Before we start, let us read a news from Sabah chief minister as below:
Source: https://www.nst.com.my/business/2018/11/434725/sabah-mulling-permanent-ban-log-exports
Highlights:
Company Background
FLBHD operates in two business segments: Manufacturing and Electricity. The Manufacturing segment is comprised of plywood, veneer and laminated veneer lumber (LVL) operation. The Electricity segment is involved in the generation and sale of electricity; it reuses bulk waste to generate biomass energy to supply electricity to the group’s manufacturing plant. The biomass power plant is also located at Keningau, Sabah.
Plywood is the FLB’s main product, which is commonly used in various industries such as the Recreational Vehicle (‘RV’), home decorating, construction and furniture industries. Currently, FLB produces mainly thin panel plywood of which the thickness is below 6mm. It also produces thick panel plywood ranging from 6mm to 18mm. Another product is veneer, is a thin sheet of wood which is used to form the building blocks of plywood. In March 2010, FLB started the production of LVL, which is commonly used in the construction industry for structural integrity, production of high-value furniture, housing materials and value-added products. FLB uses recycled wood chips and veneer slips to produce like products, targeting the US, Taiwan and Japan markets. FLB does not own any timber concessions and the Forestry Department of the State of Sabah controls the volumes that can be harvested every year. FLB sells the majority of its products at prices denominated in USD; 73% of the FLB’s revenue was derived from exports to the US market. The group has also started exporting products to Thailand in FY2017, which accounted for around 2% of total sales.
Between FY2012 and FY2016, the group’s revenue trended upward from RM132.8m to RM201.5m, with the Manufacturing segment comprising 99.9% of its total revenue throughout. The group’s core earnings increased steadily from RM11.8m in FY2012 to FY30.8m in FY2015, but fell by 43.9% YoY to RM17.3m in FY2016 due to lower profit margin. In FY2017, FLBHD’s performance worsened with lower revenue (RM176.0m) and core earnings (RM11.7m), although Debt to equity ratio remained at zero and cash balance stayed healthy at RM34.3m.
Fundamental Data
Currently FLB is trading at trailing PE Ratio of 7.21 (based on current price of RM1.56) with EPS of 21.65 sen. Its revenue, profit margin and net profit has shown big improvement in recent two quarters as shown in the figure below:
Source: http://www.malaysiastock.biz
We can observe that the net profit of 9MFY18 (21 mil) which is 90% higher than full year profit of FY17. In addition, it has shown big improvement in net profit margin (14.1% vs 7%). Actually gross profit margin of FLB in 3Q’18 is improving as compared to 3Q’17. Let see the result of FBL in 3Q’18 as below:
Source: 3Q18 report
As we can notice from the above table, the gross profit margin has improved to 28.8% in 3Q18 from previously 10.6%. Both gross and net profit improve due to stable supple of logs and better average selling price of their products. In addition, higher other income of 1.93 mil mainly due to forex gain of 0.96 mil which still accounted for small portion of their total profit before tax of 15.02 mil. This indicate that over 85% of their income is generated from their main business operations.
Its Return of Equity (ROE) is 12% (more than 10%) which indicates that it is quite effective in generating return (profit) from its total net asset (equity).
It has strong dividend yield of 10.26% (distributed 3 times of dividend in 2018) and NTA of RM1.79. More importantly, it has been distributing dividend over past 7 years (except FY2017) and the dividend has increased from 6 sen to 16 sen from 2011 to 2018 as shown in the figure below.
Source: http://www.malaysiastock.biz
Key Financial Data
Let us go through some key financial data (included latest result) of FLB as table below:
We can observe that FLB achieves improvement in ROE, ROIC, net profit margin, ROA and dividend yield ratios for
trailing 12 months result vs FY2017. FLB has zero borrowings and it has
cash (include investment in short term fund) of 91.4 mil. The net cash
per share is 86.6 sen which is 56% of the current share price (RM1.54).
For a more comprehensive evaluation, I have use 10 metrics to evaluate FLB. pls refer to the table below for the details of the points scored by FLB (this section is not for public at this moment).
