Exosens Shares Jump 5.73% at Close Amid Kepler Cheuvreux Upgrade
The French specialist in light intensifying tubes closes sharply higher this Friday, December 19, driven by a target price increase from a influential broker, enhancing the attractiveness of the defense sector.
Significant Closing Increase Following Broker Upgrade
Exosens ended the trading session on Friday, December 19, at 47.90 euros, up 5.73% compared to Thursday's close of 47.95 euros. This advance follows a target price increase by Kepler Cheuvreux, which raised its target from 33 to 47.20 euros, a 43% increase, while changing its recommendation from 'reduce' to 'hold'. The broker justifies this revision with upward revised profit outlooks, linked to the expansion of production capacities and the securing of long-term orders. Trading volumes remained modest with 0.15% of the capital traded, typical for a session before the weekend. Over the week, the stock has gained 1.27%, maintaining an impressive momentum throughout the year with a performance of 180.3%, significantly outperforming the CAC 40.
Technical Indicators Show Healthy Momentum
The Relative Strength Index (RSI) stands at 60, signaling positive momentum without excessive tension, well below the overbought threshold set at 70. This configuration indicates a still healthy momentum despite recent gains. The price is trading above its 50-day moving average (45.81 euros), confirming the strength of the short-term upward trend. However, the stock is approaching its key technical resistance at 48.90 euros, representing a residual potential of less than 2%, which could limit immediate progress. The stochastic indicator generates a buy signal, while the MACD shows a slightly positive configuration with a histogram at 0.08, reflecting a recovery in momentum after a phase of hesitation. The support at 41 euros provides a comfortable safety margin in case of a correction.
Strong Fundamentals Beyond Daily Technical Catalyst
Beyond today's technical catalyst, the fundamentals of the group remain solid. Exosens unveiled on December 10 a historic contract worth 500 million euros with Theon International for the supply of 200,000 light intensifying tubes to the German and Belgian armed forces, with deliveries scheduled between 2027 and 2029. JPMorgan then raised its price target from 54 to 60 euros, maintaining its 'overweight' recommendation, while BNP Paribas targets 49 euros. In the first nine months of 2025, the group recorded a revenue growth of 23.2% to 327.8 million euros. Management expects annual growth at the upper end of the 15 to 20% range and an increase in adjusted EBITDA at the lower end of the 20 to 25% range. This dynamic is set against a backdrop of structurally higher demand than supply in the European defense market, reinforced by ongoing geopolitical tensions.
