By clicking submit, I authorize Optimistic Track and its affiliated companies to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, (2) supplement the information that I provide with additional information lawfully obtained from other sources, like demographic data from public sources, interests inferred from web page views, or other data relevant to what might interest me, like past purchase or location data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email with offers for goods and services from any category at the email address provided, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here
Carvana Plunges as Apollo-Pimco Creditor Truce Creates Stock Doubts
Carvana Co. plunged on Wednesday as Wall Street’s pessimism spread on its shares after the online car dealer’s largest creditors signed a deal to act together in negotiations with the company.
Its shares tumbled by a record 45%, triggering at least one volatility halt, after Wedbush analyst Seth Basham slashed his 12-month forecast on the stock by 89% to $1 and downgraded it to underperform. The move comes a day after Bloomberg News reported that Carvana’s largest creditors including Apollo Global Management Inc. and Pacific Investment Management Co. signed a pact to prevent creditor fights that have complicated other debt restructurings in recent years.
“These developments indicate a higher likelihood of debt restructuring that could leave the equity worthless in a bankruptcy scenario, or highly diluted in a best case,” Basham wrote in a note to clients.
The company’s bonds have tumbled below 50 cents on the dollar in recent weeks, an indication that traders believe there is a high probability that they will default. Carvana’s $3.3 billion bond due in 2030 trades at roughly 42 cents, down from 79 cents at the start of the year.
It’s the second time in about two months that Basham has cut his rating on Carvana. Back in October he downgraded the firm to neutral and slashed his price target to $15 from the $50 he had previously set. As recently as January, his 12-month price target on the stock was $300 per share.