Excerpts from RHB report
Analyst: Juliana Cai
• Maintain BUY and SGD0.73 TP, implying 35% upside and c.2% yield. Food Empire recorded another strong quarter in 3Q19 with PATMI growing 34% YoY to USD7.9m.
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• 3Q19 revenue grew 5% YoY to USD76.8m. Revenue growth in the quarter was largely driven by higher sales volumes in the Ukraine and Indochina markets. 
Food Empire's No.1 product in Russia.Both markets saw double-digit sales growth during the quarter while the group’s largest market, Russia, saw revenue grew at a mature rate of 2% YoY.
However, this was partially negated by a 7% decline in its other markets’ sales due to the rationalisation of businesses in underperforming markets.
• Excluding FX, 3Q19 core PATMI grew 28% YoY to USD8.8m on higher sales and margins. The group achieved a higher gross margin of 39.8% in 3Q19 (3Q18: 38.7%, 2Q19: 37.8%).
The rationalisation of underperforming markets further raised its EBIT margin to 11.9% in 3Q19, marking a 3ppt YoY increase. The improvement came from a 7% decline in general and administrative expenses on top of the higher gross margin.
• We expect 4Q19 earnings to be flattish. The group’s second instant coffee plant in India is expected to be completed this year, and commercial operations are scheduled to kick off in FY20.
While we expect to see continued savings from the streamlining of businesses in 4Q19, this would be partially offset by pre-commissioning costs and depreciation expenses as the new instant coffee plant comes on stream.
• BUY, with an unchanged TP for now. Barring any major depreciation of the RUB, we expect FY20F earnings to remain resilient, as management focuses on key markets and rationalises weaker businesses.  Juliana Cai, analyst, RHBThe cost savings should help to offset additional costs from the commencement of its new coffee plant. We will review our earnings and forecasts pending Food Empire’s analyst briefing on Wednesday. |
Full report here.
