Payment company Square (NYSE: SQ) is reportedly "analogous to Amazon or Google in their early days" but Wall Street is valuing the stock all wrong, according to Nomura Instinet
The firm reiterated its buy rating on the company's stock Friday, calling big gains in 2018 as the company disrupts the payments industry.
The San Francisco-based company's climb to fame is a result of its financial transaction technology, enabling small businesses to accept card payments through its software and hardware products. It also developed Square Cash, a means of sending and receiving money between individuals and businesses akin to PayPal's Venmo.
"In 10 years, Square is likely to be a very different company helped by accelerating share gains from payment peers and relentless disruption of services like payroll and HR," wrote analyst Dan Dolev in a note to clients.
Valuation should include "mix shift to large sellers, accelerating share gains, growing penetration of higher priced transaction types like virtual terminal and e-commerce, as well as high margin services like Square Capital and payroll."
The analyst's $64 price target represents 59% upside from Thursday's close over the next year, the highest target on Wall Street according to FactSet data.
Dolev believes his peers on Wall Street don't see this bright future for Square because they are using "conventional valuation methodologies." The analyst is using a discounted cash flow model to come up with his target.
The company topped Wall Street expectations in its latest earnings report and CEO Jack Dorsey – who also leads social media site Twitter – told investors that the company's growth runway looks strong.
Shares gained $2.08, or 5.2%, to $42.35.
