JDC Group - Accelerating again in FY24

JDC Group (JDC) reported FY23 results that were in line with the preliminary results published on 8 March. After a very strong Q423, JDC expects FY24 revenue growth to accelerate to c 17% (FY23: 10.0%) and EBITDA to grow by 36% (FY23: 30.2%) at the midpoint of guidance. To reach the FY25 target of €246m in revenue, JDC also needs 17% top-line growth in FY25. JDC trades at an FY25e EV/EBITDA multiple of 13.7x on our estimates, which we believe is undemanding for what is essentially a fast-scaling

JDC Group - 2024 could turn out to be a very strong year

JDC reported preliminary FY23 results that were broadly in line with estimates, implying an impressive EBITDA generation of €5m in Q4. JDC guides for FY24 revenue growth acceleration to 24% at the midpoint of guidance (€205–220m), compared to 10% revenue growth in 2023. This still seems conservative given the tailwinds from the market environment and the acquisition of Top Ten Financial Network, which will add around 10% of revenue growth alone. The EBITDA margin is also expected to increase bas

JDC Group - Passing the €1bn insurance premium mark

JDC’s key asset is its highly scalable Advisortech insurance platform, which enables private clients to manage insurance portfolios from hundreds of German insurance companies. This technology platform, in which JDC invested more than €70m to develop, was initially built for its own broker pool business, Jung, DMS & Cie, and the financial advisory business FiNUM, but at a later stage JDC decided to exploit it commercially.

JDC Group - Banking on a strong Q4

JDC Group (JDC) issued its Q323 report in which its FY23 guidance was adjusted to the lower end of the indicated revenue and EBITDA ranges. This was partly due to the weak economic environment in Germany and partly because JDC may not be able to consolidate Top Ten Group in FY23. Nevertheless, to reach the lower end of the €175–190m revenue guidance, a strong Q4 is needed given the 9M23 realised revenue of €122.9m. However, we believe guidance is realistic given seasonal trends as Q4 is the quar

JDC Group - Accelerating into H223

JDC Group (JDC) reported H123 results that showed accelerating growth at its key Advisortech division (c 89% of revenue) of 11.2%. After three slower quarters, JDC expects overall growth to accelerate in H223 and reiterated its challenging but realistic FY23 guidance of 17% revenue growth at the midpoint, with EBITDA of €11.5–13.0m. JDC trades at an FY24e EV/EBITDA multiple of 13.2x on consensus estimates, which we believe is undemanding for what is essentially a fast-scaling platform business.

JDC Group - On track for a strong FY23

JDC Group (JDC) reported Q123 results in line with management’s expectations. Despite the relatively low year-on-year revenue growth of 1.4% in Q1, JDC reiterated its FY23 guidance for revenue of €175–190m based on cooperation agreements that have been signed. This translates to 17% top-line growth at the midpoint of guidance. EBITDA is still expected to be in the range of €11.5–13.0m. We have made no changes to our estimates, which are more or less at the midpoint of guidance. JDC trades at an

JDC Group - Strong results in a difficult market

JDC Group (JDC) reported FY22 results that were in line with the preliminary results published on 9 March. After slower than expected growth in H222, JDC expects 2023 revenue growth to accelerate again to 17% at the midpoint of guidance and the EBITDA margin to improve. Nevertheless, we have lowered our 2023 and 2024 revenue estimates by 5% and 6% and our EBITDA estimates by 7% and 12%, respectively, due to a lower FY22 base. JDC trades at an FY24e EV/EBITDA multiple of 12.0x on consensus estima

JDC Group - On track for a strong FY23

JDC Group (JDC) reported preliminary FY22 results that were on the lower side of the guided range for revenues and on the higher end for EBITDA. FY22 revenue increased by 6.3%, compared to 18% in 2021, reflecting low German consumer confidence especially in December. This led to weaker demand especially for life insurance products. JDC expects FY23 revenue growth to accelerate, to 17% at the midpoint of guidance (€175–190m) based on cooperation agreements that are already signed. The EBITDA marg

JDC Group - Lower FY22 guidance and estimates

JDC Group (JDC) reported Q322 numbers and lowered its guidance for FY22 revenues of €155–165m (previously €165–175m) and EBITDA of €7.5–9.5m (previously more than €11m). The new guidance implies 1.1% revenue growth and EBITDA of €2.0m at the midpoint in Q422 (Q421: €3.0m). Given the 12.4% revenue growth in January to September 2022, this guidance may prove conservative. As such, we have adjusted our estimates towards the upper end of the guided range. In our new estimates, JDC trades on EV/EBITD

JDC Group - FY22 guidance reiterated after strong Q222

JDC Group (JDC) reported strong Q222 numbers and reiterated its FY22 guidance for revenues of €165.0–175.0m (FY21: €146.8m) and EBITDA of more than €11m in FY22 (FY21: €8.3m). We have left our estimates unchanged. In our recent update, we concluded that, based on 2023e consensus EV/sales, EV/EBITDA multiples and our DCF calculation of €37.90 per share, JDC’s valuation does not seem demanding.

