Greggs plc — New national lockdown tempers outlook

Greggs (LSE: GRG)

Last close As at 18/04/2024

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Research: Consumer

Greggs plc — New national lockdown tempers outlook

Greggs’ Q420 sales performance was better than we expected due to (in descending order) a faster recovery in sales despite ongoing and variable COVID-19 restrictions; a strong contribution from the new delivery initiative; and more net new store openings (28) for FY20 versus management’s prior guidance (20). The sales performance, improved profitability and a stronger financial position gives management the confidence to return to prior levels of space expansion. The new national lockdown limits our FY21 PBT forecast increase to c 2%.

Russell Pointon

Written by

Russell Pointon

Director, Consumer

Consumer

Greggs

New national lockdown tempers outlook

Q420 trading update

Retail

7 January 2021

Price

1,940p

Market cap

£1,943m

Net cash (£m) at 2 January 2021

37

Shares in issue

101.3m

Free float

99.6%

Code

GRG

Primary exchange

LSE

Secondary exchange

N/A

Share price performance

%

1m

3m

12m

Abs

5.5

45.8

(19.2)

Rel (local)

1.1

26.0

(12.0)

52-week high/low

2,442p

1,119p

Business description

With 2,078 shops, eight manufacturing and distribution centres, Greggs is the leading UK ‘food-on-the-go’ retailer. It uses vertical integration to offer differentiated products at competitive prices.

Next events

FY20 results

16 March 2021

AGM

18 May 2021

H121 results

3 August 2021

Analysts

Russell Pointon

+44 (0)20 3077 5700

Sara Welford

+44 (0)20 3077 5700

Greggs is a research client of Edison Investment Research Limited

Greggs’ Q420 sales performance was better than we expected due to (in descending order) a faster recovery in sales despite ongoing and variable COVID-19 restrictions; a strong contribution from the new delivery initiative; and more net new store openings (28) for FY20 versus management’s prior guidance (20). The sales performance, improved profitability and a stronger financial position gives management the confidence to return to prior levels of space expansion. The new national lockdown limits our FY21 PBT forecast increase to c 2%.

Year end

Revenue (£m)

PBT*
(£m)

EPS*
(p)

DPS
(p)

P/E
(x)

Yield
(%)

12/18

1,029.3

89.8

70.3

35.7

27.3

1.9

12/19

1,167.9

114.2

89.7

46.9***

21.4

2.4

12/20e

811.0**

(15.0)**

(12.9)

0.0

N/A

N/A

12/21e

1,042.6

62.0

48.9

15.0

39.2

0.8

Note: *PBT and EPS are normalised, excluding amortisation of acquired intangibles, exceptional items and share-based payments. **Reported. ***Includes special dividend of 35p/share.

Q420: Sales and profit better than expected

Greggs’ like-for-like Q420 sales from company-managed stores at 81% of FY19 was a strong improvement from Q320’s 71%. There was a general improvement from 80% in October to 86% in December, but new COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions led to a lower 77% in November. The new national delivery offering, available from 600 (c 29%) Greggs shops, is producing good and mostly incremental growth, representing 6% of company-managed sales. The encouraging performance means delivery will roll out to a further 200 shops in FY21. Lower year-on-year commodity price inflation and cost control produced underlying H220 PBT of c £20m, which was helped by government financial assistance of c £30m, to give total H220 PBT of c £50m, versus the £65m loss in H120. The improved profitability has enabled the repayment of the Bank of England CCFF facility, replaced by a three-year £100m RCF, while returning Greggs to a net cash position of £37m from net debt of £26m at H120.

FY21: PBT modest upgrade given uncertainty

The recently announced third national lockdown has an unknown end date and, with ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty, this leads to no management guidance for FY21. It expects pre-COVID-19 levels of profitability will not be achieved until at least FY22, but could be reached on a lower sales base given cost savings (property and recent headcount reduction of c 3%). Our FY21 PBT forecast increases from £60.8m to £62.0m as higher space growth (100 net new stores) is offset by lower expectations for sales early in the year (January/February) at 70% of FY20 due to the lockdown and a gradual build to 90% of FY19 levels by Q421.

Valuation: Share price re-rated but below peak

On our new forecasts, the EV/sales multiple for FY21 is 1.8x, a premium to the average multiple of 1.4x since the new strategy has been in place (FY15). This reflects the depressed level of sales but is at a discount to the previous peak multiple of 2.1x.

Exhibit 1: Financial summary

£m

2018

2019

2020e

2021e

Year-end December

IFRS

IFRS

IFRS

IFRS

PROFIT & LOSS

Revenue

 

 

1,029.3

1,167.9

811.0

1,042.6

Cost of Sales

(373.5)

(412.2)

(310.4)

(380.7)

Gross Profit

655.9

755.7

500.6

661.8

EBITDA

 

 

145.7

231.9

109.0

188.1

Operating Profit (before amort. and except.)

