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Global stocks Shares

MetLife’s Elevated 2021 Variable Investment Income Not Likely to Last

Young woman trading stock market by touching.

Business Strategy & Outlook:

MetLife, like other life insurers, has its financial results tied to interest rates. It’s unlikely that interest rates will return to pre-financial-crisis levels, and MetLife has forecasted to face this headwind for the future. The returns of equity just shy of 10% over the next five years. MetLife has taken steps to simplify its business. In 2017, it spun off Brighthouse, its retail arm focused on variable annuities. MetLife also is divesting its property and casualty insurance (auto) business, which makes sense as there is minimal strategic benefit to having a small auto insurance business in its portfolio.

MetLife’s business is relatively undifferentiated. Whether sold individually or to employers, the pricing is the primary driver for MetLife’s customers. Given the relatively low fixed costs of an insurer’s income statement, this does not lend itself to MetLife having a competitive advantage. Some of MetLife’s entries into new markets (such as pet insurance and health savings accounts) are potentially more differentiated, but these are unlikely to be material in the near to medium term. In 2012, MetLife launched MetLife Investment Management, which currently manages $181 billion of institutional third-party client assets, a fraction of the $669 billion managed through the general account and a fraction of what some of its peers manage. Asset management is viewed as potentially moaty, but given the size of MetLife’s third-party asset management, it is viewed as material to the firm’s overall financial results.

Financial Strength:

The life insurance business model typically entails significant leverage and potentially exposes the industry to outlier capital market events and unanticipated actuarial changes. MetLife is not immune to these risks, and during the financial crisis, its returns on equity decreased. Overall, MetLife has generally been prudent, but the risks inherent to the industry should not be ignored. 

Equity/assets (excluding separate accounts) was 11.6% at the end of 2021, higher than the 11.1% average since 2010. In Japan, MetLife’s solvency margin ratio was 911% (as of Sept. 30, 2021), well above the 200% threshold before corrective action would be required. The solvency margin ratio measures an insurer’s ability to pay out claims in unfavorable conditions.

Bulls Says:

  • MetLife’s international operations, particularly Asia and Latin America, provide opportunities for growth.
  • MetLife’s reorganization will lead to a more transparent entity that produces steadier cash flow.
  • If interest rates were to rise, MetLife would benefit through higher reinvestment yields.

Company Profile:

MetLife–once a mutual company before the 2000 demutualization–is the largest life insurer in the U.S. by assets and provides a variety of insurance and financial services products. Outside the United States, MetLife operates in Japan and more than 40 countries in Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East.

(Source: Morningstar)

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.

Categories
Shares Technology Stocks

Whispir Ltd reported strong 1H22 results ; Focus on increasing platform usage and onboarding new customers

85215903 - attractive businessman using mobile phone while having lunch

Investment Thesis 

  • Sizeable market opportunity – in the U.S. alone WSP TAM is US$4.7bn (WSP North American target markets) vs total U.S. CPaaS TAM of US$98bn.
  • Established a solid foundation to build from – the Company has over 800 customers worldwide with leading brand names.  
  • Structural tailwinds – ongoing automation and digitization. 
  • Increasing direct sales penetration.
  • Attractive recurring revenue base via subscriptions. 
  • Investment in R&D to continue developing the Company’s competitive position and enhance value proposition with customers

Key Risks

  • Rising competitive pressures.
  • Growth disappoints the market, given the company trades on high valuation multiples – growth in subscriptions, new customers and penetration of existing clients. 
  • Product innovation stalls and fails to resonate with customers. 
  • Emergence of new competitors and technology.
  • Key channel partnerships breakdown. 

1H22 Results Highlights. Relative to the pcp: 

  • Revenues of $39.4m, up +70.4% (CAGR of +37.7% since 1H19). Annualised Recurring Revenue (ARR) at $60.0m, up +26.6% (CAGR of +29.4% since 1H19). WSP saw significant contract wins in ANZ, Asia and North America which bodes well for future revenue growth. 
  •  WSP achieved gross profit of $23.0m, up +64.9%. Gross margin declined from 60.4% to 58.4% due to a surge in transactional revenues, which grew from 66.6% to 80.6% of total revenue. 
  • Operating expenses jumped +75.0% to $29.9m, as WSP grew head count from 169 to 270 to service the growing business. 
  •  WSP reported an EBITDA loss of $(4.6)m versus $(1.8)m in the pcp. 
  •  WSP remains well-funded, with no debt and line of sight to cash flow breakeven. 
  • WSP remains on track to deliver on upgraded guidance for FY22.
  • WSP remains well-funded, with no debt and line of sight to cash flow breakeven

