Stride’s FY18 trading update confirms the widely reported headwinds facing the UK bingo-led market, with a c 3% decline in real money gaming (RMG) in H218. More positively, FY18 RMG EBITDA appears to be in line (or slightly better) than our recently reduced estimate. Importantly, Stride’s high-margin proprietary platform is a key differentiator and the company remains well placed to gain market share. The balance sheet is strong and we expect strong cash flow through synergies and strategic growth. The stock has fallen 60% this year on the back of downgrades and a UKGC fine (which appears to be c £4m) and now trades at depressed levels of 5.8x P/E and 3.3x EV/EBITDA for CY19e.
Written by
Stride Gaming |
Focusing on synergies and strategic growth |
FY18 trading update |
Travel & leisure |
26 September 2018 |
Share price performance
Business description
Next events
Analysts
Stride Gaming is a research client of Edison Investment Research Limited |
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Stride’s FY18 trading update confirms the widely reported headwinds facing the UK bingo-led market, with a c 3% decline in real money gaming (RMG) in H218. More positively, FY18 RMG EBITDA appears to be in line (or slightly better) than our recently reduced estimate. Importantly, Stride’s high-margin proprietary platform is a key differentiator and the company remains well placed to gain market share. The balance sheet is strong and we expect strong cash flow through synergies and strategic growth. The stock has fallen 60% this year on the back of downgrades and a UKGC fine (which appears to be c £4m) and now trades at depressed levels of 5.8x P/E and 3.3x EV/EBITDA for CY19e.
Year |
Revenue* (£m) |
EBITDA |
PBT** |
EPS** |
DPS |
P/E |
Yield |
08/16 |
47.8 |
12.3 |
11.3 |
20.3 |
2.5 |
4.8 |
2.6 |
08/17 |
89.9 |
20.2 |
18.9 |
25.8 |
2.7 |
3.8 |
2.8 |
08/18e |
89.0 |
16.1 |
14.2 |
13.9 |
2.9 |
7.0 |
3.0 |
08/19e |
85.0 |
16.2 |
13.9 |
16.1 |
3.0 |
6.1 |
3.1 |
08/20e |
93.5 |
17.5 |
15.8 |
18.5 |
3.1 |
5.3 |
3.2 |
Note: *Adjusted revenue excludes social from FY18, and includes Stride’s share of Stride Together (inc Aspers JV). **PBT and EPS (fully diluted) are normalised, excluding amortisation of acquired intangibles, exceptional items and share-based payments.
RMG EBITDA slightly above expectations
Stride’s FY18 net gaming revenues (excluding social) increased by c 4% to at least £85m, which reflects a c 3% decline in H218 and confirms the continued stagnation of the overall online bingo-led market. However, due to tight cost controls, FY18 EBITDA is in line with our recently reduced expectations, with core RMG EBITDA estimated at 5% ahead. As highlighted in our May update, the market is expecting a further increase in remote gaming duty after November’s budget (from 15% to 20%). This is now included in our forecasts from April 2019 and, as a consequence, we have lowered our FY19 and FY20 EBITDA by 1.2% and 13.4%.
Technology drives synergies and strategic growth
Stride’s proprietary platform is a key differentiator in the online gaming market, enabling better KPIs and cost controls compared to peers. In addition to extracting synergies from its recent acquisitions, the technology is being deployed for organic expansion in UK gaming (B2C and B2B casino), as well as cost-effective international B2B. We estimate that the Stride Together B2B division contributed £3.5m to FY18 adjusted net revenue. The balance sheet is robust and we note that Stride will make a provision of £4m (c 20% of end April net cash) for the recently announced fine from the UKGC (August 2018).
Valuation: 5.8x P/E and 3.3x EV/EBITDA for CY19e
The stock has fallen 60% year to date and trades at depressed multiples of 3.3x EV/EBITDA and 5.8x P/E for CY19e. Given the company’s superior technology, high net cash and continued strong cash generation (despite the regulatory environment), this seems unjustified in our view. For a meaningful re-rating, we expect investors to focus on synergies, cost controls and ultimately an uptick in EBITDA.
Streamlining UK real money gaming
Headline figures reflect challenging market
In its FY18 trading update, Stride reported net gaming revenues of at least £85m, which compares to FY17 real money gaming revenues of £81.8m. As reported at H118 results, the online bingo-led market is facing a number of headwinds, in the form of stagnating industry growth and innumerable regulatory burdens, which was reflected in our estimated c 3% decline in real money gaming revenue in H218.
