Citigroup Maintains Neutral Rating, PT Down to $18 on AvePoint

Citigroup Maintains Neutral Rating, PT Down to $18 on AvePoint

Citigroup has maintained a neutral rating on AvePoint, reducing its price target to $18. This adjustment follows AvePoint's recent launch of an enhanced points-based global partner program aimed at driving channel growth and investing in partner success [1]. The new program introduces a points-based system that rewards active participation, tracks meaningful performance, and equips partners with the resources needed to thrive in the evolving service delivery market.

According to Canalys, managed IT services are expected to outpace overall IT spending, expanding by 12.6% to surpass USD 600 billion. This growth underscores the strategic importance of AvePoint's transition and its commitment to channel expansion [1]. The new program focuses on engagement metrics rather than revenue alone, creating more predictable and sustainable pathways to partner profitability.

Key benefits of the new program include rewarding engagement, not just revenue, and providing a flexible path to success based on engagement and expertise. Partners can now access comprehensive enablement resources, including technical resources, certifications, and sales enablement tools. Higher-tier partners receive additional benefits such as white-glove support, lead sharing, co-sell support, and dedicated solution engineering resources [1].

Early participants in the pilot program have already seen significant benefits from the new approach. The enhanced partner engagement model directly benefits end users by providing more knowledgeable support, faster issue resolution, and access to specialized expertise [1]. This latest strategic investment in AvePoint's channel ecosystem follows a series of recent enhancements, including the acquisition of Ydentic and the launch of new data security and optimization features.

References:

[1] https://www.marketscreener.com/news/avepoint-launches-enhanced-points-based-global-partner-program-to-drive-channel-growth-ce7c51dadb80f623