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Carclo has recently announced that its FY18 performance is likely to be lower than previously expected. This is because of contract delays affecting both the Technical Plastics (CTP) and LED Technologies (LED) divisions as well as a delay to the anticipated ramp-up in a non-medical project for CTP, which management expected would benefit H218. We reduce our FY18 and FY19 estimates, introduce FY20 estimates and revise our indicative valuation range from 177-187p/share to 145-154p/share.
Written by
Carclo |
Contract delays to affect H218 performance |
Trading update |
Tech hardware & equipment |
22 January 2018 |
Share price performance
Business description
Next events
Analysts
Carclo is a research client of Edison Investment Research Limited |
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Carclo has recently announced that its FY18 performance is likely to be lower than previously expected. This is because of contract delays affecting both the Technical Plastics (CTP) and LED Technologies (LED) divisions as well as a delay to the anticipated ramp-up in a non-medical project for CTP, which management expected would benefit H218. We reduce our FY18 and FY19 estimates, introduce FY20 estimates and revise our indicative valuation range from 177-187p/share to 145-154p/share.
Year end |
Revenue (£m) |
PBT* |
EPS* |
DPS |
P/E |
Yield |
03/16 |
119.0 |
8.8 |
10.1 |
0.9 |
8.2 |
1.1 |
03/17 |
138.3 |
11.0 |
12.1 |
0.0 |
6.9 |
N/A |
03/18e |
140.6 |
8.9 |
9.2 |
0.0 |
9.0 |
N/A |
03/19e |
147.7 |
11.0 |
11.2 |
3.9 |
7.4 |
4.7 |
Note: *PBT and EPS are normalised, excluding amortisation of acquired intangibles, exceptional items and share-based payments.
Delayed placement of contracts by customers
The operational issues affecting the CTP division that were noted at the interim stage have been addressed. However, the division continues to be affected by contract delays, specifically the award of two large tooling and automation projects. Management is seeking to reduce reliance on winning new tooling and automation contracts by improving underlying operating margins from existing business. In our November update, we noted that LED divisional growth was dependent on continuing to secure new projects. The award of three new contracts has been delayed due to customers changing their time horizons on vehicle launches. Management is confident that Wipac will be successful in winning a number of these programmes, but the delays will have an impact on divisional FY18 performance. Despite this setback, the group’s LED supercar lighting business has performed as anticipated and new product launches continue to be made on time.
Non-medical demand lower than forecast
In addition, management had expected an improvement in CTP performance during H218 because a large and longstanding non-medical customer had been indicating a ramp up in demand for moulded components during the period. This has not yet happened. Noting the variability in demand for non-medical projects, which contributed to H118 underperformance as well, management continues to increase the proportion of medical related work, upgrading capabilities at the Czech site so it can take on medical projects.
Valuation
We use a P/E-based, sum-of-the-parts methodology with three sets of sample peers drawn from the medical device manufacturing (P/E of 18.0x), automotive (mean P/E of 18.9x) and aerospace (mean P/E 21.3x) sectors to reflect the diversity of Carclo’s operations. This gives an indicative valuation range of 145-154p per share (previously 177-187p). Newsflow regarding receipt of contract awards should be supportive of the stock, helping to close the valuation gap.
Changes to estimates
We have revised our estimates to reflect lower than previously expected revenues and profits in both the larger divisions, CTP and LED Technologies, as well as smaller downwards revisions for the smaller Aerospace division as it continues to shift to lower-value precision machining work.
We introduce FY20 estimates, taking a conservative view on the impact of deliveries for the first mid-volume lighting programme, which are expected to commence during the year.
Carclo is likely to benefit from cuts in US corporation tax. However, we are not making any changes to our underlying tax rate (modelled at 25% for FY18, 26% for FY19 and 27% for FY20) until management has evaluated the details of the changes.
