Siemens Overvalued in 2024: Strategic Sell-Off Ahead of Q4 2025 Reset
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Siemens AG: A Temporary Overvaluation Ahead of a Strong Q4 2025 Outlook
The German industrial behemoth Siemens AG—whose diversified portfolio spans everything from digital automation to gas turbines—has long been a staple for investors seeking a blend of stability and growth. Yet, as the author of the Seeking Alpha piece “Siemens Stock Sold in February – I Argue Overvaluation before Q4 2025” points out, the share price that summer had begun to outpace the fundamentals, prompting a strategic sell‑off in February 2024. By dissecting the company’s recent performance, valuation metrics, and projected catalysts, the article paints a clear picture of why the author considered a temporary price dip worthwhile—and why he believes the stock will recover once Q4 2025 earnings are released.
1. A Snapshot of Siemens’ Business Segments
Siemens is split across four principal units:
| Segment | 2023 Revenue (€ bn) | 2024 Forecast | Growth Driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Industries (DI) | 16.5 | 16.9 (+2.5 %) | Industrial AI, digital twins |
| Smart Infrastructure (SI) | 12.3 | 13.1 (+6.5 %) | Energy‑efficiency, electrification |
| Gas & Power (GP) | 10.8 | 11.4 (+5.6 %) | Upgrades to gas turbines, renewable integration |
| Others (including Siemens Healthineers) | 18.4 | 18.9 (+2.7 %) | Medical imaging, diagnostics |
The author notes that the Smart Infrastructure arm is currently the most dynamic, reflecting Europe’s push for carbon‑neutral grids and electric‑vehicle (EV) charging networks. Meanwhile, DI remains the company’s “core engine” thanks to its leadership in industrial IoT, which has delivered a 4 % YoY revenue uptick in the past year.
2. Valuation Concerns in 2024
When the author purchased shares in early 2024, the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio hovered around 19x, compared to a sector average of roughly 17x. More telling, the enterprise value-to-EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) metric stood at 8.8x—well above the peer median of 6.9x. A quick dive into the Capital IQ and Bloomberg tables (link in the article) confirms these numbers and underscores that the market had priced in a 10‑year growth rate of about 3.5 % for Siemens—an upside that many analysts now view as optimistic.
The author’s sell‑off decision was driven by three interrelated factors:
- Over‑priced Growth Narrative – Management’s 2024 guidance of 3 % revenue growth and 22 % EBIT margin improvement seemed “optimistic” relative to the firm’s historical trajectory (2–3 % growth in the prior decade).
- Interest‑Rate Shock – The European Central Bank’s aggressive rate hikes squeezed high‑growth tech stocks, especially those with significant capital expenditure (CapEx) footprints like Siemens.
- Supply‑Chain Uncertainty – The lingering shortage of semiconductor chips and rising logistics costs had begun to creep into the company’s cost structure, putting a dent in EBIT margin projections.
3. Forecasting the Q4 2025 Catalysts
Despite the sell‑off, the author remains bullish on a Q4 2025 earnings event. The key assumptions underpinning this view are:
| Metric | 2023 Actual | 2024 Forecast | 2025 Forecast | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue (€ bn) | 58.6 | 61.0 (+4.0 %) | 65.5 (+7.4 %) | DI + SI growth + pipeline |
| EBIT (€ bn) | 9.3 | 9.9 (+6.5 %) | 11.4 (+14.4 %) | Margin expansion + cost discipline |
| EBIT Margin | 15.9 % | 16.3 % | 17.5 % | Lean CapEx & digital transformation |
| EV/EBITDA | 8.8x | 8.1x | 7.3x | Price rationalization |
The article quotes a Morgan Stanley analyst who predicts that Siemens’ EBIT margin will climb to 17.5 % in 2025, largely because the company has successfully de‑leveraged its debt and is realizing savings from its “Industry 4.0” initiatives. The author stresses that the Q4 2025 earnings are likely to serve as a price reset—a necessary correction that could bring the P/E back to the sector norm.
4. Strategic Moves & Long‑Term Catalysts
The author further highlights several strategic levers Siemens has pulled in the last year that should support a long‑term upside:
- Digital Twin & AI Platforms – Siemens’ flagship TWINCAT and Simatic suites have attracted a new wave of subscription revenue, creating a more recurring revenue stream.
- Electrification Partnerships – Deals with major automakers to build EV charging stations across Europe are expected to deliver €4 bn in incremental revenue by 2026.
- Renewable Power Integration – Siemens Energy’s recent launch of a 5 GW offshore wind project pipeline is projected to add €1.5 bn in revenue per year.
The author cites a Financial Times article (link in the Seeking Alpha piece) that discusses how Siemens’ recent acquisition of a 30 % stake in a German AI startup will accelerate its AI‑powered predictive maintenance platform—a feature that could cut customer downtime by 12 % on average.
5. Risks & Caveats
No analysis is complete without a candid look at risks. The author identifies the following headwinds that could dampen the upside narrative:
- Geopolitical Tensions – The ongoing Russia‑Ukraine conflict continues to disrupt supply chains in the gas turbine sector.
- Regulatory Scrutiny – EU antitrust investigations into the company's digital platform services could lead to fines or forced divestitures.
- Competitive Landscape – Rivals like ABB, Schneider Electric, and Rockwell Automation are aggressively expanding into the same markets, tightening margins.
Despite these, the author believes that Siemens’ robust cash‑flow generation, diversified revenue base, and strategic focus on high‑margin digital services will provide resilience.
6. Bottom Line: A Tactical Sell‑Off, a Long‑Term Hold
In sum, the article argues that while Siemens was undeniably overvalued in February 2024—especially when viewed through the lens of its P/E and EV/EBITDA multiples—the company’s fundamentals and future catalysts justify a re‑investment once Q4 2025 results are released. The sell‑off was a tactical move to protect capital against a temporary price “bubble,” but the long‑term thesis remains unchanged: Siemens’ combination of digital leadership, infrastructure demand, and renewable energy ambition will drive growth, margin improvement, and ultimately, a more rational valuation.
For investors, the key takeaway is to keep a close eye on the Q4 2025 earnings release, watch for any shift in the company’s debt profile, and monitor macro‑economic conditions that could influence the industrial and energy sectors. If the catalysts play out as expected, the stock should deliver a solid upside—turning the February sell‑off into a win‑win for those who timed it right.
Read the Full Seeking Alpha Article at:
[ https://seekingalpha.com/article/4842293-siemens-stock-sold-in-february-i-argue-overvaluation-before-q42025 ]