09:30 AM EDT, 05/02/2024 (MT Newswires) -- CFRA, an independent research provider, has provided MT Newswires with the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:

We lift our 12-month target by $2 to $45, valuing EQH shares at 6.2x our '25 operating EPS estimate of $7.25 and at 7.3x our '24 EPS estimate of $6.20 (cut today by $0.10), vs. the three-year average forward multiple of 5.2x and a peer average of 8.4x. Q1 operating EPS was $1.43 vs. $0.96, compared to our $1.53 EPS estimate and the $1.32 consensus view. Results reflected 11% higher operating revenues and 14% higher Individual Retirement profits on better fund flow trends, a 42% rise in Group Retirement profits on a wider net interest margin and growth in fee income, 7% profit growth at AllianceBernstein (AB 33 ****), a turnaround in Protection Solutions profits on better claim trends, and 34% higher Wealth Management profits on a 22% rise in assets under administration. We applaud these results, and see 8%-12% operating revenue growth in '24 and a 7%-10% rise in '25. In our view, above-peer top-line growth and improved margin trends will provide the shares with a catalyst to close their valuation gap to peers.