Supermicro Shares Plummet Amid Uncertainty Over Annual Report Filing
Lack of Clarity Sparks Concerns of Delisting
Supermicro Computer’s stock took a drastic hit on Wednesday, plummeting 20% after the company failed to provide a clear timeline for filing its 2024 annual report. This lack of transparency sparked concerns that the company may be delisted from the Nasdaq exchange.
JPMorgan Analysts Slash Price Target
In response to the uncertainty, JPMorgan analysts downgraded Supermicro to “underweight” from “neutral” and slashed their price target by over 50%, from $50 to $23. The analysts cited “several risk factors that introduce uncertainty” as the reason for the downgrade.
Nasdaq Compliance Deadline Looms
Supermicro has until November 16 to file its annual report or submit a plan to regain compliance with Nasdaq rules. The company received a warning letter from the exchange on September 17, stating that it was not in compliance with the timely filing of reports.
EY’s Resignation Adds to Uncertainty
The situation was further complicated by the resignation of accounting firm EY as Supermicro’s auditor last week. Although CEO Charles Liang stated that the company is “actively in the process of engaging a new auditor,” no clear timeline was provided for when the report would be filed or a new auditor would be hired.
Special Committee Finds No Evidence of Fraud
Despite the uncertainty, a special committee formed by Supermicro’s board of directors found no evidence of fraud or misconduct. However, JPMorgan analysts noted that the actions of the prior auditor and the special committee were at odds with each other, adding to the confusion.
Stock Performance Suffers
Supermicro’s stock has struggled this year, down about 20% year-to-date. The recent decline has pushed the stock price to around $23, a far cry from its 2024 highs above $120.
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