Riverstone Holdings - Maybank Kim Eng 2018-05-11: A Soft Start; Outlook Remains Positive

RIVERSTONE HOLDINGS LIMITED SGX: AP4

Riverstone Holdings - A Soft Start; Outlook Remains Positive

Riverstone Holdings's 1Q18 core earnings were in line at 22% of our and consensus FY18E.
Core earnings fell 6% y-o-y and gross margin declined 4ppt to 22.3%, mainly due to the weaker USD/MYR, which has fallen around 12% y-o-y. In addition, there has been a 23% rise in gas input prices.
Despite the temporary setback, the outlook remains positive as the FX and extra costs should be able to be passed on to customers.
Phase 5 expansion, which will raise capacity by 18% to 9b gloves pa is on track and should start commissioning in Sep 2018. In addition, customer demand and production utilisation rates remain healthy.

Maintain BUY and Target Price of SGD1.22, based on 18x FY18E EPS (+1SD to mean due to healthy EPS growth and ROE).

Management expects 1Q18 to be the weakest quarter this year as the USD/MYR has regained a firmer footing.
In addition, customer demand for both cleanroom and healthcare gloves remain healthy. Several new customers for cleanroom gloves have been secured that operate in the manufacturing of flat panel displays and automotive sensors. As the indicated customer demand remains healthy, especially in Vietnam and China, management expects cleanroom glove volume to meet its growth target for FY18E.
On the other hand, demand for healthcare gloves remains healthy as well, and supply should remain tight due to the government’s order to close PVC glove factories in China to prevent air pollution.

Phase 5 expansion, which will raise capacity by 18% to 9b gloves pa is on track. The lines should start to be commissioned in Sep 2018.
Management highlighted that the existing customers alone could take up all the new capacity. Beyond this, the phase 6 expansion will add another 16% of new capacity to 10.4b gloves, targeted for completion by FY19.

Further strengthening of USD/MYR exchange rate.
Further downside to key raw material prices, which are tied to oil prices.
Better-than-expected product mix upgrade and higher volume growth for high ASP, high-margin cleanroom gloves.

Weakening of USD/MYR exchange rate.
Sharp rebound of Butadiene price.
Slower-than-expected growth of cleanroom gloves, which have higher ASP and margins.

John Cheong CFA Maybank Kim Eng | https://www.maybank-ke.com.sg/ 2018-05-11

SGX Stock Analyst Report BUY Maintain BUY 1.220 Same 1.220