Exhibit 1: Revisions to estimates
Year end 31 March |
FY17 |
FY18e |
FY19e |
FY20e |
|||||
Actual |
Old |
New |
% change |
Old |
New |
%change |
New |
||
Group revenues (£m) |
138.3 |
152.2 |
140.6 |
-7.6% |
165.5 |
147.7 |
-10.8% |
157.8 |
|
Group adjusted PBT (£m) |
11.0 |
12.5 |
8.9 |
-28.5% |
15.0 |
11.0 |
-26.3% |
12.1 |
|
Group adjusted EPS (p) |
12.1 |
12.9 |
9.2 |
-28.5% |
15.2 |
11.2 |
-26.3% |
12.1 |
|
Group DPS (p) |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0% |
3.9 |
3.9 |
0.0% |
4.2 |
|
Source: Carclo, Edison Investment Research
Board changes
Group Finance Director Robert Brooksbank is leaving the group on 31 March 2018 after 14 years in his current role. The board has begun the process of recruiting his replacement. Richard Ottaway, group financial controller and company secretary, will act as the interim chief financial officer from 1 April 2018 until a permanent successor is appointed. In addition, Non-executive Chairman Michael Derbyshire will retire from the board at the AGM in July 2018, having served over 12 years as a non-executive director, almost six years of which has been spent as chairman. Michael will be succeeded by Mark Rollins, who joined the board as non-executive director on 1 January 2018. Mark is currently also senior non-executive director of Tyman and Vitec and non-executive chairman of Sigma Precision Components UK. He was group chief executive of Senior from March 2008 to June 2015, having previously served as group FD of Morgan Crucible from July 2000.
Valuation
Examination of the comparators shows that Carclo, which has a diversified business model, is trading on multiples that are substantially lower than those for medical device companies and below those for automotive and aerospace industries. We use a sum-of-the-parts approach to determine an indicative FY18e P/E multiple for Carclo, as this methodology acknowledges that around half of its divisional operating profit is attributable to the sale of products to the global healthcare industry. Where available, the P/E multiple applied to each division is the mean for each sector, as shown in Exhibit 2. There are a number of companies manufacturing high-volume medical products but the key one of relevance, which we use in the sum-of-the-parts calculation, is Gerresheimer, as its products are primarily for use in medical/pharmaceutical test facilities, rather than for patient care (Ambu, Coloplast and Straumann). As can be seen from Exhibit 2, the latter trade on much higher multiples and are excluded from our sum-of-the-parts calculations. As shown in Exhibit 3, the weighted average P/E multiple derived from the multiples for the three sectors is 18.6x.
Exhibit 2: Listed peers
Name |
Market cap ($m) |
EV/sales 1FY (x) |
EV/sales 2FY (x) |
EV/EBITDA 1FY (x) |
EV/EBITDA 2FY (x) |
P/E 1FY (x) |
P/E 2FY (x) |
|||||||
CARCLO @ 81.6p (current share price) |
82 |
0.6 |
0.6 |
5.4 |
4.6 |
8.9 |
7.3 |
|||||||
CARCLO @ 145p |
147 |
0.9 |
0.9 |
8.4 |
7.1 |
15.8 |
13.0 |
|||||||
CARCLO @ 154p |
156 |
1.0 |
0.9 |
8.8 |
7.5 |
16.7 |
13.7 |
|||||||
Healthcare: patient implants and disposables |
||||||||||||||
AMBU A/S-B |
4,414 |
10.3 |
8.9 |
40.5 |
31.3 |
66.8 |
50.2 |
|||||||
COLOPLAST-B |
18,067 |
6.7 |
6.2 |
19.0 |
17.7 |
27.0 |
25.0 |
|||||||
STRAUMANN HOLDING AG-REG |
11,490 |
10.2 |
8.7 |
34.6 |
28.9 |
45.5 |
38.0 |
|||||||
Healthcare: drug delivery and packaging |
||||||||||||||
GERRESHEIMER AG |
2,753 |
2.3 |
2.2 |
10.0 |
9.6 |
18.0 |
16.4 |
|||||||
Automotive |
||||||||||||||
AMERICAN AXLE & MFG HOLDINGS |
2,090 |
0.9 |
0.8 |
5.2 |
4.7 |
5.3 |
5.6 |
|||||||
BORGWARNER INC |
12,066 |
1.5 |
1.4 |
8.6 |
8.1 |
15.0 |
13.6 |
|||||||
BREMBO SPA |
5,435 |
1.9 |
1.8 |
9.8 |
9.2 |
16.0 |
16.3 |
|||||||
DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES PLC |
5,268 |
1.3 |
1.2 |
7.0 |
6.6 |
13.4 |
12.5 |
|||||||
FAURECIA |
12,000 |
0.6 |
0.5 |
5.6 |
5.2 |
16.0 |
14.1 |
|||||||
HALDEX AB |
497 |
0.9 |
0.9 |
10.7 |
8.0 |
21.7 |
18.6 |
|||||||
HELLA GMBH & CO KGAA |
7,709 |
0.9 |
0.9 |
6.7 |
6.1 |
15.8 |
14.5 |
|||||||
LEONI AG |
2,551 |
0.5 |
0.5 |
6.9 |
6.5 |
14.9 |
13.8 |
|||||||
MAGNA INTERNATIONAL INC |
21,431 |
0.6 |
0.6 |
6.0 |
5.7 |
10.0 |
8.9 |
|||||||
PARAGON AG |
450 |
3.2 |
2.6 |
19.5 |
15.0 |
61.1 |
39.9 |
|||||||
VALEO SA |
18,951 |
0.9 |
0.8 |
7.0 |
6.1 |
15.2 |
13.3 |
|||||||
VISTEON CORP |
4,293 |
1.3 |
1.2 |
11.0 |
10.1 |
22.0 |
19.4 |
|||||||
Mean |
1.2 |
1.1 |
8.7 |
7.6 |
18.9 |
15.9 |
||||||||
Aerospace |
||||||||||||||
FACC AG |
1,061 |
1.4 |
1.3 |
12.2 |
10.5 |
24.0 |
19.2 |
|||||||
LATECOERE |
668 |
0.8 |
0.8 |
10.9 |
10.7 |
17.2 |
15.1 |
|||||||
SENIOR PLC |
1,700 |
1.4 |
1.3 |
11.2 |
10.2 |
21.1 |
19.2 |
|||||||
TT ELECTRONICS PLC |
526 |
1.3 |
1.2 |
11.5 |
11.5 |
22.8 |
20.1 |
|||||||
Mean |
1.2 |
1.2 |
11.5 |
10.7 |
21.3 |
18.4 |
||||||||
Source: Bloomberg, Edison Investment Research. Note: Prices at 15 January 2018.
