Thin Film Electronics
Thin Film Electronics |
R2R game changers |
Q216 results |
Tech hardware & equipment |
17 August 2016 |
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Analysts
Thin Film Electronics is a research client of Edison Investment Research Limited |
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During Q216 Thin Film Electronics (Thinfilm) continued to build on the list of top brands looking to incorporate its NFC tags into their products. New partners include craft beer seller Hopsy, an Italian luxury bag producer and a Fortune 500 pharma producer. Helped by a trial product order for medical devices for the latter, Thinfilm reported 25% y-o-y sales revenue growth in Q2. For us, the one area of disappointment was that the growth in partnerships has not yet translated into volume orders capable of filling the expanded capacity of the plant (fab). Does it matter? Most probably not – the prize for investors is what happens from 2018 onwards. Here we believe that our forecasts could significantly understate earnings, especially if Thinfilm can leverage its expanded salesforce and reduced price points, enabled by low R2R manufacturing costs, into a major slice of the burgeoning NFC market.
Year end |
Revenue ($m) |
PTP* |
EPADR |
DPADR |
EV/Sales |
EV/EBITDA (x) |
Gross Yield |
12/14 |
4.5 |
(24.2) |
(48.9) |
0.0 |
76.0 |
N/A |
N/A |
12/15 |
4.4 |
(28.3) |
(52.9) |
0.0 |
77.7 |
N/A |
N/A |
12/16e |
6.0 |
(35.6) |
(57.6) |
0.0 |
57.0 |
N/A |
N/A |
12/17e |
38.6 |
(33.7) |
(49.5) |
0.0 |
8.9 |
N/A |
N/A |
12/18e |
196.2 |
15.2 |
22.4 |
0.0 |
1.7 |
15.6 |
N/A |
Source: Converted at NOK 8.2192/US$1 Note: Dividend yield excludes withholding tax. Investors should consult their tax advisor regarding the application of any domestic and foreign tax laws.
Thinfilm focuses on R&D and sales expansion in Q2
In Q2 Thinfilm’s strategic focus switched to boosting the group’s sales capabilities and moving forward with R&D and the transition to R2R manufacturing. It ploughed $5.2m into expensed R&D (vs $2.6m in Q116) and increased staff (particularly sales staff) numbers in the US. This increased cash burn to $12.8m in Q2, compared with $8-9.5m in the previous four quarters. Nevertheless, the group finished the quarter with a still healthy $36.8m cash balance.
R2R plant capacity potential uprated
Management’s current guidance for the construction of a 1bn unit capacity roll-to-roll (R2R) plant in 2017 is for capex of $20-25m plus $8m in capitalized opex. It is now looking at potentially trebling the bed width of the facility to enable the construction of a 2bn unit plant for $18m cost or a 7bn unit plant for $32m, which we believe would be positive for the group valuation. With a 50x increase in batch sizes and thinner substrates, management is indicating that front-end production costs may be cut by c 90% from current levels. Lower price points and higher production capacity could lead to a step change in earnings from 2018.
Valuation: Forecast revisions reduce valuation
Thinfilm ADRs have outperformed the NASDAQ Composite by 18% over the last year, helped by positive newsflow from major customer signings and increased focus globally on NFC products. Our DCF valuation has remained broadly unchanged at $9.07 (previously $9.06) per ADR following revisions to our forecasts and currency moves.
Q2 results and forecasts update
Interim results: Focus on boosting R&D and sales team
The key points from the Q2 results are:
■
Product sales became a driver of growth in Q2, with sales revenues growing 25% to $597k. Revenues were boosted by trial product deliveries under a new agreement with a global pharmaceutical company, as well as delivery of the final 1.8m units from the 13m unit Nedap electronic article surveillance (EAS) order from 2015. Lumpy government grant revenues kept headline revenue growth to a more moderate 10%.
■
Management took advantage of increased equity funding to accelerate expensed R&D, which is currently focused on the development of printed batteries and displays and R2R printing processes. Running the fab at full capacity to test these processes resulted in $5.3m in expensed R&D in Q2 (equal to 50% of total costs) compared with $2.7m in Q1.
■
Payroll costs also rose sharply in Q2, up 35% y-o-y, reflecting increased uptake of higher-cost staff in the US. The main focus was a boost to the sales and business development teams which we see as key to monetizing the recent 24m unit increase in annual production.