Company Profile

Whispir Ltd (WSP), founded in 2001, is a global enterprise software-as-a-service (SasS) company. WSP provides a communications workflow platform that automates interactions between businesses and people. The Company has over 800 customers, operates in 60 countries and more than 200 staff globally. WSP operates in an emerging subset of the enterprise communications SaaS market known as Workflow Communications-as-a-Service (WCaaS). WSP currently solves two communication problems: (1) Operational Messaging – engaging with employees; and (2) External Messaging – engaging with customers. WSP operates in 3 key markets – Operational messaging (size $8bn), API messaging (size $32bn) and Marketing messages (size $66bn). 

(Source: Banyantree)

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.

Categories
Global stocks Shares

CGC reported solid FY 21 results driven by International segment to grow its revenue by 30%

Investment Thesis 

  • Improving momentum at the operational level and the stock is trading well below our valuation.
  • Positive thematic play on food supply for a growing global and domestic population.
  • Leading market positions in five core categories (Berries, Mushrooms, Citrus, Tomato and Avocado via the recent acquisition).
  • Near-term challenges could persist a little while longer (e.g. extreme weather and drought)
  • Execution of domestic berry growth program continues, while China berry expansion is gaining momentum. 
  • Balance sheet risk has been removed with the recent capital raising.
  • Given the number of downgrades, management will likely need to rebuild trust with its guidance and execution.

Key Risks

  • Further deterioration in weather conditions leading to pressure on earnings.
  • Further deterioration in earnings could put the balance risk at risk again.  
  • Weather affecting crops or any significant increase in insurance expense. This risk is mitigated as CGC has crop insurance (hail, wind, fire) and structure insurance.
  • Any power outage causing crops to be destroyed per incident.
  • Any significant increase in costs of power, affecting earnings.
  • Any disruption to operations from health and safety issues.
  • Any disruptions or issues associated with water, irrigation and water recycling.
  • Negotiations with supermarket giants Coles (Wesfarmers), Woolworths and independent grocers result in erosion of margins.
  • Pricing pressures arising from either competitors, or insufficient demand.
  • Increased costs due to lower water allocations. 

1H22 Results Highlights                

Relative to the pcp:   

  • Revenue increased +4.8% to $1220.6m, driven by International up +30% (+40% in CC) with both regions performing strongly with production and pricing improvements. 
  •  EBITDA-S increased +10.6% (+14% in CC) to $218.2m, with International up +33.9% (+49.2% in CC) underpinned by strong China pricing and additional production from increased footprint and yield, partially offset by -1.3% decline in Farms & Logistics segment amid Covid-19 lockdowns impacting foodservice/market industry. 
  •  NPAT-S increased +16% (+25% in CC) to $64m with higher D&A amid major capex programs going-live and impact of acquisitions was more than offset by reduced tax expense amid increased contribution from China. Statutory NPAT declined -32% (-28% in CC) to $41.4m. 
  •  Operating cashflow of $114.6m declined -16.8%, amid increased working capital in 2H21 (consistent with normal cycle) and $23.1m tax payments. 
  •  Operating capex increased +51% to $43.2m (expect CY22 to be $55-60m) and growth capex of $84.4m increased +68% amid continuation of international expansion. 
  •  Net debt increased +108% to $299.2m leading to leverage increasing +0.86x to 1.85x, still within target range of 1.5-2x. 
  •  The Board declared a fully franked final dividend of 5cps bringing FY21 payout to 9.0cps (flat over pcp). 

Company Profile

Costa Group Holdings Ltd (CGC) grows and markets fruit and vegetables and supplies them to supermarket chains and independent grocers globally. CGC has leading market positions in five core categories of Berries (Blueberries, strawberries and raspberries), Mushrooms, Citrus, Tomato and Avocado via the recent acquisition.

(Source: Banyantree)

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.