With the benefit of ongoing operational efficiencies, however, FY18 EBITDA of ‘not less than’ £16.0m suggests the actual result was slightly above our recently lowered estimate of £16.0m. We believe this includes a better than expected result from the core UK RMG, offset by Indian rummy investment (which is fully consolidated). As a consequence, we have now slightly raised our FY18 EBITDA forecast to £16.1m.
Extracting synergies from acquisitions
Stride has invested heavily into its proprietary platform, which is a key differentiator in the online gaming market, enabling better KPIs and cost controls compared to peers. While still investing in technology, IP and compliance, Stride has now begun to realise synergies from its recent acquisitions and, in light of the more challenging market, we expect a greater focus on synergies and operational efficiencies in future (feeding mostly into lower admin costs).
Strategic growth: UK casino and B2B
In terms of strategic growth, Stride’s proprietary technology is being leveraged to expand further into UK B2C casino, where the company has less than 1% market share. The company’s B2B division was launched last year (Stride Together), and we estimate that this division contributed c £3.5m to adjusted net revenue for FY18. The B2B offering also provides a cost-effective channel for international expansion.
Estimate changes reflect previously highlighted tax increase
As UK’s third-largest online bingo-led operator, Stride remains well positioned, but we now believe that the overall bingo-led market may be shrinking. Although we expect the company to organically grow its market share in the wider UK gaming market (ie casino), as well as expand through B2B, we have conservatively lowered our adjusted net gaming revenue forecasts by 17.5% and 18.9% for FY19 and FY20.
As we have previously highlighted, there is a strong possibility that the government will raise the remote gaming duty from 15% to 20% after the Budget in November. Industry speculation is that the tax will be effective from April 2019 and we now include this impact in our figures (which equates to five months impact in FY19 and a full year impact in FY20).
Our FY19 EBITDA goes from £16.4m to £16.2m and our FY20 EBITDA goes from £20.2m to £17.5m. Within this figure, we estimate core RMG of £16.6m in FY19 and £17.6m in FY20. We note that, excluding this tax increase, our underlying FY19 EBITDA would have actually increased to c £17m and our FY20 EBITDA would have grown to c £21m. The reason for the underlying uplift is that we now expect the company to focus almost entirely on synergies and UK growth, rather than international expansion (other than low-cost B2B).
The balance sheet remains robust and we note that Stride will make a provision of £4.0m for the announced fine by the UKGC (August 2018), which equates to c 20% of estimated net cash.
We summarise our divisional forecasts and headline forecast changes in the tables below. We expect further information at the FY18 results in November.
Exhibit 1: Divisional summary
Year end 31 August (£m) |
FY15 |
FY16 |
