UPDATE: J.P. Morgan Initiates Laclede Group with Overweight on Underestimated Earnings Growth Potential

In a report published Tuesday, J.P. Morgan analyst Christopher Turnure initiated coverage on

with an Overweight rating and $50.00 price target. In the report, J.P. Morgan noted, “We are initiating coverage of Laclede Group with an Overweight rating and a $50 December 2014 price target. We see the company as an execution story with underestimated earnings growth potential. Consensus estimates and the discount multiple to peers reflects caution around the integration, growth and legacy non-core business performance, in our view. We see merger synergy targets as reasonable and future capital deployment opportunities as attractive. Laclede is also fortunate to operate with a fair MO gas utility regulation backdrop as well as with the focus of a management team experienced in integrations. We believe caution around the story will abate as management begins to execute post-merger and that this will be reflected favorably in estimates and the trading multiple.” Laclede Group closed on Monday at $43.50.