Treatt - Return to growth in FY23

Treatt’s FY23 results show a significantly improved y-o-y operating performance, delivering revenue and profit growth alongside record cash generation. Sales in H223 were affected by the destocking of inventory from clients, although management notes early signs of this reversing. Particularly strong growth came from Treatt’s new markets segment (Coffee, China and Treattzest), up 61% y-o-y. Record cash generation resulted in net debt more than halving to £10.4m. Management is focusing on volume

Treatt - FY23 profits in line despite headwinds

Treatt’s FY23 trading update demonstrated a resilient performance despite the tougher trading environment towards the end of the year. Revenue growth of c 5% (to c £147m) has been driven by price increases, which have mitigated inflationary pressures and supported margins. Sales in H223 slowed due to destocking as clients reduced inventories, although management notes early signs that this is reversing. New markets (Coffee, China and Treattzest citrus) displayed particularly strong growth, with

Treatt - A strong start to the year

Treatt’s H123 results demonstrate that the business is back to greater stability and resilience. The growth was particularly impressive in Citrus, Coffee and China, and management is quietly confident about the rest of the year. We continue to believe that risk lies to the upside in terms of market expectations. Growth in H1 was driven by price increases, which offset inflationary pressures and supported margins. Cost control and efficiency measures are ongoing, and cash flow was strong, as high

Treatt - Strong revenue growth, profit in line

After the usual slower start to the year, Treatt has had a strong Q2; H123 sales growth was 8.5% at constant currency. Momentum is expected to continue into H2, with current sales growth mainly skewed to price as Treatt continues to recover increased costs, though there was also a small contribution from an improvement in mix. Citrus continued to perform strongly as Treatt pursues its strategy of moving away from the lower-margin products. We raise our FY23 sales forecasts to reflect the strong

Treatt - Back to steady growth

Treatt’s AGM trading update suggests a more normal and steady pattern of trading has resumed, following the setbacks that caused the profit warning last August. Management has clearly taken rapid steps to address the issues that were identified, and indeed this was already evident in October’s FY22 pre-close trading update. Performance remains in line with management expectations and our forecasts are unchanged.

Treatt - Rebuilding confidence

Treatt’s FY22 results were in line with the revised guidance issued in August. Management once again explained the steps that have been taken to improve processes around sales pricing and cost recovery, with new FX management systems already implemented. Coffee was reported as a standalone segment for the first time as revenues broke through £1m. While it is still early, the company expects coffee to provide significant growth in the years ahead. Management remains optimistic despite the dampene

Treatt - Holding steady

Treatt’s FY22 trading update was in line with the reduced guidance issued on 15 August, ie adjusted PBT of £15–15.3m. Revenue growth of 13% is in line with market expectations and the dividend policy remains unchanged. Revenue growth spanned all categories with the exception of tea, as per the August statement. Health and Wellness and Synthetic Aroma witnessed particularly strong growth. The over-hedging, which was highlighted in August and caused part of the downgrade to profits, has now been c

Treatt - Rebasing expectations

Treatt’s unexpected trading statement of 15 August reduced FY22 pre-tax profit guidance to a range of £15.0–15.3m versus our previous forecast of £21.9m (pre-exceptional rather than normalised). The main drivers of the downgrade were lower sales in tea, driven by weak consumer confidence in the United States; over-hedging, which resulted in losses crystallising due to the devaluation of sterling against the US dollar; continued input cost inflation; and slower growth in China owing to ongoing CO

Treatt - New facility to drive growth

Treatt has performed consistently well over the last few years, as it has moved from a commodity trading house to a partner and provider of advanced ingredients solutions. Following its successful expansion of capacity in the United States, it relocated its UK headquarters and manufacturing capability, with almost all staff now working from the new site. This should mark an inflection point for the business as the new facility is significantly more automated, allowing for greater efficiencies. T

