Greggs plc — An exceptionally strong end to the year

Greggs (LSE: GRG)

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Research: Consumer

Greggs plc — An exceptionally strong end to the year

Greggs, the leading food-on-the-go retailer, has continued an impressive upwards trend in like-for-like (lfl) owned-store sales growth across Q4, and in the final five weeks of FY18e. The company is successfully drawing new customers into its stores with strategic product launches and efforts to reduce queues and improve product availability. We upgrade both our FY18 and FY19 PBT forecasts for the second time in six weeks, by 3%.

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Consumer

Greggs

An exceptionally strong end to the year

Q4 trading statement

Retail

9 January 2019

Price

1,367p

Market cap

£1,383m

Net cash (£m) at 30 June 2018

43.5

Shares in issue

101.2m

Free float

100%

Code

GREG

Primary exchange

LSE

Secondary exchange

N/A

Share price performance

%

1m

3m

12m

Abs

1.1

35.9

0.5

Rel (local)

(0.2)

43.9

13.2

52-week high/low

1395.0p

942.0p

Business description

With 1,953 shops, eight manufacturing and distribution centres and 22,000 employees, Greggs is the UK’s leading ‘food-on-the-go’ retailer. It uses vertical integration to offer differentiated products at competitive prices

Next events

FY18 preliminary results

7 March 2019

Analysts

Kate Heseltine

+44 (0)20 3077 5700

Paul Hickman

+44 (0)20 3681 2501

Greggs is a research client of Edison Investment Research Limited

Greggs, the leading food-on-the-go retailer, has continued an impressive upwards trend in like-for-like (lfl) owned-store sales growth across Q4, and in the final five weeks of FY18e. The company is successfully drawing new customers into its stores with strategic product launches and efforts to reduce queues and improve product availability. We upgrade both our FY18 and FY19 PBT forecasts for the second time in six weeks, by 3%.

Year end

Revenue (£m)

PBT*
(£m)

EPS*
(p)

DPS
(p)

P/E
(x)

Yield
(%)

12/16

894.2

80.3

62.0

31.0

22.1

2.3

12/17

960.0

81.8

64.5

32.3

21.2

2.4

12/18e

1,029.3

89.2

70.2

34.7

19.5

2.5

12/19e

1,107.4

95.2

74.9

37.5

18.3

2.7

Note: *PBT and EPS are normalised, excluding amortisation of acquired intangibles, exceptional items and share-based payments.

Lfl sales continued to strengthen across Q4

Q418 company-managed store lfl sales rose by 5.2%, implying growth of approximately 6.3% over the final five weeks compared with a reported increase of 4.5% over the first eight weeks of the quarter. This follows a solid Q318 increase of 3.2% and marks the 21st consecutive quarter of lfl sales growth for the company; an enviable record in the current climate. Although travel and work-related locations generally delivered the highest lfl sales growth, the strong performance was broad based, a testament to the ongoing transformation of the brand.

Leveraging the brand

Although Greggs does not invest in above-the-line advertising, it does use social media marketing and is very successful in generating waves of positive publicity around innovative new products to draw new customers into the stores – the recently launched vegan sausage roll to complement ‘Veganuary’ being an example. New IT systems, implemented in 2017, are starting to deliver marked improvements in replenishment and the speed at which customers are served.

A further upgrade to earnings forecasts

We upgrade both our FY18 and FY19 PBT by 3% to £89.2m and £95.2m, respectively. In FY19 we conservatively forecast 2% lfl sales growth, with a stronger H1 vs H2 against softer comparatives (assuming no repeat of the extreme weather patterns that dominated the first half of 2018), and 5.6% growth from new stores.

Valuation: Supported by quality of earnings and yield

As a result of the sector de-rating, our blended DCF and peer-group valuation remains broadly unchanged at 1,517p. This implies an FY19e P/E multiple of 20.3x, which does not appear stretched given the quality of earnings and dividend yield.

