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Improved Profit Margins And Policy Changes Will Shape Solar Sector Outlook

Published
16 Sep 24
Updated
09 Jan 26
Views
366
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AnalystConsensusTarget's Fair Value
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1Y
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Author's Valuation

US$10.971.6% undervalued intrinsic discount

AnalystConsensusTarget Fair Value

Last Update 09 Jan 26

ARRY: Policy Deadline And Turnaround Execution Will Support Margin Recovery

Analysts have nudged their price targets on Array Technologies higher into a roughly $9 to $12.50 range, citing improving execution, stronger bookings, healthier U.S. positioning and a valuation gap versus peers as key reasons for the more constructive stance.

Analyst Commentary

Bullish analysts are framing the recent price target increases as a reflection of improving execution, healthier U.S. positioning and a discount relative to peers, even as they acknowledge some operational and earnings volatility.

Bullish Takeaways

  • Bullish analysts highlight improving execution and a turnaround plan that they see as gaining traction, which they view as important for restoring confidence in future profitability.
  • Several price targets in the $9 to $12.50 range suggest that, in their view, the shares still trade at a discount to peer valuations despite recent operational progress.
  • Stronger bookings of about $500m and a 1.3x book to bill ratio are cited as support for the revenue pipeline and for the potential to drive scale benefits over time.
  • Some analysts point to a clear policy related catalyst in the July 4 safe harbor deadline, which they see as a potential support for project activity and visibility.

Bearish Takeaways

  • More cautious analysts keep ratings at Neutral, pointing to a mixed Q3 and weak implied Q4 EBITDA guide as signs that earnings recovery may not be smooth.
  • There is emphasis on the need to execute against a “reasonable path” back to mid to high teens EBITDA margins by 2026, which leaves limited room for operational missteps.
  • Some research flags that the valuation gap versus peers exists for a reason, reflecting execution risk and uncertainty around the timing of margin normalization.
  • Even with strong bookings, the focus on implied EBITDA guidance shows that investors may scrutinize near term profitability more than top line momentum.

What’s in the News

  • Array Technologies issued earnings guidance for the year ending December 31, 2025, with expected revenue in the range of US$1.25b to US$1.28b (company guidance).

Valuation Changes

  • Fair Value: The model fair value estimate remains unchanged at US$10.97 per share.
  • Discount Rate: The discount rate has risen slightly from 10.55% to 10.87%, indicating a marginally higher required return in the model.
  • Revenue Growth: The assumed long-term revenue growth rate has increased from about 5.51% to 5.71%.
  • Net Profit Margin: The assumed net profit margin has moved slightly lower from about 6.90% to 6.86%.
  • Future P/E: The assumed future P/E multiple has risen from 21.13x to 21.32x.

Key Takeaways

  • Strong growth driven by innovative products, improved margins, and expanding market share, with a favorable industry outlook supporting sustained revenue and earnings momentum.
  • Strategic diversification into new markets, proactive supply chain moves, and regulatory compliance enhance long-term stability and competitive positioning.
  • Regulatory and market uncertainties, rising costs, and intensified competition threaten revenue stability, margin strength, and long-term growth prospects.

Catalysts

About Array Technologies
    Manufactures and sells solar tracking technology products in the United States, Spain, Brazil, Australia, and internationally.
What are the underlying business or industry changes driving this perspective?
  • Rapid year-over-year and sequential volume growth (84% YTD and 52% quarterly increase) driven by market share gains, strong customer engagement with utilities and developers, and accelerated adoption of new products (OmniTrack, SkyLink, Hail XP), positioning Array to capitalize as utility-scale solar installations expand-supporting sustained top-line (revenue) and earnings growth.
  • Enhanced product mix and technology innovation, with over 35% of the order book for recently launched, higher-value products targeting challenging terrains and emerging extreme weather concerns, increasing pricing power and supporting margin expansion, thus improving gross margins and earnings.
  • Diversification and expansion into international markets and new high-growth segments (such as engineered foundation solutions and fixed-tilt systems via pending APA Solar acquisition), increasing the total addressable market and reducing dependency on any single geographic or end market, supporting long-term revenue growth and margin stability.
  • Proactive supply chain optimization and onshoring, including delivering 100% domestic content trackers compliant with evolving regulations and incentives, reinforcing Array's competitive positioning and ensuring eligibility for government support, which boosts demand visibility and protects/reduces margin volatility.
  • Continued industry tailwinds from large-scale decarbonization initiatives, falling solar power costs, and heightened corporate ESG/net-zero commitments signal robust multi-year demand for utility-scale solar and tracking solutions, providing a favorable backdrop for long-term revenue, backlog growth, and sustained earnings momentum.