Applying the weighted average P/E multiple of 18.6x to Carclo’s FY18e (to March 2018) EPS of 9.2p gives an indicative valuation of 170.8p/share. We think that Carclo’s relatively small market capitalisation compared to the majority of peers merits some discount to this. The share price has dropped by over 30% since the recent trading update. We believe that the discount of over 100% to our indicative valuation of 170.8p implied by the share price following this fall is far too severe given the stability provided by long-term customer relationships combined with potential for growth in Carclo’s two main divisions. Applying an arbitrary 10-15% discount (which is consistent with our previous treatment) gives a valuation range of 145-154p (see Exhibit 3). Our valuation range was previously 177-187p. To cross-check our valuation, we compare EV/EBITDA multiples implied by our P/E-derived values with a blended sum-of-the-parts EV/EBITDA for the peer group. Our indicative valuation of 145-154p implies a year one EV/EBITDA range of 8.4-8.8x (see Exhibit 2), which is close to the peer group blended year one EV/EBITDA multiple of 9.5x.
Exhibit 3: SOTP calculation
Division |
% FY18e EBIT |
P/E |
% FY18e EBIT |
EV/EBITDA |
CTP |
46.9% |
18.0x |
46.9% |
10.0x |
LED |
47.9% |
18.9x |
47.9% |
8.7x |
Aerospace |
5.2% |
21.3x |
5.2% |
11.5x |
Weighted average P/E |
18.6x |
9.5x |
||
FY18e EPS |
9.2p |
|||
Undiscounted indicative value |
170.8p |
|||
Indicative value applying 10% discount |
153.7p |
|||
Indicative value applying 15% discount |
145.2p |
Source: Edison Investment Research
Carclo’s share price has dropped by over 30% following the trading update. We believe that newsflow demonstrating that the contract delays besetting both divisions are over should help close the valuation gap, with potential for further share price appreciation beyond this as Carclo begins to deliver on the mid-volume automotive lighting programmes.
