ATTRAQT Group (ATQT LN) Interims show encouraging progress | Bodycote (BOY LN) Strong H1 growth, modest upgrade to guidance | Brooks Macdonald Group (BRK LN) FuM +6.5%: Better markets in Q4, net inflows sustained at 9% annualised | Findel (FDL LN) Strong start to the year with both divisions performing | Frontier Smart Technologies Group (FST LN) Trading in line with revised expectations | Howden Joinery Group (HWDN LN) Solid H1 results given circumstances + on track to meet FY forecasts | Renishaw (RSW LN) Strong growth in FY18, confident outlook | Sigma Capital Group (SGM LN) Landmark 2000th PRS home let in Greater Manchester
Companies: ATQT BOY BRK STU FST HWDN RSW SGM
Bodycote (BOY LN) Positive AGM update guiding to profit slightly ahead of consensus | Oxford Metrics (OMG LN) Continued progress versus goals | Photo-Me International (PHTM LN) Japan competition and restructuring impacts forecasts c15% | Urban&Civic (UANC LN) Buying well to sell better, more to come | Xaar (XAR LN) CFO to depart in November
Companies: BOY OMG PHTM UANC XAR
Be Heard (BHRD LN) Win momentum maintained into 2018 | Bodycote (BOY LN) 15 year contract signed with Rolls Royce | City of London Investment Group (CLIG LN) FuM +1.6% in Q3, no material net inflows but growth in smaller strategy | IFG Group (IFP LN) All change! New leadership team | Strategy The latest ONS data shows the first real wage growth for a year | N Brown Group (BWNG LN) PREVIEW – prelims due on Thursday 26 April
Companies: BHRD BOY CLIG BWNG
Bodycote (BOY LN) Strong FY17 performance, just above consensus | Cambria Automobiles (CAMB LN) In line update and progress with its property developments | Craneware (CRW LN) Strong interims, momentum building | Findel (FDL LN) Positive update on commercial supply arrangement with Sports | Direct | UK Housing Theresa May’s Speech and (overdone) Help to Buy coverage |SDL (SDL LN) Progressing against strategic goals Yu Group (YU LN) Very strong growth and expectations increased again
Companies: BOY CAMB CRW STU YU/
Actual Experience (ACT LN) 2018 year of execution | Adept4 (AD4 LN) Asset light strategy starting to deliver | Bodycote (BOY LN) Forecasts increased following positive year end update | City of London Investment Group (CLIG LN) Q2 FuM +6%, H1 profits expected in line | Clinigen Group (CLIN LN) H1 trading update in line with expectations | Earthport (EPO LN) Board changes
Companies: ACT CLCO BOY CLIG EPO CLIN
We have increased our forecasts for adjusted profits and EPS by 5% for 2017 and by 3% for 2018 and 2019, following Bodycote’s stronger than anticipated Q4 performance. Our adjusted operating profit estimate of £124.5m for 2017 is in line with updated guidance, ie towards the top of the previous market range. Our 2018 forecast assumes organic sales growth of 3.9% vs. a tough 2017 comparative, but offers potential for further upgrades given the supportive industrial backdrop. Meanwhile the group’s strong balance sheet would support M&A or another return of excess cash to shareholders in the form of a special dividend. We have increased our target price from 995p to 1105p and our recommendation remains Buy.
Companies: Bodycote plc
ATTRAQT Group (ATQT LN) CEO stepping down, trading in line with October update | Bodycote (BOY LN) Good year end trading update | Carclo (CAR LN) Trading significantly behind; FD, chairman to leave | Sinclair Pharma (SPH LN) Trading update: stronger H2 as expected, EBITDA in-line |
Companies: ATQT BOY CAR SPH
Bodycote has signed a long term outsourcing agreement with Doncasters Group to provide HIP and heat treatment services in the UK. As part of the agreement thermal treatment assets, including a HIP vessel, and c.20 employees at the Doncasters site in Wales transfer to Bodycote. This will provide helpful additional HIP capacity in the UK, although we do not expect the agreement to have a material impact on our revenue and profit forecasts.
