Elliott likes Etsy’s strategy

Article Excerpt

ETSY INC. $65 is a hold. The company (Nasdaq symbol ETSY; Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 116.9 million; Market cap: $7.6 billion; No dividend paid; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.etsy.com) operates an online marketplace that brings together buyers and sellers of unique and creative consumer goods. Etsy’s shares are down about 20% since the start of 2024, mainly due to concerns that cost-conscious consumers are spending less on discretionary goods. Activist firm Elliott Management, which owns about 13% of the stock, feels Etsy can expand its customer base with a new loyalty program. It’s also using artificial intelligence to make better recommendations and improve engagement. These moves could lift Etsy’s projected earnings, from $2.59 a share in 2024 to $3.00 in 2025. The stock trades at 21.7 times that 2025 estimate. That’s a somewhat high multiple, considering the company is facing strong competition from low-cost Chinese online retailers Temu and Shein. Etsy is a hold. hold…