Categories
Shares Small Cap

Myer remains highly uncertain as it grapples with cyclical and structural industry headwinds

Business Strategy and Outlook

Myer targets the middle to upper market, selling exclusive brands in competition with department store David Jones. The five largest Australian department stores share virtually the whole of the department store sector between them. While Myer, with a market share of around 15%, and key competitor David Jones (around 10%) operate at the upper end of the market, they also compete to an extent with the discount department stores operated by Wesfarmers (around 50%) and Woolworths (around 25%).

With entry into the Australian market of brands like Zara and H&M, and online competition from players such as Amazon, it is anticipated domestic department stores will increasingly find it difficult to compete with the international disrupters because of limited comparable sales volume growth. It is seen online sales to become an even more meaningful percentage of sales during the next decade as consumers increasingly perceive online retailers as offering value and convenience. Myer’s strategy is to strengthen its online presence and is rapidly growing its e-commerce business, while rationalising its physical footprint to maintain productivity levels, owing to relatively weak sales growth in the brick-and-mortar channel. But it is likely competition from e-commerce to intensify.

While it is likely the online channel to grow faster than the brick-and-mortar channel to fiscal 2030, and Myer to partially capture its share of this e-commerce growth, Amazon Australia will pursue its piece of the pie, leading to a decline in the size of the sector’s addressable market. The outlook for Myer remains highly uncertain as it grapples with cyclical and structural industry headwinds. To account for this uncertainty, analysts require a large discount to perceived value before investing in Myer. In tough economic times, it is the discount department stores benefit from more frugal customer behaviour. It is expected earnings to improve gradually from fiscal 2022, with the removal of virus-related restrictions when a treatment and vaccine for COVID-19 become widely available.

Financial Strength

The balance sheet continued to improve, and Myer finished January 2022 with a net cash position of around AUD 217 million. This compares with net cash of AUD 206 million as of January 2021. A new four-year funding package secured in November 2021, eliminated near-term refinancing risk. Myer’s board reinstated the dividend, which had been suspended since fiscal 2018. The reinstatement of the dividend signals the board’s confidence in the underlying strength of the business and could improve market sentiment.As are many other retailers, Myer is committed to paying rent to landlords for its store portfolio. These operating leases are now on balance sheet with new accounting standards from January 2019.

Bulls Say’s

  • Myer is an iconic Australian department store brand resonates with Australians. Myer is hanging onto this perception by improving its stores and online offerings to meet customer demand.
  • Myer is well placed to rebound strongly if it can successfully navigate the current economic slowdown.
  • Strategic initiatives–aimed at vertically integrating retail from design, manufacture, and sales–ensure that Myer is capturing a higher share of gross margin and control of its exclusive bands.

Company Profile

Myer is Australia’s largest department store operator, with some 60 stores that are mostly spread across eastern states. Stores are generally located in areas of high foot traffic in major metropolitan shopping centres. Competitive advantages include a well-established brand and scale benefits from a relatively large revenue base. The brand is somewhat iconic among Australian domestic consumers. The group’s loyalty programme has more than 5 million members.

(Source: MorningStar)

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.

Categories
Shares Small Cap

Ardent Leisure Buys Family Entertainment Venues in Colorado

Business Strategy and Outlook

Ardent Leisure’s underlying fundamentals is moderated by the wider macroeconomic factors that influence its operations and the current restructuring efforts to restore earnings after the recent upheavals. Of greater concern is the near-term impact of the coronavirus on Ardent’s operations and its financial position, especially theme parks. But cost-cutting and government assistance measures have provided relief. RedBird’s USD 80 million investment in June 2020 for an initial 24.2% preferred equity interest in Main Event secures the U.S. family entertainment chain’s funding position. Furthermore, RedBird has the option to acquire an additional 26.8% interest at a future date, with the valuation to be based upon 9.0 times EBITDA at the time of exercising the option, subject to a minimum equity floor price.

Beyond the current coronavirus crisis, Ardent Leisure possesses solid leisure and entertainment assets that all operate in intensely competitive markets. These assets compete for the leisure dollars of consumers who are spoilt with alternatives, especially in this online digital world, where most traditional entertainment activities can now be enjoyed in a virtual setting. Furthermore, most of the group’s businesses are relatively capital-intensive, particularly as Main Event expands its venue footprint and as Ardent strives to keep up with competing leisure options and stay fresh in consumers’ minds. The situation is exacerbated by cyclical factors, with consumer discretionary spending highly leveraged to swings in general economic conditions.