■
Cash burn in Q2 increased to $12.8m from $8.4m in Q1, principally due to the above-mentioned increase in R&D spending and employee hiring. We forecast that cash on the balance sheet at the mid-year point of $36.8m should be sufficient to fund the company through to at least Q117, after which time another equity raising is likely to be sought.
Exhibit 1: Interim results summary
US$000s |
Q216 |
Q215 |
Change y-o-y (%) |
H116 |
H115 |
Change y-o-y (%) |
Q116 |
Sales revenue |
597 |
478 |
25.0 |
747 |
731 |
2.2 |
150 |
Other Operating revenue |
483 |
492 |
(1.7) |
1,040 |
872 |
19.3 |
557 |
Other Income |
105 |
107 |
(1.9) |
209 |
172 |
21.5 |
104 |
Total revenue |
1,186 |
1,077 |
10.1 |
1,997 |
1,775 |
12.5 |
811 |
Payroll |
(5,146) |
(3,797) |
35.5 |
(9,794) |
(8,021) |
22.1 |
(4,648) |
Share-based payments |
(413) |
(352) |
17.3 |
(599) |
(393) |
52.4 |
(186) |
Premises, supplies |
(2,507) |
(1,557) |
61.0 |
(4,986) |
(2,945) |
69.3 |
(2,479) |
Other operating costs |
(2,492) |
(2,032) |
22.6 |
(4,408) |
(3,521) |
25.2 |
(1,916) |
Total operating costs |
(10,558) |
(7,738) |
36.4 |
(19,787) |
(14,880) |
33.0 |
(9,229) |
of which expensed R&D |
(5,266) |
(2,646) |
99.0 |
(7,916) |
(4,084) |
93.8 |
(2,650) |
EBITDA |
(9,372) |
(6,661) |
40.7 |
(17,790) |
(13,105) |
35.8 |
(8,418) |
EBITDA (normalized) |
(8,959) |
(6,309) |
42.0 |
(17,191) |
(12,712) |
35.2 |
(8,232) |
D&A |
(684) |
(308) |
122.1 |
(1,236) |
(652) |
89.6 |
(552) |
Reported operating profit |
(10,056) |
(6,969) |
44.3 |
(19,026) |
(13,757) |
38.3 |
(8,970) |
Net financial items |
(454) |
53 |
NA |
0 |
0 |
NA |
(967) |
PBT |
(10,510) |
(6,916) |
52.0 |
(20,447) |
(13,644) |
49.9 |
(9,937) |
Tax |
(1) |
0 |
NA |
0 |
0 |
NA |
(299) |
Profit (loss) for the period |
(10,511) |
(6,916) |
52.0 |
(20,747) |
(13,644) |
52.1 |
(10,236) |
Normalized profit (loss) for the period |
(10,098) |
(6,564) |
53.8 |
(20,148) |
(13,251) |
52.1 |
(10,050) |
Normalized loss per ADR ($) |
0.149 |
0.122 |
22.1 |
0.311 |
0.251 |
24.1 |
0.163 |
Net cash |
36,809 |
36,291 |
1.4 |
36,809 |
36,291 |
1.4 |
49,122 |
Cash flow from operations |
(11,516) |
(6,817) |
68.9 |
(17,769) |
(12,111) |
46.7 |
(6,253) |
Cash burn (CF from ops and investments) |
(12,827) |
(8,406) |
52.6 |
(20,852) |
(14,094) |
48.0 |
(8,024) |
Purchases of PPE |
(945) |
(1,055) |
(10.5) |
(2,645) |
(1,497) |
76.7 |
(1,700) |
Source: Thin Film Electronics
Our view
In our original 2016 forecast we had looked for a sharper ramp-up in sales in Q2 to $880k on increased field sample sales and new order inflows, particularly from Nedap for EAS tags. With Q2 sales revenue a shade below $600k and the order book light of volume orders that the company could use to generate sharply higher revenues in H2, we have reduced our 2016 and 2017 revenue and earnings forecasts (see below).
We are not concerned by the increased cost levels. We see the R&D spend and increased outlays on sales staff, in particular, as important building blocks to secure the group’s future.
