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Market capitalisation
—
Research: Industrials
A short AGM update statement echoed previous management comments regarding market conditions and (unchanged) FY18 expectations. This suggests that the underlying trading environment is broadly stable and actions being taken to improve operational efficiency are proceeding to plan. The share price performance will be driven by delivery against these expectations and/or any indication of more robust market conditions, in our view. Ahead of such a catalyst, the prospective 6.6% dividend yield is a clear incentive to invest.
Written by
Epwin Group |
Existing guidance maintained |
AGM update |
Construction & materials |
30 May 2018 |
Share price performance
Business description
Next events
Analysts
Epwin Group is a research client of Edison Investment Research Limited |
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A short AGM update statement echoed previous management comments regarding market conditions and (unchanged) FY18 expectations. This suggests that the underlying trading environment is broadly stable and actions being taken to improve operational efficiency are proceeding to plan. The share price performance will be driven by delivery against these expectations and/or any indication of more robust market conditions, in our view. Ahead of such a catalyst, the prospective 6.6% dividend yield is a clear incentive to invest.
Year end |
Revenue (£m) |
PBT* |
EPS* |
DPS |
P/E |
Yield |
12/16** |
293.2 |
24.3 |
14.7 |
6.6 |
5.5 |
8.2 |
12/17 |
298.3 |
20.5 |
12.4 |
6.7 |
6.5 |
8.4 |
12/18e |
282.6 |
18.1 |
10.3 |
5.3 |
7.7 |
6.6 |
12/19e |
285.8 |
19.1 |
10.9 |
5.5 |
7.3 |
6.8 |
Note: *PBT and EPS (fully diluted) are normalised, excluding intangible amortisation and exceptionals. ** FY16 and FY17 EPS benefited in part from recovered tax losses.
Taking positive actions in mixed markets
Management appears to be navigating mixed market conditions reasonably well – including selective price increases – in addition to progressing internal initiatives. Operational efficiency is a key focus for Epwin this year as two unexpected end customer issues that arose in FY17 flow through into FY18. Glass (sealed unit) operations were consolidated last year and further footprint actions are being taken in both profile extrusion and door fabrication. We believe that these actions were fully provided for in FY17 with expected completion during Q119. Elsewhere, Amicus (a 15-branch distribution business, acquired earlier this year) is bedding in and should make a modest profit contribution this year.
Weather skews earnings but exit rate to improve?
Poor weather earlier in the year – and Epwin has flagged a greater H2 bias than in recent years for this reason – may yet introduce sector earnings variability but has no bearing on 2019 and we are more inclined to look at valuation metrics on this basis. Continued high employment levels and a return to real wage growth, coupled with a slower interest rate increase trajectory, suggests to us that UK building materials sector activity and sentiment may be better at the end of 2018 than it was at the beginning. RMI market recovery may not be smooth or linear, but any sense of improving markets will bring current low ratings into sharp focus, in our view.
Valuation: Attractive yield, low earnings multiples
The shares went ex dividend at the beginning of May, moving to the lower near-term dividend profile. Nevertheless, the prospective payout still represents a 6.6% yield with gradual growth also likely in our view. Valuation multiple progression reflects our expected and unchanged y-o-y earnings reduction – amplified by a normalising tax charge – and current year P/E and EV/EBITDA multiples are just 7.7x and 4.9x respectively. Investor sentiment would be boosted by delivery in line with FY18 expectations in our view, more so if greater momentum as outlined above prevails.