Bodycote (BOY LN) Outsourcing agreement providing additional HIP capacity | IQE (IQE LN) Photonics growth drives upgrades as expected
Companies: IQE plc (IQE:LON)Bodycote plc (BOY:LON)
Bodycote reported strong, broadly-based sales growth for H1 17, growth which accelerated within the period. Margin also advanced, leading to a 26% rise in adjusted PBT. Management expects this momentum to continue and increased guidance for the full year towards the top of the range. We have increased our low end PBT forecasts by 14% for 2017 and 15% for 2018 and also increased our target price from 690p to 995p. We believe prospects remain attractive for Bodycote. Industrial data series are supportive across many of its end markets; delivery of the strategy remains strong; and the group has a healthy balance sheet with net cash to support continued investment in organic and/or acquisitive growth. With the shares on a c.25% EV/EBITDA discount to the sector, we retain our Buy recommendation.
See what was trending this week...
Companies: ZENCARCRPRSCEMGAMOXIGPHTMVCTSYMIQERGDNANOCKTBOTBSYNBOYIKAITXGRPEFFULBIOMAUTGAGMHDDHAYDEXOSHOECAKEMAB1SCSFEVRRBGG4MHOTCJOULVCPBUREMH
Aberdeen Diversified Income & Growth Trust (ADIG LN) Unconstrained and flexible approach | accesso Technology (ACSO LN) Six Flags miss not a red flag | Bodycote (BOY LN) Good growth for H1 17, guidance raised to upper end of expectations | Brewin Dolphin Holdings (BRW LN) Positive Q3 update, upgraded 394p target price | Brooks Macdonald Group (BRK LN) Strong Q4 net inflows but additional cost investment planned | Burford Capital (BUR LN) Exceptionally strong first half results | Itaconix (ITX LN) First application agreement under AkzoNobel collaboration | Oxford BioMedica (OXB LN) Forecasts updated for new Novartis supply agreement | Renishaw (RSW LN) Strong growth for FY17, confident of further progress for FY18
Companies: RSW BOY BRW BUR ITX BRK ADIG OXB
Whether we know it or not, advanced materials are a core component in the everyday life of the everyday person. They are the key material in items we often disregard, such as printer inks and lotions, to objects which defy the laws of gravity like the Airbus A380 and London’s Shard. Furthermore, these materials are not only essential to many objects and structures, but, due to their superior qualities, are the key to the advancement of many industries. One such example is the use of carbon fibre which offers five to ten times more rigidness, stiffness, and strength than its aluminium counterpart. As a result of these impressive qualities, motorsport and athletics have improved ten-fold since their mainstream use and new records are broken every year.
Companies: AGM AUTG BIOM BOY CAR CKT EMH EXO GRPEF HAYD IKA ITX CRPR MGAM NANO OXIG SYN SCE SYM VCT ZEN HDD
In our second edition of “Trend spotting” we note how in the last three weeks the defensive rotation trend has gathered pace and further evidence has emerged of the “relative fading” in the UK economy. However we now see early signs of the “risk on” trend starting to reassert itself in equity markets and we look at small cap laggards plus European exposure as ways to play this.
Companies: GNS REDD SPH TRI XAR BOY VCT GHH CHH DPH INS HILS RPS LWB EKF UDG SYNT MYSL IMO BCA JUP KMK
Bodycote (BOY LN) Q3 update reiterating guidance | Oxford Instruments (OXIG LN) Disposal of superconducting wire business | RhythmOne (RTHM LN) Emphasis moves on to growth and profit
Companies: BOY OXIG RTHM
Research Tree provides access to ongoing research coverage, media content and regulatory news on Bodycote plc. We currently have 241 research reports from 8 professional analysts.
