Loop Capital analyst Anthony Chukumba said he believes Big Lots would be attractive to private equity sponsors, that current leveraged finance market conditions would support such a transaction, and that the company should consider going private given the "lack of respect" that its sizeable discount to its peers indicates. A leveraged buyout at $60 per share could be financed and would generate returns "comfortably above" those that private equity firms typically target, he tells investors, adding that he has "no reason to believe a deal is imminent." Chukumba keeps a Buy rating and $64 price target on Big Lots shares.