Excerpts from CGS-CIMB report
Analyst: ONG Khang Chuen, CFA
| Robust growth ahead ■ 4Q19 net profit of RM32m (-10% qoq, -3% yoy) was a slight miss, mainly due to higher tax expenses.
■ We forecast 20.6% EPS growth in FY20F (FY19: 0.6%). Reiterate Add with an unchanged TP of S$1.30 (based on 5-year historical average P/E). |
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| 4Q19 results a slight miss |
RSTON reported 4Q19 net profit of RM32m (-10% qoq, -3% yoy). FY19 net profit came in at 96%/97% of our/Bloomberg consensus forecasts, a slight miss. 
Wong Teek Son, executive chairman of Riverstone Holdings.
NextInsight file photoThe key drag was higher tax expense, due to lower reinvestment allowance as RSTON delayed commissioning of its new production capacity from 2H19 to 1H20.
Nevertheless, core operations remained strong, in our view.
Both GPM and OPM showed yoy expansion of 1.5% pts and 1.1% pts respectively in 4Q19 (reversing past four years' contraction trend), due to stronger sales of cleanroom gloves during the quarter.
| Robust glove demand in FY20F |
Management is positive on FY20F outlook, with strong demand for both healthcare and cleanroom gloves.
Management sees clear order visibility for healthcare gloves through July amid the Covid-19 outbreak.
The cleanroom segment is also enjoying healthy demand from semiconductor and pharmaceutical sectors.
RSTON is in the midst of commissioning new production lines (capacity +16% yoy), and gradually lifting production line speed to cope with the surge in demand.
We forecast sales volume to grow 20% yoy in FY20F, with a stable product mix (volume split: 85% healthcare, 15% cleanroom).
| Stronger margin outlook |
We forecast GPM to expand 0.3% pt yoy to 20.4% in FY20F.
We believe the spike in global healthcare glove demand could lead to more favourable supply-demand dynamics in the healthcare glove sector, and translate into an increase in RSTON’s healthcare segment margins in FY20F.
Cleanroom margins should also benefit from the lower raw material prices.
Overall, we forecast stronger FY20F EPS growth of 20.6% (FY19: 0.6%).
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