Treatt - Upgrading revenue forecasts

Treatt has witnessed another good performance: H1 revenue grew by an impressive 9%, with growth across five of Treatt’s six categories. Management has upgraded its revenue growth expectations for the year to 15% and sees pre-tax profit being on track to meet current consensus of £21.7m, as the company continues to invest for the future. We upgrade our revenue forecasts in line with guidance, though our profit forecasts remain broadly unchanged. As per previous guidance, H2 is expected to witness

Strix (KETL LN) - Strong H1 with net debt ahead of plan but macro influences building

Interim results show a strong operational performance and good progress in reducing leverage ahead of schedule in the first half of FY24. All three divisions showed gross margin progression leading to the Group margin increasing 310bps AER (+320bps CER) to 39.9%. This resulted in operating profit increasing 7.6% AER (+9.2% CER) and pre-tax profit up 13.0% (+15.9% CER) to £8.0m. Importantly the Kettle Control division has seen recovery in Regulated and Less Regulated markets resulting in division

Billington Holdings - Interim results: FY24 EPS upgraded by 9.4%

The group has posted a resilient performance against strong comparables and a challenging market. There is increased optimism on H2 deliveries, with a return of activity in distribution warehouse and film studio projects adding to its active flow of projects in data centres and Energy from Waste projects. The group continues to increase market share and a strong level of order intake and record order book at 30 June gives rise to greater visibility to improved H2 deliveries; as such, it flags FY

Morning Note – 17 September 2024

Deleveraging picks up steam

Today’s interim results to June demonstrated strong progress overall, particularly at the margin level. Double digit growth in the regulated and less regulated kettle control markets was encouraging. Furthermore, the restructuring of the Consumer Goods division and the exit from price sensitive kettle control markets also underpinned the rise in margins. Indebtedness declined markedly, reflecting a combination of firm controls in place, positive cash flow and the placing of 5% of the shares duri

Mpac Group+ (MPAC, House Stock at 430p) - Bolt-on: an accretive strategic boost

Judges Scientific (JDG LN) - H1 results – confidence returning

Judges Scientific is focused on acquiring and developing companies in the scientific instrument sector. As flagged at the July trading update, the group experienced a weaker first half in terms of order intake and trading, but with news flow subsequently more positive (confirmation of a coring contract for delivery in FY25E and a further earnings-accretive acquisition), confidence in the investment case is rightly returning. In terms of interim results, as previously announced, order intake decr

Morning Note – 18 September 2024

Epwin Group - Third FY24 EPS uplift this year

Epwin Group’s H124 results were robust, with management navigating inflationary pressures well. That said, we have reduced our revenue estimates reflecting the H1 performance, maintained underlying operating profit estimates and raised EPS forecasts due to the impact of the increased share buyback programme. Long-term, well-established growth trends imply that Epwin is well-placed to leverage increasing demand for its energy-efficient and low-maintenance building products. The company offers an

Supreme (SUP LN) - AGM Statement

Positive momentum, trading in-line with expectations: Today’s update confirms Supreme’s strong FY24 trading momentum, reported in July, has continued in to the first half of the current financial year and the Group remains in-line with full year expectations. The Group continues to see strong demand for its products, with its value proposition remaining highly relevant at a time when household discretionary spend remains under pressure.

Zeus Industrials Round-Up - 13 September 2024

The UK industrial sector continues to show promising signs of recovery, with manufacturing PMI reaching a 26-month high of 52.5 in August as all survey indicators but one expanded. Economic data has also been encouraging, with UK pay growth cooling to a two-year low and inflation rising only slightly in July – supporting the case for further interest rate cuts this year by the BoE.

Earnings enhancing acquisition broadens capabilities

Mpac is acquiring the entire issued share capital of Boston Conveyor & Automation, Inc., (“BCA”), a US-based supplier of robotic automation and conveyor equipment for the Food, Life Sciences and general industry sectors, for a total of US$17.0m (£12.9m). The purchase comprises US$11.0m in cash, sourced from the Group Revolving Credit Facility, plus US$6.0m from the issue of Mpac shares. The Group’s lender has agreed to increase the RCF by £5 million to £25 million, ensuring that the Group will

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Supreme Plc (SUP, House Stock at 165p) - Robust FY25F trading continues

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