3 Top Credit Suisse Small-Cap to Mid-Cap Software Picks for 2016

Technology

Published: January 5, 2016 10:20 am

Last Updated: January 13, 2020 3:26 pm

Now that 2016 is off to the races, many brokerage firms and research groups are making their annual predictions and forecasts for the year. The research team at Credit Suisse has released its top small-cap and mid-cap software picks for 2016.

Michael Nemeroff was the analyst behind the call, looking at the top picks, predictions and themes for 2016. Credit Suisse’s top SMID software picks for 2016 are: 2U Inc. (NASDAQ: TWOU), Ultimate Software Group Inc. (NASDAQ: ULTI) and Synchronoss Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: SNCR). All three are rated Outperform.

Credit Suisse’s target price on 2U is $40. That compares to a $27.04 close on Monday and a consensus analyst price target of $39.20. 2U only has a $1.2 billion market cap, as well as a $16.69 to $39.69 52-week trading range.

2U was called a best-in-class higher education technology provider, and Credit Suisse fully expects it to continue to transform the higher-education landscape, gain market share and successfully execute program launches with top-tier universities. The firm sees 2U as well-positioned to generate over 30% revenue growth, with a clear line toward profitability.

Ultimate Software has a $215 price target from Credit Suisse, almost $40 higher than the most recent $188.34 closing price. The stock has a consensus price target of $211.84 and has a 52-week range of $139.32 to $216.27. The market cap is $5.4 billion.

Ultimate Software has enjoyed solid execution over many years and is expected to have a high degree of visibility on sales and earnings ahead (management has over 93% visibility into its preliminary 2016 recurring revenue growth guidance of +25% year over year). Credit Suisse thinks that it can meet or beat its recurring revenue growth guidance of 25%.