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Strong trading nearly across the board reaffirms the strength of Keywords Studios’ model and prompts a further 8% upgrade to FY17 EPS. We believe there should be more to come, both organically and through acquisitions. Despite the premium rating, continued execution should drive further upside.
Written by
Keywords Studios |
Firing on all cylinders |
Trading update |
Software & comp services |
4 August 2017 |
Share price performance
Business description
Next events
Analysts
Keywords Studios is a research client of Edison Investment Research Limited |
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Strong trading nearly across the board reaffirms the strength of Keywords Studios’ model and prompts a further 8% upgrade to FY17 EPS. We believe there should be more to come, both organically and through acquisitions. Despite the premium rating, continued execution should drive further upside.
Year end |
Revenue (€m) |
PBT* |
EPS* |
DPS** |
P/E |
Yield |
12/15 |
58.0 |
8.0 |
12.6 |
1.2 |
95.6 |
0.1 |
12/16 |
96.6 |
14.9 |
20.3 |
1.3 |
59.3 |
0.1 |
12/17e |
132.1 |
20.2 |
28.1 |
1.5 |
42.8 |
0.1 |
12/18e |
148.9 |
23.1 |
32.0 |
1.6 |
37.6 |
0.1 |
Note: *PBT and EPS (fully diluted) are normalised, excluding amortisation of acquired intangibles, exceptional items and share-based payments. **DPS in distributable currency.
Excellent H1
H1 revenues are expected to have grown 50% y-o-y to €63.7m, with PBT up by 60% y-o-y to €9.6m. Like-for-like growth was a very healthy 17%, or 28% if adjusting for last year’s exceptionally strong trading at the Audio business Synthesis. The company reports that all service lines showed good organic growth other than Audio, due to the tough comparator last year.
Strength of model highlighted
The group’s like-for-like growth rate is well above the c 6.5% estimated growth for the games industry. We believe that this reflects the strength of Keywords’ position in the market, the trend to increased outsourcing and the company’s ability to generate revenue synergies from its acquired businesses. Keywords’ expansion into higher value-added service lines through Art Services and now Engineering with the acquisition of GameSim, could strengthen this position further. Delivery of these services occur earlier in a game’s creation than more ancillary service lines and require much closer relationships with the client, which should further support cross-selling through strengthening relationships and gaining better insights into the games development pipeline.
EPS upgraded by 8%, scope for more
We have upgraded our FY17 sales and EPS adjusted estimates by 7% and 8%, respectively which flows through to 9% and 10% respective upgrades for FY18. We believe that there is scope for more organic upgrades while earnings-enhancing acquisitions should be expected. We believe the company potentially has acquisition capital to nearly triple run-rate EPS from 20.3c in FY16 to 55-61c exiting FY18 if historical 7-9x current year EV/PBT multiples are maintained.
Valuation: Premium rating deserved
Keywords’ rating of 37.6x FY18 earnings (vs peer average of 19x) factors in further accretion from acquisitions or organic upgrades. If the company were to achieve our post-acquisitions EPS of 55-61c, the current share price would rate the company at 19-22x – a modest premium to the sector. The level of execution required to achieve this should not be underestimated, but if the company does, a wider premium rating would be merited.
Scope for organic and acquisition upside
8% FY17 EPS upgrade, scope for more
Our estimate changes are shown in Exhibit 1, with EPS for FY17 and FY18 upgraded by 8% and 10%, respectively. We believe that these estimates remain conservative. Our FY17 revenue forecast assumes that H2 revenues are broadly flat sequentially (excluding the c €6m we expect to be added from acquisitions), whereas historically H2 has been the stronger period, although with an evolving mix we do expect this seasonality to moderate. Our estimates assume only 12.5% organic growth for FY17 and 10% for FY18.
On an underlying basis, Keywords generates healthy cash flows although cash inflows are typically strongest in H2. Net cash at year-end was €8.7m and €6.9m has been spent on acquisitions in FY17 year to date. The company has a €35m revolving credit facility with Barclays, but we believe that the company’s diversity and cash flow generation profile could comfortably support 2x net debt/EBITDA or €45m in FY17 or €52m in FY18. Taking into account the cash Keywords will generate organically, we believe that the company has acquisition capital of at least €58m over the next 18 months.