FY17 |
FY18e |
FY19e |
FY20e |
Real money gaming (RMG) |
26.7 |
35.0 |
81.8 |
85.3 |
79.5 |
85.0 |
Social gaming/ Rummy |
1.1 |
12.8 |
8.1 |
0.3 |
0.5 |
1.0 |
Net gaming revenue (NGR) |
27.8 |
47.8 |
89.9 |
85.5 |
80.0 |
86.0 |
Stride Together (including Aspers JV) |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
3.5 |
5.0 |
7.5 |
Adjusted net revenue |
27.8 |
47.8 |
89.9 |
89.0 |
85.0 |
93.5 |
COS (POC gaming tax) |
(2.8) |
(5.4) |
(11.6) |
(15.4) |
(16.0) |
(19.1) |
% of RMG NGR |
10.3% |
15.4% |
14.2% |
18.1% |
20.0% |
22.5% |
Gross profit |
25.1 |
42.4 |
78.3 |
70.1 |
64.0 |
66.9 |
Marketing cost |
(7.0) |
(10.9) |
(22.6) |
(22.2) |
(20.0) |
(21.5) |
Marketing % |
25.2% |
22.8% |
25.1% |
26.0% |
25.0% |
25.0% |
Other distribution costs |
(2.9) |
(7.8) |
(16.0) |
(12.8) |
(11.2) |
(11.9) |
Other distribution % |
10.4% |
16.2% |
17.8% |
15.0% |
14.0% |
13.8% |
Admin costs |
(7.8) |
(11.4) |
(19.4) |
(19.0) |
(16.6) |
(16.0) |
Admin % |
28.2% |
23.9% |
21.6% |
22.2% |
20.8% |
18.6% |
Adjusted EBITDA |
7.3 |
12.3 |
20.2 |
16.1 |
16.2 |
17.5 |
Adjusted EBITDA margin |
26.3% |
25.8% |
22.5% |
18.8% |
20.2% |
20.4% |
RMG EBITDA |
7.0 |
8.2 |
19.7 |
16.8 |
16.6 |
17.6 |
Social Gaming/ Rummy EBITDA |
0.3 |
4.1 |
0.6 |
(0.7) |
(0.4) |
(0.1) |
Adjusted EBITDA |
7.3 |
12.3 |
20.2 |
16.1 |
16.2 |
17.5 |
Source: Company accounts, Edison Investment Research
Exhibit 2: Estimate changes
Adjusted revenue* |
EBITDA |
EPS** |
|||||||
Old |
New |
% chg. |
Old |
New |
% chg. |
Old |
New |
% chg. |
|
2018e |
91.4 |
89.0 |
(2.6) |
16.0 |
16.1 |
(0.6) |
14.3 |
13.9 |
(2.9) |
2019e |
103.1 |
85.0 |
(17.5) |
16.4 |
16.2 |
(1.2) |
16.6 |
16.1 |
(3.0) |
2020e |
115.4 |
93.5 |
(18.9) |
20.2 |
17.5 |
(13.4) |
21.7 |
18.5 |
(14.7) |
Source: *Adjusted revenue excludes social from FY18, and includes Stride’s share of the Aspers JV. **EPS are normalised, excluding amortisation of acquired intangibles, exceptional items and share-based payments.
Exhibit 3: Financial summary
£m |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018e |
2019e |
2020e |
||
August |
IFRS |
IFRS |
IFRS |
IFRS |
IFRS |
IFRS |
||
PROFIT & LOSS |
||||||||
NGR |
|
|
27.8 |
47.8 |
89.9 |
85.5 |
80.0 |
86.0 |
Adjusted Revenue (inc Stride Together) |
27.8 |
47.8 |
89.9 |
89.0 |
85.0 |
93.5 |
||
Cost of Sales |
(2.8) |
(5.4) |
(11.6) |
(15.4) |
(16.0) |
(19.1) |
||
Gross Profit |
25.1 |
42.4 |
78.3 |
70.1 |
64.0 |
66.9 |
||
EBITDA |
|
|
7.3 |
12.3 |
20.2 |
16.1 |
16.2 |
17.5 |
Operating Profit (norm) |
|
|
7.3 |
12.0 |
19.4 |
15.0 |
13.9 |
15.3 |
Amortisation of acquired intangibles |
(2.5) |
(4.2) |
(7.8) |
(7.0) |
(7.0) |
(7.0) |
||
Exceptionals |
(3.3) |
(5.1) |
(36.1) |
(3.7) |
0.0 |
0.0 |
||
Share based payments |
(1.0) |
(1.9) |
(1.8) |
(1.4) |
(1.4) |
(1.4) |
||
Operating Profit |
0.4 |
0.8 |
(26.2) |
3.0 |
5.5 |
6.9 |
||
Net Interest |
(0.1) |
(0.7) |
(0.5) |
(0.9) |
(0.5) |
(0.5) |
||
Contribution from jvs/assocs. |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
0.5 |
1.0 |
||
Profit Before Tax (norm) |
|
|
7.2 |
11.3 |
18.9 |
14.2 |
13.9 |
15.8 |
Profit Before Tax (FRS 3) |
|
|
0.4 |
0.1 |
(26.7) |