 

 

89.8

120.7

(8.9)

68.1

Intangible Amortisation

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

Exceptionals

(7.2)

(5.9)

(0.7)

0.0

Operating Profit

82.6

114.8

(9.6)

68.1

Net Interest

(0.0)

(6.5)

(6.1)

(6.1)

Profit Before Tax (norm)

 

 

89.8

114.2

(15.0)

62.0

Profit Before Tax (FRS 3)

 

 

82.6

108.3

(15.7)

62.0

Tax

(18.2)

(22.4)

2.0

(12.7)

Profit After Tax (norm)

71.6

91.8

(13.0)

49.3

Profit After Tax (FRS 3)

65.7

87.0

(13.7)

49.3

Average Number of Shares Outstanding (m)

100.7

100.8

100.8

100.8

EPS - normalised fully diluted (p)

 

 

70.3

89.7

(12.9)

48.9

EPS - (IFRS) (p)

 

 

65.3

86.3

(13.6)

48.9

Dividend per share (p)

35.7

46.9

0.0

15.0

Gross Margin (%)

63.7

64.7

61.7

63.5

EBITDA Margin (%)

14.2

19.9

13.4

18.0

Operating Margin (before GW and except.) (%)

8.7

10.3

(1.1)

6.5

BALANCE SHEET

Fixed Assets

 

 

347.5

646.5

636.7

641.5

Intangible Assets

16.9

16.8

15.6

14.1

Tangible Assets

330.5

353.7

348.9

355.2

Right-of-Use Assets

0.0

272.7

268.9

268.9

Other

0.2

3.3

3.3

3.3

Current Assets

 

 

140.6

142.3

72.7

152.1

Stocks

20.8

23.9

17.2

21.2

Debtors

31.6

27.1

18.8

34.3

Cash

88.2

91.3

36.6

96.6

Other

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

Current Liabilities

 

 

(145.1)

(208.7)

(133.6)

(160.3)

Creditors

(136.4)

(154.1)

(79.0)

(105.7)

Leases

0.0

(48.8)

(48.8)

(48.8)

Short term borrowings

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

Other

(8.7)

(5.8)

(5.8)

(5.8)

Long Term Liabilities

 

 

(13.8)

(233.3)

(235.0)

(235.0)

Long term borrowings

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

Leases

0.0

(226.9)

(226.9)

(226.9)

Other long term liabilities

(13.8)

(6.4)

(8.1)

(8.1)

Net Assets

 

 

329.2

346.8

340.8

398.3

CASH FLOW

Operating Cash Flow

 

 

152.2

246.0

56.3

198.3

Net Interest

0.2

(6.3)

(6.1)

(6.1)

Tax

(16.1)

(20.3)

2.0

(12.7)

Capex

(64.9)

(87.7)

(60.0)

(73.0)

Acquisitions/disposals

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

Equity financing

5.3

4.9

5.4

5.4

Dividends

(33.1)

(72.1)

0.0

0.0

Borrowings

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

Other

(9.9)

(61.4)

(52.3)

(51.8)

Net Cash Flow

33.7

3.1

(54.7)

60.1

Opening cash

 

 

54.5

88.2

91.3

36.6

Other

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

Closing cash

 

 

88.2

91.3

36.6

96.6

Closing net debt/(cash)

 

 

(88.2)

(91.3)

(36.6)

(96.6)

Closing net debt/(cash) including leases

 

 

(88.2)

184.4

239.1

179.1

Source: Company accounts, Edison Investment Research


General disclaimer and copyright

This report has been commissioned by Greggs and prepared and issued by Edison, in consideration of a fee payable by Greggs]. Edison Investment Research standard fees are £49,500 pa for the production and broad dissemination of a detailed note (Outlook) following by regular (typically quarterly) update notes. Fees are paid upfront in cash without recourse. Edison may seek additional fees for the provision of roadshows and related IR services for the client but does not get remunerated for any investment banking services. We never take payment in stock, options or warrants for any of our services.

Accuracy of content: All information used in the publication of this report has been compiled from publicly available sources that are believed to be reliable, however we do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this report and have not sought for this information to be independently verified. Opinions contained in this report represent those of the research department of Edison at the time of publication. Forward-looking information or statements in this report contain information that is based on assumptions, forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable, and therefore involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of their subject matter to be materially different from current expectations.

Exclusion of Liability: To the fullest extent allowed by law, Edison shall not be liable for any direct, indirect or consequential losses, loss of profits, damages, costs or expenses incurred or suffered by you arising out or in connection with the access to, use of or reliance on any information contained on this note.

