Analyst Ratings & Target Prices for BlackSky (BKSY): What Do the Pros Really Think?
If you’ve ever stared at a stock chart for BlackSky (ticker: BKSY) and wondered, “What do the pros say about this?”—I’ve been there. Seriously, before putting even a few hundred bucks into anything, I want to know how analysts—those people poring over company filings and chatting with management—are rating the stock, what price targets they’re tossing around, and whether there’s an actual consensus or just hot air. So, after a ton of poking around (and, okay, a few mistakes on Yahoo! Finance), here's a detailed guide on how to find, understand, and actually use analyst recommendations for BlackSky.
Stick around for the real numbers, a sample workflow (with actual screenshots), a couple of weird discoveries, plus a quick peek into why analyst opinions sometimes swing wildly—especially for newer, high-growth companies like BlackSky. And hey, I’ll wrap up with a summary and what I plan to do next time I research an “emerging tech” stock.
Step 1: Where Do You Actually Find Analyst Ratings and Target Prices for BKSY?
Alright, first mistake I made: I just typed “BlackSky analyst rating” into Google and clicked the first link. It took me to a random blog with, let’s say, enthusiasm, but zero real data. What actually works is going straight to data aggregators and brokerage portals. Here’s my shortlist, based on, you know, trial and error:
- Yahoo! Finance Analyst Tab—surprisingly up to date.
- TipRanks—aggregates Wall Street opinions, usually color codes buy/hold/sell.
- Benzinga and MarketBeat, which adds a basic history of upgrades/downgrades.
Snapshots help. Here’s how it looks on Yahoo! Finance:
Pro tip: If a site shows “No Analyst Coverage,” it either means BKSY is really under-followed, or you’ve hit a paywall. TipRanks usually has at least a couple of opinions, which brings us to…
Step 2: What’s the Actual Analyst Consensus for BlackSky Stock?
As of June 2024, BKSY has a handful of analysts covering it. And the consensus isn't as clear-cut as it is for Apple or Microsoft. Here’s what I found:
- Consensus Rating: Moderate Buy (sometimes just “Buy” depending on the source)
- Number of Analysts: 3–5, generally from firms like Raymond James, Oppenheimer, and sometimes a boutique firm joins the party.
- Recent Price Targets:
- Oppenheimer: $3.00 (as of May 2024, source: TipRanks)
- Raymond James: $2.50
- Another firm (I think Northland Capital): $2.00
Average target: about $2.50. BKSY’s price in early June 2024 is around $1.25. So, based on “the Street,” there’s (in theory) around 2x upside—if you trust their math.
“BlackSky’s continued expansion in satellite launches and imagery services position it at the forefront of the geo-intelligence market; target is $3.00 for the next 12 months.” — Oppenheimer research report, May 2024 (source)
But be warned: Two years ago, the sponsor research crowd was just as bullish—but the stock slid anyway. Always check the date of the rating, and how closely the analyst’s past targets tracked reality.
Step 3: How Do You Actually Use This Analyst Info If You’re a Regular Investor?
Here’s my “workflow” (I promise this is not rocket science):
- Go to Yahoo! Finance or TipRanks. If you’re cheap (like me), just use the free parts.
- Look for consensus rating (Buy/Hold/Sell sticks out like a sore thumb).
- Check the average price target, and write down the range (lowest to highest). Here’s what I jotted on a Post-it for BKSY in June ’24: “$2.00–$3.00 (avg $2.50), 3 analyst ratings—all ‘Buy’ or ‘Strong Buy’.”
- Read any notes or commentary—sometimes you get a line like, “Rising costs may push back profitability.” I’ve found that useful.
- Last, compare the analyst price targets to charts of where the stock’s actually traded. If the targets are all pie-in-the-sky for months, I get suspicious. (See below for a personal goof on that.)
Last month, I almost bought BKSY at $1.40 purely on analyst optimism. Then I saw all the targets had been $4.00+ in 2022—and missed every time since. So I held back, did more digging in SEC filings… and, okay, still haven’t decided.
Industry View: Why Are Analyst Ratings for Micro-Cap Space Stocks So Polarized?
I emailed a friend who covers the space sector for a boutique sell-side shop. He said (not for attribution): “These newer ‘space as a service’ providers get rotated coverage—one upgrade can swing sentiment. There’s bullishness on imagery demand, but execution is super tough to predict, and capital markets aren’t patient.”
In other words, don’t treat three bullish price targets as gospel if the company depends on lumpy government contracts.
Case Study: BlackSky vs. Spire Global—Who Gets More Love from Analysts?
Just for context: Another “new space econ” stock is Spire Global (SPIR). As of June 2024, TipRanks says SPIR also has three analysts, average target ~$8.00, actual price about $4.30. There’s a pattern: small coverage, big upside on paper… but real performance varies. (Check SPIR’s analyst page if curious.)
Bonus: “Verified Trade” Standards—A Quick Comparison Table
Okay, off-topic, but I did a project last year about international “verified trade”/authentication. There are wild differences. Here’s my cheat sheet (just for geek cred):
| Country/Region | Standard Name | Legal Basis | Enforcement Agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) | 19 CFR 122.0 et seq. | U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) |
| EU | Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) | EU Regulation (EC) No 450/2008 | National customs agencies |
| China | 高级认证企业 (Advanced Certification Enterprise) | 中华人民共和国海关法 (China Customs Law) | China Customs |
For source-hunters: WTO’s AEO Compendium is a good starting point: WTO guide here.
Final Thoughts and Next Steps
If you’re eyeing BlackSky, pay attention to the actual content (and timeliness) of analyst ratings, not just the optimistic price targets. Realistically, analyst coverage is thin but leans bullish—just verify that the same “$3” target isn’t one analyst updating a stale opinion every six months.
What I learned: Analyst ratings are a useful checkpoint but absolutely not the full story, especially for volatile, emerging industries. Sometimes it’s worth emailing the brokerage research desk, or reading the full sell-side note (even if you only get access at a local library’s Bloomberg Terminal—I did this once and it’s oddly fun).
Next time: I’ll try to catch the “earnings call” transcript on SeekingAlpha or via the company IR site, to get more direct quotes from management (where the real color is).
Key sources referenced:
- Yahoo! Finance BlackSky Analysis
- TipRanks BlackSky Stock Forecast
- MarketBeat Analyst Ratings
- WTO AEO Compendium (for verified trade standards)
Bottom line: Do your homework, compare opinions, and always remember that even “Wall Street consensus” is sometimes just three people making educated guesses. Good luck out there!