Tag Archives: investment

Renergen – Initiation of Coverage – Lighter-than-Air Falling to the Bottom-Line

Share Code: REN – Market Cap: R2.3bn – PE: -34.9x – DY: 0.0%

Renergen – Initiation of CoverageDownload

Business Overview: Near-term Helium & LNG Producer

  • Renergen owns an onshore petroleum production right to the “Virginia Gas Project” that is rich in methane (LNG) and helium and the Group is developing in a two-phased approach.
  • Renergen is in a formidable position to move up the value-curve as Phase One nears first-production.
  • Importantly, the Virginia’s Phase Two could be multiples the size of Phase One and unlock staggering value in the Group.

LNG & Helium Markets: Attractive Prospects

  • South Africa is an energy-scarce economic region with both a good potential LNG demand and a potential supply deficit of the gas in its near-future as some existing assets come offline.
  • The global helium market is opaquer, but the recent drop-off in USA supply and uncertainty around Russia’s planned supply growth combine to imply tight(er) helium supplies post-pandemic. Finally, the major consumers of helium (aerospace, semiconductors & MRIs) are all above-average growth vectors and cannot substitute helium for anything else.

Forecast, Valuation and Implied Return: Upside Apparent

  • Our DCF-driven sum-of-the-parts (SOTP) valuation for Renergen implies Phase One & Two—offset by central costs, debt and (potential) dilution—are worth 3539cps. After options for Evander and Cryo-Vacc are added, we see Renergen’s share as potentially worth c.4247cps.
  • Rolled-forward by CoE, our 12m TP is 4977cps.

Key Up- & Downside Risks: Lots of Moving Parts

  • Running a sensitivity analysis on our model highlights that Renergen’s valuation is more sensitive to helium than LNG, but both prices are ultimately sensitive to the USD/ZAR rate.
  • Inflation, production, and resource risks also exist here.
Renergen – Initiation of CoverageDownload

ARB Holdings – FY 18 Results – Still Quality & Still Value

Share Code: ARH – Market Cap: R1.4bn – PE: 8.7x – DY: 3.2%

Download the full FY 18 results note here.

FY 18 – Tougher H2 Than Expected

  • ARB Holdings reported growth in FY 18 revenues and stable profits with consistently strong cash generation, generous dividends, and an opportunistic post-year-end acquisition.
  • FY 18 revenue came in per our expectations at R2.6bn (FY 17: R2.4bn), & HEPS rose +16% to 71.7cps (FY 17: 61.9cps), which is materially higher than our forecast of 65.6cps.
  • The Lighting segment disappointed but was actually slightly better than our downwardly-adjusted forecasts at H1:18. Inversely, the Electrical segment performed well but slightly below our half-year expectations.

Our Thoughts: Eskom & Radiant Key Variables

  • Post-year end, the Group concluded a conditional acquisition of the Radiant Group. This move consolidates the Group’s position in the lighting market while materially transforming the Group’s segmental exposures; post-consolidation of Radiant, Lighting may become similar in size to the Group’s cable exposure.
  • A slowdown in Eskom spending has prolonged the domestic malaise. Top-level Board and management changes in the utility have been positive, and supply chain audits and related reorganization (in an attempt to both eliminate corruption in the SOE and stabilize it) are likely to blame for this drop in spending.
  • Logically, the spending from Eskom should materially pick up after this internal process is completed (while Eskom will come out of it stronger for having gone through this period).
  • Thus, we remain positive on South Africa and the sector.

Forecast, Valuation & Implied Return: Still Quality & Still Value

  • We update our fair value for ARH to 714cps (previously: 777cps), implying a reasonable Price Earnings (PE) of 10.0x.
  • Rolling our fair value forward at our CoE, we arrive at a 12m TP of 838cps (previous 12m TP: 911cps), placing the share on a comfortable Exit PE of 11.4x, and implying a return of c.34%.
  • Key risks to the Group are unchanged from our original Initiation of Coverage, though note that we have not taken the Radiant acquisition into account in our forecasts or valuation.

