Trackwise Designs has developed a proprietary, proven technology, IHT, for manufacturing extremely long, flexible circuits that can replace conventional wiring harnesses. This disruptive technology is applicable to many industries including electric vehicles (EVs), medical devices and aerospace. Trackwise has already manufactured prototypes for customers in each of these sectors and received its first series production order from an EV manufacturer this September. Since IHT is an adaptation of the proven technology Trackwise uses for making advanced printed circuits, IHT has the transformative potential of a new technology but with much less risk.
Companies: Trackwise Designs Plc
Allergy Therapeutics (AGY): Corp FY 2020 – record pre-R&D EBIT | Amino Technologies (AMO): Corp Argentinian software contract win | ANGLE (AGL): Corp Peer reviewed publication, using Parsortix in MBC | Bigblu Broadband (BBB): Corp Quickline secures up to £6.1m of subsidy in Lincolnshire | Hardide (HDD): Corp Trading in line with a stronger Q1 expected | Trackwise Designs (TWD): Corp Interim results, new contracts boost confidence | Xeros (XSG): Corp Commercial progress tracking in line with expectations
Companies: AGY AMO HDD AGL XSG TWD BBB
The interims reflect COVID challenges, which reduced order intake, and the acquisition of SCL. A milestone three-year agreement with a UK-based EV OEM was recently awarded, potentially worth up to £38m, which substantially underwrites further growth prospects. In the short term however, we reduce our FY20 forecasts, although with the EV contract kicking in next year, we see good growth coming through.
Trackwise Designs has signed a three-year product manufacture and supply agreement with a UK electric vehicle OEM. The agreement is potentially worth up to £38m in total, subject to pricing revisions, and will generate up to £5.0m in revenues in FY21. This will be the first full series production of flexible circuits incorporating Trackwise’s Improved Harness Technology (IHT). The agreement represents a step change in sales as total revenues for H120 were £2.4m, of which IHT was only £0.3m.
Crimson Tide (TIDE): Corp Growing long-term subscription revenues | Gemfields (GEM): Corp 1H20 results | Trackwise Designs (TWD): Corp Production contract with EV manufacturer
Companies: GML TWD TIDE
The company has announced a major milestone contract agreement, its first for full series production of IHT products. The contract is with an Electric Vehicle (EV) manufacturer, with a maximum revenue value of £38m over the next three years. Recent market headwinds have understandably resulted in some slippage in half-year revenues and a reduction in profit. This is a significant milestone production agreement, with huge future upside potential from the wider adoption of IHT flexible printed circuit boards.
ECSC Group plc* (ECSC.L, 71.5p/£7.2m) | Trackwise Designs plc (TWD.L, 90.5p/£20.0m) | Transense Technologies plc (TRT.L, 59.5p/£9.7m)
Companies: ECSC Group Plc Trackwise Designs Plc
Updating forecasts following 2019 results
Shoe Zone (SHOE): Corp | Trackwise Designs (TWD): Corp
Companies: Shoe Zone Plc Trackwise Designs Plc
FY results were in line with forecasts, showing strong sales growth and commercial traction for IHT, with RF held back by ongoing market challenges. Recently acquired SCL is integrating well without any surprises. Trading has been resilient through lockdown, though there may be some short-term impact on the timing of revenues and order intake. Forecasts increase on gross margin and tax credit gains, resulting in an EPS upgrade of 27% to 4.4p in 2020 and 22% to 7.2p in 2021.
US & German manufacturing PMI hits lowest readings since 2009, UK manufacturing PMI heads below 50, BorgWarner expects material financial impact from customer production halts
Companies: AVON CGS HAYD HEAD HILS JHD RNO SCPA TWD TRI ZTF SOM GHH
Japanese PMI falls to lowest level since 2009, GE Aviation cuts 10% of workforce, Kone downgrades 2020 outlook
Companies: CGS HAYD HEAD HILS JHD OXIG RSW RNO TWD ZTF SOM GHH
Airbus secures €15bn credit facility but partially restarts production in France & Spain, Cummins suspends production and FY20 guidance as customers shutdown
Companies: CGS HAYD HEAD HTG OXIG RSW RNO ROR TWD TRI ZTF GHH
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Boohoo has released the now complete Independent Review into its UK supply chain in full this morning. Whilst a number of areas for improvement have been identified, there is no suggestion failings were deliberate or intentional and the chances required involve a relatively easily achieved realignment its of governance systems. We believe the Group remains well-positioned to lead the fashion e-commerce market in the future and can successfully implement an agenda for change in UK garment manufacturing.