Financial Strength

Ardent has AUD 119 million of net debt on the balance sheet, as at the end of December 2021. This comfortable position with AUD 93 million in available liquidity for Main Event is mainly thanks to Redbird’s USD 80 million (AUD 100 million) capital injection into the U.S. business, in return for a 24.2% preferred equity stake. The Queensland government’s recent tourism-friendly three-year AUD 64 million loan package (plus AUD 3 million grant) also means the Australian theme parks unit now has AUD 18 million of available liquidity.

Bulls Say’s

  • COVID-19 has inflicted significant damage on Ardent Leisure’s businesses and the first and foremost question is how long it will take for businesses to return to pre-pandemic levels. 
  • Ardent Leisure’s businesses provide consumers with affordable leisure and entertainment destinations, although demand dynamics are highly leveraged to discretionary spending patterns. 
  • Competition is fierce for the group’s operations, with proliferating alternatives competing for consumers’ leisure dollars.

Company Profile 

Ardent Leisure is an owner and operator of leisure assets. Its theme park operations are situated in Australia, including Dreamworld and WhiteWater World on the Gold Coast. The group also runs Main Event, a growing portfolio of family entertainment operations in the United States, offering bowling, arcade and various other leisure activities.

(Source: Morningstar)

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.

Categories
Global stocks Shares

G8 Education Ltd Long term Outlook remains positive with growing population; Announced share buyback

Two young women talking together with a tablet in the living room. They sit spaced apart to prevent the virus.

Investment Thesis

  • Trading below our valuation. 
  • Long-term outlook for childcare demand remains positive with growing population (organic and net immigration). 
  • Greater focus on organic growth as well as acquired growth. 
  • National footprint allows the Company to scale better than competitors and mum and dad operators.
  • Potential takeover target by a global operator. 
  • Leverage to improving occupancy levels – (rough estimates) a 1.0% improvement in occupancy equates to $10-11m revenue and approx. $3m EBIT benefit.

Key Risk

  • Execution risk with achieving its operating leverage and occupancy targets.
  • Increased competition leading to pricing pressure. 
  • Increased supply in places leading to reduced occupancy rates. 
  • Value destructive acquisition(s). 
  • Adverse regulatory changes or funding cuts to childcare.
  • Recession in Australia.
  • Dividend cut   

CY21 Results Highlights Given the disruption to CY20 results, comparing the CY21 results to pre-Covid CY19 results. 

  • Group core revenue of $828m was down -6.9% (or down ~$62m) vs CY19 due to lower occupancy (down 2.1% vs CY19) impacting revenue by ~$50m and a $48m impact from the centers divested since CY19. Partly offsetting these were higher average net fees of $16m and $20m of temporary government support relating to Covid-19. 
  •  Core centre NPBT of $137.8m was down -7.7% on CY19, however core centre NPBT margin of 16.6% was mostly flat on CY19 (16.8%) driven by cost management (effective booking and attendance levels; roster optimization) and removal of negative or low margin centers through lease surrender or divestment. 
  •  Group’s cash conversion of 107% was higher vs CY19 101% despite lower overall operating cash flows (driven by lower EBITDA), in part driven by the benefits of lower interest payments (refinance and lower net debt levels). 
  •  GEM finished the year with a strong balance sheet, with a net debt position of $26m and leverage (net debt / EBITDA) of 0.2x. 
  • The Board declared a fully franked dividend of 3cps, representing a payout ratio of 56% and within the target payout ratio range of 50-70% of NPAT. The Company also announced an on-market buyback “to be determined by appropriately balancing between shareholder returns and leverage levels, the uncertain earnings recovery outlook driven by Covid-19, the funding of strategic priorities including the improvement program and the property investment program and other funding needs included for wage remediation and network optimization.”

Company Profile

G8 Education Limited (GEM) owns and operates care and education services in Australia and Singapore through a range of brands. The Company initially listed on the ASX in December 2007 under the name of Early Learning Services, but later merged with Payce Child Care to become G8 Education.

(Source: Banyantree)

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.