2.1 |
5.0 |
6.4 |
Tax (reported) |
0.1 |
(0.5) |
1.1 |
(0.6) |
(0.6) |
(0.6) |
||
Profit After Tax (norm) |
6.2 |
10.9 |
18.2 |
13.8 |
13.3 |
15.1 |
||
Profit After Tax (FRS 3) |
0.4 |
(0.4) |
(25.6) |
1.6 |
4.5 |
5.8 |
||
Average Number of Shares Outstanding (m) |
43.8 |
51.5 |
67.3 |
74.5 |
76.0 |
76.0 |
||
EPS - normalised (p) |
|
|
14.2 |
21.2 |
27.1 |
15.0 |
17.3 |
19.9 |
EPS - normalised fully diluted (p) |
|
|
14.0 |
20.3 |
25.8 |
13.9 |
16.1 |
18.5 |
EPS - (IFRS) (p) |
|
|
0.9 |
(0.8) |
(38.1) |
1.6 |
5.6 |
7.5 |
Dividend per share (p) |
0.00 |
2.50 |
2.70 |
2.90 |
3.00 |
3.10 |
||
Gross Margin (%) |
90.1 |
88.7 |
87.1 |
82.0 |
80.0 |
77.8 |
||
EBITDA Margin (%) |
26.3 |
25.8 |
22.5 |
18.8 |
20.2 |
20.4 |
||
Operating Margin (before GW and except.) (%) |
26.1 |
25.0 |
21.6 |
17.6 |
17.4 |
17.8 |
||
BALANCE SHEET |
||||||||
Fixed Assets |
|
|
37.1 |
78.7 |
61.1 |
62.1 |
54.8 |
47.6 |
Intangible Assets |
36.4 |
73.6 |
57.8 |
51.5 |
44.0 |
36.5 |
||
Tangible Assets |
0.2 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
0.9 |
1.1 |
1.3 |
||
Investments |
0.5 |
4.4 |
2.7 |
2.7 |
2.7 |
2.7 |
||
Assets Available for sale/other |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
7.0 |
7.0 |
7.0 |
||
Current Assets |
|
|
11.7 |
27.1 |
36.5 |
34.1 |
40.9 |
52.2 |
Stocks |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
||
Debtors |
4.2 |
5.8 |
9.9 |
7.0 |
8.0 |
8.0 |
||
Cash |
7.4 |
21.1 |
26.2 |
26.6 |
32.4 |
43.7 |
||
Assets Available for sale/other |
0.0 |
0.2 |
0.5 |
0.5 |
0.5 |
0.5 |
||
Current Liabilities |
|
|
(7.7) |
(26.1) |
(35.7) |
(19.8) |
(17.6) |
(17.6) |
Creditors |
(5.2) |
(16.3) |
(31.3) |
(17.3) |
(15.0) |
(15.0) |
||
Player balances |
(1.4) |
(1.8) |
(2.4) |
(2.5) |
(2.6) |
(2.6) |
||
Short term borrowings |
(1.1) |
(8.0) |
(2.0) |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
||
Long Term Liabilities |
|
|
(10.2) |
(10.5) |
(7.1) |
(6.5) |
(6.5) |
(6.5) |
Long term borrowings |
(8.0) |
0.0 |
(4.4) |
(4.0) |
(4.0) |
(4.0) |
||
Other long term liabilities |
(2.2) |
(10.5) |
(2.6) |
(2.5) |
(2.5) |
(2.5) |
||
Net Assets |
|
|
30.8 |
69.2 |
54.9 |
69.9 |
71.6 |
75.6 |
CASH FLOW |
||||||||
Operating Cash Flow |
|
|
4.6 |
14.4 |
14.3 |
14.5 |
14.5 |
15.8 |
Net Interest |
0.0 |
(0.6) |
(0.6) |
(0.9) |
(0.5) |
(0.5) |
||
Tax |
(0.1) |
(0.7) |
(1.4) |
(0.6) |
(0.6) |
(0.6) |
||
Capex |
(0.6) |
(1.9) |
(2.0) |
(2.0) |
(2.0) |
(2.0) |
||
Acquisitions/disposals |
(18.1) |
(22.2) |
(1.9) |
(22.5) |
0.0 |
0.0 |
||
Financing/other |
10.4 |
25.9 |
(0.5) |
16.2 |
(3.5) |
1.0 |
||
Dividends |
(3.0) |
(0.6) |
(1.8) |
(2.1) |
(2.2) |
(2.3) |
||
Net Cash Flow |
(6.6) |
14.4 |
6.1 |
2.7 |
5.7 |
11.3 |
||
Opening net debt/(cash) |
|
|
0.0 |
3.1 |
(11.3) |
(17.4) |
(20.1) |
(25.8) |
Moving in player balances |
1.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
||
Other adjustments |
2.5 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
(0.0) |
||
Closing net debt/(cash) |
|
|
3.1 |
(11.3) |
(17.4) |
(20.1) |
(25.8) |
(37.1) |
Source: Company accounts, Edison Investment Research
|
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