Fletcher Building Limited

Company Overview: Fletcher Building Limited (NZX: FBU) is primarily involved in the manufacturing and distributing of building materials and residential and commercial construction that creates communities, improves productivity, and contributes to the quality of life for people in regions across New Zealand, Australia, and the South Pacific. The company was listed both on the NZX and ASX.

FBU Details

This report is an updated version of the report published on 5 April 2022 at New Zealand Time 3:48 PM (GMT +12).

FBU Rides on Stable Dividend Policy and Decent Outlook:  Despite economic uncertainties, FBU has delivered a strong 1HFY22 performance, with robust growth in the top-line and bottom-line. The company remains focused to grow via geographical expansion, cost disciplines measures and increased investments in manufacturing capacity. It also remains on track to positive market conditions and completing the turnarounds of its Australian business, driving decarbonisation, and accelerating e-commerce and digital activities.

What Investors Need to Know About 1HFY22 Results?

• Impressive Top & Bottom-Line Growth: In 1HFY22, the company’s revenues improved from $4.0 billion reported in 1HFY2 to $4.1 billion, depicting an increase of 2% year over year, reflecting robust rebound in 2QFY22, as restrictions lessened. Net earnings attributable to shareholders stood at $171 million in 1HFY22, depicting a rise of 41% on pcp basis. In 1HFY22, the company’s EBIT came in at $332 million, up 3% on a year-over-year basis. The EBIT margins stood at 8.2% in 1HFY22, compared to 8.1% reported in 1HFY21.
• Stable Dividend Policy & Buy-Back of Share: The board approved an interim dividend of 18.0 cents per share, an increase of 50% over last year and payable on 7 April 2022. In June 2021, FBU initiated an on-market share buyback of up to $300 million to enhance its shareholder’s value. As of 31 December 2021, the company repurchased shares valuing $107 million.
• Liquidity Position: The company’s cash flows from operating activities amounted to $157 million, compared to $424 million reported in 1HFY21. The cash flow performance reflects the previously indicated working capital investments in 1HFY22. The company recorded $4,062 million in cash receipts during 1HFY22 vs $3,968 million in 1HFY21. The company has also targeted investments in inventories to manage supply chain disruptions to support overall industry shortage.

Segmental Highlight; Analysis by Kalkine Group

Key Metrics: For 1HFY22, the company reported a gross margin of 29%, higher than the year-ago figure of 28.8%. In 1HFY22, the company recorded ROE of 4.6% compared to the year-ago figure of 3.4%. 

Profitability Profile; Analysis by Kalkine Group  

Top 10 Shareholders: The top 10 shareholders together form around 21.35% of the total shareholdings, while the top 4 constitutes the maximum holding. The Vanguard Group, Inc. held the maximum number of shares with a percentage holding of 3.93%, followed by Schroder Investment Management (Australia) Ltd. holding 3.65%, as also highlighted in the chart below: 

Top 10 Shareholders; Analysis by Kalkine Group 

Risk Analysis:

• The company’s inability to detect early and respond to cyclical downturns may impact financial results. FBU operates in various business sectors and countries, and thus is subject to a wide range of regulatory requirements and jurisdictions.
• Additionally, any disturbance triggered by ineffective coordination and control of the organisational supply chain may lead to operational disruption, penalties, as well as reputational damage.

Outlook: The company’s investment pipeline is well placed to drive growth beyond FY23. The company expects the established momentum in operational performance to sustain. FBU expects EBIT margins to be ~9.5% in H2FY22. The company expects to deliver FY22 full-year EBIT (before significant items) of circa $750 million. Besides, FBU remains confident in its outlook for the FY23 year, and it expects the group to deliver a further improvement in profitability averaging 10% EBIT margins for FY23.

Valuation Methodology: P/E Multiple Based Relative Valuation (Illustrative) 

Source: Analysis by Kalkine Group 

*% Premium/(Discount) is based on our assessment of the company’s NTM trading multiple after considering its key growth drivers, economic moat, stock's historical trading multiples versus peer average/median, and investment risks. 

Stock Recommendation: The stock of the company went down by ~11.58% in the past six months. The stock has been valued using the P/E multiple-based illustrative relative valuation method and arrived at a target price of low double-digit upside (in % terms). The company might trade at a slight premium as compared to its peers, considering impressive 1HFY22 performance, decent liquidity and outlook, stable dividend policy, etc. For the purpose of valuation, peers such as GWA Group Ltd (ASX: GWA), NRW Holdings Ltd (ASX: NWH), Austin Engineering Ltd (ASX: ANG) and others have been considered. Considering rise in profits, enhancing shareholder’s value through dividends and share buy-backs, higher revenue base, decent outlook, pipeline development in FY22, and indicative upside in valuation, we recommend a ‘Buy’ rating on the stock at the current market price of $6.21, as on 5 April 2021, 1:00 PM (GMT+12), New Zealand.

Markets are trading in a highly volatile zone currently due to certain macro-economic issues and geopolitical tensions prevailing. Therefore, it is prudent to follow a cautious approach while investing.

FBU Daily Technical Chart, Data Source: REFINITIV 

Note 1: The reference data in this report has been partly sourced from REFINITIV.  

Note 2: Investment decision should be made depending on the investors’ appetite on upside potential, risks, holding duration, and any previous holdings. Investors can consider exiting from the stock if the Target Price mentioned as per the Valuation has been achieved and subject to the factors discussed above. 

Technical Indicators Defined:-

Support: A level where-in the stock prices tend to find support if they are falling, and downtrend may take a pause backed by demand or buying interest.

Resistance: A level where-in the stock prices tend to find resistance when they are rising, and uptrend may take a pause due to profit booking or selling interest.

Stop-loss: It is a level to protect further losses in case of unfavourable movement in the stock prices.

Disclaimer

Kalkine New Zealand Limited is authorised to provide general advice only. The information on this website does not take into account any of your investment objectives, financial situation or needs. Before you make a decision about whether to acquire a financial product, you should obtain the Product Disclosure Statement from the product issuer. You should consider the appropriateness of advice taking into account your own objectives, financial situation and needs and seek independent financial advice before making any financial decisions.