Capital Limited has released its Q4 and FY2020 trading statement this morning. Overall it shows 2020 was a strong year for the company with revenue growing 18% and most other operating metrics growing positively with it – see Fig 1. We have adjusted our forecasts accordingly and also to take into account the mining services contract for the Sukari Mine which the company won late last year. The latter is a game changer for Capital and its investment case in our view; turbo charging revenue growth, enhancing margins and diversifying cashflow all of which should lead to materially higher valuation multiples. We raise our PT to 127p.
Companies: Capital Limited
Although 2020 will probably go down in history as one of the most challenging years experienced during our lifetime, it will also likely be chronicled as one of the best years for the recognition and appreciation of science. As we entered 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic was in its infancy. However, it rapidly evolved through the exponential rise in infections and mortality globally. Much has been achieved during the past 12 months in the fight against COVID-19, but, as we enter 2021, there are considerable concerns about the emergence of a mutant version of the virus and the second wave that we are now facing.
Companies: AVO ARBB ARIX BBGI CLIG DNL FLTA ICGT OCI PCA PIN PHP RECI STX SCE TRX SHED VTA YEW
2020 ended with two positive moves for carbon capture and storage (CCS) which should benefit Velocys clients. In the US, the signing of the COVID 19 stimulus bill extends and adds support for CCS in the US where the Bayou project is working with CO2 offtaker Occidental to deliver a negative emissions project. The UK government has also published guidance on CCS funding making this option an additional opportunity for the Altalto project. Velocys remains one of the very few opportunities for investors to play negative emission technology. We see both these moves improving the operating environment for the company’s clients and their projects, stimulating demand for the Velocys technology.
Companies: Velocys plc
Today’s update confirms a strong recovery in H2 FY2020E as expected and a full year adjusted PBT at least in line with FY2019, despite a material impact from Covid and the depressed oil price resulting in a decline in Augean’s North Sea Services business. The FY2020E outturn demonstrates the resilience of the Group and the strong attractions of its growing EfW activities that now account for c.70% of Group profit. Augean is very well positioned in the EfW residue market and with c.40% of the UK’s hazardous landfill capacity. We forecast Group earnings growth of 15% and 21% for FY2021E and FY2022E, and expect further strong cash generation. EV/EBITDAs for FY2021E and FY2022E are 5.7x and 4.5x respectively, substantially below sector constituents and transaction multiples.
Companies: Augean PLC
XP reported a strong finish to 2020, with Q4 revenues up 24% y-o-y and 4% ahead of our forecast, driving FY20 profitability ahead of expectations. Order intake has normalised to pre-COVID-19 levels, reflecting continued strong demand from the semiconductor sector. We have revised our estimates to reflect strong Q420 performance and the weaker dollar, driving a 3.0% increase in FY20 EPS and a 2.3% cut to our FY21 EPS.
Companies: XP Power Ltd.
Avingtrans has announced that it has continued to perform well in H1 FY2021 and is trading in line with market expectations. Our cautiously framed forecasts anticipate adjusted EPS growth of 17% in FY2021E and 10% in FY2022E, including the benefit of cost reduction measures. The Group confirmed high levels of order cover for FY2021E at 85% at the end of September and orders taken since then will have provided further comfort. The shares have given ground YTD and now trade on a forward EV/sales multiple of 0.9x and prospective PERs of 13.8x and 12.7x for FY2021E and FY2022E respectively which are well below sector metrics. Management is also making great progress within the medical division where the potential for its small scale MRI is substantial.
Companies: Avingtrans plc
Augean has proven to be resilient throughout the pandemic. In particular, the growth in processing incinerator ash residues from energy from waste (EfW) facilities continues unabated and additional new contract wins should drive improved returns in FY21. Management expects FY20 adjusted PBT to be slightly ahead of last year and we have marginally reduced our FY20 adjusted PBT and EPS estimates by 1%. Our FY21 estimates are maintained. Cash flow has been stronger than we expected, underpinning the indication that dividends should resume in FY21.
