Piper Sandler(US:PIPR) Benzinga·2025-11-11 18:38Core Viewpoint - Piper Sandler Companies is positioned for strong top-line growth due to its exposure to both structural and cyclical growth sectors within investment banking, with Goldman Sachs upgrading its rating to Buy and setting a price target of $386, indicating an 18% upside from recent trading levels [1]. Group 1: Revenue Growth Projections - Goldman Sachs projects a 12.5% revenue CAGR through 2027, which is approximately 200 basis points above its peers, driven by leadership in mid-cap M&A, financials, capital markets, tech M&A, and municipal finance, alongside stable margins and limited compensation leverage [2]. - The firm's M&A backlog has increased by about 110% since early 2024, significantly outperforming peer growth [3]. Group 2: Sector-Specific Insights - Piper Sandler's strong position in mid-cap M&A, which constitutes 65% of its fees since 2019, is notably higher than the group average of 48% [3]. - The firm is well-positioned to benefit from a rebound in financial sector activity, with global bank M&A expected to more than double its 10-year average in 2025 and U.S. bank M&A projected to rise by about 70% [5]. - Continued momentum in financials M&A and debt capital markets is anticipated, supported by potential deregulation and lower unrealized losses on bank balance sheets as interest rates decline, with Goldman estimating a 6-12% revenue and 10-18% EPS upside if the segment normalizes [6]. Group 3: Technology and Municipal Finance Growth - Piper Sandler's investment in the technology sector, which is the largest source of M&A fees, is a key growth driver, with expectations for further investments to enhance competitive positioning [7]. - The municipal finance business is expected to experience cyclical growth as interest rates decline, with Goldman projecting a 14% annual increase in muni finance revenue from 2024 to 2027, alongside specific revenue forecasts of $1.75 billion in 2025 and $1.99 billion in 2026 [8].