Companies: boohoo group Plc
News has been positive in the past few months. The Group announced a ground-breaking £27.5m contract award with a new OEM customer in mid-September. Trading has been more resilient than we expected at the start of the COVID-19 crisis, demonstrated by solid H1 earnings today. The Balance Sheet is in better shape helped by a recent £2.2m fund raising. Contract awards have been more focused on EVs, demonstrating the performance, weight and environmental benefits of carbon ceramic discs for these vehicles. A challenge for the Group in this next phase is to maintain momentum with contract wins. A second issue is to manage capacity, costs and cash through the ramp-up. Surface Transforms is shifting from R&D to volume production and with better visibility on medium-term revenues, margins and capex we have lifted our valuation to 57p from 45p
Companies: Surface Transforms Plc
SCE has announced interim results for the six-month period ending June 2020. Considering these results cover a period when much of the world was experiencing a great deal of upheaval due to COVID, in our view they show impressive progress. The big news, or course, has been the recent game-changing contract win from OEM 8 on 14/9/2020. Having significantly upgraded our forecasts and target price then, we make no further changes today.
We initiate on Portmeirion and argue that it is in a better position than the current market valuation suggests. It has delivered a resilient first half and, following a strategy reset under the new CEO, it has much more enhanced capabilities with an improving model and profit outlook. Furthermore, Portmeirion is well funded with no balance sheet concerns. The shares trade on low spot multiples of 10x FY21 P/E with and 5x EV/EBITDA with a 9% FCF yield. A SOTP analysis based on peer/corporate deal metrics shows fair value towards 650p. Patient deep value investors should take a much closer look.
Companies: Portmeirion Group Plc
Today’s year end trading update from The Character Group (Character) highlights the Company’s resilience and innovation in a challenging international environment with the Group working closely with customers and distributors to maintain trading at satisfactory levels. Indications remain that the second half to August 2020 will produce a profit at least equivalent to H1’s adjusted £2.5m before tax. The Group also has the benefit of a strong balance sheet with significant cash balances and no debt except the usual working capital facilities, much of which remains unused. We are pleased to be able to reintroduce forecasts that were suspended in March due to the uncertainty surrounding the COVID pandemic.
Companies: The Character Group Plc
Today’s statement reveals incredibly robust Q1 trading across the Group’s brands and regions, with a positive outlook and guidance reinstated for the remainder of the financial year and beyond. In addition, the Group has announced the acquisitions of Oasis & Warehouse, bringing two well-recognised and complementary brands onto its platform. We believe the unprecedented disruption resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the channel shift to online where we see BOO as the clear winner, with an established and leading model positioned to consolidate the market.
Red Dwarf, the very British sci-fi comedy franchise, ran for 11 seasons – most recently in 2017; and The Promised Land is a feature-length TV movie – out this year. Yes, the programme is an acquired taste. Strangely, too, many episodes are impacted by a virus or three (physiological, not main-frame).
Companies: WJG BKG CSP CRST MCS INL BDEV RDW GLE SPR TW/ PSN VTY GLV CRN ABBY BWY
The most significant of several 2020 contract wins was announced on 14 September, from a new global customer, OEM 8. New order momentum is rising significantly. SCE’s position as one of only two global manufacturers of a new automotive component – carbon ceramic brake discs – is bringing a series of major opportunities. As a consequence of OEM 8, our 2022 sales estimates double. To be winning such orders shows that these exacting clients embrace SCE’s product, its robust supply chain and manufacturing. SCE also provides a £0.4m upgrade on recent sales revenue.