Categories
Shares Small Cap

Nitro Software expects attractive growth runway

Investment Thesis

  • Sizeable market opportunity of US$28bn TAM (company estimates which is based on ground up model taking into account customer contract values).
  • Established a solid foundation to build from – the Company has penetrated 68% of the Fortune 500 companies and whilst initial involvement with these companies may be small however it provides opportunity to scale up with these customers (approx. 10% of the Fortunes 500 customers have 100 or more licensed users).  
  • Structural tailwinds – ongoing migration to online with businesses looking to digitize manual, paper driven processes.
  • Looking to become a platform.
  • Attractive recurring revenue base via subscriptions. 
  • Investment in R&D to continue developing the Company’s competitive position and enhance value proposition with customers.   

Key Risks 

  • Rising competitive pressures, especially the larger players like Adobe Inc and DocuSign
  • Growth disappoints the market, given the company trades on high valuation multiples – growth in subscriptions, new customers and penetration of existing clients. 
  • Product innovation stalls and fails to resonate with customers. 
  • Emergence of new competitors and technology.

Bulls Say’s

  • Revenue excluding Connective of US$50.7m, was up +26%, and at the top end of the upgraded guidance range. Revenue including Connective was US$50.9m. Annual Recurring Revenue (‘ARR’) excluding Connective was US$40.1m, up +41% and in line with guidance (reaffirmed in October 2021 of US$39m – US$42m). ARR including Connective was US$46.2m, up +62%.
  • Operating EBITDA loss excluding Connective was US$7.4m, and including Connective was US$7.6m, in line with the upgraded guidance range of US$7.5m – US$8.0m provided by the Company in January 2022, and significantly lower than the guidance range of US$11m – US$13m provided at the beginning of FY2021.
  • NTO exceeded 1m active subscription PDF licences, reaching 1.1m at FY21-end.
  • NTO executed 2.2m Nitro Sign eSignature requests excluding Connective eSignatures, up +102%, and more than 22m eSignature requests including Connective.
  • NTO completed a A$140.0m capital raise and hence NTO retains a strong balance sheet with no debt and cash and cash equivalents of US$48.2m including Connective.

Company Profile 

Nitro Software Ltd (NTO), founded in 2005 & listed in 2019, is a global document productivity software company. NTO offers integrated PDF productivity, eSignature and business intelligence (BI) tools through a horizontal SaaS and desktop-based software suite. The Company helps customers move to 100% digital document workflows, eliminating paper and accelerating business processes. NTO serves customers around the world and counts 68% of the Fortune 500 companies among its customers. In total, NTO has over 12,000 business customers (who are defined as having at least 10 licensed users) and across 155 countries.  

(Source: BanyanTree)

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.

Categories
Global stocks Shares

QBE FY21 statutory NPAT improve to $750m, as premiums shot up by an average of 9.7% during the year

Sydney, Australia - March 14, 2013: The Australia Stock Exchange big board viewed from the sidewalk in front of the exchange building in Sydney. The ASX board displays real-time stock information for companies listed on the exchange.

Investment Thesis 

  • New CEO announced could bring a fresh perspective and potential rebasing of earnings. 
  • As a global insurer, QBE’s operations are much more diversified than domestic peers which means insurance risk is more spread out. 
  • Solid global reinsurance program should insulate earnings from catastrophe claims.
  • Expected prolonged period of lower interest rates (which does not benefit QBE’s investment portfolio).
  • Committed to the share buyback program.
  • Undertook a simplification process and sold non-core operations.

Key Risks

  • New CEO announced could bring a fresh perspective and potential rebasing of earnings. 
  • As a global insurer, QBE’s operations are much more diversified than domestic peers which means insurance risk is more spread out. 
  • Solid global reinsurance program should insulate earnings from catastrophe claims.
  • Expected prolonged period of lower interest rates (which does not benefit QBE’s investment portfolio).
  • Committed to the share buyback program.
  • Undertook a simplification process and sold non-core operations.

1H22 Results Highlights                

Relative to the pcp:   