Exhibit 1: Financial summary

December

£m

IFRS

IFRS

IFRS

IFRS

IFRS

PROFIT & LOSS

2016

2017

2018e

2019e

2020e 

Revenue

 

 

894.2

960.0

1,029.3

1,107.4

1,178.7

Cost of Sales

(324.3)

(348.1)

(375.2)

(401.4)

(424.8)

Gross Profit

569.9

611.9

654.1

706.1

753.9

EBITDA

 

 

125.9

135.7

144.6

157.4

170.1

Operating Profit (before amort. and except.)

80.3

82.2

89.3

95.0

103.6

Intangible Amortisation

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

Exceptionals

(5.2)

(9.9)

(6.0)

(4.0)

(3.0)

Other

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

Operating Profit

75.2

72.3

83.3

91.0

100.6

Net Interest

(0.0)

(0.4)

(0.1)

0.2

0.2

Profit Before Tax (norm)

 

 

80.3

81.8

89.2

95.2

103.8

Profit Before Tax (FRS 3)

 

 

75.1

71.9

83.2

91.2

100.8

Tax

(18.1)

(16.9)

(18.4)

(20.0)

(21.0)

Profit After Tax (norm)

62.3

64.9

70.7

75.2

82.8

Profit After Tax (FRS 3)

58.0

56.9

65.8

72.0

80.4

Average Number of Shares Outstanding (m)

100.4

100.6

100.7

100.4

100.4

EPS - normalised (p)

 

 

62.0

64.5

70.2

74.9

82.5

EPS - (IFRS) (p)

 

 

57.7

56.5

65.3

71.7

80.1

Dividend per share (p)

31.0

32.3

34.7

37.5

41.3

Gross Margin (%)

63.7

63.7

63.5

63.8

64.0

EBITDA Margin (%)

14.1

14.1

14.0

14.2

14.4

Operating Margin (before GW and except.) (%)

9.0

8.6

8.7

8.6

8.8

 

BALANCE SHEET

 

Fixed Assets

 

 

323.4

334.7

376.0

408.5

427.1

Intangible Assets

14.3

14.7

18.3

20.7

20.7

Tangible Assets

307.4

319.2

354.2

384.3

402.8

Investments

1.8

0.8

3.6

3.6

3.6

Current Assets

 

 

92.6

106.6

104.9

116.5

140.8

Stocks

15.9

18.7

19.9

21.3

23.7

Debtors

30.7

33.4

36.2

38.4

40.9

Cash

46.0

54.5

48.8

56.8

76.2

Other

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

Current Liabilities

 

 

(121.4)

(127.9)

(137.2)

(144.4)

(141.1)

Creditors

(121.4)

(127.9)

(137.2)

(144.4)

(141.1)

Short term borrowings

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

Long Term Liabilities

 

 

(29.9)

(14.0)

(8.1)

(7.0)

(6.6)

Long term borrowings

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

Other long term liabilities

(29.9)

(14.0)

(8.1)

(7.0)

(6.6)

Net Assets

 

 

264.7

299.4

335.6

373.5

420.3

CASH FLOW

Operating Cash Flow

 

 

133.8

134.5

142.7

158.5

161.0

Net Interest

0.1

0.2

(0.1)

0.2

0.2

Tax

(16.2)

(17.6)

(19.9)

(19.2)

(20.4)

Capex

(80.1)

(72.6)

(90.0)

(95.0)

(85.0)

Acquisitions/disposals

4.7

2.2

(4.1)

(1.0)

0.0

Financing

(8.3)

(6.0)

(1.2)

(0.0)

0.0

Dividends

(30.9)

(32.2)

(33.1)

(35.6)

(36.3)

Net Cash Flow

3.0

8.5

(5.7)

8.0

19.5

Opening net debt/(cash)

 

 

(42.9)

(46.0)

(54.5)

(48.8)

(56.8)

HP finance leases initiated

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

Other

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

Closing net debt/(cash)

 

 

(46.0)

(54.5)

(48.8)

(56.8)

(76.2)

Source: Company data, Edison Investment Research

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This report has been commissioned by Greggs and prepared and issued by Edison, in consideration of a fee payable by Greggs. Edison Investment Research standard fees are £49,500 pa for the production and broad dissemination of a detailed note (Outlook) following by regular (typically quarterly) update notes. Fees are paid upfront in cash without recourse. Edison may seek additional fees for the provision of roadshows and related IR services for the client but does not get remunerated for any investment banking services. We never take payment in stock, options or warrants for any of our services.

