The half to June combined continued buoyancy (revenue +11%) with a significant improvement in profitability (EBITDA margin 9% against 7% y-o-y). While Automotive, Delignit’s principal sector, was to the fore (+12%) thanks, as in 2016, to strong OEM business and new orders from carmakers, Technological Applications managed to improve on a demanding comparative. Again, as previously, exports were the driver, justifying the company’s strategic broadening. The step-change in trading profit (+65%) reflected investment-led economies of scale, with material costs and depreciation respectively up just 4% and 7%.

Management expects more of the same in the second half. Positive conditions apart, Automotive should benefit materially from follow-up work from 2016 as well as new orders, while Technological Applications has newly won contracts for floor solutions for trains from the European subsidiary of an Asian group. Confirmed fullyear guidance is for 10-15% higher sales and EBITDA margin of 7.5-8.3% against 7.5% in 2016. Clear EBITDA margin outperformance (9%) in H1 on such volume enhancement suggests that this full-year forecast may well prove cautious. 

Recent share price consolidation (flat over the past two months) after sharp c 30% appreciation in June suggests that the market is awaiting further evidence of Delignit’s strong growth prospects. The stock is now trading at an FY16 P/E ratio of c 33x – a premium to both its wood processing and automotive supplier peer group. Management guidance (no consensus data available) for FY17 suggests an EV/EBITDA multiple of 12.2-14.2x, which, even if cautious, is well ahead of the 5.9x peer average.