Change in forecasts: Trimming H216 production ramp outlook
We have cut our revenue and earnings expectations for 2016, reflecting delays to volume order inflows. While we believe this may have to be reversed if major orders materialize in the next few weeks – not least from the many leading companies currently trialing the product (Diageo, Constantia, Jones Packaging, Ypsomed, Ferngrove, etc) – we have for now reduced our 2016 revenue forecast for NFC OpenSense products from $4.6m to $1m. For 2017 we have cut our NFC OpenSense unit sales and revenues forecast by 25%, to 82m and $29.8m respectively reflecting the delay in volume ramp-up.
Similarly, whereas we had assumed a 10m unit follow-up order for (EAS) tags from Nedap from Q316, we now assume a follow-up order later this quarter, with 4m sales in Q4 after the 1.8m in Q2, reducing our full year EAS sales expectation from $2.3m to $0.4m.
Additionally, with Xerox label sales having no material impact on Q2 sales, we have cut our sales assumption for 2016 from 180m to 120m units, reducing revenues from $1.1m to $720k. For 2017, we have maintained our assumption of 1bn unit sales, giving rise to licence fee revenues of $4.5m.
With the high level of interest from brands and packaging companies and lower potential pricing points from the new R2R plant, we expect higher order flows to put revenues and earnings back on track in 2018, with a 0.3% higher operating margin assumed on the back of the additional cost savings now envisaged by the new R2R line configuration.
Exhibit 2: Change in earnings forecast
Revenue ($m) |
EBITDA* ($m) |
EPADR (c) |
|||||||
Old |
New |
% chg. |
Old |
New |
% chg. |
Old |
New |
% chg. |
|
2015 |
4.4 |
|
|
(29.2) |
|
|
(52.9) |
|
|
2016e |
12.0 |
6.0 |
(50.1) |
(30.6) |
(33.8) |
10.3 |
(52.7) |
(57.6) |
9.3 |
2017e |
48.3 |
38.6 |
(20.0) |
(24.2) |
(29.2) |
20.3 |
(42.5) |
(49.5) |
16.4 |
2018e |
196.2 |
196.2 |
(0.0) |
21.0 |
21.9 |
3.9 |
21.6 |
22.4 |
3.7 |
Source: Edison Investment Research, Thin Film Electronics. Note: *Normalized.
Valuation sensitivity
Exhibit 3: DCF sensitivity analysis – forecast revenue from 2018 and WACC ($/ADR)
Actual revenue as % of current forecast revenue |
|||||||||
60 |
70 |
80 |
90 |
100 |
110 |
120 |
130 |
||
WACC |
12% |
4.92 |
6.98 |
9.04 |
11.11 |
13.17 |
15.23 |
17.30 |
19.36 |
13% |
4.21 |
6.04 |
7.86 |
9.69 |
11.52 |
13.34 |
15.17 |
17.00 |
|
14% |
3.64 |
5.27 |
6.91 |
8.54 |
10.18 |
11.81 |
13.44 |
15.08 |
|
15% |
3.17 |
4.65 |
6.12 |
7.59 |
9.07 |
10.54 |
12.02 |
13.49 |
|
16% |
2.78 |
4.12 |
5.46 |
6.80 |
8.14 |
9.48 |
10.82 |
12.16 |
|
17% |
2.45 |
3.68 |
4.90 |
6.13 |
7.35 |
8.58 |
9.80 |
11.02 |
|
Source: Edison Investment Research
Our DCF valuation for Thinfilm was not significantly affected by the reduction in our 2016 and 2017 revenue forecasts, as in our model the bulk of Thinfilm’s DCF value lies in cash flows generated post 2017. In view of the significant uncertainty about the timing and volume of future order flows, we show above a sensitivity table showing the impact on our DCF value of alternative revenue and WACC assumptions, assuming fixed cash costs at 13% of total. This shows that the DCF of the company would fall 32% on a 20% shortfall in forecast revenues, but a 3pp reduction in WACC to 12%, potentially on greater confidence about revenue outcomes, would largely offset this impact.
