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Disclaimer: This isn’t Funding recommendation. PLEASE DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH !!
Abstract:
In case you would ask me about essentially the most boring inventory of my typically very boring portfolio, I may identify Schaffner Group. I had purchased a primary place again in 2021 throughout my “All Swiss Shares” sequence.
Nevertheless, I’ve by no means written a extra detailed write-up despit my annual summaries (2021/2022 , 2022/2023), possibly becasue I at all times received bored once I began writing about it ? Over time I added to the place and after the latest 6 months numbers, I made a decision to extend right into a full place. Time to elucidate the funding case just a little bit higher.
The Firm – Transformation
Schaffner Group is a Swiss firm that underwent a major tranformation over the previous few years. Most significantly, they managed to dispose their second largest division “Energy Magnetics” which was loss making in 2021 and give attention to 2 divisions: EMI Filters and Automotive. That is how Schaffner describes their tranformation in a 2022 investor presentation:
For some causes, the final 2 years nonetheless have been “noisy”. In 2020/2021 (Monetary yr goes from 01.04 to 31.3.), they needed to e book a (non money) loss for the ability magenitics disposal, in 2021/2022, the Automotive division suffered from the provision chain points within the vehicle business.
Nevertheless, beneath this noise, the core division, EMI filters grew steadily. Now, in FY 2022/2023, with a sure restoration of the Automotive phase, the true high quality of the enterprise begins to emerge. However extra on this laters.
2. The enterprise & Merchandise
Schaffner has a pleasant graph in certainly one of theri presentation how their merchandise seem like:
These merchandise at first sight are clearly not “attractive shopper” merchandise that you just discover within the grocery store however somewhat small, however vital elements for different producers (B2B).
The primary product line of Schaffner are EMI Filters. You could find an in depth description of those Filters and why they’re wanted as an illustration right here. In a nutshell, {most electrical} equipement requires these filters to be able to forestall electro magnetic interference (EMI) between totally different digital circuits. Though these elements are usually comparatively low worth objects, they normally have to be customized made to immediately match the particular function and there are sometimes business norms that require the usage of these filters.
It appears to be that this can be a small however rising business with just a few gamers and Schaffner appears to have a world market share of round 20-30%. So on this small pond, it’s a somewhat massive fish.
Schaffner’s enterprise mannequin is to principally desgin the elements in Switzerland however manufacture them in China and Thailand, in order that they appear to be very competitve on worth.
What I discover most attention-grabbing is the actual fact, that there’s structural development on this business because the elevated electrification means structurally increased calls for for his or her elements. EV charging, semi-conductor manufacturing and heatpumps are a couple of areas that Schaffner mentios that at the moment drive development and can so for the foreseeable future.
3. How have issues progressed ?
Since I’ve purchased the primary shares, the Industrial division has grown steadily, however as talked about, the Automotive division had some issues. Within the curren monetary yr nevertheless issues look good and Schaffner, which communicates usually fairly undertsated received virtually euphoric:
Schaffner had intitially guided mid time period goal of an EBIT-Margin of 10-12% and an natural development charge of 5% p.a., each targets have been surpassed they usually appear to be fairly optimistic for the complete yr. That is supported by a really capital environment friendly bsuiness mannequin with reaching 33% ROCE within the first 6M:
4. Valuation
With 631‚069 excellent shares and a share worth of 285 mn CHF, the corporate is valued at ~180 mn CHF. Schaffner has round 8 mn in web money at 31.03 so this interprets, if we simply double 6M numbers. into an anticipated P/E of 9,2x and EV/EBIT of 8,0 for the present yr. Not unhealthy for a double digit EBIT margin enterprise with a excessive ROCE and an excellent likelihood of respectable development and a rock strong steadiness sheet. Particularly when considerung {that a} regular Siwss enterprise with this KPIs would simply commerce 50% or costlier.
5. Why is the inventory low cost ?
I believe there are a couple of apparent causes, the primary being a really weak long run monitor file which is mirrored in an extremly unispiring long run share worth:
Schaffner at the moment is buying and selling under its IPO worth of 1998 and has oscillated between 100 and 300 CHF for the final 15 years or so. So clearly, traders don’t appear to be satisfied but, that Schaffner might be on a long run success path.
As well as, the final 2 years have been noisy and just one analyst appears to cowl Schaffner. Liquidity is simply modest, it isn’t simple for a fund or bigger investor to get out and in rapidly. Schaffner additionally experiences solely twice a yr and doesn’t present quarterly updates. Not everybody likes this, i do.
Schaffner additionally has some China publicity and appears to make use of round 300 folks in China. The bigger manufacturing hub nevertheless appears to be Thailand with 1000 staff.
Final however not least, the enterprise mannequin at first sight just isn’t very attractive and in addition not simple to grasp.
6. Administration, shareholder construction, different stuff
The most important investor is a monetary investor referred to as BURU Holding who additionally owns a 20% stake in Kardex, one other prime quality Swiss producer. BURU Holing is run by Philipp Buhofer, a Swiss Investor who appears to play the lengthy sport and appears to be fairly energetic. Marc Buhofer, clearly a relative, owns one other 3% of Schaffner.
CEO Aeschliman was appointed in 2017. He owns round 2100 shares which is just a little bit lower than his annual wage, however quantity is growing as a consequence of incentive applications. The incentives are primarily based on EBIT margins, free cashflow and particular person targets, Total I might charge the mix of shareholder & Managment pretty much as good.
As talked about above, steadiness sheet high quality is excessive, with 8 mn web money and no goodwill.
Capital allocation is comparatively clear: They pay out round 40-50% of the revenue in dividends and the remainder will go in direction of selective M&A.
Possibly one comment with regard to a possible catalyst: I believe there’s none or solely a really small one. The one potential “mushy catalyst” may very well be a potetnial dividend enhance. In the event that they follow their 40-50% pay out rule, 40% of a possible 20 mn web revenue in 2022/2023 can be round 12,50 CHF per share, a major enhance in comparison with the 9 CHF paid in for the earlier yr.
Abstract:
The general case for Schaffner might be summarized fairly simply: One can get an excellent firm with an excellent enterprise at a wonderful worth.
The mixture of a double digit EBIT margin (12%) , double digit natural development, ROCE within the 20-30% and a valuation of ~9x 2023 P/,E for me is an honest guess on the expectation, that the way forward for Schaffner seems higher than the previous.
For me, Schaffner is likely one of the most attention-grabbing instances of a standard enterprise that may doubtlessly profit from an extended development development in direction of electrification. Sure, it’s a trunaround, however in contrast as an illustration to Meier & Tobler on the time of the funding, the flip round has already occurred they usually now “solely” must proof that this was not a one-off.
Even when this journey is bumpy, I believe over the subsequent 3-4 years, the shares may provide an honest return. On prime of an anticipated dividend yield of as much as 5% p.a. I may simply think about one other 10% pa. as a mixture of development and a slight a number of growth kind the present low ranges. In the very best case, this might even change into a “Meier & Tobler 2.0” if the inventory trades at “Swiss High quality multiples”.
I’ve due to this fact elevated the place additional to a 6% weight and financed this principally by means of an additional lower in Meier & tobler which is no longer so low cost anymore.
One ought to point out that the share just isn’t overly liquid, on common, 300-400 shares are traded every day on the Swiss trade.
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