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Research: Industrials
Epwin encountered some turbulence in FY17 arising from customer ownership changes but ended the year in line with company expectations set following H1 results. Self-help initiatives are ongoing and we believe Epwin remains conservatively financed with a positive cash flow outlook. These factors support our assertion that the company is able to sustain its dividend attraction even during a temporary earnings dip in FY18.
Written by
Epwin Group |
FY17 in line with expectations |
Year-end trading update |
Construction & materials |
15 February 2018 |
Share price performance
Business description
Next events
Analyst
Epwin Group is a research client of Edison Investment Research Limited |
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Epwin encountered some turbulence in FY17 arising from customer ownership changes but ended the year in line with company expectations set following H1 results. Self-help initiatives are ongoing and we believe Epwin remains conservatively financed with a positive cash flow outlook. These factors support our assertion that the company is able to sustain its dividend attraction even during a temporary earnings dip in FY18.
Year end |
Revenue (£m) |
PBT* |
EPS* |
DPS |
P/E |
Yield |
12/15** |
256.0 |
19.2 |
11.7 |
6.4 |
7.4 |
7.4 |
12/16** |
293.2 |
24.3 |
14.7 |
6.6 |
5.9 |
7.7 |
12/17e |
300.3 |
20.8 |
11.9 |
6.7 |
7.2 |
7.8 |
12/18e |
276.9 |
18.8 |
10.5 |
6.7 |
8.2 |
7.8 |
Note: *PBT and EPS (fully diluted) are normalised, excluding intangible amortisation and exceptionals. **FY15 and FY16 EPS benefited from recovered tax losses.
Market conditions unchanged
Throughout FY17 management consistently described its repair, maintain and improvement (RMI) markets as challenging, while its newbuild exposure, as seen elsewhere, was firmer. Within the product categories, the relatively new Optima 22 window profile system and the Ecodeck range have provided some positive performance impetus though input cost increases have provided headwinds in several business areas. Operationally, the consolidation of Epwin Glass activities on a single existing site at Northampton completed in FY17 and a small extrusion operation is being moved to other group manufacturing sites. Supply to two specific customers whose ownership changed during the year has settled at lower volumes as previously anticipated.
Conservatively financed, strategy intact
Management has understandably reinforced its strategic focus on improving the underlying operational performance (at both COGS and opex levels) as the examples above show. This may not be immediately apparent in headline numbers – and our estimates are unchanged – as the y-o-y customer effects outlined above wash out in FY18. Nevertheless, a healthy underlying cash performance and a conservative gearing position (net debt c 0.9x EBITDA and good interest cover) mean that the company is able to continue to pursue its strategy and at the same time, we believe, stand by existing dividend payout levels.
Valuation: Partial recovery, yield attractions remain
Epwin’s share price has recovered around half of its decline post the earnings downgrades that followed the H1 results. Even allowing for lower FY18e earnings, valuation multiples are still at very low levels (FY18e P/E 8.2x, EV/EBITDA 5.0x). While sector sentiment appears to be subdued, we suspect that the 7.8% dividend yield should attract good support for Epwin’s share price ahead of improving market conditions.