Exhibit 1: Estimate changes
Year end 31 December, €000s |
2016 |
2017e |
2018e |
||||
Actual |
Old |
New |
Change |
Old |
New |
Change |
|
Revenue |
96,585 |
123,115 |
132,136 |
7% |
136,485 |
148,894 |
9% |
Cost of Sales |
(59,907) |
(76,793) |
(85,815) |
12% |
(85,078) |
(97,486) |
15% |
Gross Profit |
36,678 |
46,322 |
46,322 |
0% |
51,408 |
51,408 |
0% |
EBITDA |
16,893 |
21,152 |
22,688 |
7% |
23,735 |
25,807 |
9% |
Operating Profit (before amort. & except.) |
15,090 |
19,077 |
20,613 |
8% |
21,453 |
23,525 |
10% |
Profit Before Tax (norm) |
14,864 |
18,617 |
20,153 |
8% |
20,993 |
23,065 |
10% |
Profit After Tax (norm) |
11,641 |
14,708 |
15,921 |
8% |
16,795 |
18,452 |
10% |
EPS - normalised fully diluted (c) |
20.3 |
26.0 |
28.1 |
8% |
29.1 |
32.0 |
10% |
EPS - (IFRS) (c) |
11.2 |
22.4 |
24.6 |
10% |
25.7 |
28.6 |
11% |
Dividend per share (pence) |
1.3 |
1.5 |
1.5 |
0% |
1.6 |
1.6 |
0% |
Closing net debt/(cash) |
(8,650) |
(13,244) |
(14,195) |
7% |
(23,943) |
(26,333) |
10% |
Source: Edison Investment Research, Keywords Studios data
Acquisitions could nearly double EPS over the next 18 months
The figures above clearly only incorporate acquisitions made so far. While it is impossible to forecast future acquisitions with any accuracy, the earnings accretion driven by future acquisitions is clearly core to Keywords’ investment case. It is worth highlighting that, as a result of acquisitions and organic upgrades, our FY17e EPS of 28.1c is 60% higher than our 17.5c estimate for the same year from April 2016.
In Exhibit 2 we show a sensitivity analysis that calculates Keywords’ EPS run rate exiting FY18 based on various different organic growth rates and EV/PBT multiples paid for acquisitions (it has spent €6.9m year to date in FY17). We assume that the company deploys €58m of cash in acquisitions, matched with equity on a 70/30 ratio. This suggests that if Keywords can maintain a high single-digit/low double-digit organic growth rate and continue making acquisitions at the average 7.2x EV/PBT level of FY15 and FY16, the company’s EPS exiting FY18 could nearly triple to 55-61p from the 20.3c FY16 level.
Exhibit 2: Scenario analysis – EPS run rate (c/share) exiting FY18 based on varying organic growth and average acquisition multiples, assuming €56m acquisition investment
Average EV/PBT paid for acquisitions in H217 and FY18 (x) |
||||||
6.0 |
7.0 |
8.0 |
9.0 |
10.0 |
||
Organic growth |
7.5% |
58.6 |
55.3 |
52.7 |
50.8 |
49.2 |
10.0% |
60.0 |
56.6 |
54.1 |
52.2 |
50.6 |
|
12.5% |
61.3 |
58.0 |
55.5 |
53.6 |
52.0 |
|
15.0% |
62.8 |
59.4 |
56.9 |
55.0 |
53.4 |
|
17.5% |
64.2 |
60.9 |
58.4 |
56.4 |
54.9 |
|
Source: Edison Investment Research
Other key assumptions and comments
■
The consideration for acquisitions is paid 70% cash, 30% in shares, in line with recent transactions, with the shares priced at a notional 1,054p.
■
If €56m is deployed progressively over the period, the company should remain comfortably within its €35m overdraft facility and a 2x net debt/EBITDA ratio.
Continued execution should continue to drive appreciation
At c 38x FY18 earnings, Keywords’ rating is a substantial premium to peers (average 19x for FY18) and clearly factors in some accretion from acquisitions or organic upgrades. The former should be expected, the latter very possible.
If we consider the scenarios portrayed in Exhibit 2, the company has the potential to nearly triple EPS from the FY16 level by 2019. On this basis, the shares would be at a mid-teens rating or potentially lower if stronger cross-selling synergies materialise.
A sector rating of 19x on this post-acquisitions EPS of c 55-61c would suggest a share price of 924-1,025p but if the company delivers this level of earnings growth and shows that it is well placed to continue on a similar trajectory, then a premium rating will almost certainly be retained.
Consequently, we believe that the shares do have good prospects for continued appreciation in the longer term, although we believe that there is plenty for the company to execute on to put itself in this position.
