BUZZ-Align Technology rises after Leerink upgrades to 'outperform'

Shares of dental products manufacturer Align Technology ALGN.O up 2.2% at $212.91 premarket

Brokerage Leerink Partners upgrades stock to "outperform" from "market perform"; raises PT to $280 from $235

New PT represents a 34.5% upside to the stock's last close

Brokerage says, "ALGN is the only dental company in our coverage universe that saw double-digit FY24 equipment growth"

Says it sees better growth for ALGN in FY25, with operational efficiencies boosting further profit beyond FY25

Brokerage says ALGN's focus on the teen and adolescent market will "fuel growth"

Integration of 3D printing and manufacturing capacity expansion may enhance margins in the future, though mostly after FY25 - Leerink Partners

Says any new tariffs under Trump administration could create margin pressure but notes ALGN's plans to shift production between Poland and Mexico to reduce the impact

ALGN declined ~24% in 2024

(Reporting by Kamal Choudhury in Bengaluru)

((Kamal.Choudhury@thomsonreuters.com;))