Analyst Price Target News: Alphabet Q1, Coursera – April 25th, 2025

This week in analyst price targets: Alphabet Q1 2025 results showed solid growth amid AI investment and economic uncertainty, drawing analyst price target increases. Coursera reported better-than-expected earnings alongside learner growth.

By: Matthew Otto

Merit Medical Beats Q1 Estimates, Raises EPS Forecast Despite Lower Full-Year Consensus

Merit Medical Systems reported first-quarter 2025 revenue of $355.4 million, up 9.8% year over year and above the consensus estimate of $352.5 million. Constant currency revenue increased 10.9%, while organic constant currency revenue rose 6%. Earnings per share for the quarter reached $0.86, exceeding the analyst estimate of $0.75 by $0.11.

Operating margin rose to 11.5% from 11.1% in the prior year, and adjusted operating margin improved to 19.3% from 17%. Net income totaled $30.1 million, or $0.49 per share, compared to $28.2 million, or $0.48, in Q1 2024. Adjusted net income came in at $52.9 million. Free cash flow declined 20.5% to $19.5 million.

Segment-wise, Cardiovascular revenue reached $338.7 million, up 8.1%, with contributions from Cardiac Intervention (up 10.6%) and OEM (up 20.5%). Endoscopy Devices revenue rose 64.2% to $16.6 million. Merit’s gross margin improved to 48.4% from 46.9% a year earlier.

Merit ended the quarter with $395.5 million in cash and $747.5 million in debt, with approximately $697 million in available borrowing capacity. For full-year 2025, Merit reaffirmed its revenue outlook of $1.47 to $1.49 billion, in line with the $1.48 billion consensus. Merit revised its earnings guidance to $3.29 to $3.42 per share, below the consensus estimate of $3.65.

Analysts Lower Price Targets Following Q1 Beat and Revised EPS Outlook

Barrington Research analyst Michael Petusky maintained an Outperform rating but reduced the price target from $111 to $103.
Needham analyst Mike Matson kept a Buy rating yet lowered the price target from $116 to $100.
Baird analyst David Rescott reiterated his Outperform rating but trimmed the price target from $111 to $110.

Which Analyst has the best track record to show on MMSI?

Analyst Lawrence Biegelsen (WELLS FARGO) currently has the highest performing score on MMSI with 11/14 (78.57%) price target fulfillment ratio. His price targets carry an average of $14.97 (14.67%) potential upside. Merit Medical Systems stock price reaches these price targets on average within 116 days.

Coursera Reports 2025 With Learner Growth and Better-Than-Expected Earnings

Coursera reported first quarter 2025 revenue of $179.3 million, exceeding the consensus estimate of $175.6 million and marking a 6% year-over-year increase. Earnings per share came in at $0.12, outperforming analyst expectations of $0.08.

Coursera also generated $34 million in cash from operating activities and $25 million in free cash flow. Net income increased 66% to $19.7 million compared to the prior year period, while operating profit, as measured by adjusted EBITDA, more than doubled to $18.7 million with a margin of 10.4%. Net loss on a per-share basis narrowed from $0.14 to $0.05.

Coursera welcomed 7.1 million new registered learners during the quarter—a first-quarter record—bringing its total to 175.3 million, up 18% year over year. Segment results showed 5% revenue growth in the Consumer segment to $117.6 million, and a 7% increase in Enterprise revenue to $61.7 million. Gross profit margins improved across segments, with Consumer reaching 61.6% and Enterprise at 70%.

Looking ahead, Coursera expects second quarter revenue between $179 and $183 million, ahead of the $176.9 million consensus. For full-year 2025, Coursera raised its revenue outlook to a range of $720 to $730 million, slightly above the prior consensus of $720.1 million.

Analysts Maintain Positive Outlook Following Q1 Performance

Needham analyst Ryan MacDonald reiterated a Buy rating and the price target at $11.
Telsey Advisory Group analyst Sarang Vora maintained an Outperform rating and a $12 price target.

Which Analyst has the best track record to show on COUR?

Analyst Eric Sheridan (GOLDMAN SACHS) currently has the highest performing score on COUR with 6/7 (85.71%) price target fulfillment ratio. His price targets carry an average of $0.37 (5.38%) potential upside. Coursera stock price reaches these price targets on average within 29 days.

Alphabet Q1 Results Show Solid Growth Amid AI Investment and Economic Uncertainty

Alphabet reported first-quarter revenue of $90.23 billion, a 15.4% increase from $78.45 billion a year earlier, exceeding the analyst consensus of $89.12 billion. Net income reached $23.66 billion, or $2.81 per share, up from $15.05 billion, or $1.17 per share, in the same quarter last year.

Advertising remained the largest revenue stream, generating $66.89 billion, up 8.5% year-over-year, though slower than the prior quarter’s 10.6% growth. Google Search and other revenue accounted for $46.16 billion, while YouTube ads contributed $8.09 billion and Google Network revenue was $5.95 billion.

Google Cloud revenue totaled $12.26 billion, up 28% from the previous year, though just under analyst expectations of $12.27 billion. Alphabet reported capital expenditures of $17.20 billion, up from $12.02 billion a year earlier—a 43% increase. Alphabet reaffirmed its $75 billion full-year capex guidance. Alphabet also authorized a $70 billion share repurchase program and increased its quarterly dividend by 5%, from 20 cents to 21 cents per share.

Alphabet’s after-hours market capitalization rose by approximately $75 billion. AI product integration, including 1.5 billion monthly users for AI Overviews in Search, was noted as a continued area of development.

Analysts Raise Price Targets Following Q1 Results

Piper Sandler analyst Thomas Champion maintained an Overweight rating and raised the price target from $185 to $195.
Needham analyst Laura Martin reiterated a Buy rating and a $178 price target.

Which Analyst has the best track record to show on GOOGL?

Analyst Colin Sebastian (BAIRD) currently has the highest performing score on GOOGL with 18/18 (100%) price target fulfillment ratio. His price targets carry an average of $19.83 (10.71%) potential upside. Alphabet stock price reaches these price targets on average within 152 days.