Exhibit 3: Peer multiples
Company |
Quoted Currency |
Current price (ccy value) |
Market |
EV/sales |
EV/sales FY2 (x) |
EV/EBITDA |
EV/EBITDA FY2 (x) |
P/E |
P/E |
Outsourcing |
|||||||||
Keywords Studios |
£ |
1054.0 |
588 |
4.8 |
4.3 |
28.0 |
24.6 |
41.9 |
36.9 |
SDL |
£ |
580.0 |
593 |
1.6 |
1.6 |
13.6 |
12.2 |
21.2 |
19.4 |
RWS Holdings |
£ |
329.8 |
941 |
4.8 |
4.4 |
18.1 |
16.5 |
23.7 |
23.1 |
Capita |
£ |
567.0 |
4,759 |
1.3 |
1.3 |
9.4 |
9.2 |
10.4 |
10.0 |
Serco Group |
£ |
115.5 |
1,592 |
0.5 |
0.4 |
11.7 |
10.8 |
42.9 |
32.1 |
Wipro Ltd-ADR |
US$ |
10.2 |
24,868 |
2.7 |
2.5 |
12.9 |
12.0 |
19.7 |
18.1 |
Poletowin Pitcrew Holdings |
JPY |
1221.0 |
209 |
0.8 |
0.8 |
na |
na |
13.2 |
11.8 |
Capgemini |
€ |
86.5 |
15,600 |
1.2 |
1.2 |
9.1 |
8.5 |
14.5 |
13.3 |
Average |
1.8 |
1.7 |
12.5 |
11.6 |
20.8 |
18.2 |
|||
Games Developers |
|||||||||
Microsoft Corp |
US$ |
65.9 |
508,935 |
4.9 |
4.6 |
13.1 |
11.8 |
22.3 |
20.2 |
Sony Corp |
JPY |
3664.0 |
41,553 |
0.6 |
0.6 |
7.6 |
5.4 |
93.8 |
17.7 |
Square Enix Holdings Co |
JPY |
3180.0 |
3,493 |
1.1 |
1.1 |
7.2 |
5.7 |
18.8 |
14.4 |
Ubisoft Entertainment |
€ |
39.6 |
4,826 |
2.9 |
2.6 |
6.8 |
5.3 |
30.1 |
23.4 |
Bandai Namco Holdings |
JPY |
3350.0 |
6,675 |
1.0 |
0.9 |
6.9 |
6.3 |
17.7 |
15.7 |
Konami Holdings Corp |
JPY |
4735.0 |
6,098 |
2.6 |
2.3 |
11.2 |
9.6 |
25.9 |
21.6 |
Electronic Arts |
US$ |
89.5 |
27,596 |
4.9 |
4.7 |
14.1 |
13.6 |
23.2 |
21.5 |
Average |
2.6 |
2.4 |
9.6 |
8.2 |
33.1 |
19.2 |
Source: Bloomberg consensus estimates, Edison Investment Research. Note: Priced on 26 July 2017.
Exhibit 4: Financial summary
€'000s |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017e |
2018e |
||
31-December |
IFRS |
IFRS |
IFRS |
IFRS |
IFRS |
||
PROFIT & LOSS |
|||||||
Revenue |
|
|
37,293 |
57,951 |
96,585 |
132,136 |
148,894 |
Cost of Sales |
(24,566) |
(36,172) |
(59,907) |
(85,815) |
(97,486) |
||
Gross Profit (inc multimedia tax credits) |
12,727 |
21,779 |
36,678 |
46,322 |
51,408 |
||
EBITDA |
|
|
6,027 |
9,459 |
16,893 |
22,688 |
25,807 |
Operating Profit (before amort. and except.) |
|
|
5,159 |
8,162 |
15,090 |
20,613 |
23,525 |
Intangible Amortisation |
(468) |
(857) |
(1,629) |
(1,629) |
(1,629) |
||
Exceptionals |
(1,461) |
(1,089) |
(1,316) |
0 |
0 |
||
Other |
(156) |
(392) |
(686) |
(686) |
(686) |
||
Operating Profit |
3,074 |
5,824 |
11,459 |
18,298 |
21,210 |
||
Net Interest |
(106) |
(264) |
(287) |
(460) |
(460) |
||
FOREX |
467 |
(474) |
(1,737) |
0 |
0 |
||
Profit Before Tax (norm) |
|
|
5,053 |
8,007 |
14,864 |
20,153 |
23,065 |
Profit Before Tax (FRS 3) |
|
|
3,435 |
5,086 |
9,435 |
17,838 |
20,750 |
Tax |
(1,215) |
(1,832) |
(3,223) |
(4,232) |
(4,613) |
||
Profit After Tax (norm) |
3,838 |
6,175 |
11,641 |
15,921 |
18,452 |
||
Profit After Tax (FRS 3) |
2,220 |
3,254 |
6,212 |
13,606 |
16,137 |
||
Average Number of Shares Outstanding (m) |
