Original-Research: MAX Automation SE (von NuWays AG): BUY
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Original-Research: MAX Automation SE - from NuWays AG
Classification of NuWays AG to MAX Automation SE
Company Name: MAX Automation SE
ISIN: DE000A2DA588
Reason for the research: Update
Recommendation: BUY
from: 13.03.2024
Target price: 8.20
Target price on sight of: 12 Monaten
Last rating change:
Analyst: Konstantin Völk
Excellent growth and profitability, soft order intake; chg.
Topic: MAX released strong FY23 results, with sales and EBITDA in line with
expectations and the company's guidance. The sales process of the
subsidiary MA micro, which is now recognized as discontinued operations, is
still ongoing.
FY23 sales (incl. MA micro) rose by 8.3% to EUR 443m (eNuW: EUR 444m), in line
with the guidance range of EUR 410-470m due to a strong contribution from
bdtronic (+59% yoy), offsetting the weaker Vecoplan, NSM + Jücker and MA
micro. Q4 sales grew slightly by 3.2% yoy to EUR 117m (eNuW: EUR 117m). FY23
EBITDA (incl. MA micro) came in at EUR 43.2m (eNuW: EUR 43.9m) a 28% increase
yoy, hitting the upper end of the guidance range of EUR 38-44m. This implies
a 9.8% margin, up 1.5pp yoy due to normalized material prices and strong
performance of bdtronic. Q4 EBITDA increased 155% yoy to EUR 6.2m (eNuW: EUR
6.9m) with a margin of 5.3% (+ 3.2pp yoy) due to a weak Q4 in FY22.
Group order intake from continued operations decreased by 16% to EUR 341m,
leading to an order backlog of EUR 206m (-21% yoy), impacted from investment
reluctance due to the ongoing economic uncertainty and higher interest
costs. Mind you, FY22 benefited from COVID-19 catch-up effects and FY23
order intake and backlog are still on a historical high level.
Outlook for FY24e for continuing operations: MAX guides for sales of EUR
390-450m, in line with eNuW (EUR 425m), carried by a EUR 206m group backlog and
a healthy order pipeline. FY24e EBITDA should come in between EUR 31-38m
(eNuW: EUR 32.7m). Despite the lower order backlog, the guidance seems to be
in reach due to the postponement of some larger orders from Q4 FY23 into
FY24e as well as improving supply chains and material prices.
bdtronic showed a dynamic top- and bottom-line development (see page two),
as a result of the fulfillment of the high order backlog and continued
strong demand for dispensing and impregnation. Sales increased 59% yoy to EUR
104m (eNuW: EUR 94.7m) and EBITDA rose by 58% with a flat development in
margins at 14%, due to large investments into growth (e.g. personell, PPE).
Order intake rose by 11% yoy to a new record high of EUR 104m, flagging the
technological leadership and ongoing structural trends such as
electrification of the automotive industry. Order intake in Q4 came in
rather weak at EUR 11m compared to EUR 29m in Q4 FY22, due to the postponement
of a major order to FY24e.
We expect bdtronic to deliver another year of double-digit growth in FY24e
(eNuW: 12%).
Vecoplan delivered low-single-digit growth in sales and EBITDA, while
margins remained roughly unchanged at 11.5% (FY22: 11.3%). Order intake
fell by 15.6% yoy to EUR 145m, due to investment reluctance in Europe and US
and the postponement of orders. However, the highly profitable service
business, which accounts for c. 1/3 of sales, recorded significant growth
during FY23.
In addition to the improving operating performance, a successful divestment
of the subsidiary MA micro (company news 08.09.2023) should be a notable
share price catalyst. This would reveal, that the value of the "parts"
clearly exceeds the current Enterprise Value of the MAX Automation group,
in our view.
We reiterate our BUY rating with an unchanged EUR 8.20 PT based on DCF.
You can download the research here:
http://www.more-ir.de/d/29133.pdf
For additional information visit our website
www.nuways-ag.com/research.
Contact for questions
Die Analyse oder weiterführende Informationen zu dieser können Sie hier downloaden: www.nuways-ag.com/research.
NuWays AG - Equity Research
Web: www.nuways-ag.com
Email: research@nuways-ag.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nuwaysag
Adresse: Mittelweg 16-17, 20148 Hamburg, Germany
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The result of this research does not constitute investment advice
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