Umicore shares rise after JPMorgan unveils double upgrade of materials tech group

Investing.com — Brussels-listed shares in Umicore SA (EBR:) were trading higher by more than 4% on Wednesday after analysts at JPMorgan upgraded their rating of the maker of catalytic converters and battery materials to “Overweight” from “Underweight.”

In a note to clients, the JPMorgan analysts said a revised valuation of the business until the end of 2026 suggests that the “risk-reward is now more attractive.”

The comment comes after Umicore slashed its 2024 profit guidance earlier this month.

Umicore had been banking on an influx of orders from Chinese electric vehicle (EV) companies looking to boost their presence in Europe. However, it warned that it now does not expect those volumes to materialize this year, citing a recent slowdown in demand for EVs that is “impacting the entire supply chain.”

Meanwhile, battery maker ACC also flagged that it will pause work at some of its factories to switch to batteries made without nickel and cobalt. Umicore supplies both of these rare metals.

Umicore Chief Executive Bart Sap subsequently said the short-term outlook for battery materials is “clearly disappointing.”

“At the same time the electro-mobility trajectory is and will not be linear, like in any other significant industry transformation,” Sap added.

The firm said it now sees full-year adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization at 760 million euros to 800 million euros. It had previously guided for 900 million euros to 950 million euros.