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United Kingdom

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This Communication is being distributed in the United Kingdom and is directed only at (i) persons having professional experience in matters relating to investments, i.e. investment professionals within the meaning of Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the "FPO") (ii) high net-worth companies, unincorporated associations or other bodies within the meaning of Article 49 of the FPO and (iii) persons to whom it is otherwise lawful to distribute it. The investment or investment activity to which this document relates is available only to such persons. It is not intended that this document be distributed or passed on, directly or indirectly, to any other class of persons and in any event and under no circumstances should persons of any other description rely on or act upon the contents of this document (nor will such persons be able to purchase shares in the placing).

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Frankfurt +49 (0)69 78 8076 960

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New York +1 646 653 7026

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Sydney +61 (0)2 8249 8342

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Frankfurt +49 (0)69 78 8076 960

Schumannstrasse 34b

60325 Frankfurt

Germany

London +44 (0)20 3077 5700

280 High Holborn

London, WC1V 7EE

United Kingdom

New York +1 646 653 7026

295 Madison Avenue, 18th Floor

10017, New York

US

Sydney +61 (0)2 8249 8342

Level 4, Office 1205

95 Pitt Street, Sydney

NSW 2000, Australia

General disclaimer and copyright

This report has been commissioned by Greggs and prepared and issued by Edison, in consideration of a fee payable by Greggs. Edison Investment Research standard fees are £49,500 pa for the production and broad dissemination of a detailed note (Outlook) following by regular (typically quarterly) update notes. Fees are paid upfront in cash without recourse. Edison may seek additional fees for the provision of roadshows and related IR services for the client but does not get remunerated for any investment banking services. We never take payment in stock, options or warrants for any of our services.

Accuracy of content: All information used in the publication of this report has been compiled from publicly available sources that are believed to be reliable, however we do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this report and have not sought for this information to be independently verified. Opinions contained in this report represent those of the Edison analyst at the time of publication. Forward-looking information or statements in this report contain information that is based on assumptions, forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable, and therefore involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of their subject matter to be materially different from current expectations.

Exclusion of Liability: To the fullest extent allowed by law, Edison shall not be liable for any direct, indirect or consequential losses, loss of profits, damages, costs or expenses incurred or suffered by you arising out or in connection with the access to, use of or reliance on any information contained on this note.

No personalised advice: The information that we provide should not be construed in any manner whatsoever as, personalised advice. Also, the information provided by us should not be construed by any subscriber or prospective subscriber as Edison’s solicitation to effect, or attempt to effect, any transaction in a security. The securities described in the report may not be eligible for sale in all jurisdictions or to certain categories of investors.

Investment in securities mentioned: Edison has a restrictive policy relating to personal dealing and conflicts of interest. Edison Group does not conduct any investment business and, accordingly, does not itself hold any positions in the securities mentioned in this report. However, the respective directors, officers, employees and contractors of Edison may have a position in any or related securities mentioned in this report, subject to Edison's policies on personal dealing and conflicts of interest.

Copyright: Copyright 2019 Edison Investment Research Limited (Edison). All rights reserved FTSE International Limited (“FTSE”) © FTSE 2019. “FTSE®” is a trade mark of the London Stock Exchange Group companies and is used by FTSE International Limited under license. All rights in the FTSE indices and/or FTSE ratings vest in FTSE and/or its licensors. Neither FTSE nor its licensors accept any liability for any errors or omissions in the FTSE indices and/or FTSE ratings or underlying data. No further distribution of FTSE Data is permitted without FTSE’s express written consent.

