Demand for Boats Remains Strong, Boosting Selling Prices and Profits at Narrow-Moat Malibu

Business Strategy & Outlook:

Malibu is a long-established name in performance sport boats, venturing into the sterndrive and saltwater segments via acquisitions in recent years. It is believed that its brand, innovative products, and consistent pricing power contribute to a brand intangible asset, which underpins the narrow moat rating. Supporting its market leadership, it’s demonstrated an ability to meet evolving customer preferences, bringing new products to market quickly, with new models and 30-40 new features rolled out annually in the performance sport segment. And it has capitalized on its brand strength by expanding into adjacent categories, such as trailers and accessories, which shall continue. However, Malibu hasn’t rested only on innovation to grow profits, also curating savings through streamlined production and rising efficiencies (through vertical integration). As evidence, efforts at Pursuit’s new plant had increased the EBT margin at the brand to 14% in 2021 (from 9% in 2020). With continuous improvements to the manufacturing process, Malibu should be able to limit expense growth over time. Additionally, Malibu shall grow via strategic acquisitions.

The addition of Cobalt, Pursuit, and Maverick within the last five years has provided robust sales growth for the firm (averaging 33%), thanks to a strategy based on fit and the ability to raise shareholder value. As a result, the model expects tie-ups every other year in the $140 million price range, providing a volume bump of more than 500 incremental units on average. While such transactions should drive sales growth, and remain confident in Malibu’s ability to also maintain consumer interest in its legacy brands. The Malibu’s sales shall grow 10% on average over the next decade, including acquisitions. While demand for outdoor recreational products has been elevated with social distancing measures due to the pandemic, and maintained sales growth stemming from market share gains and expansion into whitespace categories. As a result of its success, Malibu should generate competitive adjusted returns on invested capital, including goodwill, that average 24% over the next decade.

Financial Strengths:

Malibu has maintained a healthy balance sheet, with leverage historically rising modestly as a result of its acquisition strategy. However, with adjusted EBITDA growing faster than debt in recent years, the leverage ratio has remained at less than 1 at the end of fiscal 2021, barring the pursuit of any transformational acquisitions. For access to liquidity, Malibu has a $170 million revolving credit facility (2024 maturity) and a $100 million term loan (2022-24 maturity). The company drew down its revolver as a precaution as COVID-19 spread domestically, but had repaid the loan prior to 2020 year-end (and now has around $57 million outstanding as of March 31). In normal operating periods, expecting cash on hand, cash from operations, and utilization of the credit facility to allow Malibu to fund its capital expenditures, which finance projects, tooling, and production improvements. In addition, the firm has agreements with third-party lenders to provide floor plan financing for dealers. Furthermore, Malibu has historically maintained flexibility in its capital structure through stock repurchases. The board of directors authorized the repurchase of up to $70.0 million of Class A Common Stock and the LLC Units, which is valid until Nov. 8, 2022. However, the modest repurchases over the near term, given the team’s penchant to spend strategically on acquisitions. Over the long term, Malibu should be able to generate enough free cash flow to finance both acquisitions and consistent share repurchases.

Bulls Say:

Vertical integration across the brand portfolio could provide margin expansion.
The firm’s long-term annual sales growth goal of 10% should be attainable thanks to Malibu’s penchant for consistent acquisitions in underpenetrated categories.
Malibu’s strong balance sheet, with low leverage and healthy free cash flow/equity, should offer the company the flexibility to withstand cyclical downturns and finance bolt-on acquisitions from cash on hand.

Company Description:

Malibu Boats is a leading designer and manufacturer of power boats in the United States. It is the market leader in performance sport boats, sold under its Malibu and Axis brands. It acquired Cobalt Boats, a leading producer of sterndrive boats, in 2017 number-one market share position in the U.S. in the 24-foot to 29-foot segment), and Pursuit Boats, which makes high-end offshore and outboard motorboats in 2018. In 2021, it purchased Maverick Boat Group, a leading seller of flat fishing boats, with exposure to bay, dual-console, and center-console boats. Malibu has also expanded into boat trailers and accessories, and in 2020 began producing its own engines for its performance sport boats. Malibu’s target market includes a wide range of water enthusiasts who embrace active lifestyles.

(Source: Morningstar)

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