Kepler Cheuvreux upgraded the rating on Orsted (CSE:ORSTED) from Hold to Buy and raised its 12-month price target to DKK175.00 from DKK150.00 on Monday, citing the stock's notable price momentum over the past six months. The research house highlighted that Orsted has delivered a 26.39% total price return during that period.
The firm noted that its current optimism follows earlier moves in the opposite direction. Kepler Cheuvreux had initially upgraded the Danish renewable energy developer to Buy in October after the share price fell to DKK119 and management signalled a reduction in capital expenditure. However, in January the research house reverted to a Hold rating when Orsted encountered delays on projects in the United States.
Kepler Cheuvreux said its renewed positive view is driven by expectations that Orsted's valuation models will be pushed higher as the company approaches what the firm describes as a "capex cliff" in 2028. The upgraded 12-month target price of DKK175 reflects projections rolled forward from the prior model while continuing to factor in the potential for losses in the U.S. market.
Orsted, which is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange as ORSTED and trades over-the-counter in the U.S. under the ticker DOGEF, is described in the report as a global leader in offshore wind development. Kepler Cheuvreux's analysis takes into account both the company's operational profile and ongoing project-level risks.
Recent corporate developments cited alongside the analyst move include Orsted's agreement to sell its European onshore business to Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners for $1.7 billion. That sale comprises 578 megawatts of operational capacity and a further 248 megawatts currently under construction, together with a development pipeline across Ireland, the United Kingdom, Germany and Spain.
On the U.S. project front, Orsted has obtained approval from a federal judge to resume work on its Sunrise Wind project off the coast of New York, reversing a prior work stoppage that had been ordered by the Trump administration. Sunrise Wind had been among five offshore wind projects suspended under policies enacted by the former administration.
At the same time, Orsted continues to contest regulatory actions. The company is challenging a lease suspension order for Sunrise Wind issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, arguing that the order violates applicable law and could cause substantial harm if it remains in place. Orsted has also filed legal action against the Trump administration over the suspension of its $5 billion Revolution Wind project and is seeking a court injunction to overturn the decision to halt development near the Rhode Island coast.
Kepler Cheuvreux's upgrade and higher target price signal that the research firm expects a combination of recent market momentum and a downward shift in future capital spending to improve Orsted's valuation trajectory, while the company still faces legal and operational uncertainties in its U.S. programme.