Last close As at 05/08/2026
EUR3.55
▲ 0.13 (3.80%)
Market capitalisation
EUR527m
Research: Industrials
AVAX’s FY23 results highlight the group’s progress domestically as the market improved, more than offsetting the weaker international performance at the top-line and EBITDA level. Group revenue and reported, continuing PBT exceeded our forecasts by 13% and 28% at €453.5m and €16.7m, respectively (FY22 revenue and PBT of €402.7m and €18.5m). This is largely attributable to a much stronger than anticipated performance from the construction segment, achieving revenue of €427.8m (Edison forecast: €371.7m), up 14% y-o-y. Our forecasts are under review following the announcement.
AVAX |
Exceeding expectations |
FY23 results |
Construction and materials |
30 April 2024 |
Share price performance
Business description
Analysts
AVAX is a research client of Edison Investment Research Limited |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
AVAX’s FY23 results highlight the group’s progress domestically as the market improved, more than offsetting the weaker international performance at the top-line and EBITDA level. Group revenue and reported, continuing PBT exceeded our forecasts by 13% and 28% at €453.5m and €16.7m, respectively (FY22 revenue and PBT of €402.7m and €18.5m). This is largely attributable to a much stronger than anticipated performance from the construction segment, achieving revenue of €427.8m (Edison forecast: €371.7m), up 14% y-o-y. Our forecasts are under review following the announcement.
Year end |
Revenue (€m) |
PBT* (€m) |
EPS* |
DPS |
P/E |
Yield |
12/21 |
592.2 |
15.7 |
0.12 |
0.00 |
8.0 |
N/A |
12/22 |
402.7 |
25.1 |
0.13 |
0.07 |
11.5 |
4.7 |
12/23** |
453.5 |
16.7 |
0.07 |
0.03 |
21.7 |
2.0 |
12/24e |
850.9 |
61.4 |
0.32 |
0.08 |
4.7 |
5.3 |
Note: *PBT and EPS are normalised, excluding amortisation of acquired intangibles, exceptional items and share-based payments. **Reported.
FY23 revenue grew 13% to €453.5m y-o-y, exceeding our previous forecast of €402.2m despite continued delays in starting new construction projects awarded during the year, mostly outside of Greece. Growth was primarily attributable to domestic operations, with revenue of €400.3m (FY22: €267.6m) reflecting a pick-up in newly secured projects. This more than offset a reduction in international revenues of 61% to €53.3m. Continuing, reported PBT declined 10.0% to €16.7m despite broadly flat financial expenses, largely due to a 32% decrease in income from associates to €32.4m (associates that form the majority of concession operations are reported in AVAX’s accounts at the pre-tax level). Reported, continuing net income declined by 22% to €10.0m, partially attributable to a €1m increase in tax to €6.7m. It is also worth noting that the FY22 €12.9m net income included a €9.4 million extraordinary capital gain from the sale of the company’s stake in the Rio Bridge concession, somewhat masking underlying growth in FY23.
Continuing operating cash flow in FY23 remained positive, increasing substantially from €13.1m to €61.3mm, primarily driven by favourable working capital movements, shifting from a €7.3m outflow to a €45.2m inflow. The balance sheet continues to be strengthened year-on-year, with net debt (pre IFRS 16) reduced from €220.4m (at end-FY22) to €182.5m; this yields a current leverage ratio of 3.0x, substantially healthier than the 6.4x at end-FY21. The sale of non-core assets and the increasing income from concessions dividend streams have been key factors in the debt reduction.
As at April 2024, AVAX had record work-in-hand worth €3.3bn (€0.24bn awaiting signature), significantly higher than pre-2023 levels, with much of it due to a resurgence of activity in the domestic construction market in Greece. Private projects and public-private partnerships make up 54% of the backlog. This strongly affirms AVAX’s expertise in the Greek construction industry with a recovering market aided by the Greece 2.0 National Recovery Plan, which should stimulate Greek economic growth to 2026. Our forecasts are under review.
|
|
Research: Consumer
Hostelworld’s pioneering and fast-evolving ‘social’ strategy is delivering aplenty. Material outperformance of the hostel market (FY23 bed nights sold up 30% vs industry 8%) and low-cost acquisition and retention of high-value customers (over a million social members after just 18 months) confirm the success of the company’s app-centric model, which taps into the social media habits of its target demographic to mutual benefit. With reducing marketing percentage of revenue on track to meet the FY25 low-end target of 45% (48% in H223), the boon of higher leverage from an asset-light platform may be reinforced by the move to cloud-based hosting, development of complementary acquisition channels and use of AI. FY23 EBITDA of €18.4m clearly ahead of €17.5–18.0m guidance and a ‘strong start to 2024’ suggest company targets of c 20% EBITDA margin on c €106m revenue in FY25 are well in hand.