Exhibit 4: Financial summary
US$000s |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016e |
2017e |
2018e |
||
Year-end December |
IFRS |
IFRS |
IFRS |
IFRS |
IFRS |
IFRS |
||
PROFIT & LOSS |
||||||||
Revenue |
|
|
1,897 |
4,479 |
4,413 |
6,003 |
38,623 |
196,150 |
EBITDA |
|
|
(10,420) |
(23,550) |
(29,187) |
(33,756) |
(29,154) |
21,851 |
Operating Profit (before amort. and except.) |
|
|
(10,688) |
(24,855) |
(30,724) |
(35,943) |
(32,868) |
17,098 |
Intangible Amortization |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
Exceptionals |
(2,154) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
Share-based payments |
(847) |
(941) |
(1,064) |
(1,092) |
(1,359) |
(1,506) |
||
Operating Profit |
(13,689) |
(25,796) |
(31,788) |
(37,035) |
(34,227) |
15,592 |
||
Net Interest |
274 |
701 |
2,406 |
329 |
(795) |
(1,874) |
||
Pre-tax profit (norm) |
|
|
(10,415) |
(24,155) |
(28,318) |
(35,614) |
(33,663) |
15,223 |
Pre-tax profit (FRS 3) |
|
|
(13,416) |
(25,096) |
(29,382) |
(36,705) |
(35,022) |
13,718 |
Tax |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
Profit After Tax (norm) |
(10,415) |
(24,155) |
(28,318) |
(35,614) |
(33,663) |
15,223 |
||
Profit After Tax (FRS 3) |
(13,416) |
(25,096) |
(29,382) |
(36,705) |
(35,022) |
13,718 |
||
Average Number of ADRs Outstanding (m) |
41.3 |
49.3 |
53.5 |
61.8 |
68.0 |
68.0 |
||
EPADR - normalized (c) |
|
|
(25.2) |
(48.9) |
(52.9) |
(57.6) |
(49.5) |
22.4 |
EPADR - (IFRS) (c) |
|
|
(32.5) |
(50.9) |
(54.9) |
(59.4) |
(51.5) |
20.2 |
Dividend per share (c) |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
||
EBITDA Margin (%) |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
11.1 |
||
Operating Margin (before GW and except.) (%) |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
8.7 |
||
BALANCE SHEET |
||||||||
Fixed Assets |
|
|
3,112 |
7,189 |
10,390 |
24,320 |
37,606 |
40,853 |
Intangible Assets |
0 |
2,319 |
2,602 |
2,720 |
2,720 |
2,720 |
||
Tangible Assets |
3,112 |
4,870 |
7,788 |
21,601 |
34,887 |
38,134 |
||
Investments |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
Current Assets |
|
|
45,121 |
33,870 |
19,425 |
12,840 |
20,109 |
40,674 |
Stocks |
0 |
451 |
367 |
499 |
1,207 |
1,290 |
||
Debtors |
1,318 |
2,565 |
3,118 |
3,393 |
10,582 |
37,618 |
||
Cash |
43,803 |
30,854 |
15,940 |
8,947 |
8,321 |
1,766 |
||
Other |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
Current Liabilities |
|
|
(5,865) |
(4,748) |
(5,170) |
(6,093) |
(60,311) |
(68,899) |
Creditors |
(5,865) |
(4,748) |
(5,170) |
(6,093) |
(10,311) |
(28,899) |
||
Short term borrowings |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
(50,000) |
(40,000) |
||
Long Term Liabilities |
|
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Long term borrowings |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
Other long term liabilities |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
Net Assets |
|
|
42,367 |
36,311 |
24,645 |
31,067 |
(2,596) |
12,627 |
CASH FLOW |
||||||||
Operating Cash Flow |
|
|
(7,905) |
(24,079) |
(26,036) |
(33,240) |
(32,831) |
13,319 |
Net Interest |
234 |
569 |
146 |
570 |
(795) |
(1,874) |
||
Tax |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
Capex |
(2,487) |
(3,217) |
(4,751) |
(16,118) |
(17,000) |
(8,000) |
||
Acquisitions/disposals |
0 |
(2,700) |
(799) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
Financing |
48,560 |
16,477 |
16,527 |
41,796 |
0 |
0 |
||
Dividends |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
Net Cash Flow |
38,402 |
(12,949) |
(14,914) |
(6,993) |
(50,626) |
3,445 |
||
Opening net debt/(cash) |
|
|
(5,401) |
(43,803) |
(30,854) |
(15,940) |
(8,947) |
41,679 |
HP finance leases initiated |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
Other |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
(0) |
||
Closing net debt/(cash) |
|
|
(43,803) |
(30,854) |
(15,940) |
(8,947) |
41,679 |
38,234 |
|
Source: Thin Film Electronics accounts, Edison Investment Research |
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