From Kim Eng:-
1. Sembcorp Marine – 3Q08 Results Review (Rohan Suppiah, DID: 64321455)
Previous Day Closing price: S$2.17
Recommendation: Hold (maintained)
Target price: S$2.40 (reduced from S$3.54)
Record quarter
Sembcorp Marine (SMM) produced another strong set of results with 3Q08 earnings up 73% y/y to $140.9m, and up 9% q/q. Turnover moderated slightly to $1.14bn from $1.17bn, but this is within expected variances of recognition, and specifically due to a significant recognition of the Petrobras P-54 contract in the previous corresponding period.
Not just about rigs
Higher operating margins were derived primarily from rig building and the shiprepair businesses. Associated contributions also rose 70%, primarily on the back of Cosco Corp’s strong showing. By revenue breakdown, rig-building dipped 2.7% to $631.4m while offshore and conversion revenue fell 6.9% to $285.2m. Repair revenue rose 11.3% to $210.7m – this segment has shown particular strength, with SMM having to turn away over 400 enquiries over the past year, versus the 205 vessels repaired year-to-date. SMM expects shiprepair to remain strong amid global tightness in yard capacity. SMM is currently looking at ways to improve yard efficiency and capacity in order to capitalise on this.
Orderbook to 2012
Net order book stands at S$9.9bn, extending to 2012. This includes new orders of S$5.5 billion secured year to date. SMM maintains that the fundamentals for offshore remain intact, and that the cancellation risk of its existing orders because of credit risk is mitigated by the majority of its customers being either national oil companies or operators with firm charter contracts.
Revising earnings on shiprepair strength, but at premium to peers
SMM’s 9M08 net profit at $360.5m already represents 77% of our previous forecast. However, our numbers have underestimated the strength of shiprepair demand, which we believe will also lead to stronger margins for the sector. We are raising our FY08 forecast by 4% to S$484.5m on the back of this. Despite this, SMM still continues to trade at a premium within the sector, at 8.6x FY09 PER. Its rebound off its recent low has also matched the broader sector, rather than from an improved fundamental outlook. We are therefore maintaining our Hold recommendation, with our SOTP target price revised to S$2.40, at a deserved premium to its peers.