UPDATE: FBR & Co. Upgrades UTi Worldwide On Multiple Positive Factors

In a report published Monday, FBR & Co. analyst John R. Mims upgraded the rating on

from Market Perform to Outperform, and raised the price target from $11.00 to $19.00. In the report, FBR & Co. noted, "We upgrade UTIW shares to Outperform and significantly raise our price target (to $19 from $11), as we believe that UTi's business transformation and restructuring efforts over the last decade are finally at the point of driving considerable EBITDA and earnings growth over the next two years. UTi has a new management team, has been running its system long enough to work out the major kinks, and is very actively working to accelerate net revenue growth through new market strategies, a positive customer mix shift, and a focus on higher-touch/higher-value logistics services. As UTi is successful in these initiatives, we expect the stock to trade more in line with peers on an EV/EBITDA basis. (It is now trading at a 4x–5x discount.)" UTi Worldwide closed on Friday at $12.59.