  • Statutory NPAT improved to $750m from a loss of $1,517m in pcp, reflecting a material turnaround in underwriting profitability. Adjusted net cash profit after tax improved to $805m from a loss of $863m in pcp and equated to ROE of 10.3%. 
  •  GWP grew +22% to $18,457m reflecting the strong premium rate environment (average group-wide rate increases averaged +9.7%) as well as improved customer retention and new business growth across all regions with growth in Crop exceptionally strong at 51% due to the significant increase in corn and soybean prices coupled with targeted organic growth. Excluding Crop, GWP increased +18%, or +10% in excess of premium rate increases, up +600bps over pcp, including growth in excess of rate of +15%, +7% and +11% in North America, International and Australia Pacific, respectively. 
  • Combined operating ratio improved -10.5% over pcp to 93.7% as pcp was significantly impacted by Covid-19 claims and adverse prior accident year claims development. North America Crop business reported a combined operating ratio of 92.7%, declining -550bps over pcp. 
  •  Statutory expense ratio declined -140bps over pcp to 13.6% amid operational efficiencies, remaining on track to reach 13% by 2023. 
  • Catastrophe claims were $905M (6.6% of net earned premium vs 5.8% in pcp), up +31.5% over pcp and 90bps above the Group’s increased allowance. 
  • Investment income declined -46% over pcp to $122m amid negative mark-to-market impact of higher risk-free rates on fixed income portfolio. 
  •  Capital position strengthened with indicative pro-forma APRA PCA multiple increasing +0.03x to 1.75x, at the higher end of 1.6–1.8x target range and pro-forma gearing (debt/capital) declining -170bps to 24.1%, within the 15–30% target range. 
  •  Probability of adequacy (PoA) of net outstanding claims reduced -80bps to 91.7% but remained towards the top end of our 87.5–92.5% target range. 

Company Profile

QBE Insurance Group Ltd (QBE) is a global general insurer that underwrites commercial and personal policies across North America, Australia and New Zealand, Europe and emerging markets. QBE’s Equator Re segment is its captive reinsurer, providing reinsurance protection to the entire Group’s operating divisions.

 (Source: Banyantree)

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.

Categories
Global stocks Shares

Cost Absorption Normalizes as Top Line Growth Moderates at No-Moat Wayfair

Business Strategy and Outlook

Wayfair continues to take share in the fragmented home goods market. The firm’s differentiation comes by way of product breadth and its logistics network, which permits faster delivery of both small and large parcels than most of its peers. Targeting a wide consumer base with a customer aged 20-64 years old (200 million domestic households) with income of $25,000-$250,000 also means Wayfair is competing with mass-market retailers, specialty retail, and low-cost providers, making it harder to stay top of mind. This, along with no switching costs, underlies our no-moat rating.

Wayfair’s inventory-light model benefits inventory turns, a strategy has freed up capital to spend on customer acquisition and retention, leading to 27 million active users as of December 2021 who spend around $500 per year (versus 1.3 million users who spent $300 in 2012). This implies its product mix and marketing are resonating with end users. The pandemic pulled forward the capture of positive free cash flow to 2020, and scale should allow Wayfair to generate positive free cash flow to equity over our forecast, even with constraints from infrastructure spend in Europe and IT investment.

Given Wayfair’s lifecycle position, with significant growth potential but also corresponding expenses to achieve market share gains, we expect ROICs to be volatile. We think Wayfair can hit some of its long-term goals, but the duration of execution to achievement is trickier. While it should exceed its prior 25%-27% gross margin target longer term (we forecast reaching 29% due to higher private label mix), we don’t see operating expenses in management’s targeted range 15%-19% of sales until beyond 2031. We plan to watch post pandemic customer acquisition cost trends to determine whether Wayfair could develop a network effect.

Financial Strength 

Wayfair carries modest levels of debt, keeping its financial profile stable as it grows into a more mature business. It carried about $3 billion in long-term debt at competitive rates on its balance sheet as of Dec. 30, 2021, after executing a $535 million convertible raise in April 2020 and another $1.5 billion convertible raise in August 2020. The firm also has access to liquidity through its $600 million credit facility, which matures in 2026. There is cash and marketable securities ($2.4 billion at the end of December) to help cover expenses like operating lease obligations.Over the past two fiscal years, the company has turned free cash flow positive (CFO minus capital expenditures plus site and software development costs). Free cash flow has averaged about 1% of revenue during the past five years, a metric that should average a mid-single-digit rate over the next decade benefiting from increasing scale. Capital expenditures have averaged 2% of sales over the last five years, which we consider a reasonable run rate as the brand invests back into the business to further support top line growth and improving profitability. Morningstar analysts don’t expect the board to initiate a dividend in the near term, given the volatile cash flow pattern that Wayfair has generated in recent years and the need for the firm to continue to invest heavily in technology and customer acquisition. However, in August 2021 it authorized a $1 billion share buyback program, which we would expect to at least partially be deployed in 2022 after shares declined nearly 16% during calendar 2021.