Exhibit 1: Financial summary
£m |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017e |
2018e |
2019e |
||
December |
IFRS |
IFRS |
IFRS |
IFRS |
IFRS |
IFRS |
IFRS |
IFRS |
||
PROFIT & LOSS |
|
|
|
Restated |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue |
|
|
294.4 |
255.3 |
259.5 |
256.0 |
293.2 |
300.3 |
276.9 |
282.1 |
Cost of Sales |
|
|
(209.9) |
(185.8) |
(186.7) |
(178.6) |
(200.6) |
(206.0) |
(188.3) |
(191.9) |
Gross Profit |
|
|
84.5 |
69.5 |
72.8 |
77.4 |
92.6 |
94.3 |
88.6 |
90.3 |
EBITDA |
|
|
21.8 |
21.4 |
24.5 |
25.6 |
33.3 |
30.6 |
28.5 |
29.5 |
Operating Profit (before GW and except.) |
15.4 |
15.6 |
19.5 |
20.1 |
25.6 |
22.4 |
20.1 |
20.8 |
||
Intangible Amortisation |
|
|
(1.7) |
(1.7) |
(1.7) |
(0.0) |
(1.1) |
(1.0) |
(1.0) |
(1.0) |
Exceptionals |
|
|
(4.3) |
(5.1) |
2.3 |
(0.6) |
(0.2) |
(5.5) |
0.0 |
0.0 |
Other |
|
|
0.0 |
0.0 |
(0.8) |
(0.4) |
(0.3) |
(0.4) |
(0.3) |
(0.3) |
Operating Profit |
|
|
9.4 |
8.8 |
19.3 |
19.1 |
24.0 |
15.5 |
18.8 |
19.5 |
Net Interest |
|
|
(1.9) |
(1.0) |
(0.7) |
(0.5) |
(1.0) |
(1.2) |
(1.0) |
(0.8) |
Profit Before Tax (norm) |
|
|
13.5 |
14.6 |
18.0 |
19.2 |
24.3 |
20.8 |
18.8 |
19.7 |
Profit Before Tax (FRS 3) |
|
|
7.5 |
7.9 |
18.6 |
18.6 |
23.0 |
14.3 |
17.8 |
18.7 |
Tax |
|
|
(2.2) |
(1.3) |
(3.5) |
(3.3) |
(3.4) |
(2.7) |
(3.6) |
(3.5) |
Profit After Tax (norm) |
|
|
10.4 |
12.4 |
14.4 |
15.9 |
20.9 |
17.1 |
15.2 |
16.2 |
Profit After Tax (FRS 3) |
|
|
4.5 |
5.1 |
15.1 |
15.3 |
19.6 |
11.6 |
14.2 |
15.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average Number of Shares Outstanding (m) |
|
122.3 |
122.3 |
128.0 |
135.2 |
141.5 |
142.4 |
143.2 |
143.2 |
|
EPS - normalised (p) |
|
|
8.5 |
10.1 |
11.2 |
11.8 |
14.8 |
12.0 |
10.6 |
11.3 |
EPS - normalised (p) FD |
|
|
|
|
11.2 |
11.7 |
14.7 |
11.9 |
10.5 |
11.2 |
EPS - FRS 3 (p) |
|
|
3.7 |
4.2 |
11.8 |
11.3 |
13.8 |
8.1 |
9.9 |
10.6 |
Dividend per share (p) |
|
|
0.0 |
0.0 |
4.2 |
6.4 |
6.6 |
6.7 |
6.7 |
6.8 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross Margin (%) |
|
|
28.7 |
27.2 |
28.1 |
30.2 |
31.6 |
31.4 |
32.0 |
32.0 |
EBITDA Margin (%) |
|
|
7.4 |
8.4 |
9.4 |
10.0 |
11.3 |
10.2 |
10.3 |
10.5 |
Operating Margin (before GW and except.) (%) |
5.2 |
6.1 |
7.5 |
7.9 |
8.7 |
7.5 |
7.2 |
7.4 |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BALANCE SHEET |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fixed Assets |
|
|
56.9 |
54.7 |
53.8 |
93.5 |
108.5 |
107.7 |
106.8 |
105.6 |
Intangible Assets |
|
|
27.9 |
26.4 |
24.7 |
59.7 |
70.2 |
69.5 |
68.5 |
67.5 |
Tangible Assets |
|
|
26.1 |
25.1 |
26.2 |
33.1 |
37.9 |
37.8 |
37.9 |
37.7 |
Other |
|
|
2.8 |
3.2 |
2.9 |
0.7 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
Current Assets |
|
|
