Findel — Strong Q1 gives firm base ahead of peak trading

Findel — Strong Q1 gives firm base ahead of peak trading

Findel has made a strong start to FY19, with both businesses trading in line with expectations for the 16 weeks to 20 July 2018. Revenue growth at the key Express Gifts division has accelerated over that of FY18, while the turnaround at Education continues with the customer base now in growth. We retain our forecast and 428p valuation.

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Written by

Findel

Strong Q1 gives firm base ahead of peak trading

AGM statement

Retail

26 July 2018

Price

292p

Market cap

£252m

Core net debt (£m) at 31 March 2018

73.8

Shares in issue

86.4m

Free float

69%

Code

FDL

Primary exchange

LSE

Secondary exchange

N/A

Share price performance

Business description

Findel is a multi-channel retailer operating across the business-to-consumer and business-to-business market places. It is a market leader in the home shopping and educational supplies sectors in the UK.

Analysts

Paul Hickman

+44 (0)20 3681 2501

Kate Heseltine

+44 (0)20 3077 5700

Findel is a research client of Edison Investment Research Limited

Findel has made a strong start to FY19, with both businesses trading in line with expectations for the 16 weeks to 20 July 2018. Revenue growth at the key Express Gifts division has accelerated over that of FY18, while the turnaround at Education continues with the customer base now in growth. We retain our forecast and 428p valuation.

Year end

Revenue (£m)

EBITDA
(£m)

PBT*
(p)

EPS*
(p)

P/E
(x)

EV/EBITDA

(x)

03-17

457.0

40.8

22.2

20.4

14.3

8.0

03-18

479.0

46.6

26.8

25.9

11.3

7.0

03-19e

508.8

52.1

28.5

27.5

10.6

6.3

03-20e

538.6

55.7

30.9

29.8

9.8

5.8

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

A strong start: Express hits 70% annualised online

Total revenue grew c 8.5%, driven by customer recruitment at Express Gifts, where revenue grew c 11% (FY18: 8.9%). Annualised online orders have risen from 68% at year-end to 70%. Findel Education’s revenue stabilised (FY18: -6.2%), with its customer base growing for the first time in several years. Online ordering rose further to 55% against 50% at March 2018, up from 18% at April 2017.

Business threats neutralised, balance sheet strengthened

As we pointed out in our June note, two significant threats were neutralised by the end of FY18. The £26m customer redress provision was on track with only £9m left to pay, and profit at Findel Education was stabilised. We also noted that net core bank debt (excluding receivables-related debt) had been cut to single £m figures. The balance sheet has now been further strengthened with a one-year extension to the revolving bank facility, to December 2020.

No change to our forecasts or valuation

This Q1 trading strength adds assurance to our FY19 forecast of 6% PBT and EPS growth ahead of significant upcoming trading periods for both businesses. In line with that, we retain our valuation of 428p, representing 48% share price headroom. That would imply an unstretched FY19e P/E of 15.5x and EV/EBITDA of 8.5x.

Disclaimer

Edison is an investment research and advisory company, with offices in North America, Europe, the Middle East and AsiaPac. The heart of Edison is our world-renowned equity research platform and deep multi-sector expertise. At Edison Investment Research, our research is widely read by international investors, advisers and stakeholders. Edison Advisors leverages our core research platform to provide differentiated services including investor relations and strategic consulting. Edison is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Edison Investment Research (NZ) Limited (Edison NZ) is the New Zealand subsidiary of Edison. Edison NZ is registered on the New Zealand Financial Service Providers Register (FSP number 247505) and is registered to provide wholesale and/or generic financial adviser services only. Edison Investment Research Inc (Edison US) is the US subsidiary of Edison and is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Edison Investment Research Limited (Edison Aus) [46085869] is the Australian subsidiary of Edison. Edison Germany is a branch entity of Edison Investment Research Limited [4794244]. www.edisongroup.com

DISCLAIMER
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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

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

Disclaimer

Edison is an investment research and advisory company, with offices in North America, Europe, the Middle East and AsiaPac. The heart of Edison is our world-renowned equity research platform and deep multi-sector expertise. At Edison Investment Research, our research is widely read by international investors, advisers and stakeholders. Edison Advisors leverages our core research platform to provide differentiated services including investor relations and strategic consulting. Edison is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Edison Investment Research (NZ) Limited (Edison NZ) is the New Zealand subsidiary of Edison. Edison NZ is registered on the New Zealand Financial Service Providers Register (FSP number 247505) and is registered to provide wholesale and/or generic financial adviser services only. Edison Investment Research Inc (Edison US) is the US subsidiary of Edison and is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Edison Investment Research Limited (Edison Aus) [46085869] is the Australian subsidiary of Edison. Edison Germany is a branch entity of Edison Investment Research Limited [4794244]. www.edisongroup.com

DISCLAIMER
Copyright 2018 Edison Investment Research Limited. All rights reserved. This report has been commissioned by Company name and prepared and issued by Edison for publication globally. 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. Opinions contained in this report represent those of the research department of Edison at the time of publication. The securities described in the Investment Research may not be eligible for sale in all jurisdictions or to certain categories of investors. This research is issued in Australia by Edison Investment Research Pty Ltd (Corporate Authorised Representative (1252501) of Myonlineadvisers Pty Ltd (AFSL: 427484)) and any access to it, is intended only for "wholesale clients" within the meaning of the Corporations Act 2001 of Australia. The Investment Research is distributed in the United States by Edison US to major US institutional investors only. Edison US is registered as an investment adviser with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Edison US 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. As such, Edison does not offer or provide personalised advice. We publish information about companies in which we believe our readers may be interested and this information reflects our sincere opinions. The information that we provide or that is derived from our website is not intended to be, and should not be construed in any manner whatsoever as, personalised advice. Also, our website and 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 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. This document is provided for information purposes only and should not be construed as an offer or solicitation for investment in any securities mentioned or in the topic of this document. A marketing communication under FCA Rules, this document has not been prepared in accordance with the legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and is not subject to any prohibition on dealing ahead of the dissemination of investment research.
Edison has a restrictive policy relating to personal dealing. 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. Edison or its affiliates may perform services or solicit business from any of the companies mentioned in this report. The value of securities mentioned in this report can fall as well as rise and are subject to large and sudden swings. In addition it may be difficult or not possible to buy, sell or obtain accurate information about the value of securities mentioned in this report. Past performance is not necessarily a guide to future performance. 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. 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 (ie 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. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Edison, its affiliates and contractors, and their respective directors, officers and employees will not be liable for any loss or damage arising as a result of reliance being placed on any of the information contained in this report and do not guarantee the returns on investments in the products discussed in this publication. FTSE International Limited (“FTSE”) © FTSE 2018. “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.

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

AJ Lucas Group — Consent received for fracturing first horizontal well

Cuadrilla becomes the first UK operator to have been awarded final consent to hydraulically fracture an onshore horizontal shale exploration well in the UK. On 24 July 2018, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy awarded Cuadrilla consent to fracture the first of two horizontal wells at Preston New Road (PNR) well site. The company will now apply for consent to fracture the second of two wells drilled at PNR. Cuadrilla has previously indicated that initial results from a 90-day flow test are expected in Q418. The valuation of UK shale assets remains uncertain; however, our recent analysis indicates a 67% chance of commercial success (NPV15>0), which appears to be materially higher than current market expectations suggested by the valuations of listed small/mid-caps including AJL, IGas and Egdon. Our current P50 valuation of AJL stands at A$0.86/share.

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