Like many awful dreams, the Covid19 nightmare hasn’t quite finished, recently mutating into an ultracontagious super-bug. The risk being global transmission and infection rates spiral out of control, swamping healthcare systems again. However this time there is an answer. Hunker down for a few months, and inoculate as many vulnerable people as possible to reduce fatalities/hospitalisations. Plus, the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is relatively simple to distribute (re 2°C to 8°C). Making rapid nationwide rollouts feasible, alongside ultimately bringing the curtain down on this dreadful virus.
Companies: Mpac Group PLC
Initiating with a Buy rating. We initiate our coverage of Proton Motor Power Systems (“Proton Motor”) with a BUY rating and a target price of 201p. Our valuation equates to a market capitalisation of £1.47bn, compared to a current share price of 65.5p and a market cap of £479m.
Companies: Proton Motor Power Systems Plc
A £10m fundraising expedites the Protos project and opens the way for the £10.2m Peel warrant exercise in the current year. The funding will also give the company additional resources to pursue international opportunities. Adjusting for the raise and some timing differences, our UK only base valuation rises from 5.0p to the raise price of 5.5p and we see existing international opportunities taking this to 7.5p (from 6.9p) and including opportunities in Europe this could rise to 12.1p (from 11.2p).
Companies: Powerhouse Energy Group PLC
Today’s positive trading update provides further encouragement for investors. The shares have been appreciating steadily on the back of last month’s fund raise and acquisition, followed by a major contract win and the £2.5m sale of the remaining RTLS stake, which had previously been largely written off. Both FY20 revenue and adj. LBITDA are better than forecast and YE net cash is particularly healthy. The integration of OSPi is underway, with all staff already transferred. We adjust FY20 forecasts and reiterate future forecasts. Future cash expectations are lifted by the higher YE balance as well as the sale of the remaining RTLS holding.
Companies: IQGeo Group PLC
Directa Plus has released a trading update guiding to revenue for FY20 of approximately €6.5m. This is 9% ahead of the €6.0m in the trading update from 3 December and 18% ahead of our expectations of €5.5m which were set on 24 September 2020. The strong trading performance has been primarily driven by the sales of G+ enhanced face masks, including Co-Masks, and the strengthening performance of Setcar in the Environmental Division.
Companies: Directa Plus Plc
Further media reports that Dr Martens, the British Boot brand is planning an IPO on the LSE. It is currently owned by PE group, Permira who is expected to sell down its stake at the IPO. March 2020 YE the group had revenues of £672m and EBITDA of £184m. Deal size TBC. Upon Admission to AIM, Nightcap will acquire The London Cocktail Club Limited (the "London Cocktail Club"), which is an award winning independent operator of ten individually themed cocktail bars in nine London locations and one location in Bristol. Offer TBC Due mid Jan. HSS Hire Group, HSS.L transfer from Main to Aim. Mkt Cap c. £70m. Recently raised £52.6m. Leading supplier of tool and equipment for hire in the United Kingdom and Ireland and has provided equipment hire services in the United Kingdom for more than 60 years, primarily focusing on the B2B market. Due 14 Jan. VH Global Sustainable Energy Opportunities plc, a closed-ended investment Company focused on making sustainable energy infrastructure investments, today announces intends to launch an initial public offering of shares on the Official List (Premium) of the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange. Due by Early Feb.
Companies: IUG CBP KAT APP RST DIS NICL BOKU CNIC HE1
AFC Energy (AFC) – Corporate – Strategic Partnership with Ricardo
Companies: AFC Energy plc
Seeing Machines has announced that it has licensed its Occula® Neural Processing Unit to OmniVision Technologies Inc. This advances the relationship from the MOU announced in September 2020 and builds on a relationship that is over five years old, with the two organisations having worked on multiple automotive programmes with a number of Tier 1 customers.
Companies: Seeing Machines Limited
