Honeywell Set To Soar? Analyst Says Smart Price Hikes, Solid Backlog, M&A Could Drive Big Gains

Core Viewpoint - BofAmerica Securities analyst Andrew Obin maintains a Buy rating on Honeywell International and raises the price target from $250 to $275, anticipating a strong second-quarter 2025 earnings report that could drive the stock higher [1] Group 1: Earnings Expectations - Honeywell is expected to report second-quarter earnings of $2.65 per share, reflecting a 1.7% organic growth and a slight margin contraction of 10 basis points year-over-year due to CAES integration in Aerospace [5] - For the third quarter, earnings are estimated at $2.50 per share, slightly below the consensus of $2.53, but management is not expected to guide in a way that lowers consensus [6] Group 2: Market Position and Valuation - Honeywell shares are trading at a discount of approximately 12% on an EV/EBITDA basis compared to peers, indicating potential for further re-rating [1] - The company has a record backlog of $35.8 billion at the start of 2025, up 11% year-over-year, which increased to $36.1 billion in the first quarter, suggesting strong revenue visibility [9] Group 3: Management Insights and Strategic Moves - Recent management discussions and macro indicators suggest resilience in key end markets, countering the anticipated short-cycle collapse [2][3] - Honeywell has implemented price increases tied to inflation, which could support margins in upcoming quarters [4] - The company has made several acquisitions while divesting its Safety/PP&E business, which is expected to add structural growth to Honeywell's total and Automation segments [8] Group 4: Future Outlook - The combination of conservative guidance, stronger pricing, improving volumes, and strategic M&A positions Honeywell for positive estimate revisions and multiple expansion in the latter half of 2025 [10] - The upcoming second-quarter earnings report is viewed as a key moment for Honeywell to reaffirm its position among industrial leaders [10]