No personalised advice: The information that we provide should not be construed in any manner whatsoever as, personalised advice. Also, the information provided by us should not be construed by any subscriber or prospective subscriber as Edison’s solicitation to effect, or attempt to effect, any transaction in a security. The securities described in the report may not be eligible for sale in all jurisdictions or to certain categories of investors.

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Copyright: Copyright 2021 Edison Investment Research Limited (Edison).

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New Zealand

The research in this document is intended for New Zealand resident professional financial advisers or brokers (for use in their roles as financial advisers or brokers) and habitual investors who are “wholesale clients” for the purpose of the Financial Advisers Act 2008 (FAA) (as described in sections 5(c) (1)(a), (b) and (c) of the FAA). This is not a solicitation or inducement to buy, sell, subscribe, or underwrite any securities mentioned or in the topic of this document. For the purpose of the FAA, the content of this report is of a general nature, is intended as a source of general information only and is not intended to constitute a recommendation or opinion in relation to acquiring or disposing (including refraining from acquiring or disposing) of securities. The distribution of this document is not a “personalised service” and, to the extent that it contains any financial advice, is intended only as a “class service” provided by Edison within the meaning of the FAA (i.e. without taking into account the particular financial situation or goals of any person). As such, it should not be relied upon in making an investment decision.

United Kingdom

This document is prepared and provided by Edison for information purposes only and should not be construed as an offer or solicitation for investment in any securities mentioned or in the topic of this document. A marketing communication under FCA Rules, this document has not been prepared in accordance with the legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and is not subject to any prohibition on dealing ahead of the dissemination of investment research.

This Communication is being distributed in the United Kingdom and is directed only at (i) persons having professional experience in matters relating to investments, i.e. investment professionals within the meaning of Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the "FPO") (ii) high net-worth companies, unincorporated associations or other bodies within the meaning of Article 49 of the FPO and (iii) persons to whom it is otherwise lawful to distribute it. The investment or investment activity to which this document relates is available only to such persons. It is not intended that this document be distributed or passed on, directly or indirectly, to any other class of persons and in any event and under no circumstances should persons of any other description rely on or act upon the contents of this document.

This Communication is being supplied to you solely for your information and may not be reproduced by, further distributed to or published in whole or in part by, any other person.

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Edison relies upon the "publishers' exclusion" from the definition of investment adviser under Section 202(a)(11) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and corresponding state securities laws. This report is a bona fide publication of general and regular circulation offering impersonal investment-related advice, not tailored to a specific investment portfolio or the needs of current and/or prospective subscribers. As such, Edison does not offer or provide personal advice and the research provided is for informational purposes only. No mention of a particular security in this report constitutes a recommendation to buy, sell or hold that or any security, or that any particular security, portfolio of securities, transaction or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person.

Frankfurt +49 (0)69 78 8076 960

Schumannstrasse 34b

60325 Frankfurt

Germany

London +44 (0)20 3077 5700

280 High Holborn

London, WC1V 7EE

United Kingdom

New York +1 646 653 7026

1185 Avenue of the Americas

3rd Floor, New York, NY 10036

United States of America

Sydney +61 (0)2 8249 8342

Level 4, Office 1205

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Frankfurt +49 (0)69 78 8076 960

Schumannstrasse 34b

60325 Frankfurt

Germany

London +44 (0)20 3077 5700

280 High Holborn

London, WC1V 7EE

United Kingdom

New York +1 646 653 7026

1185 Avenue of the Americas

3rd Floor, New York, NY 10036

United States of America

Sydney +61 (0)2 8249 8342

Level 4, Office 1205

95 Pitt Street, Sydney

NSW 2000, Australia

General disclaimer and copyright

This report has been commissioned by Greggs and prepared and issued by Edison, in consideration of a fee payable by Greggs]. Edison Investment Research standard fees are £49,500 pa for the production and broad dissemination of a detailed note (Outlook) following by regular (typically quarterly) update notes. Fees are paid upfront in cash without recourse. Edison may seek additional fees for the provision of roadshows and related IR services for the client but does not get remunerated for any investment banking services. We never take payment in stock, options or warrants for any of our services.

Accuracy of content: All information used in the publication of this report has been compiled from publicly available sources that are believed to be reliable, however we do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this report and have not sought for this information to be independently verified. Opinions contained in this report represent those of the research department of Edison at the time of publication. Forward-looking information or statements in this report contain information that is based on assumptions, forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable, and therefore involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of their subject matter to be materially different from current expectations.

Exclusion of Liability: To the fullest extent allowed by law, Edison shall not be liable for any direct, indirect or consequential losses, loss of profits, damages, costs or expenses incurred or suffered by you arising out or in connection with the access to, use of or reliance on any information contained on this note.

