Investment Thesis :
- Leading market positions with strategic locations in areas with strong population growth.
- Positively correlated with population growth throughout time.
- Increasing digitalization to save costs and improve the supply chain’s efficiency.
- For the core Australian Food segment, key leading indicators (such as basket size / goods per basket) are improving.
- Customer metrics and transaction growth are both improving.
- The momentum of BIG W is expected to continue.
- Capital management post Endeavour deal.
Key Risks:
- The Food & Petrol business is seeing more margin pressure.
- Changing consumer preferences and purchasing trends, as well as increased retail competition.
- Deterioration in balance sheet as a result of lower earnings.
- Unfavourable fluctuation in AUD/USD (international sourcing).
Key highlights of FY 2021:
Following the demerger of Endeavour Drinks, Woolworths Ltd (WOW) posted solid FY21 results and a $2 billion off-market buy-back. Relative to pcp:
- During the year Woolworth reported sales of $67,278 million were up 5.7 percent (online sales of $5,602 million were up 58.1 percent).
- The revenue of Woolworth is from following segment (1) Australian Food (2) ) New Zealand Food (3) ) New Zealand Food (4) Discontinued operations.
- In the year 2021 , 80%of sales revenue of Woolworths (continuing operation )was from Australia amounting to $44,441m , 12% of sales revenue was from new zealand zone amounting to $6,652,8% of revenue from BIG W amounting to $4,583 and sales from discontinued operation “Endeavour Drinks” amounted $10167.
- During the year, the firms EBIT was $3,663m, up by 13.7% EBIT from continuing operations was $2,764m, up by 11.1% driven by a 9% increase from Australian Food and an increase of over 300% from BIG W.
- Group EBIT margin was 5%, up by 28bps.
- Cost of doing business increased 16bps due to higher CODB in NZ and higher contribution from Big, which operates on a higher CODB.
- NPAT of $1,972m, up by 22.9%.
- The Board declared a final dividend of 55cps which brings FY21 dividend to 108cps, up by 14.9%. Shareholders on the record date of 3 September 2021 are eligible for the final dividend of $0.55
$2bn off-market buy-back: WOW announced $2bn capital return via an off-market buy-back. The Buy-Back will be handled through a tender process. . Eligible Shareholders who choose to participate can offer to sell some or all of their Shares to WOW at: (1) a discount to the Market Price of 10% to 14% (inclusive) at 1% intervals; or (2) the Buy-Back Price established by WOW after the tender process is completed (as a Final Price Offer). (1) a discount to the Market Price of 10% to 14% (inclusive) at 1% intervals; or (2) the Buy-Back Price (1) a discount to the Market Price of 10% to 14% (inclusive) at 1% intervals; or (2) the Buy-Back Price, established by WOW. The Buy-Back Price will be determined as the lowest price at which WOW can buy back the targeted amount of capital.
The buyback period begins on September 13 and ends on October 15, 2021. On October 21, 2021, the Buy-Back Price will be paid to successful Eligible Shareholders.
Shareholders benefits from buyback: The Buy-Back Price paid for each share purchased back will be $4.31, with the remaining being a fully franked dividend. The Buy-Back Price may be lower than the price at which one might sell their shares on ASX, but after-tax return may be greater because of personal tax status and the tax treatment of the Capital Component, dividend Component, and franking credits.
Company Profile:
Woolworths Limited (WOW) is an Australian retailer that operates supermarkets, speciality and discount department shops, as well as liquor and electronics stores. Woolworths also produces processed foods, exports and wholesales food, and sells gasoline. The corporation also owns and runs hotels that feature pubs, restaurants, lodging, and gambling.
General Advice Warning
Any advice/ information provided is general in nature only and does not take into account the personal financial situation, objectives or needs of any particular person.