S&U’s Advantage motor finance business lends on a simple HP basis to lower- and middle-income groups who may have impaired credit records restricting access to mainstream products. It has c 64,500 customers. The Aspen property bridging business has been developing since its launch in 2017.
While both businesses continued to perform well, S&U acknowledged the more challenging economic background with growing pressure on household incomes and the potential for a cooling in the housing market as rates rise. Advantage has adjusted its affordability criteria to reflect conditions, refined credit metrics and broadened its range of introducers supporting its ability to address opportunities in the market that offer attractive risk-adjusted yields. Aspen’s high net worth borrowers are showing resilience and it stands to benefit if some participants withdraw from the bridging market or act more cautiously. A Q323 update is due 8 December.
Financials
Financials
Anthony Coombs
Executive Chairman of the Board
Chris Redford
FD
Forecast net debt (£m)
185.5
Forecast gearing ratio (%)
83
% | 1M | 3M | 12M |
---|---|---|---|
Actual | (2.1) | (3.7) | (21.6) |
Relative | (5.8) | (12.9) | (23.5) |
52 week high/low | 2810.0p/1905.0p |
In S&U’s H123 total net receivables increased by 21% to £370m versus H122. Within this, Advantage motor finance receivables were up 13% to £280m and Aspen property bridging 56% to £90m. Revenue was £49.4m (+15%) and pre-tax profit increased by 5% to £20.9m; there was a lower-than-normal level of impairment charge at Advantage in H122 following high pandemic-period charges. The group reported that credit quality remained strong and improving in terms of bad debt, default level and collections against due. EPS increased by 6% to 140.7p and a first interim dividend of 35p (33p) was announced.
Y/E Jan | Revenue (£m) | EBITDA (£m) | PBT (£m) | EPS (fd) (p) | P/E (x) | P/CF (x) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021A | 83.8 | 22.2 | 18.1 | 120.7 | 17.4 | 7.7 |
2022A | 87.9 | 51.3 | 47.0 | 312.7 | 6.7 | N/A |
2023E | 102.6 | 49.2 | 41.2 | 276.2 | 7.6 | N/A |
2024E | 121.0 | 58.1 | 42.5 | 265.6 | 7.9 | 373.1 |
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