Spire Inc. (NYSE:SR) just released its latest quarterly report and things are not looking great. It looks like a weak result overall, with both revenues and earnings falling well short of analyst predictions. Revenues of US$1.1b missed by 15%, and statutory earnings per share of US$3.51 fell short of forecasts by 4.2%. Earnings are an important time for investors, as they can track a company's performance, look at what the analysts are forecasting for next year, and see if there's been a change in sentiment towards the company. So we gathered the latest post-earnings forecasts to see what estimates suggest is in store for next year.

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Taking into account the latest results, the most recent consensus for Spire from ten analysts is for revenues of US$2.70b in 2025. If met, it would imply a meaningful 11% increase on its revenue over the past 12 months. Per-share earnings are expected to expand 12% to US$4.49. Before this earnings report, the analysts had been forecasting revenues of US$2.67b and earnings per share (EPS) of US$4.50 in 2025. The consensus analysts don't seem to have seen anything in these results that would have changed their view on the business, given there's been no major change to their estimates.

Check out our latest analysis for Spire

There were no changes to revenue or earnings estimates or the price target of US$79.20, suggesting that the company has met expectations in its recent result. That's not the only conclusion we can draw from this data however, as some investors also like to consider the spread in estimates when evaluating analyst price targets. Currently, the most bullish analyst values Spire at US$85.00 per share, while the most bearish prices it at US$69.00. Still, with such a tight range of estimates, it suggeststhe analysts have a pretty good idea of what they think the company is worth.

Of course, another way to look at these forecasts is to place them into context against the industry itself. The analysts are definitely expecting Spire's growth to accelerate, with the forecast 24% annualised growth to the end of 2025 ranking favourably alongside historical growth of 7.4% per annum over the past five years. Compare this with other companies in the same industry, which are forecast to grow their revenue 9.1% annually. Factoring in the forecast acceleration in revenue, it's pretty clear that Spire is expected to grow much faster than its industry.

The Bottom Line

The most obvious conclusion is that there's been no major change in the business' prospects in recent times, with the analysts holding their earnings forecasts steady, in line with previous estimates. Happily, there were no major changes to revenue forecasts, with the business still expected to grow faster than the wider industry. The consensus price target held steady at US$79.20, with the latest estimates not enough to have an impact on their price targets.

Following on from that line of thought, we think that the long-term prospects of the business are much more relevant than next year's earnings. At Simply Wall St, we have a full range of analyst estimates for Spire going out to 2027, and you can see them free on our platform here..

That said, it's still necessary to consider the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with Spire (at least 1 which makes us a bit uncomfortable) , and understanding these should be part of your investment process.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.