Array Technologies Earnings and Revenue Growth

Array Technologies Future Earnings and Revenue Growth

Assumptions

How have these above catalysts been quantified?
  • Analysts are assuming Array Technologies's revenue will grow by 8.6% annually over the next 3 years.
  • Analysts assume that profit margins will increase from -22.7% today to 6.6% in 3 years time.
  • Analysts expect earnings to reach $98.4 million (and earnings per share of $0.56) by about September 2028, up from $-265.9 million today. However, there is a considerable amount of disagreement amongst the analysts with the most bullish expecting $151.1 million in earnings, and the most bearish expecting $55.6 million.
  • In order for the above numbers to justify the analysts price target, the company would need to trade at a PE ratio of 19.7x on those 2028 earnings, up from -4.5x today. This future PE is lower than the current PE for the US Electrical industry at 33.7x.
  • Analysts expect the number of shares outstanding to grow by 0.51% per year for the next 3 years.
  • To value all of this in today's terms, we will use a discount rate of 10.41%, as per the Simply Wall St company report.

Array Technologies Future Earnings Per Share Growth

Array Technologies Future Earnings Per Share Growth

Risks

What could happen that would invalidate this narrative?
  • Ongoing regulatory, policy, and tariff uncertainty in the U.S. and internationally (such as FEOC restrictions, safe harbor rule changes, and rapidly evolving tariffs including new 25% India tariffs) could delay project timelines, increase compliance costs, or reduce the economic attractiveness of solar projects, creating volatility in order intake and reducing forward revenue visibility.
  • High interest rates in key international markets (e.g., Brazil at 15%) and fluctuating macroeconomic conditions can suppress or delay utility-scale solar projects, resulting in uneven international bookings, decreased revenue diversification, and increased dependence on the U.S. market for growth.
  • Tariff and commodity price pressures-even when contractually recovered-compress gross margins through "denominator math" (passing costs at zero margin), and future step-ups in tariffs (or changes in tariff eligibility and exemptions) could further erode profitability, dampening net earnings growth.
  • Legacy fixed-price, low-margin contracts and ongoing project descoping, debooking, and cancellations (especially for customers who cannot execute at prior price points) demonstrate continued revenue and margin risk from order book volatility, as well as heightened sensitivity to steel prices and project timing, impacting near-to-medium term earnings predictability.
  • Maturation and commoditization of the solar tracker market, potential emergence of disruptive technologies (such as integrated module tracking or stationary tilt solutions), and increased domestic content requirements could intensify competition, threaten product differentiation, and erode pricing power, putting long-term pressure on both revenue growth and profitability.

Valuation

How have all the factors above been brought together to estimate a fair value?
  • The analysts have a consensus price target of $9.298 for Array Technologies based on their expectations of its future earnings growth, profit margins and other risk factors. However, there is a degree of disagreement amongst analysts, with the most bullish reporting a price target of $13.0, and the most bearish reporting a price target of just $6.0.
  • In order for you to agree with the analyst's consensus, you'd need to believe that by 2028, revenues will be $1.5 billion, earnings will come to $98.4 million, and it would be trading on a PE ratio of 19.7x, assuming you use a discount rate of 10.4%.
  • Given the current share price of $7.92, the analyst price target of $9.3 is 14.8% higher.
  • We always encourage you to reach your own conclusions though. So sense check these analyst numbers against your own assumptions and expectations based on your understanding of the business and what you believe is probable.

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Disclaimer

AnalystConsensusTarget is a tool utilizing a Large Language Model (LLM) that ingests data on consensus price targets, forecasted revenue and earnings figures, as well as the transcripts of earnings calls to produce qualitative analysis. The narratives produced by AnalystConsensusTarget are general in nature and are based solely on analyst data and publicly-available material published by the respective companies. These scenarios are not indicative of the company's future performance and are exploratory in nature. Simply Wall St has no position in the company(s) mentioned. Simply Wall St may provide the securities issuer or related entities with website advertising services for a fee, on an arm's length basis. These relationships have no impact on the way we conduct our business, the content we host, or how our content is served to users. The price targets and estimates used are consensus data, and do not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and they do not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Note that AnalystConsensusTarget's analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.

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