Investment Thesis:
- The assets are attractive as well as strategically located.
- Leveraged to improving economic growth (e.g. commodity markets, new passenger vehicle sales).
- Improved margins on account of additional project work in future years.
- Moorebank Logistics Park was successfully ramped up and offered logistics services at incremental margins.
- Better cost outcomes and improved margins on account of technological advances (and automations) at its ports and operations.
- In order to supplement organic growth potential bolt-on acquisitions is done
- The balance sheet position of Qube is sound enough.
Key Risks:
- Excess capacity and pricing pressure because of Downturn in the domestic economy (or key end markets such as agriculture, retail)
- Margin pressure due to cost pressures.
- Coronavirus outbreak leading to potential direct and indirect impacts.
- Value destructive acquisition (dilutive to earnings and a distraction for management).
- Margin erosion because of competitive pressure.
- High competition in the logistics industry.
- Market expectations are not met by QUB in achieving capacity utilization at Moorebank Logistics Park.
Key Highlights: Relative to the pcp:
- QUB reported solid FY20 results reflecting record underlying earnings.
- The firm majorly has four division-operating, property and patrick
- Revenue increased by 7.9% to $2,032.4.
- The increase in revenue was majorly driven by its operating and Patrick division.
- The Operating Division experienced high volumes across most parts of the business with container, grain, forestry, motor vehicles and bulk volumes particularly strong, and the result also benefited from earnings from growth capex undertaken in the current and prior periods.
- The operating division saw underlying revenue growth of by 12.5% to $2.0bn driven by Logistics, up by 8.5% to $860.3m and Ports & Bulk, up by 8.0% to $1,148.2m.
- Property underlying revenue of $23.7m. The division made a loss of $2.1m
- In Patrick, underlying contribution from Qube’s 50% interest in Patrick of $41.3m
- EBITA increased by 14.1 percent to $182.9 million.
- The net profit after tax (NPAT) increased by 36.8% to $142.5.
- NPATA was up 31.7 percent to $159.6.
- EPS was up by 16.7 percent at 8.4cps.
- The Board declared a final dividend of 3.5cps (full-year dividend of 6.0cps, up 14.4%).
- The leverage ratio (ND/ND+E) of 29.2% is substantially below the goal range of 30-40% set by management.
Moorebank monetisation:
QUB entered non-binding commercial terms to sell 100% of its interest in warehousing and property components of the Moorebank project (MLP project) to LOGOS for a total consideration of $1.67bn before tax, transaction costs and other adjustments. QUB will retain ownership of IMEX terminal and interstate terminal. Management noted “subject to the completion of the monetisation process, the Board will assess the appropriate use of the monetisation proceeds which is expected to include debt reduction, investment in accretive growth opportunities and potential capital management initiatives”.
Company Profile:
Qube Holdings Limited (QUB) is a diversified logistics and infrastructure firm that serves clients in both the import and export cargo supply chains. Ports & Bulk (integrated services, bulk material handling, and bulk haulage), Logistics (Australia’s largest integrated third-party container logistics provider), and Strategic Assets are the company’s three primary segments (investing and developing future infrastructure).
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.