45.0 |
48.2 |
55.9 |
55.3 |
56.5 |
||
EPS - normalised (c) |
|
|
8.5 |
12.8 |
20.9 |
28.8 |
32.7 |
EPS - normalised fully diluted (c) |
|
|
8.5 |
12.6 |
20.3 |
28.1 |
32.0 |
EPS - (IFRS) (c) |
|
|
4.9 |
7.0 |
11.2 |
24.6 |
28.6 |
Dividend per share (p) |
1.10 |
1.21 |
1.33 |
1.46 |
1.61 |
||
Gross Margin (%) |
34.1% |
37.6% |
38.0% |
35.1% |
34.5% |
||
EBITDA Margin (%) |
16.2% |
16.3% |
17.5% |
17.2% |
17.3% |
||
Operating Margin (before GW and except.) (%) |
13.8% |
14.1% |
15.6% |
15.6% |
15.8% |
||
BALANCE SHEET |
|||||||
Fixed Assets |
|
|
20,874 |
32,132 |
61,873 |
54,577 |
57,571 |
Intangible Assets |
17,677 |
27,675 |
55,495 |
48,971 |
47,342 |
||
Tangible Assets |
2,761 |
3,486 |
5,498 |
4,726 |
9,349 |
||
Investments |
436 |
971 |
880 |
880 |
880 |
||
Current Assets |
|
|
23,120 |
34,884 |
38,677 |
48,379 |
63,199 |
Stocks |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
Debtors |
6,203 |
7,519 |
13,879 |
16,815 |
18,496 |
||
Cash |
11,014 |
19,018 |
17,020 |
22,565 |
34,703 |
||
Other |
5,903 |
8,347 |
7,778 |
9,000 |
10,000 |
||
Current Liabilities |
|
|
(9,746) |
(13,128) |
(27,830) |
(31,357) |
(32,281) |
Creditors |
(9,746) |
(11,965) |
(19,805) |
(23,332) |
(24,256) |
||
Short term borrowings |
0 |
(1,163) |
(8,025) |
(8,025) |
(8,025) |
||
Long Term Liabilities |
|
|
(2,607) |
(3,294) |
(6,016) |
(6,190) |
(6,190) |
Long term borrowings |
0 |
(571) |
(345) |
(345) |
(345) |
||
Other long term liabilities |
(2,607) |
(2,723) |
(5,671) |
(5,845) |
(5,845) |
||
Net Assets |
|
|
31,642 |
50,594 |
66,704 |
65,409 |
82,299 |
CASH FLOW |
|||||||
Operating Cash Flow |
|
|
2,412 |
4,768 |
17,168 |
22,950 |
25,226 |
Net Interest |
11 |
(58) |
(58) |
(460) |
(460) |
||
Tax |
(522) |
(1,362) |
(2,129) |
(4,232) |
(4,613) |
||
Capex |
(1,252) |
(1,635) |
(2,306) |
(4,308) |
(5,600) |
||
Acquisitions/disposals |
(8,889) |
(7,409) |
(21,104) |
(7,580) |
(1,500) |
||
Financing |
7,342 |
14,199 |
643 |
0 |
0 |
||
Dividends |
(609) |
(737) |
(825) |
(814) |
(915) |
||
Net Cash Flow |
(4,256) |
7,194 |
(8,611) |
5,556 |
12,138 |
||
Opening net debt/(cash) |
|
|
(15,271) |
(11,014) |
(17,284) |
(8,650) |
(14,195) |
Forex gain on cash |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
||
Other |
(1) |
(924) |
(24) |
(11) |
0 |
||
Closing net debt/(cash) |
|
|
(11,014) |
(17,284) |
(8,650) |
(14,195) |
(26,333) |
Source: Keywords Studios accounts, Edison Investment Research
|
|
Airbus has maintained guidance for FY17, although the recurring issues on the A380, A400M, A350 and A320neo programmes remain a focus of discussion. A stronger second half implied by the guidance should allay some of the concerns, and provide trading momentum into next year. Cash flow appears to be broadly on track which, combined with a resumption of EPS growth in FY18, remains the main support for the investment case.