Australia

Edison Investment Research Pty Ltd (Edison AU) is the Australian subsidiary of Edison. Edison AU is a Corporate Authorised Representative (1252501) of Myonlineadvisers Pty Ltd who holds an Australian Financial Services Licence (Number: 427484). This research is issued in Australia by Edison AU and any access to it, is intended only for "wholesale clients" within the meaning of the Corporations Act 2001 of Australia. Any advice given by Edison AU is general advice only and does not take into account your personal circumstances, needs or objectives. You should, before acting on this advice, consider the appropriateness of the advice, having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs. If our advice relates to the acquisition, or possible acquisition, of a particular financial product you should read any relevant Product Disclosure Statement or like instrument.

New Zealand

The research in this document is intended for New Zealand resident professional financial advisers or brokers (for use in their roles as financial advisers or brokers) and habitual investors who are “wholesale clients” for the purpose of the Financial Advisers Act 2008 (FAA) (as described in sections 5(c) (1)(a), (b) and (c) of the FAA). This is not a solicitation or inducement to buy, sell, subscribe, or underwrite any securities mentioned or in the topic of this document. For the purpose of the FAA, the content of this report is of a general nature, is intended as a source of general information only and is not intended to constitute a recommendation or opinion in relation to acquiring or disposing (including refraining from acquiring or disposing) of securities. The distribution of this document is not a “personalised service” and, to the extent that it contains any financial advice, is intended only as a “class service” provided by Edison within the meaning of the FAA (i.e. without taking into account the particular financial situation or goals of any person). As such, it should not be relied upon in making an investment decision.

United Kingdom

Neither this document and associated email (together, the "Communication") constitutes or form part of any offer for sale or subscription of, or solicitation of any offer to buy or subscribe for, any securities, nor shall it or any part of it form the basis of, or be relied on in connection with, any contract or commitment whatsoever. Any decision to purchase shares in the Company in the proposed placing should be made solely on the basis of the information to be contained in the admission document to be published in connection therewith.

This Communication is being distributed in the United Kingdom and is directed only at (i) persons having professional experience in matters relating to investments, i.e. investment professionals within the meaning of Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the "FPO") (ii) high net-worth companies, unincorporated associations or other bodies within the meaning of Article 49 of the FPO and (iii) persons to whom it is otherwise lawful to distribute it. The investment or investment activity to which this document relates is available only to such persons. It is not intended that this document be distributed or passed on, directly or indirectly, to any other class of persons and in any event and under no circumstances should persons of any other description rely on or act upon the contents of this document (nor will such persons be able to purchase shares in the placing).

This Communication is being supplied to you solely for your information and may not be reproduced by, further distributed to or published in whole or in part by, any other person.

United States

The Investment Research is a publication distributed in the United States by Edison Investment Research, Inc. Edison Investment Research, Inc. is registered as an investment adviser with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Edison relies upon the "publishers' exclusion" from the definition of investment adviser under Section 202(a) (11) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and corresponding state securities laws. This report is a bona fide publication of general and regular circulation offering impersonal investment-related advice, not tailored to a specific investment portfolio or the needs of current and/or prospective subscribers. As such, Edison does not offer or provide personal advice and the research provided is for informational purposes only. No mention of a particular security in this report constitutes a recommendation to buy, sell or hold that or any security, or that any particular security, portfolio of securities, transaction or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person.

Frankfurt +49 (0)69 78 8076 960

Schumannstrasse 34b

60325 Frankfurt

Germany

London +44 (0)20 3077 5700

280 High Holborn

London, WC1V 7EE

United Kingdom

New York +1 646 653 7026

295 Madison Avenue, 18th Floor

10017, New York

US

Sydney +61 (0)2 8249 8342

Level 4, Office 1205

95 Pitt Street, Sydney

NSW 2000, Australia

Frankfurt +49 (0)69 78 8076 960

Schumannstrasse 34b

60325 Frankfurt

Germany

London +44 (0)20 3077 5700

280 High Holborn

London, WC1V 7EE

United Kingdom

New York +1 646 653 7026

295 Madison Avenue, 18th Floor

10017, New York

US

Sydney +61 (0)2 8249 8342

Level 4, Office 1205

95 Pitt Street, Sydney

NSW 2000, Australia

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