No personalised advice: The information that we provide should not be construed in any manner whatsoever as, personalised advice. Also, the information provided by us should not be construed by any subscriber or prospective subscriber as Edison’s solicitation to effect, or attempt to effect, any transaction in a security. The securities described in the report may not be eligible for sale in all jurisdictions or to certain categories of investors.

Investment in securities mentioned: Edison has a restrictive policy relating to personal dealing and conflicts of interest. Edison Group does not conduct any investment business and, accordingly, does not itself hold any positions in the securities mentioned in this report. However, the respective directors, officers, employees and contractors of Edison may have a position in any or related securities mentioned in this report, subject to Edison's policies on personal dealing and conflicts of interest.

Copyright: Copyright 2021 Edison Investment Research Limited (Edison).

Australia

Edison Investment Research Pty Ltd (Edison AU) is the Australian subsidiary of Edison. Edison AU is a Corporate Authorised Representative (1252501) of Crown Wealth Group Pty Ltd who holds an Australian Financial Services Licence (Number: 494274). This research is issued in Australia by Edison AU and any access to it, is intended only for "wholesale clients" within the meaning of the Corporations Act 2001 of Australia. Any advice given by Edison AU is general advice only and does not take into account your personal circumstances, needs or objectives. You should, before acting on this advice, consider the appropriateness of the advice, having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs. If our advice relates to the acquisition, or possible acquisition, of a particular financial product you should read any relevant Product Disclosure Statement or like instrument.

New Zealand

The research in this document is intended for New Zealand resident professional financial advisers or brokers (for use in their roles as financial advisers or brokers) and habitual investors who are “wholesale clients” for the purpose of the Financial Advisers Act 2008 (FAA) (as described in sections 5(c) (1)(a), (b) and (c) of the FAA). This is not a solicitation or inducement to buy, sell, subscribe, or underwrite any securities mentioned or in the topic of this document. For the purpose of the FAA, the content of this report is of a general nature, is intended as a source of general information only and is not intended to constitute a recommendation or opinion in relation to acquiring or disposing (including refraining from acquiring or disposing) of securities. The distribution of this document is not a “personalised service” and, to the extent that it contains any financial advice, is intended only as a “class service” provided by Edison within the meaning of the FAA (i.e. without taking into account the particular financial situation or goals of any person). As such, it should not be relied upon in making an investment decision.

United Kingdom

This document is prepared and provided by Edison for information purposes only and should not be construed as an offer or solicitation for investment in any securities mentioned or in the topic of this document. A marketing communication under FCA Rules, this document has not been prepared in accordance with the legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and is not subject to any prohibition on dealing ahead of the dissemination of investment research.

This Communication is being distributed in the United Kingdom and is directed only at (i) persons having professional experience in matters relating to investments, i.e. investment professionals within the meaning of Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the "FPO") (ii) high net-worth companies, unincorporated associations or other bodies within the meaning of Article 49 of the FPO and (iii) persons to whom it is otherwise lawful to distribute it. The investment or investment activity to which this document relates is available only to such persons. It is not intended that this document be distributed or passed on, directly or indirectly, to any other class of persons and in any event and under no circumstances should persons of any other description rely on or act upon the contents of this document.

This Communication is being supplied to you solely for your information and may not be reproduced by, further distributed to or published in whole or in part by, any other person.

United States

Edison relies upon the "publishers' exclusion" from the definition of investment adviser under Section 202(a)(11) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and corresponding state securities laws. This report is a bona fide publication of general and regular circulation offering impersonal investment-related advice, not tailored to a specific investment portfolio or the needs of current and/or prospective subscribers. As such, Edison does not offer or provide personal advice and the research provided is for informational purposes only. No mention of a particular security in this report constitutes a recommendation to buy, sell or hold that or any security, or that any particular security, portfolio of securities, transaction or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person.

Frankfurt +49 (0)69 78 8076 960

Schumannstrasse 34b

60325 Frankfurt

Germany

London +44 (0)20 3077 5700

280 High Holborn

London, WC1V 7EE

United Kingdom

New York +1 646 653 7026

1185 Avenue of the Americas

3rd Floor, New York, NY 10036

United States of America

Sydney +61 (0)2 8249 8342

Level 4, Office 1205

95 Pitt Street, Sydney

NSW 2000, Australia

Frankfurt +49 (0)69 78 8076 960

Schumannstrasse 34b

60325 Frankfurt

Germany

London +44 (0)20 3077 5700

280 High Holborn

London, WC1V 7EE

United Kingdom

New York +1 646 653 7026

1185 Avenue of the Americas

3rd Floor, New York, NY 10036

United States of America

Sydney +61 (0)2 8249 8342

Level 4, Office 1205

95 Pitt Street, Sydney

NSW 2000, Australia

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