BUZZ-Autodesk rises to five-month high after hiking annual revenue, profit forecasts

** Shares of design-software maker Autodesk ADSK.O rise 2% to $263.52, highest since March

** Co lifts FY 2025 revenue forecast to $6.08 bln - $6.13 bln, from earlier range of $5.99 bln - $6.09 bln after the bell on Thursday

** Co also hikes annual adj earnings per share forecast to range of $8.18 to $8.31 per share, from $7.99 to $8.21 earlier and beats estimates for Q2 revenue

** At least 11 brokerages, including RBC, Piper Sandler, Morgan Stanley, Barclays, Mizuho, and Deutsche Bank raise target price

** "While the financials continue to digest from the business model changes, underlying growth at Autodesk remains durable" - Morgan Stanley analysts

** Oppenheimer hikes PT to $300 from $275, says believes Autodesk management "offered enough breadcrumbs," suggesting more focus on shareholder interest, such as accelerating stock buybacks

** Downside risks include poor execution of transition from multi-year to annual billings and weaker macroeconomic conditions hitting construction and manufacturing product growth - Oppenheimer

** 16 of 26 brokerages rate the stock "buy" or higher, as per LSEG data

** Stock up 7.8% year-to-date

(Reporting by Lisa Mattackal)

((LisaPauline.Mattackal@thomsonreuters.com )); +919945309224)))