ESR-REIT (SGX:J91U)
ESR-REIT - Long Term Re-rating On Track Despite Caution
- Maintain ADD with a lower Target Price of S$0.61 after accounting for the EFR, lower business park occupancy assumptions offset by higher capital distributions.
- ESR-REIT (SGX:J91U) expects flattish rents as tenants turn cautious due to weaker outlook although 2Q19 results were still in line.
- Gearing reduced to 39% in 2Q19 as EFR proceeds used to pare down debt.
Maintain ADD with a lower Target Price of S$0.61
- We retain our ADD call but lower our DDM-based Target Price to S$0.61 after incorporating the impact of the equity fund raising (EFR) and lower business park occupancy assumption but slightly offset by a higher capital distribution component.
- We like ESR-REIT for its re-rating potential post-merger as the portfolio is right-sized and stabilised; as of 2Q19. We think ESR-REIT’s undistributed capital gains are sufficient to smooth out any income uncertainties.
- Key risks include any dilutive fund raisings.
Cautious sentiment returning
- ESR-REIT sees tenants turning 9-12 months ago. ESR-REIT has not seen tenants giving back space although the pace of negotiations has been slower.
- Business parks from Cisco at UE Biz Hub East; we lower our incentives that tenants might get during the asset enhancement period. Hence, we cut our FY19-21F DPU estimates.
Flattish expected to in 2H19
- ESR-REIT experienced a slight decline in portfolio occupancy to 91.0% (92.0% in 1Q19) across its multiple property types as tenants turn cautious.
- Rental reversions for 2Q19 YTD was +0.1% (+1.6% in 1Q19); we understand that reversions for Logistics and General Industrial assets dipped slightly due to the large market supply and older assets respectively. ESR-REIT expects rental reversions to be flattish for 2H19.
Lower gearing; no impact expected from potential rule changes
- Gearing declined to 39% (42% in 1Q19) as some equity fund raising proceeds were used to pare down debt. ESR-REIT has an all-in cost of debt of 3.98% and no major refinancing requirements due in 2019; 89.2% of its interest rate exposure is fixed.
- While the potential increase in leverage limits by MAS could give them more flexibility, ESR-REIT does not expect any major change in its capital management strategy as a result of this.
2Q/1H19 25/50% of our/consensus
- ESR-REIT's 2Q/1H19 DPU of 1.004/2.011 Scts was in line at 25/50% of our/consensus FY19 forecast; this included a higher distribution from other gains of S$3.8m (S$2.1m in 1Q19). The departure of Cisco from UE Biz Hub East contributed to a 1.6% decline in revenue.
- We understand that ESR-REIT still to be paid out.
LOCK Mun Yee
CGS-CIMB Research
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Ervin SEOW
CGS-CIMB Research
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https://research.itradecimb.com/
2019-07-23
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