SINGAPORE PRESS HLDGS LTD
T39.SI
Singapore Press Holdings - Media headwinds unabated
- 2QFY17 results below expectations.
- Difficult operating conditions.
- Property segment stable.
2QFY17 results reflect difficult operating conditions
- SPH announced that 2QFY17 PATMI dipped marginally by 1.2% YoY to S$53.5m while group recurring earnings on an operating level declined 22.2% YoY to S$53.0m, which was partially offset by a S$9.5m bump in investment income from divestment gains.
- The share of results of associates and joint ventures also rose S$3.1m YoY partially due to smaller losses from the regional online classifieds business.
- In terms of the topline, group operating revenue fell 8.2% YoY to S$238.0m mostly due to weaker contributions from the media business which fell 11.9% YoY.
- We deem this set of results to be marginally below our expectations and we tweak our FY17 net income forecast down by 6% to S$216.0m to reflect the difficult business conditions the group is facing currently.
- An interim dividend of 6 S-cents per share was declared.
Management focused on cost controls
- 1HFY17 ad revenues declined 16.8% YoY as management cited continued headwinds in its operating environments due to the slowing economy and the unabated disruption of the media industry.
- Revenues from display and classified ads similarly fell 17.5% and 14.4% YoY, respectively.
- The management team has been focused on cost management and total costs for the quarter fell 3.8% YoY to S$188.7m despite inflationary pressures. 1HFY17 staff costs dipped 0.9% YoY to S$182.4m as headcount as at end Feb 2017 stood at 4,041 which was 5% lower than the 4,255 last year.
- The group’s property segment pulled in stable numbers with revenues inching up 1.3% YoY as rental income rose and net property income grew 5.9% to S$93.9m. All three retail assets held by SPH, i.e., The Paragon, The Clementi Mall and The Seletar Mall, enjoyed 100% occupancy and positive rental reversions over the quarter.
- Given the uncertain economic outlook and the continuing disruption of the media industry, we expect conditions to remain challenging for the group’s media business ahead.
- Maintain SELL on the stock on valuation grounds with an unchanged fair value estimate of S$3.41.
Carmen Lee CFA
OCBC Investment
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http://www.ocbcresearch.com/
2017-04-17
OCBC Investment
SGX Stock
Analyst Report
3.410
Same
3.410
