Kongsberg Gruppen (Sell, TP: NOK1250.00) - Expectations are set too high

We have downgraded Kongsberg Gruppen to SELL (HOLD) and lowered our target price to NOK1,250 (1,450). We believe the 2025e P/E of 46x overstates its growth capabilities 1) on an absolute basis, in a scenario where all of NATO reaches defence spending of 3.3% of GDP; and 2) compared to other defence companies as, in our view, the market appears to miss that only 20% of its 2024 sales were from European defence spending.

Q1: Small Adj. EBITDA beat and stronger orders

Kongsberg Gruppen (Hold, TP: NOK1450.00) - Less European exposure than peers

We expect Q1 EBITDA of NOK2.2bn (results due at 07:00 CET on 8 May). Kongsberg Gruppen’s valuation premium to European defence peers has shrunk as peer multiples have converged on expectations of higher European defence spending. We believe this is warranted by its lower share of defence sales to EU countries. We continue to find the valuation demanding, while struggling to see negative share price catalysts. Hence, we reiterate our HOLD while we have raised our target price to NOK1,450 (1,300).

Airthings (No_rec, TP: NOK) - Recommendation and target price withdrawn

As a result of DNB Markets acting as financial advisor in conjunction with the company’s announcement (link) of a strategic review prompted by a non-binding letter of intent from Firda AS to explore a potential sale of its business segment assets, we have withdrawn our target price and recommendation.

SpareBank 1 Helgeland (Hold, TP: NOK167.00) - Softer margin, but lower costs

Helped by still-solid core revenues, cost reduction YOY and moderate loan losses, HELG reported a Q1 ROE of 12.3%, despite some margin pressure. With solid earnings generation, the bank increased its CET1 ratio by ~20bp to 18.0% and still guides for a 0.8%-point benefit from the implementation of Basel IV, boding well for meaningful distributions. We have lowered our 2026–2027e EPS by 0–1%, That said, we reiterate our target price of NOK167. With the stock trading at a 2026e P/E of ~12.4x, we continue to find the valuation fair and reiterate our HOLD.

Smartoptics (Buy, TP: NOK27.00) - We remain optimistic

Smartoptics’ Q1 results marked a slower start to the year than we forecast, primarily owing to weaker sales in Devices, which seems to be back to near-term tariff-induced uncertainty. On the flip side, we understand the slowdown seen towards end-Q1 has already caught up again in order inflow, and thus we remain upbeat for the quarters ahead. Following an estimate reduction, we have lowered our target price to NOK27 (30) but reiterate our BUY.