Heliospectra: Mixed outlook
Research Update
2023-08-29
07:00
Redeye provides an update following Heliospectra’s Q2’23 report. We find the margin improvements, combined with a stronger-than-expected top line, to be encouraging. However, order intake fell short of our expectations, implying a weaker Dutch market and a mixed outlook in the near term. We have made a few minor changes to our near-term estimates. Our fair value range, however, remains unchanged, with a base case of SEK1.9 per share.
Jessica Grunewald
Henrik Alveskog
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Net sales for Q2’23 reached SEK10.1m, reflecting a significant y/y increase and surpassing our estimate by 31%. The gross margin of 44% exceeded our projected 35%. Ongoing price negotiations led to reduced production costs and, in combination with a favourable product mix, resulted in an enhancement of the gross margin. During the second quarter, OPEX amounted to SEK9.4m, marking an approximately 3% y/y decrease and coming in 5% lower than our initial estimate. EBIT was negative SEK4.6m, in contrast to our projection of -SEK 6.8 million. This deviation stemmed from a stronger top line and higher gross margin than anticipated.
The order intake during the quarter was SEK9.5m in comparison to our estimate of SEK12m. The CEO cited several factors, such as inflation, increased interest rates, reduced energy expenses, and a delayed subsidising program in the Netherlands, as reasons for the order intake being weaker than anticipated. As a result, numerous cultivators delayed their investment decisions to the third quarter, leading to fewer potential projects and escalated competition within the market. We expect the subsidy program to open in September in the Netherlands, which should boost order intake for late ’23 and ’24. Nevertheless, according to the company, the Dutch market has seen a substantial decline of 40% to 50% compared to the previous year. We expect this trend to persist in the near term, leading to ongoing pricing pressures driven by tough competition. Meanwhile, the North American market, particularly Canada, appears more resilient than the Dutch market.
We have made minor changes to our estimates, mainly affecting ’23, where we lowered sales slightly and trimmed OPEX. The forecast adjustments do not result in any changes in our fair value range. Our Base case is SEK1.9 per share (Bull: SEK5: Bear: SEK0.5). Heliospectra is currently trading at an EV/SALES 1.2x based on our 2024e.
SEKm | 2021 | 2022 | 2023e | 2024e |
Total Revenue | 35.2 | 25.7 | 41.7 | 100.0 |
Revenue Growth | -8.9% | -26.9% | 62.1% | 140% |
EBITDA | -39.1 | -32.0 | -17.8 | -1.5 |
EBIT | -60.2 | -36.0 | -21.1 | -5.5 |
EBIT Margin | -171% | -140% | -50.6% | -5.5% |
Net Income | -60.2 | -36.1 | -21.1 | -5.5 |
EV/Revenue | 2.4 | 4.5 | 2.6 | 1.2 |
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