Etteplan: Set for continued good growth - Evli

Etteplan reports Q4 results on February 10th, with expectations of rather good growth and margins. Growth is set to continue in the double-digits in 2022 with the recent acquisitions.

Rather good Q4 figures expected

Etteplan reports Q4 results on February 10th. Etteplan’s Q3 results were on the softer side due to the vacation season and a slower start to projects as well as the global component shortage. Etteplan’s organic growth investments also started to pick up, with the headcount up some 4% q/q (partly from acquisitions), which had a slight impact on profitability. We expect revenue growth of 17.9% to EUR 82.9m (cons. 82.9m), with pickup in demand from the weaker comparison period and made acquisitions. We expect a quite good level of profitability, although below the comparison period, with growth investments having picked up. We expect an EBIT of EUR 7.9m (cons. 8.1m). The company estimates 2021 revenue to be EUR 295-310m (Evli EUR 297.7m) and EBIT of EUR 25-28m (Evli 25.9m). Our Q4 estimates are intact ahead of the results.

Acquisitions boosting 2022 growth expectations

Etteplan recently acquired technical information lifecycle management company Cognitas GmbH and technology services company Syncore Technologies Ab, focusing on embedded systems. The combined historic revenue of the acquired companies is at around EUR 20m. We have adjusted our estimates for the acquisitions, expecting 2022 revenue of EUR 338.3m, for a y/y growth of 13.6%. We expect EBIT of EUR 29.6m at an 8.8% margin, on par with expected previous year levels. Margin uncertainty relating to growth investments and market environment is present but should the growth investments translate into organic growth as planned, then healthy margins should reasonably be expected.

HOLD with a target price of EUR 17.0

We retain our target price of EUR 17.0 and HOLD-rating. Current valuation on our estimates appears quite elevated compared with peers, with 2022E P/E of ~20x.

Länk till analysen i sin helhet: https://pankki.evli.com/hubfs/ERP/Raportit/Etteplan/Etteplan%20220208%20Q4%20Preview.pdf