Eltel: Sales down, margins up, as expected - ABG

Slight sales miss, but profitability in line
Eltel delivered weaker sales than expected at EUR 210m (-5% vs ABGSCe of EUR 221m), down -14% y-o-y, which was anticipated due to recent divestments, the loss of two larger contracts included in the comparable period and a continued negative impact from Covid-19. The latter resulted in lower customer activity, a lack of materials, and increased prices. Despite the sales miss, Eltel managed to generate an adj. EBITA in line with estimates at EUR 4.4m (-2% vs. ABGSCe) and an adj. EBITA margin of 2.1% (1.3%) vs. ABGSCe at 2.0%. The margin expansion was driven by operational efficiency and the ongoing phasing out of unprofitable contracts. However, the adj. EBITA margin was slightly boosted since the Denmark segment had a positive one-off of EUR 0.8m related to a partial insourcing of business by a major customer. Net profit was EUR 1.6m (-4% vs. ABGSCe at EUR 1.7m).

Estimates slightly down on sales miss
We slightly lower our ‘21-‘22 sales estimates by -3% and -1%, respectively, due to the sales miss in Q2’21. We expect ‘21e sales of SEK 830m, down -12% y-o-y. We expect Eltel to reverse the downturn in net sales and generate sales growth of 1-2% in ‘22e and ‘23e. Eltel has communicated that it is preparing for potential future acquisitions, which could add to our estimates. Meanwhile, we lower ‘21e-‘23e adj. EBITA by 10%-8% based on lower sales and margin assumptions. The latter since the adj. EBITA boost in Denmark is expected to be isolated to Q2’21.

17x ‘22e EV/EBITA, a 2021e-’23e adj. EBITA CAGR of 27%
Eltel is trading at 17x ‘22e EV/EBITA, which is in line with the peer group average, while offering a ‘21e-‘23e adj. EBITA CAGR of 27%. We slightly lower our fair value range to SEK 19-30 per share (21-32) based on the lower EBITA estimates.

https://www.introduce.se/foretag/eltel/Equity-research/2021/7/eltel---sales-down-margins-up--as-expected/