Exhibit 4: Financial summary
Year end 31 March |
£000s |
2016 |
2017 |
2018e |
2019e |
2020e |
|
|
IFRS |
IFRS |
IFRS |
IFRS |
IFRS |
||
PROFIT & LOSS |
|||||||
Revenue |
|
|
118,974 |
138,282 |
140,631 |
147,655 |
157,759 |
EBITDA |
|
|
13,840 |
17,033 |
15,781 |
18,532 |
20,080 |
Operating Profit (before amort. and except). |
10,034 |
12,498 |
10,781 |
13,032 |
14,080 |
||
Intangible Amortisation |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
Exceptionals |
(4,857) |
(541) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
Other |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
Operating Profit |
5,177 |
11,957 |
10,781 |
13,032 |
14,080 |
||
Net Interest |
(1,282) |
(1,479) |
(1,850) |
(2,000) |
(2,000) |
||
Profit Before Tax (norm) |
|
|
8,752 |
11,019 |
8,931 |
11,032 |
12,080 |
Profit Before Tax (FRS 3) |
|
|
3,895 |
10,478 |
8,931 |
11,032 |
12,080 |
Tax |
(1,708) |
(2,496) |
(2,233) |
(2,868) |
(3,262) |
||
Profit After Tax (norm) |
6,692 |
8,418 |
6,698 |
8,164 |
8,819 |
||
Profit After Tax (FRS 3) |
2,187 |
7,982 |
6,698 |
8,164 |
8,819 |
||
Average Number of Shares Outstanding (m) |
66.2 |
69.4 |
73.0 |
73.0 |
73.0 |
||
EPS - normalised (p) |
|
|
10.1 |
12.1 |
9.2 |
11.2 |
12.1 |
EPS - normalised fully diluted (p) |
|
|
10.1 |
12.1 |
9.2 |
11.2 |
12.1 |
EPS - IFRS (p) |
|
|
3.3 |
11.5 |
9.2 |
11.2 |
12.1 |
Dividend per share (p) |
0.9 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
3.9 |
4.2 |
||
EBITDA Margin (%) |
11.6 |
12.3 |
11.2 |
12.6 |
12.7 |
||
Operating Margin (before GW and except.) (%) |
8.4 |
9.0 |
7.7 |
8.8 |
8.9 |
||
BALANCE SHEET |
|||||||
Fixed Assets |
|
|
66,660 |
80,085 |
87,885 |
91,685 |
94,485 |
Intangible Assets |
20,257 |
26,323 |
26,623 |
26,923 |
27,223 |
||
Tangible Assets |
36,597 |
43,423 |
50,923 |
54,423 |
56,923 |
||
Investments |
9,806 |
10,339 |
10,339 |
10,339 |
10,339 |
||
Current Assets |
|
|
59,635 |
80,187 |
77,545 |
83,096 |
86,876 |
Stocks |
15,596 |
19,250 |
21,962 |
21,845 |
22,475 |
||
Debtors |
26,647 |
38,468 |
40,070 |
40,858 |
41,061 |
||
Cash |
16,692 |
22,269 |
15,313 |
20,194 |
23,140 |
||
Other |
700 |
200 |
200 |
200 |
200 |
||
Current Liabilities |
|
|
(33,428) |
(46,884) |
(45,444) |
(46,982) |
(47,939) |
Creditors |
(22,732) |
(27,996) |
(26,556) |
(28,094) |
(29,051) |
||
Short term borrowings |
(10,696) |
(18,888) |
(18,888) |
(18,888) |
(18,888) |
||
Long Term Liabilities |
|
|
(60,000) |
(69,125) |
(69,125) |
(69,125) |
(69,125) |
Long term borrowings |
(30,746) |
(29,406) |
(29,406) |
(29,406) |
(29,406) |
||
Other long term liabilities |
(29,254) |
(39,719) |
(39,719) |
(39,719) |
(39,719) |
||
Net Assets |
|
|
32,867 |
44,263 |
50,861 |
58,675 |
64,296 |
CASH FLOW |
|||||||
Operating Cash Flow |
|
|
13,933 |
8,916 |
9,027 |
18,398 |
19,205 |
Net Interest |
(861) |
(762) |
(750) |
(900) |
(900) |
||
Tax |
(1,253) |
(2,086) |
(2,233) |
(2,868) |
(3,262) |
||
Capex |
(9,593) |
(7,683) |
(13,000) |
(9,500) |
(9,000) |
||
Acquisitions/disposals |
0 |
(5,672) |
0 |
(250) |
(250) |
||
Financing |
20 |
7,616 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
Dividends |
(1,821) |
(596) |
0 |
0 |
(2,847) |
||
Net Cash Flow |
425 |
(267) |
(6,956) |
4,880 |
2,946 |
||
Opening net debt/(cash) |
|
|
24,518 |
24,750 |
26,025 |
32,981 |
28,100 |
HP finance leases initiated |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
Other |
(657) |
(1,008) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
Closing net debt/(cash) |
|
|
24,750 |
26,025 |
32,981 |
28,100 |
25,154 |
Source: Carclo accounts, Edison Investment Research
|
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Foresight Autonomous (FRSX) continues to increase its profile in the autonomous vision systems market. This month, it showcased its ‘QuadSight’ vision system containing two infrared and two vision cameras for autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles at CES in Las Vegas, as well as on CNBC. The group also increased its stake in Rail Vision (RV), which develops advanced safety systems for railways, by 7.9% to 32.6%. This took place at a favourable price via the exercise of warrants valuing the company at $28m vs our EV/revenue-based valuation of $77m. The exercise was the result of a successful test with a leading European railway, which has commissioned a paid pilot programme and has notified Rail Vision that it is considering procuring its technology for its locomotive fleet. We see the RV stake increase as mildly value-accretive (c 2%) in dollar terms, but this gain has been offset by recent NIS strength vs the dollar, leading us to maintain our valuation of NIS4.99 per share.