Truist Gives Bill Buy Rating with $58 Price Target
Truist analyst Matthew Coad notes that after Bill delivered a strong earnings beat, Bloomberg reported that private-equity firm Hellman & Friedman has been in talks to acquire the company, and that other private-equity groups have also expressed interest. The report follows Bloomberg's November story that Bill was exploring strategic alternatives, including a potential sale, and comes amid involvement from multiple activist investors. That said, Truist acknowledges that some investors have questioned the likelihood of a takeout given the current turbulence across the software sector. The firm thinks Bill is an attractive takeout candidate and believes that Elliott Investment Management and Starboard Value having sizable positions in the company created positive optionality for Bill shareholders. Truist has a Buy rating and a price target of $58 on the shares.
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- Acquisition Talks Progress: Bill Holdings (BILL) shares surged 32% following reports that Hellman & Friedman is in discussions to acquire the payments firm, indicating strong market optimism about potential deals that could provide new capital and resources for accelerated growth.
- Private Equity Interest: In addition to Hellman & Friedman, Bill has attracted interest from other private equity firms, highlighting its appeal and market value, which may drive competitive acquisition bids in the future.
- Strong Financial Performance: Bill reported above-consensus results for Q2 of fiscal year 2026, along with robust full-year guidance projecting core revenue growth of 15-16%, instilling confidence in investors and potential buyers regarding the company's prospects.
- Positive Market Reaction: Although the acquisition talks have no guaranteed outcome, Bill's stock price has significantly risen due to its strong financial performance and acquisition potential, reflecting investor optimism about the company's future development.
- Dow Hits Record High: The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 2.47% to reach an all-time high, reflecting market optimism about economic recovery, particularly amid strong rebounds in tech and chipmaker stocks.
- Consumer Confidence Rises: The University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index unexpectedly increased to 57.3, surpassing expectations of 55.0, indicating enhanced consumer confidence that could drive future spending.
- Bitcoin Rebounds: Bitcoin surged over 11% from a 1.25-year low, lifting cryptocurrency-exposed stocks and signaling renewed investor interest and confidence in crypto assets.
- Strong Corporate Earnings: Over 79% of S&P 500 companies exceeded earnings expectations, with S&P earnings growth projected at 8.4% for Q4, providing robust support for the market and indicating ongoing improvement in corporate profitability.
- Market Performance: The S&P 500 Index rose by 1.10%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 1.60%, reaching an all-time high, reflecting positive market sentiment driven by strong tech earnings results.
- Tech Stock Recovery: Gen Digital and Roblox surged over 7% and 9%, respectively, after forecasting full-year adjusted EPS and bookings above consensus, indicating a robust recovery in the tech sector that may attract more investment.
- Consumer Confidence Boost: The University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index unexpectedly rose to 57.3, a six-month high, surpassing expectations of 55.0, reflecting optimistic consumer sentiment about the economic outlook, which supports further market gains.
- Inflation Expectations Shift: While short-term inflation expectations fell, long-term expectations ticked up slightly, indicating market concerns regarding the Fed's monetary policy, which could influence future investment decisions and market volatility.
- Tech Stock Rebound: The S&P 500 rose by 1.20% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average surged by 1.48%, reaching an all-time high, driven by better-than-expected tech earnings that boosted investor confidence in the sector's recovery.
- Bitcoin Recovery: Bitcoin rebounded over 7% from a 1.25-year low, lifting cryptocurrency-exposed stocks and alleviating concerns about liquidity in the crypto market, indicating renewed investor interest in digital assets.
- Amazon Investment Concerns: Amazon's announcement of a $200 billion investment in data centers, chips, and other equipment led to a more than 9% drop in its stock, raising doubts about the long-term returns of its AI investments and potentially impacting future investor confidence.
- Earnings Season Insights: With 79% of S&P 500 companies exceeding expectations and Q4 earnings projected to grow by 8.4%, this indicates strong corporate profitability, which may provide ongoing support for the market despite economic uncertainties.
- Earnings Beat: Bill Holdings reported Q2 revenue of $414.7 million, a 14% year-over-year increase that surpassed analyst expectations of $399.93 million, indicating strong growth potential in the business payments sector.
- Acquisition Talks: Reports indicate that private equity firm Hellman & Friedman is in discussions to acquire Bill Holdings, leading to a 39% surge in the company's stock price on Friday, reflecting market optimism about its future prospects.
- Investor Sentiment High: On Stocktwits, retail sentiment around BILL stock remained in the 'extremely bullish' territory, with message volume increasing from 'high' to 'extremely high', showcasing strong investor interest in a potential buyout.
- Positive Outlook: The company expects FY26 total revenue between $1.63 billion and $1.65 billion, with adjusted net income per diluted share projected at $2.33 to $2.41, both above market estimates, indicating robust long-term growth potential.
- Unexpected Quarterly Loss: Molina Healthcare reported an unexpected quarterly loss, causing its stock to plummet 29% in a single day, marking the largest drop since 2012 and indicating significant challenges in profitability.
- Weak 2026 Outlook: The company issued a weak earnings outlook for 2026, which may undermine investor confidence and further pressure the stock price, reflecting market concerns about its future growth potential.
- Strong Overall Market Performance: Despite Molina Healthcare's stock decline, the Dow Jones Industrial Average surged nearly 2% on Friday, reaching a new all-time high, indicating a market preference for value stocks that may overshadow individual stock weaknesses.
- Small Caps Outperform: Small caps showed outstanding performance on Friday, with the Russell 2000 index soaring over 3%, suggesting increased investor confidence in smaller companies, contrasting sharply with Molina's performance.