Download the full FY 18 results note here.

See our methodology here and note our disclaimer here.

ARB Holdings – H1:18 Results – Improving Prospects

Share Code: ARH – Market Cap: R1.3bn – PE: 7.6x – DY: 3.65%

Download the full H1:18 results note here

H1:18 – Operationally Robust

  • ARB Holdings reported revenue +5% for H1:18 and operating profit growing +3%.
  • The mark-to-market fair value changes in the Put Option for Eurolux distorted the IFRS numbers by 5.9cps, but excluding this effect, the Group’s HEPS would have been +13% y/y to 31.72cps (H1:17 – 28.07cps). This is materially better than our bottom-line expectations for FY 18E.
  • One sore point in the Group’s results was its Lighting segment where revenue slipped and profits felt pressure as consumer destocking, technology and delays combined.
  • Post-reporting period, the Group acquired a 60% interest in Craigcor for a maximum consideration of R30m. The business is a process automation distributor for Rockwell Automation products.

Our Thoughts: Well-positioned for an ‘SA Inc’ Recovery

  • While risks remain and ‘big ticket’ infrastructure spend roll-out is always lagging, ARB Holdings is extremely well to benefit from the de-risking of South Africa, the recovering sentiment and the potential recovering domestic economic activity.

Forecast, Valuation & Implied Return: Getting Exciting…

  • We raise our estimated fair value for ARH to 777cps (previously: 687cps), which puts the stock on an implied Price Earnings (PE) of 10.0x and implies that it is currently c.44% undervalued.
  • In our opinion, this 10.9x PE is reasonable when measured against either itself or comparatives.
  • Rolling our fair value forward at our Cost of Equity (CoE) we arrive at a 12m TP of 911cps (previous 12m TP: 809cps).
  • A 12m TP of 911cps places the share on a fair Exit PE of 14.5x, though we note a number of timing and environmental risks to our view.
  • Our 12m TP implies a return of c.69%.
  • Despite improving domestic sentiment, key risks to the Group are unchanged from our original Initiation of Coverage.

Download the full H1:18 results note here

See our methodology here and note our disclaimer here.

ARB Holdings – FY 17 Results – Resilient Group

Share Code: ARH – Market Cap: R1.4bn – PE: 9.5x – DY: 3.4%

Download the full FY 17 results note here

FY 17 – Meeting Our Expectations Despite Recession

  • ARB Holdings maintained its revenue during a tough period that included political upheaval in South Africa, SOE paralysis, sour consumer sentiment, a sovereign downgrade and a technical recession (not officially over at the date of publishing).
  • The Group reported +4% y/y growth in HEPS to 61.9cps (FY 16: 59.7cps), beating our previous forecast of 61.4cps.
  • The Group continued to generate strong cash flow with well-managed working capital whilst adding to its store and product footprint.
  • Management remains committed to the organic and acquisitive growth of existing operations.

Our Thoughts: Resilience & Upside

  • Solid results year-after-year continue to build the Group’s track record for resilience while management put in place longer-term initiatives for growth that looks
  • We do note the various changing dynamics in the cabling supply market as a risk while the currently exercisable put option by Eurolux is actually a good opportunity (in our opinion).

Forecast, Valuation & Implied Return: Still Undervalued

  • We raise our estimated fair value for ARH to 687ps (previously: 664cps), which puts the stock on an implied Price Earnings (PE) of 11.1x.
  • In our opinion, this PE does not appear unreasonable against either ARH’s own history or the various comparatives in the market.
  • Rolling our fair value forward at our CoE we arrive at a 12m TP of 809cps (previous 12m TP: 779cps).
  • A 12m TP of 809cps places the share on a comfortable Exit PE of 12.9x.
  • Our 12m TP implies a return of c.37%.

Download the full FY 17 results note here

See our methodology here and note our disclaimer here.