Bumitama Agri (BAL SP) - Maybank Kim Eng 2017-02-27: Beats estimates

BUMITAMA AGRI LTD. P8Z.SI

Bumitama Agri (BAL SP) - Beats estimates

2016 core results beat estimates. For 2017, BAL’s young trees will drive strong output growth trajectory (+22% YoY).
At 11.5x FY17 PER and +24% EPS growth for 2017, BAL remains a BUY with a marginally revised TP of SGD0.96 (from SGD0.97) on unchanged 14x FY17 PER (-1SD of 4-year historical mean to reflect the recent slowdown in nucleus plantings).

Strong 2016 headline PATMI of IDR1,005b (+41% YoY) was lifted by FV gain on biological assets (IDR27b), net FX translation gains (IDR16b), and deferred tax income (IDR55b) in relation to Indonesia’s revaluation of assets exercise. Without these, 2016 core PATMI of IDR919m (+12% YoY) met 134%/107% of our/consensus forecasts.
The better-than-expected 4Q16 was on lower-than-expected cost which offset substantial lock-in of forward sales in 2H16 delivered at prices at least 10% below spot prices.

Operationally, 2016 FFB yield fell 18% YoY to 14.6t/ha due to the lagged effect of the strong El Nino in 2015. But FFB nucleus output only fell 4% YoY to 1,513,422 MT as more areas came into maturity. The lower output was offset by higher CPO ASP achieved at IDR7,378/kg (+6% YoY).
The key surprise was the lower-than-expected 2016 all-in cost of production which we estimate at IDR3,030/kg (-15% YoY) despite the lower yields.

We consider BAL’s 2017 FFB growth guidance of +15% YoY to be low considering
1. expectation of a post El Nino rebound, and
2. its young tree profile of 8.7 years average and +11% of new nucleus area coming into maturity in 2017.
Hence, we keep our +22% nucleus output growth forecast.
Following the results, we have tweaked our financial parameters which led to -1%/-5% change in our 2017-18 PATMI forecasts and we also introduce our 2019 forecast.
BUY for its strong growth.

Ong Chee Ting CA Maybank Kim Eng | http://www.maybank-ke.com.sg/ 2017-02-27

Maybank Kim Eng SGX Stock Analyst Report BUY Maintain BUY 0.960 Down 0.970