Raymond James Downgrades Dun & Bradstreet After Shareholders Approve Buyout
The shareholder vote cleared the way for the $9.15-per-share deal to move forward, effectively marking D&B's exit from public markets. The company, known for its business analytics platform and 62% gross margins, was absorbed into Clearlake's portfolio, leaving behind its ~$4 billion public valuation.
An executive presenting a business proposal in a modern open office space, surrounded by data analytics displays.
Raymond James had previously held out hope for a more favorable outcome for shareholders, implying the firm viewed the final price as underwhelming. With the transaction now locked in, analysts said the downgrade was simply a recognition that the upside scenario was no longer on the table.
No changes were made to D&B's financial forecasts, which is consistent with the view that the downgrade is tied to the structure of the deal, not a shift in the company's fundamentals.
The move effectively ends the public story for Dun & Bradstreet, with shares now anchored to the buyout price and little left to play for in the market.
While we acknowledge the potential of DNB as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.
READ NEXT: The Best and Worst Dow Stocks for the Next 12 Months and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money.
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