JDC Group - Adding more client groups

Bancassurance, advisory and service platform JDC Group announced a joint venture with Bain Capital and its main shareholder Great-West Lifeco (GWL) to acquire insurance brokers/agencies in Germany and Austria. This will add a fresh source of revenue growth and extra revenue potential on top of the expected boost to platform revenues from 2023 due to previous large client wins. In this note, we introduce our estimates for 2022–24. Based on 2023e consensus EV/sales and EV/EBITDA multiples and our

JDC Group - Starting to execute on large client wins

Bancassurance advisory and service platform JDC Group (JDC) reported strong Q1 results. After large client wins in the last few years, most notably Provinzial and Versicherungskammer Bayern (VKB), JDC is now slowly getting into the execution phase of these large contracts. Nevertheless, the number of transfers of insurance contracts to its platform and hence the contribution in terms of revenues from these clients will be limited this year. Based on 2023e consensus EV/sales and EV/EBITDA, the va

JDC Group - Seeking higher levels of growth

Bancassurance advisory and service platform JDC Group is quickly adding large new clients to its insurtech platform. The platform, which was originally developed for its independent financial advisory (IFA) activities, has attracted several clients ranging from Lufthansa and Volkswagen to large German insurers like Provinzial and most recently VKB. According to management, the pipeline of new contracts looks promising. As well as the platform business, JDC operates a smaller advisory activity (F

JDC Group - Seeking a higher level of growth

Bancassurance advisory and service platform JDC Group (JDC) reported8strong H121 results and has raised FY21 revenue and EBITDA guidance to what we still believe to be conservative levels. Large client wins are starting to feed into the platform and the pipeline of new major clients looks promising. Based on 2021/22e consensus EV/sales and EV/EBITDA, the valuation does not seem demanding compared to its other platform peers.

JDC Group - Scaling up

Bancassurance advisory and service platform JDC Group’s final FY20 results were in line with the preliminary numbers. Large client wins are starting to feed into the platform, making JDC Group’s 2025 target of a doubling of revenues and multiplying EBITDA realistic. The EV/EBITDA valuation of 16.4x consensus FY22e does not seem demanding compared to international peers given the strong prospects for platform growth.

LIBERUM: Plus500: Strategic progress pays dividends

Tatton Asset Management (TAM LN) - Record net inflows

Tatton, the leading on-platform discretionary fund manager (DFM) and IFA support services Group has released a trading update ahead of its results to 31 March 2024, due on 18 June 2024.

Hardman & Co Insight: 2023 was an annus horribilis for Quoted UK Infrastructure and Renewable Energy

The focus of Hardman & Co Research is on the nine quoted Infrastructure Investment Companies (IICs) and on the 22 Renewable Energy Infrastructure Funds (REIFs): the stocks analysed are all members of the Association of Investment Companies (AIC). We are updating our publication of January 2023, assessing both the lacklustre share price performances during 2023 and the key issues, including interest rates, inflation and power prices. As a 31-strong group, its combined market capitalisation is no

Ondo InsurTech FY24 Trading Update

Ondo InsurTech has released a brief post-YE update revealing its good progress continued through 2H24 and consequently FY24 will be in line with market expectations.

BlackRock World Mining

BRWM’s managers: we see all the classic signs of high commodity prices...

NextEnergy Solar Fund - Attractive Refinancing

The refinancing of a £135m revolving credit facility and the extension of a similar £70m facility gives NESF firepower as development opportunities for new solar are especially attractive thanks to lower module prices in Europe. They give the fund key financial flexibility at a critical time as it pursues its capital recycling programme.

Morning Note – 18 April 2024

The Hardman & Co Monthly: April 2024

Feature article: Steady as she goes, but could be better: A review of investment company liquidity since 2016 Liquidity is the lifeblood of equity markets. The measurement of liquid asset availability to a market or company is a way of gauging a market’s health. This article builds on our previous work, which analysed the liquidity data for non-financial trading companies, by applying the same analytical techniques to the investment companies (IC) space. We analyse liquidity for ICs as a whol

Foxtons Group (FOXT LN) - 1Q24 IMS shows real momentum

Foxtons Group plc first quarter revenue rose 9% to £35.7m (1Q23: £32.9m) with growth delivered across all business segments. Trading is in line with management's expectations.

Initial Equity Trading Comments - 19 February 2024

M Winkworth+ (WINK, House Stock at 163p) - Solid FY23A results, well placed to grow

Foxtons Group - FY24 underpinned by market share gains

Foxtons Group’s Q1 revenue grew by 9%, supported by growth in all three divisions as the strategic initiatives continue to gain significant momentum, driven by investment in staff, best-in-class bespoke IT and data platforms. This implies that Foxtons’ medium-term targets are now coming into focus. Market share is being gained in all divisions, which puts Foxtons in a good position as the sales market stabilises. We maintain our valuation of 132p/share and believe that if interest rates stabilis

Resilient FY24, confident long-term outlook

Vp’s full year update highlights sector-leading results, once again benefiting from the diversity of its end markets and the quality of its specialist businesses. With results expected to be broadly in line with expectations, we trim our FY24 PBT forecast by c.5% to £39.0m, a shade below the FY23 outturn (£40.2m). We consider this an impressively resilient performance set against a mixed market backdrop. Under new leadership, a strategic refresh is underway and management is confident in long

Hybridan Small Cap Feast - 16/04/2024

16th April 2024 * A corporate client of Hybridan LLP ** Arranged by type of listing and date of announcement *** Alphabetically arranged **** Potential means Intention to Float (ITF) has been announced Dish of the day Admissions: Delistings: What’s baking in the oven? ** Potential**** Initial Public Offerings: Reverse Takeovers: Electric Guitar (ELEG.L) Concurrent with its Admission to trading on AIM, Electric Guitar is proposing to acquire the entire issued share capital of 3radical Limited for

AUM up 30% in FY24, record flows, forecasts raised

AUM jumped £3.8bn or +30% in FY24, reaching £16.6bn on 31 Mar 24, 12% above our previous forecast of £14.7bn. Including 50%-owned 8AM Global, Assets Under Influence hit £17.6bn. Investment performance provided a tailwind, adding £1.5bn to AUM. But our key takeaway from Tatton’s hugely impressive last few years, is that it has designed and implemented a superior offering in platform-MPS with net flows consistently far higher than peers. That leadership looks even more pronounced in H2-24 with net