Raffles Medical Group - Phillip Securities 2020-02-26: Ready For Hurdle-Crossing

RAFFLES MEDICAL GROUP LTD (SGX:BSL)

Raffles Medical Group - Ready For Hurdle-Crossing

Raffles Medical Group (SGX:BSL)'s 4Q revenue grew 6.7% y-o-y, in line with estimates. Full year contribution from both Healthcare Services and Hospital Services divisions grew at healthy levels of 8.8% y-o-y and 5.0% y-o-y respectively.
FY19 EBITDA grew a modest 2.8% y-o-y despite drag from gestation costs related to opening of RafflesHospital Chongqing.
Covid-19 outbreak may cause delay to the opening of RafflesHospital Shanghai, possibly extending gestation period.

Despite investment in China, Raffles Medical Group maintains a strong net cash position of $150.7mn
We maintain our NEUTRAL recommendation with a revised TP of S$0.99.
Near-term drag on business is likely but recovery expected to be swift on intact long-term positive outlook.

Healthcare Services revenue grew 9.0% y-o-y as the company expanded its network of corporate clients and increased the scope of services on both existing and new insurance contracts. A higher patient load also led to a 5.9% growth in the Hospital Services division y-o-y.
Revenue growth has experienced 8 consecutive quarters of growth and is expected to buck the trend in 2020 with expected opening of RafflesHospital Shanghai during the year.

Strong cash flow from operations boosted group’s financial position despite payment of $98.5mn for fixed assets under development and capital expenditure incurred in 2019.
Together with existing un-used credit facilities, the group has built up sufficient capital buffer to see through short-term uncertainties.

Despite EBITDA growing a modest 2.8% y-o-y, gestation losses continue to weigh in on earnings. RafflesHospital Chongqing incurred $9.2mn of gestation losses for FY19, resulting in in a NPAT decrease of 14.5% y-o-y by the group to $9.2mn.
Nevertheless, the group is tracking the previously estimated EBITDA losses. Gestation losses from RafflesHospital Chongqing is expected to narrow to $4 – 6mn in FY20 but slated opening of RafflesHospital Shanghai will likely offset decrease in EBITDA losses.

Patients may delay elective treatments, causing a short-term drag on revenues in the immediate quarter. This precludes prolongation of the virus outbreak.

Apart from narrowing gestation costs, RafflesHospital Chongqing has also obtained approval to be covered under Yibao, China’s social health insurance scheme. The expansion in scope for Yibao coverage to include cash top-ups as co-payments will allow the hospital to have flexibility in opening up more beds capacity to cater for increased demand without compromising on margins.
RafflesHospital Shanghai’s opening was slated in 2Q20. However, with the Covid-19 outbreak, opening of the hospital might be delayed until normalcy returns. This may extend gestation period and increase related costs. Nevertheless, with a higher expatriate population covered under commercial insurance, the hospital may also observe faster filling of capacity as utilisation will be less contingent on acquisition of Yibao coverage.

China will continue weighing on Raffles Medical Group’s business in the next 1-2 years. Short-term headwinds arising from the Covid-19 may also reduce patient load from the delay in elective treatments. This may cause strain on revenue to similar extent as the 2003 SARS outbreak which saw 2 quarters of business slowdown.
Nevertheless, long-term prospects remain intact.
See Raffles Medical Share Price; Raffles Medical Target Price; Raffles Medical Analyst Reports; Raffles Medical Dividend History; Raffles Medical Announcements; Raffles Medical Latest News.

Tin Min Ying Phillip Securities Research | https://www.stocksbnb.com/ 2020-02-26

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