Goldman Sachs Just Trimmed Price Target for The Macerich Company (NYSE:MAC)

We recently compiled a list of the Wall Street Analysts Just Trimmed Price Targets for These 10 Stocks. In this article, we will examine how The Macerich Company (NYSE:MAC) compares to other stocks whose price targets have been recently reduced by analysts.

On Tuesday, US stock futures remained stable, reflecting investor optimism following a significant rally in the technology sector on Wall Street, which drove the broader market to a new all-time high. This latest surge marks the 30th record peak for the major US benchmark index this year, defying concerns about market breadth and the possibility of prolonged high US interest rates. Across the Atlantic, European equities experienced a robust rebound, reversing previous losses. Market analysts from M&G are suggesting that the current risks in France could present a strategic buying opportunity for investors, particularly those looking to capitalize on temporary market dips.

In the commodities market, Treasury yields held steady, indicating a cautious stance among investors amidst the mixed economic signals. Meanwhile, crude oil prices experienced a slight decline, whereas copper prices saw a significant increase, reflecting varying demand dynamics across different sectors. Goldman Sachs economists have pointed out that the US labor market might be approaching a critical juncture. Jan Hatzius from Goldman emphasized that any further decrease in labor demand could lead to a reduction in job numbers, not just a decline in job openings. This concern is underscored by recent data showing healthy nonfarm payrolls but rising initial and continuing jobless claims. Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker echoed this sentiment, suggesting that the Federal Reserve might consider either two interest rate cuts or none this year, depending on future economic data.

Adding to the financial landscape, a highly reliable technical trading strategy has issued a sell signal for long-term Treasury securities. This strategy, which has maintained a perfect trading record this year, was triggered after BlackRock's bond exchange-traded fund tracking long-term Treasuries surged last Friday. The fund's performance breached what is known as the “trading envelope,” indicating overbought conditions. As a result, the strategy suggests that traders should sell these securities when they are overbought and buy them when they are oversold.

The European Union, despite not matching the economic scale of its counterparts in the U.S. and China, aims to strategically challenge them, according to Margrethe Vestager, the bloc's competition chief. Vestager emphasized in an interview with CNBC on Tuesday that the EU has significantly improved its ability to defend against unfair trade practices. She highlighted recent moves, including the imposition of higher tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle imports due to findings of substantial unfair subsidies benefiting Chinese manufacturers, potentially undercutting European producers. Vestager stressed that the EU's approach isn't about outspending its rivals but rather strategically allocating resources. She acknowledged that while the EU cannot match the financial clout of China or the U.S., it can invest strategically in areas of common European interest, such as hydrogen, electric batteries, microelectronics, cloud computing, and healthcare. She pointed to a 100 billion euro fund dedicated to advancing these cutting-edge technologies, aiming to leverage public funds to attract private capital where market forces alone might fall short. Amid escalating trade tensions globally, particularly between the U.S. and China, Vestager reiterated the EU's careful stance, seeking to maintain balanced relations with both economic giants while safeguarding its own interests and alliances. She emphasized that the EU's investments in technology and sustainability are not mere imitations of its competitors' strategies but rather tailored to Europe's unique needs and strengths in the global marketplace. Vestager concluded by urging a focus on the EU's agenda rather than comparisons with other regions, asserting that the EU's approach aims to be effective and sustainable in achieving its economic and technological goals.

China's recent property support measures have successfully stimulated sales in its major cities, but smaller regions continue to face significant challenges, indicating a prolonged downturn for much of the national real estate market. According to Reuters, on May 17, China lowered mortgage rates and downpayment requirements and directed local governments to purchase unsold apartments to convert them into social housing. This initiative has led to numerous cities easing their housing policies.

Data from real estate research firms and interviews with agents reveal that these measures have had a mixed impact. While they have revived demand in cities like Beijing and Shanghai, smaller cities have seen limited improvement. Reports of home price declines further underscore concerns that the property sector's troubles may persist, especially in smaller cities burdened with a higher supply of unsold properties. This excess inventory is keeping buyer sentiment low, prompting calls for additional support from policymakers. Data from the China Index Academy show that the average daily transactions of second-hand homes in Shanghai between May 18 and June 5 were 27.7% higher than in April, and in Beijing, they increased by 8.1%. Meanwhile, new home transactions in these cities declined slightly. Agents reported a surge in inquiries and home viewings, particularly in Shanghai, where one agent noted a tripling of inquiries following a downpayment reduction. Despite these signs of activity in major cities, smaller cities continue to struggle. Jiaozhou, a city with under a million residents, has attempted to stimulate demand by allowing buyers to split downpayments into two installments, but this has had little impact. In Changsha, authorities have urged developers to offer full refunds on deposits if buyers cancel their purchases, hoping to boost buyer confidence. However, local agents report that demand remains weak, with many customers skeptical about the effectiveness of the new policies. Goldman analysts predict that additional easing measures are likely in the coming months, but they caution that these measures might only lead to a slow, L-shaped recovery in the sector over the coming years.

In our original article we listed 10 companies whose price targets were cut by analysts and ranked them by the change in their market prices. Negative changes signal that the market participants agree with the analysts’ assessment.

05. The Macerich Company (NYSE:MAC)

Price Reaction after the Price Target Cut: -0.01(-0.07%)

On June 17, The Goldman Sachs Group revised its outlook on The Macerich Company (NYSE:MAC), lowering the price target from $14.00 to $12.50 and assigning a "sell" rating to the stock. Following this adjustment, The Macerich Company (NYSE:MAC) stock price reacted with a slight decrease of 0.07%. Goldman Sachs' decision to lower the price target and designate a "sell" rating reflects concerns about The Macerich Company (NYSE:MAC) financial performance and the challenging operating environment in the real estate investment trust (REIT) sector. In its latest quarterly earnings announcement on April 30, the company reported a normalized Funds from Operations (FFO) of $0.31 per share, missing expectations by $0.08, and a GAAP EPS of -$0.59, falling short by $0.49. However, Macerich managed to surpass revenue estimates, posting $208.78 million, which exceeded expectations by $5.26 million.

Here’s how Smead Capital Management mentioned The Macerich Company (NYSE:MAC) in the Q2, 2022 investor letter:

“Leading the downside were stocks we own tied to any economic optimism. Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) suffered selling from AT&T (T) shareholders disposing of it upon distribution of the shares in the merger. We have been too optimistic about how long it would take for these uninterested parties to sell. The Macerich Company (NYSE:MAC) suffered from fears of what a recession and higher interest rates would do to their business, disregarding the recovery in the Class “A” mall space since 2020.”

Overall MAC ranks 5th on our list of the 10 stocks whose price targets were recently trimmed by analysts. You can visit Wall Street Analysts Just Trimmed Price Targets for These 10 Stocks to see the other stocks whose price targets have been recently reduced by analysts. While we acknowledge the potential of MAC as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than MAC but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

 

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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.