12:42 PM EDT, 10/18/2024 (MT Newswires) -- National Bank met with Stantec's ( STN ) management team (CEO / CFO / IR) in New York and Boston this week. Analyst Maxim Sytchev is positive on the shares, which he sees as underpinned by an "unprecedented" U.S. and global infrastructure spending environment. The company's execution has been supported by a sharpened focus and sustained leadership in the Water / Environmental Services verticals (40% of LTM net revenues). At its Investor Day, Stantec ( STN ) set ambitious revenue growth and EBITDA targets, aiming to reach $7.5 billion in net revenues by 2026E, representing a +7% organic CAGR and a +50% increase from its 2023 baseline of about $5 billion. The company is projecting a range of 17% - 18% EBITDA margins by 2026E and 20% in the long term from a 2024E base of 16.7%.

Demand in Stantec's ( STN ) end-markets remains strong as the industry backdrop is the healthiest in the last four decades, helped by thematic tailwinds of decarbonization, electrification, climate resilience/disaster recovery and infrastructure expansion and modernization, Sytchev adds.

Government funding, especially in the U.S., for associated initiatives continues to provide a structural level of support. The business is well-diversified on both a regional and end-market basis as well as on a more granular level with no client or project accounting for more than 3% of the overall top line.

Stantec ( STN ) is rated Outperform, with a $128 target.

Price: 114.63, Change: +0.99, Percent Change: +0.87