Prospect and Fair value for FY2019
The prospect of the FLB is depending on log supply (their raw material). Let see the a new that Sabah government has banned a log export since May 2018, as shown in the following news:
Source: https://www.thestar.com.my/opinion/letters/2018/06/23/ban-on-log-export-good-for-timber-industry/
Another factor the can affect profit margin of FLB is the selling price of log (material cost). Let see the log price published online as figure below:
Source: https://www.indexmundi.com/commodities/?commodity=hard-logs&months=12
From the above two figures (log and plywood), both of the selling prices of log and plywood have decreased recently. This indicates that FLB should be able to maintain its gross profit margin (last qtr 28%) as both their material and product selling are in the same price trend. As long as market demand for plywood can be sustained (or small drop), FLB should be able to achieve a better YoY result in current quarter (4Q18) and maintain its attractive dividend payout.
Let us see FLB prospect as below:
Source: 3Q18 report
With higher sales and higher profit margins that FY2017, I expect FLBHD’s performance in FY2018 to improve significantly as compared to FY2017. Based on 9MFY18 results and selling price of plywood, my full year EPS forecast is at a range of 24-26 sen and the estimated dividend payout for FY18 is 18 sen (16 sen already paid). Demands of plywood in FY19 should be sustainable as higher demand from Japan (Olympic related construction)
Based on FLB future potential earning growth, sustainable high dividend payout from strong balance sheet, the fair forward 12-month PE for should be in the range of 8x-10x based on EPS of 24 sen (translated to Rm1.92 to 2.4) which is consider reasonable valuation in downstream timber processing industry where FLB is backed by 91 mil of cash (market cap just 161 mil).
Risk
1. Rising labour cost (foreign workers levy and min wages increment in 2019)
2. Rising log price and shortage of log supply in Sabah (due to investigation of illegal logging)
3. Weaker USD currency as FLB is export oriented company.
Source: https://www.nst.com.my/business/2018/11/434725/sabah-mulling-permanent-ban-log-exports
Highlights:
1. FLB has shown improving profit margin and growing revenue
in recent two quarters due to much better profit margin and stable log
supply. Trailing 12-months EPS of FLB is 21.65 sen and next few quarters
should be able to achieve EPS of 5-7 sen per quarter based on current
plywood price.
2. High average dividend yield (about 10%) for FY2018 which is higher
than bank’s FD rate and other downstream timber stocks. Conservatively,
FY19 dividend yield should be able to maintain at 5-8% based on its
future earning, 91 mil cash, zero debt and current ratio of more than
10.
3. Management of FLB has been generous in dividend payout over past 7
years except FY17 where there is some problem in log supply in Sabah.
Total dividend paid over past 7 years is 65 sen (average 9.3 sen per year).
4. The fair forward 12-month PEx should be in the range of 8x-10x
which translated to RM1.92 to 2.4 based on estimated FY19 EPS of 24 sen.
5. Strong balance sheet with zero borrowing provides high margin of safety under current uncertain investment environment.
6. Its business model does not require high capital
expenditure and its generous management provide a good defensive
investment option for those looking for stable and high dividend yield stock.
Company Background
FLBHD operates in two business segments: Manufacturing and Electricity. The Manufacturing segment is comprised of plywood, veneer and laminated veneer lumber (LVL) operation. The Electricity segment is involved in the generation and sale of electricity; it reuses bulk waste to generate biomass energy to supply electricity to the group’s manufacturing plant. The biomass power plant is also located at Keningau, Sabah.
Plywood is the FLB’s main product, which is commonly used in various industries such as the Recreational Vehicle (‘RV’), home decorating, construction and furniture industries. Currently, FLB produces mainly thin panel plywood of which the thickness is below 6mm. It also produces thick panel plywood ranging from 6mm to 18mm. Another product is veneer, is a thin sheet of wood which is used to form the building blocks of plywood. In March 2010, FLB started the production of LVL, which is commonly used in the construction industry for structural integrity, production of high-value furniture, housing materials and value-added products. FLB uses recycled wood chips and veneer slips to produce like products, targeting the US, Taiwan and Japan markets. FLB does not own any timber concessions and the Forestry Department of the State of Sabah controls the volumes that can be harvested every year. FLB sells the majority of its products at prices denominated in USD; 73% of the FLB’s revenue was derived from exports to the US market. The group has also started exporting products to Thailand in FY2017, which accounted for around 2% of total sales.
Between FY2012 and FY2016, the group’s revenue trended upward from RM132.8m to RM201.5m, with the Manufacturing segment comprising 99.9% of its total revenue throughout. The group’s core earnings increased steadily from RM11.8m in FY2012 to FY30.8m in FY2015, but fell by 43.9% YoY to RM17.3m in FY2016 due to lower profit margin. In FY2017, FLBHD’s performance worsened with lower revenue (RM176.0m) and core earnings (RM11.7m), although Debt to equity ratio remained at zero and cash balance stayed healthy at RM34.3m.