59.9 |
62.1 |
62.3 |
87.2 |
82.6 |
82.4 |
79.3 |
80.5 |
Stocks |
|
|
20.9 |
21.7 |
22.4 |
23.6 |
28.2 |
29.0 |
29.0 |
29.5 |
Debtors |
|
|
37.4 |
40.1 |
37.6 |
41.5 |
41.4 |
46.2 |
43.0 |
43.7 |
Cash |
|
|
1.6 |
0.3 |
2.3 |
22.1 |
13.0 |
7.3 |
7.3 |
7.3 |
Current Liabilities |
|
|
(53.2) |
(54.5) |
(49.0) |
(68.8) |
(79.2) |
(76.7) |
(72.9) |
(72.4) |
Creditors |
|
|
(49.1) |
(51.5) |
(48.6) |
(53.2) |
(62.9) |
(58.2) |
(54.8) |
(56.3) |
Short term borrowings |
|
|
(4.1) |
(3.0) |
(0.4) |
(15.6) |
(16.3) |
(18.6) |
(18.1) |
(16.2) |
Long Term Liabilities |
|
|
(32.0) |
(25.7) |
(4.3) |
(31.8) |
(21.0) |
(18.4) |
(13.4) |
(8.4) |
Long term borrowings |
|
|
(20.6) |
(16.0) |
(0.8) |
(20.9) |
(17.3) |
(14.8) |
(9.8) |
(4.8) |
Other long term liabilities |
|
|
(11.4) |
(9.7) |
(3.5) |
(10.9) |
(3.7) |
(3.6) |
(3.6) |
(3.6) |
Net Assets |
|
|
31.5 |
36.6 |
62.8 |
80.1 |
90.9 |
95.0 |
99.7 |
105.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CASH FLOW |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating Cash Flow |
|
|
15.7 |
12.1 |
19.8 |
23.8 |
30.8 |
21.0 |
27.7 |
28.9 |
Net Interest |
|
|
(1.4) |
(0.9) |
(0.7) |
(0.5) |
(1.0) |
(1.2) |
(1.2) |
(0.8) |
Tax |
|
|
(1.6) |
(0.9) |
(1.7) |
(2.3) |
(3.8) |
(3.2) |
(3.1) |
(3.0) |
Capex |
|
|
(4.6) |
(4.9) |
(5.6) |
(9.0) |
(12.7) |
(8.5) |
(8.5) |
(8.5) |
Acquisitions/disposals |
|
|
(28.2) |
(0.2) |
0.0 |
(20.9) |
(10.2) |
(3.9) |
0.0 |
0.0 |
Financing |
|
|
0.0 |
0.0 |
10.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
Dividends |
|
|
0.0 |
0.0 |
(1.9) |
(6.7) |
(9.1) |
(9.5) |
(9.5) |
(9.6) |
Net Cash Flow |
|
|
(20.2) |
5.2 |
19.9 |
(15.6) |
(6.1) |
(5.4) |
5.5 |
6.9 |
Opening net debt/(cash) |
|
|
0.5 |
23.2 |
18.7 |
(1.1) |
14.4 |
20.6 |
26.1 |
20.6 |
HP finance leases initiated |
|
|
(2.5) |
(0.5) |
(0.3) |
0.4 |
1.9 |
(0.7) |
0.0 |
0.0 |
Other |
|
|
0.0 |
(0.1) |
0.2 |
(0.3) |
(2.1) |
0.6 |
(0.0) |
0.0 |
Closing net debt/(cash) |
|
|
23.2 |
18.6 |
(1.1) |
14.4 |
20.6 |
26.1 |
20.6 |
13.7 |
Source: Company accounts, Edison Investment Research. Note: FY13 to FY16 EPS benefited in part from recovered tax losses.
|
|
MedicX Fund produced a 3.9% EPRA NAV total return in the three months ended 31 December 2017, with EPRA NAV per share increasing to 78.0p from 76.5p, and including the 1.50p dividend per share paid in the period. A quarterly dividend of 1.51p per share has been approved for payment in March and the fund still targets an aggregate 6.04p payout for the year to 30 September 2018. Capital commitments continued in the period and the pipeline of acquisition opportunities remains strong. While investment advisor fees remain frozen, asset growth should have a geared impact on earnings, contributing towards increased dividend cover.