Exhibit 1: Financial summary
£m's |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018e |
2019e |
2020e |
||
December |
IFRS |
IFRS |
IFRS |
IFRS |
IFRS |
IFRS |
IFRS |
IFRS |
IFRS |
||
PROFIT & LOSS |
|
|
|
Restated |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue |
|
|
294.4 |
255.3 |
259.5 |
256.0 |
293.2 |
298.3 |
282.6 |
285.8 |
289.8 |
Cost of Sales |
|
|
(209.9) |
(185.8) |
(186.7) |
(178.6) |
(200.6) |
(207.5) |
(197.2) |
(199.5) |
(202.3) |
Gross Profit |
|
|
84.5 |
69.5 |
72.8 |
77.4 |
92.6 |
90.8 |
85.3 |
86.3 |
87.5 |
EBITDA |
|
|
21.8 |
21.4 |
24.5 |
25.6 |
33.3 |
30.3 |
27.8 |
28.9 |
29.6 |
Operating Profit (before GW and except.) |
15.4 |
15.6 |
19.5 |
20.1 |
25.6 |
22.3 |
19.6 |
20.4 |
20.8 |
||
Intangible Amortisation |
|
|
(1.7) |
(1.7) |
(1.7) |
(0.0) |
(1.1) |
(1.1) |
(1.1) |
(1.1) |
(1.1) |
Exceptionals |
|
|
(4.3) |
(5.1) |
2.3 |
(0.6) |
(0.2) |
(7.4) |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
Other |
|
|
0.0 |
0.0 |
(0.8) |
(0.4) |
(0.3) |
(0.6) |
(0.3) |
(0.3) |
(0.3) |
Operating Profit |
|
|
9.4 |
8.8 |
19.3 |
19.1 |
24.0 |
13.2 |
18.2 |
19.0 |
19.4 |
Net Interest |
|
|
(1.9) |
(1.0) |
(0.7) |
(0.5) |
(1.0) |
(1.2) |
(1.2) |
(1.0) |
(0.8) |
Profit Before Tax (norm) |
|
|
13.5 |
14.6 |
18.0 |
19.2 |
24.3 |
20.5 |
18.1 |
19.1 |
19.7 |
Profit Before Tax (FRS 3) |
|
|
7.5 |
7.9 |
18.6 |
18.6 |
23.0 |
12.0 |
17.0 |
18.0 |
18.6 |
Tax |
|
|
(2.2) |
(1.3) |
(3.5) |
(3.3) |
(3.4) |
(1.9) |
(3.3) |
(3.4) |
(3.5) |
Profit After Tax (norm) |
|
|
10.4 |
12.4 |
14.4 |
15.9 |
20.9 |
17.6 |
14.8 |
15.6 |
16.2 |
Profit After Tax (FRS 3) |
|
|
4.5 |
5.1 |
15.1 |
15.3 |
19.6 |
10.1 |
13.7 |
14.5 |
15.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average Number of Shares Outstanding (m) |
|
122.3 |
122.3 |
128.0 |
135.2 |
141.5 |
142.6 |
143.2 |
143.2 |
143.2 |
|
EPS - normalised (p) |
|
|
8.5 |
10.1 |
11.2 |
11.8 |
14.8 |
12.4 |
10.3 |
10.9 |
11.3 |
EPS - normalised (p) FD |
|
|
|
|
11.2 |
11.7 |
14.7 |
12.4 |
10.3 |
10.9 |
11.3 |
EPS - FRS 3 (p) |
|
|
3.7 |
4.2 |
11.8 |
11.3 |
13.8 |
7.1 |
9.6 |
10.1 |
10.5 |
Dividend per share (p) |
|
|
0.0 |
0.0 |
4.2 |
6.4 |
6.6 |
6.7 |
5.3 |
5.5 |
5.7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross Margin (%) |
|
|
28.7 |
27.2 |
28.1 |
30.2 |
31.6 |
30.4 |
30.2 |
30.2 |
30.2 |
EBITDA Margin (%) |
|
|
7.4 |
8.4 |
9.4 |
10.0 |
11.3 |
10.2 |
9.8 |
10.1 |
10.2 |
Operating Margin (before GW and except.) (%) |
5.2 |
6.1 |
7.5 |
7.9 |
8.7 |
7.5 |
6.9 |
7.1 |
7.2 |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BALANCE SHEET |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fixed Assets |
|
|
56.9 |
54.7 |
53.8 |
93.5 |
108.5 |
106.2 |
105.1 |
103.8 |
102.2 |
Intangible Assets |
|
|
27.9 |
26.4 |
24.7 |
59.7 |
70.2 |
69.6 |
68.5 |
67.4 |
66.3 |
Tangible Assets |
|
|
26.1 |
25.1 |
26.2 |
33.1 |
37.9 |
36.0 |
36.0 |
35.8 |
35.3 |
Other |
|
|
2.8 |
3.2 |
2.9 |