Bull Says

  • Different brands in the Wayfair portfolio cater across income and age demographics, offering some resiliency in cases of macroeconomic cyclicality and economic uncertainty. 
  • Over the last five years, the company has expanded into untapped markets such as Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany. Additionally, international opportunities could provide location and revenue growth and improved brand awareness. 
  • B2B represents around 10% of sales and targets a $200 billion total addressable market in the U.S. and Europe. This opportunity could grow materially faster than we anticipate.

Company Profile

Wayfair engages in e-commerce in the United States and Europe. At the end of 2021, the firm offered more than 33 million products from 23,000-plus suppliers for the home sector under the brands Wayfair, Joss & Main, AllModern, DwellStudio, Birch Lane, and Perigold. This includes a selection of furniture, decor, decorative accent, housewares, seasonal decor, and other home goods. Wayfair was founded in 2002 and is focused on helping people find the perfect product at the right price.

(Source: Morningstar)

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.

Categories
Global stocks Shares

Telstra Ltd delivered strong earnings growth with declining NBN headwinds; Resulting in increased shareholder returns

Investment Thesis

  • Solid FY22 earnings guidance with management flagging a turning point as it expects mid to high single digit growth in FY22.
  • Solid dividend yield in a low interest rate environment. 
  • On market buyback of $1.35bn (post sale of part of Towers business), expected to be completed by end of FY22, should support its share price.
  • Additional cost measures announced to support earnings.
  • InfraCo provides optionality in the long-term. 
  • Despite intense competition, subscriber growth numbers remain solid. 
  • Company looking to monetize $2.0bn of assets. 
  • In the long-term, the introduction of 5G provides potential growth, however we continue to monitor the ROIC from the capex spend. 
  • TLS still commands a strong market position and has the ability to invest in growth technologies and areas (e.g., Telstra Ventures) which could provide room for growth.
  • Industry consolidation leading to improved pricing behavior by competitors. 
  • The Company continues to deliver strong underlying earnings growth which combined with declining NBN headwinds could see the Company increase shareholder returns via increased dividends which combined with the remaining 60% of the current buybacks should support the share price

Key Risk

  • Further cuts to dividends.
  • Further deterioration in the core mobile and fixed business.  
  • Management fails to deliver on cost-out targets and asset monetisation. 
  • Any increase in churn, particularly in its Mobile segment – worse than expected decrease in average revenue per users (or any price war with competitors).
  • Any network disruptions/outages.
  • More competition in its Mobile segment. Merger of TPG Telecom and Vodafone Australia creates a better positioned (financially and resource wise) competitor
  • Quicker than expected deterioration in margins for its Fixed segment.
  • Risk of cost blowout in upgrading network and infrastructure to 5G.

Key highlights 1H22                        1H22 Results Highlights. 

  • On a reported basis, total income declined -9.4% over pcp to $10.9bn, amid declines of ~$450m in one off nbn receipts and ~$200m in nbn commercial works. 
  • Operating expenses on an underlying basis declined -8.5% over pcp, with underlying fixed costs declining -8.9% over pcp enabled by ongoing drive to digitise and simplify processes, move to an agile workforce and continued migration of fixed customers to the nbn network as well as focus on rationalising 3rd party vendors and services. 
  • Underlying EBITDA increased +5.1% over pcp to $3.5bn driven by strong growth in Mobile. 
  • Net finance costs declined -22.5% over pcp to $238m, primarily due to a reduction in interest on borrowings and financing items relating to contracts with customers. 
  • Underlying EPS was up +55% over pcp to 6.2 cents per share, representing a strong start against T25 ambition for underlying EPS target of high teens CAGR from FY21-25. 
  •  Net cash provided by operating activities declined -5.7% over pcp to $3,246m mainly due to a $1,193m decline in receipts from customers, partly offset by a $955m reduction in payments to suppliers and employees. FCF (after lease payments) declined -9.1% over pcp to $1,675m

Company Profile

Telstra Corporation (TLS) provides telecommunications and information products and services. The company’s key services are the provision of telephone lines, national local and long distance, and international telephone calls, mobile telecommunications, data, internet and on-line. Its key segments are Mobile, Fixed, Data & IP, Foxtel, Network applications and services and Media

(Source: Banyantree)

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