Fundamental Data
Currently FLB is trading at trailing PE Ratio of 7.21 (based on current price of RM1.56) with EPS of 21.65 sen. Its revenue, profit margin and net profit has shown big improvement in recent two quarters as shown in the figure below:
Source: http://www.malaysiastock.biz
We can observe that the net profit of 9MFY18 (21 mil) which is 90% higher than full year profit of FY17. In addition, it has shown big improvement in net profit margin (14.1% vs 7%). Actually gross profit margin of FLB in 3Q’18 is improving as compared to 3Q’17. Let see the result of FBL in 3Q’18 as below:
Source: 3Q18 report
As we can notice from the above table, the gross profit margin has improved to 28.8% in 3Q18 from previously 10.6%. Both gross and net profit improve due to stable supple of logs and better average selling price of their products. In addition, higher other income of 1.93 mil mainly due to forex gain of 0.96 mil which still accounted for small portion of their total profit before tax of 15.02 mil. This indicate that over 85% of their income is generated from their main business operations.
Its Return of Equity (ROE) is 12% (more than 10%) which indicates that it is quite effective in generating return (profit) from its total net asset (equity).
It has strong dividend yield of 10.26% (distributed 3 times of dividend in 2018) and NTA of RM1.79. More importantly, it has been distributing dividend over past 7 years (except FY2017) and the dividend has increased from 6 sen to 16 sen from 2011 to 2018 as shown in the figure below.
Source: http://www.malaysiastock.biz
Key Financial Data
Let us go through some key financial data (included latest result) of FLB as table below:
|
|
Trailing 12M |
FY2017 |
|
Average PE |
7.21 |
13.58 |
|
ROE |
12% |
6.83% |
|
Net profit margin (%) |
14% |
7% |
|
ROIC |
42.2% |
19.57% |
|
Return On Assets (ROA) |
6.88% |
6.39% |
|
Cash & Equivalents (mil) (include other investment in fund which is liquidable) |
91.4 |
98.72 |
|
Total borrowings |
0 |
0 |
|
Dividend Paid per share (sen) |
16 |
- |
For a more comprehensive evaluation, I have use 10 metrics to evaluate FLB. pls refer to the table below for the details of the points scored by FLB (this section is not for public at this moment).
Prospect and Fair value for FY2019
The prospect of the FLB is depending on log supply (their raw material). Let see the a new that Sabah government has banned a log export since May 2018, as shown in the following news:
Source: https://www.thestar.com.my/opinion/letters/2018/06/23/ban-on-log-export-good-for-timber-industry/
Another factor the can affect profit margin of FLB is the selling price of log (material cost). Let see the log price published online as figure below:
Source: https://www.indexmundi.com/commodities/?commodity=hard-logs&months=12
From the above two figures (log and plywood), both of the selling prices of log and plywood have decreased recently. This indicates that FLB should be able to maintain its gross profit margin (last qtr 28%) as both their material and product selling are in the same price trend. As long as market demand for plywood can be sustained (or small drop), FLB should be able to achieve a better YoY result in current quarter (4Q18) and maintain its attractive dividend payout.
Let us see FLB prospect as below:
Source: 3Q18 report
With higher sales and higher profit margins that FY2017, I expect FLBHD’s performance in FY2018 to improve significantly as compared to FY2017. Based on 9MFY18 results and selling price of plywood, my full year EPS forecast is at a range of 24-26 sen and the estimated dividend payout for FY18 is 18 sen (16 sen already paid). Demands of plywood in FY19 should be sustainable as higher demand from Japan (Olympic related construction)
Based on FLB future potential earning growth, sustainable high dividend payout from strong balance sheet, the fair forward 12-month PE for should be in the range of 8x-10x based on EPS of 24 sen (translated to Rm1.92 to 2.4) which is consider reasonable valuation in downstream timber processing industry where FLB is backed by 91 mil of cash (market cap just 161 mil).
1. Rising labour cost (foreign workers levy and min wages increment in 2019)
2. Rising log price and shortage of log supply in Sabah (due to investigation of illegal logging)
3. Weaker USD currency as FLB is export oriented company.
If you interested on my analysis report, please contact me at davidlimtsi3@gmail.com
You can get my latest update on share analysis at Telegram Channel ==> https://t.me/davidshare
Disclaimer:
This writing is based on my own assumptions and estimations. It is
strictly for sharing purpose, not a buy or sell call of the company.
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