0.7 |
0.4 |
0.6 |
0.6 |
0.6 |
0.6 |
Current Assets |
|
|
59.9 |
62.1 |
62.3 |
87.2 |
82.6 |
82.2 |
81.6 |
82.4 |
83.4 |
Stocks |
|
|
20.9 |
21.7 |
22.4 |
23.6 |
28.2 |
29.6 |
30.1 |
30.5 |
30.9 |
Debtors |
|
|
37.4 |
40.1 |
37.6 |
41.5 |
41.4 |
45.3 |
44.2 |
44.6 |
45.2 |
Cash |
|
|
1.6 |
0.3 |
2.3 |
22.1 |
13.0 |
7.3 |
7.3 |
7.3 |
7.3 |
Current Liabilities |
|
|
(53.2) |
(54.5) |
(49.0) |
(68.8) |
(79.2) |
(79.2) |
(78.0) |
(75.6) |
(69.1) |
Creditors |
|
|
(49.1) |
(51.5) |
(48.6) |
(53.2) |
(62.9) |
(58.2) |
(54.4) |
(54.9) |
(55.9) |
Short term borrowings |
|
|
(4.1) |
(3.0) |
(0.4) |
(15.6) |
(16.3) |
(21.0) |
(23.6) |
(20.7) |
(13.2) |
Long Term Liabilities |
|
|
(32.0) |
(25.7) |
(4.3) |
(31.8) |
(21.0) |
(15.5) |
(10.5) |
(5.5) |
(4.1) |
Long term borrowings |
|
|
(20.6) |
(16.0) |
(0.8) |
(20.9) |
(17.3) |
(11.4) |
(6.4) |
(1.4) |
0.0 |
Other long term liabilities |
|
|
(11.4) |
(9.7) |
(3.5) |
(10.9) |
(3.7) |
(4.1) |
(4.1) |
(4.1) |
(4.1) |
Net Assets |
|
|
31.5 |
36.6 |
62.8 |
80.1 |
90.9 |
93.7 |
98.2 |
105.1 |
112.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CASH FLOW |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating Cash Flow |
|
|
15.7 |
12.1 |
19.8 |
23.8 |
30.8 |
19.9 |
24.6 |
28.0 |
29.1 |
Net Interest |
|
|
(1.4) |
(0.9) |
(0.7) |
(0.5) |
(1.0) |
(1.0) |
(1.2) |
(1.0) |
(0.8) |
Tax |
|
|
(1.6) |
(0.9) |
(1.7) |
(2.3) |
(3.8) |
(2.7) |
(2.8) |
(2.9) |
(3.0) |
Capex |
|
|
(4.6) |
(4.9) |
(5.6) |
(9.0) |
(12.7) |
(7.1) |
(8.5) |
(8.5) |
(8.5) |
Acquisitions/disposals |
|
|
(28.2) |
(0.2) |
0.0 |
(20.9) |
(10.2) |
(3.9) |
(0.5) |
0.0 |
0.0 |
Financing |
|
|
0.0 |
0.0 |
10.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
Dividends |
|
|
0.0 |
0.0 |
(1.9) |
(6.7) |
(9.1) |
(9.5) |
(9.3) |
(7.6) |
(7.9) |
Net Cash Flow |
|
|
(20.2) |
5.2 |
19.9 |
(15.6) |
(6.1) |
(4.3) |
2.4 |
7.9 |
8.9 |
Opening net debt/(cash) |
|
|
0.5 |
23.2 |
18.7 |
(1.1) |
14.4 |
20.6 |
25.1 |
22.7 |
14.8 |
HP finance leases initiated |
|
|
(2.5) |
(0.5) |
(0.3) |
0.4 |
1.9 |
(1.4) |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
Other |
|
|
0.0 |
(0.1) |
0.2 |
(0.3) |
(2.1) |
1.2 |
0.0 |
(0.0) |
0.0 |
Closing net debt/(cash) |
|
|
23.2 |
18.6 |
(1.1) |
14.4 |
20.6 |
25.1 |
22.7 |
14.8 |
5.9 |
Source: Epwin accounts, Edison Investment Research. Note: FY13 to FY17 EPS benefited in part from recovered tax losses.
|
|
Acarix’s Q1 update shows sales of four systems to March. Revenues were SEK230k with gross profit of SEK158k; a gross margin of 69%. We do not expect any major sales upturn in 2018, as the key factor is German government reimbursement, which is not expected before 2019. There is additional sales potential in other European territories. We do not expect a US launch before 2022, but we have assumed a US trial starts in 2019. The indicative value remains at SEK448m (SEK19.46/share). Additional clinical studies are ongoing.