASE:) Systems, expected to be finalized in the first half of fiscal year 2025. This move, along with a change in the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) position, has led to an adjustment in Azenta’s fiscal year 2025 guidance.
In terms of analyst notes, Needham revised its price target for Azenta to $55, down from the previous $69, while Evercore ISI adjusted its price target from $50 to $48. Both firms maintained their previous ratings on the company’s shares. Looking ahead, Azenta forecasts 3% to 5% organic revenue growth for 2025, excluding B Medical.
InvestingPro Insights
To provide additional context to Olga Pirogova’s recent stock sale, let’s examine some key financial metrics and insights for Azenta, Inc. (NASDAQ:AZTA) from InvestingPro.
As of the latest data, Azenta’s market capitalization stands at $2.08 billion. Despite the recent insider sale, which was primarily for tax purposes, there are some positive indicators for the company. An InvestingPro Tip highlights that Azenta holds more cash than debt on its balance sheet, suggesting a strong financial position. This liquidity is further supported by another tip indicating that the company’s liquid assets exceed short-term obligations.
However, investors should note that Azenta was not profitable over the last twelve months, with a negative P/E ratio of -31.12. This aligns with the company’s operating income margin of -10.5% for the same period. On a more optimistic note, InvestingPro Tips reveal that net income is expected to grow this year, and analysts predict the company will return to profitability.
From a valuation perspective, Azenta is trading at a high EBITDA multiple, which could indicate investor optimism about future growth prospects. The company’s price-to-book ratio of 1.17 suggests that the stock is trading relatively close to its book value.
For investors seeking more comprehensive analysis, InvestingPro offers additional tips and insights. Currently, there are 5 more InvestingPro Tips available for Azenta, which could provide valuable information for those considering an investment in the company.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.