B. Riley downgrades Compass Diversified on investigation uncertainty

B. Riley downgraded Compass Diversified (CODI) to Neutral from Buy with a price target of $18, down from $30, after the company said its 2024 financial statements can’t be relied upon as it investigates practices at its Lugano subsidiary. The stock in premarket trading is down 39%, or $6.75, to $10.50. While the investigation is isolated to Lugano, this is Compass Diversified’s largest segment and represented 37% of forecasted adjusted EBITDA, the analyst tells investors in a research note. The firm says Lugano also accounted for 40% of its sum-of-the-parts based valuation. The investigation creates uncertainty for the stock, contends Riley. The firm removed Lugano from its operating forecast so investors can evaluate the company on an excluding Lugano basis.