Walker Greenbank’s FY20 results date has been reset to 30 June (and complies with updated FCA policy guidance). Its latest update provides no new financial information though orders continue to be received despite lockdown conditions. Operational steps already taken appear to be appropriate, retaining sufficient infrastructure to service prevailing sales demand levels while additional actions aimed at preserving business liquidity are referenced, consistent with those seen elsewhere in the quoted sector. Taken together, the company appears to have quickly adjusted its business model to meet current market challenges in FY21.
Companies: Walker Greenbank Plc
Surface Transforms has announced a major contract win with a manufacturer of EVs. Lifetime revenue is estimated to be £27.5m. Our 2021e revenue forecast is lifted by c.80% and 2022e by c.120%. The improved OEM order book brings better visibility and stability to revenues. To fulfil the order, significant investments will be made in headcount, but the Group should now report a net profit in 2021e against our previous forecast for a loss. Additional working capital and capex are also required but the cash position should improve materially in time. The award demonstrates the performance, weight and environmental benefits of carbon ceramic discs when fitted to EVs. More orders from this customer and others should flow. We showed in our recent initiation note, Release the brakes, 19 August 2020, that the market opportunity for carbon ceramic discs is large, irrespective of whether for ICEs, EVs or hybrids. The Group is on-track to becoming a volume supplier to the industry. With increased estimates our valuation is lifted to 45p from 40p.
Zytronic’s interims, as expected, confirm a reduction in revenue and profitability consistent with the lower level of order intake towards the end of CY19. Encouragingly, sales and order intake improved considerably in February and March. This momentum has been frustrated by the impact of COVID-19, causing supply and logistical issues as well as an inevitable drop in demand. The Board acknowledges the challenge of providing anything beyond very short term guidance. We have therefore withdrawn our forecasts at this stage and will review the situation as visibility improves. We believe Zytronic is well positioned to emerge strongly as and when demand normalises.
Companies: Zytronic Plc
Focusrite’s revenue has been driven by acquisitions against a period of tough comparatives for the core brands. Current trading looks more encouraging for the majority of the brands, which is leading to gross margin improvements and a better outlook for EBITDA margin. We upgrade EBITDA forecasts for FY20e and FY21e by c 7%, but a higher tax rate in FY21 limits EPS upgrades in that year. For FY20e, an EV/EBITDA of 15.4x and a P/E of 24.9x are above long-term averages.
Companies: Focusrite Plc
A number of REITs have the ability to thrive in current market conditions and thereafter. Not only do they hold assets that will remain in strong demand, but they have focus and transparency. The leases and underlying rents are structured in a manner to provide long visibility, growth and security. Hardman & Co defined an investment universe of REITs that we considered provided security and “safer harbours”. We introduced this universe with our report published in March 2019: “Secure income” REITs – Safe Harbour Available. Here, we take forward the investment case and story. We point to six REITs, in particular, where we believe the risk/reward is the most attractive.
Companies: AGY ARBB ARIX BUR CMH CLIG DNL HAYD NSF PCA PIN PXC PHP RE/ RECI SCE SHED VTA
The pandemic concluded a disappointing year for Brand Architekts. However, trading in Q4 was slightly better than management had anticipated/highlighted in April and, at £18.0m, the net cash position has marginally improved since that time too. Online performance, including DTC, was especially strong. Given ongoing potential and richer margins from DTC development, this is encouraging. Crucially, the new and experienced leadership team is in place and, given clarity of direction, the board is confident in the group’s long term prospects. With a market cap of £19m and £18m of net cash, we look forward with anticipation to an update on strategy on 28 Sept (prelims).
Companies: Brand Architekts Group Plc
Gleeson’s FY20 outturn was in line with expectations (forecasts reintroduced in July), reflecting the impact of the COVID lockdown on the fourth quarter. FY21 began with a record order book and demand remains strong, reflecting the quality and affordability of Gleeson’s homes. The 2,000 home target has been reiterated for FY22 and, for Strategic Land, there are signs that housebuilders are returning to the market. Gleeson has a unique offering and, in our view, is well positioned to meet its medium term targets and to deliver substantial growth thereafter.
Companies: MJ Gleeson Plc
