Analyst Ratings February 4, 2026

Needham Sticks With Buy on AudioCodes, Cites Strong ARR Momentum and Recurring Revenue Shift

Analyst keeps $12.50 target as Q4 ARR rises 22% and company builds Cisco Webex pipeline

By Nina Shah AUDC
Needham Sticks With Buy on AudioCodes, Cites Strong ARR Momentum and Recurring Revenue Shift
AUDC

Needham has maintained a Buy rating on AudioCodes (AUDC) with a $12.50 price target after the company's fourth-quarter results. The target implies material upside from the stock's current trading level of $7.35, which is near its 52-week low and viewed as undervalued on Fair Value metrics. AudioCodes reported 22% year-over-year ARR growth to $79 million in Q4, balanced across Voice AI and Connectivity segments, while preserving a 65% gross profit margin and a 5.44% dividend yield.

Key Points

  • Needham maintains a Buy rating on AudioCodes with a $12.50 price target, implying significant upside from the current $7.35 share price.
  • AudioCodes reported Q4 ARR of $79 million, up 22% year-over-year, with balanced growth across Voice AI and Connectivity segments; the company reported a 65% gross profit margin and a 5.44% dividend yield.
  • The firm is shifting toward a higher mix of recurring revenue, improving revenue quality, and reports stronger visibility and pipeline versus a year ago; Needham expects Q1 2026 to be the low point for product and service revenue with sequential recovery through the year, while building pipeline for an expanded Cisco Webex opportunity.

Needham has reaffirmed a Buy rating on AudioCodes, keeping a $12.50 price objective after the company's fourth-quarter report. That target stands well above the current share price of $7.35, and the stock is trading close to its 52-week low; Fair Value analysis cited by market data indicates the shares appear undervalued at present.

AudioCodes delivered annual recurring revenue (ARR) of $79 million in Q4, an advance of 22% compared with the same period a year earlier. Needham highlighted that ARR expansion was broadly balanced between the firm's Voice AI offerings and its Connectivity segment, a pattern that aligns with trends seen in recent quarters.

The company remains profitable and reported a healthy gross profit margin of 65%. In addition, AudioCodes pays a dividend that yields 5.44% at current prices.

Needham identified several product lines that contributed to Voice AI ARR gains during the quarter. These include Voice.AI Connect, the LiveHub solution aimed at small and mid-size businesses, and Voca CIC for Teams Contact Center deployments.

The analyst noted a continued shift in AudioCodes' business model toward a larger share of recurring revenue. That transition is described as improving the underlying quality of revenue, and Needham reports that both visibility and the sales pipeline are stronger than they were a year ago.

Looking ahead to 2026, Needham expects the first quarter to represent the low point for both product and service revenue, with sequential gains anticipated through the remainder of the year. The firm also emphasized that the company is actively building pipeline tied to its recently expanded opportunity with Cisco Webex.

Overall, Needham's stance reflects confidence in AudioCodes' ARR trajectory and the benefits of a higher recurring revenue mix, while acknowledging near-term revenue seasonality with a projected Q1 trough and a focus on expanding channel opportunities.

Risks

  • Near-term revenue weakness - Needham expects Q1 2026 to be the low point for product and service revenue, indicating a short-term trough in top-line performance that could pressure near-term results and investor sentiment.
  • Market valuation concerns - the shares are trading near their 52-week low and are described as undervalued on Fair Value analysis, reflecting market skepticism that may persist despite improving fundamentals.
  • Execution dependence on pipeline expansion - continued improvement relies on building pipeline, including opportunities tied to the recently expanded Cisco Webex arrangement; delays or weaker-than-expected conversion could affect revenue recovery.

More from Analyst Ratings

Stifel Lowers JFrog Target Citing AI-Driven Security Concerns; Maintains Buy Rating Feb 22, 2026 HSBC Lowers Synopsys Rating to Hold, Flags 2026 as Transition Year Feb 21, 2026 DA Davidson Cuts Uber Price Target Citing Elevated Investment; Buy Rating Intact Feb 20, 2026 Freedom Capital Markets Raises Freeport-McMoRan to Buy, Cites Copper Supply Tightness Feb 20, 2026 BofA Lifts CF Industries Price Target After Strong Q4 EBITDA; Maintains Underperform Rating Feb 20, 2026