Interims reflected high street cost pressures (EBITDA -5%) and we have trimmed FY17e EPS by 2%. However, Digital’s 11% revenue growth was very encouraging, with an acceleration in Q2 as platform problems were ironed out. The core argument for Rank remains intact: scope to materially grow in Digital via better cross-sell of its land-based brands. Despite a lacklustre short-term profits outlook, the group remains highly cash generative, which underpins a progressive dividend policy and FY17e yield of 3.7%. The FY17e EV/EBITDA is only 6.2x, 37% below the peer average.

26 Jan 2017
Cost pressures, but good digital progress

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Cost pressures, but good digital progress
Rank Group Plc (RNK:LON) | 94.3 3.2 3.7% | Mkt Cap: 441.7m
- Published:
26 Jan 2017 -
Author:
Jane Anscombe -
Pages:
5 -
Interims reflected high street cost pressures (EBITDA -5%) and we have trimmed FY17e EPS by 2%. However, Digital’s 11% revenue growth was very encouraging, with an acceleration in Q2 as platform problems were ironed out. The core argument for Rank remains intact: scope to materially grow in Digital via better cross-sell of its land-based brands. Despite a lacklustre short-term profits outlook, the group remains highly cash generative, which underpins a progressive dividend policy and FY17e yield of 3.7%. The FY17e EV/EBITDA is only 6.2x, 37% below the peer average.