SINGTEL (SGX:Z74)
SingTel - Risk-Reward More Favourable; Upgrade To BUY
- We see further share price upside for SingTel (SGX:Z74), even after the rebound from a decade low in March. At -1.5SD from the post-GFC EV/EBITDA mean (2SD below 5- year mean), valuations suggest downside risks are priced in. See SingTel Share Price.
- Near-term headwinds aside, the group’s favourable risk-reward profile, diversified earnings base, and dividend yields that trump the ASEAN-4 telco sector average, should still drive longer-term outperformance.
Roaming weakness – expect a subdued start to FY21.
- We see SingTel’s consumer revenue being impacted by the sharp 51%/45% y-o-y fall in inbound/outbound travelers in February. Roaming makes up about 20% of its Singapore mobile service revenue, but much less for Optus (~5%). The impact will be compounded by the typical weak revenue seasonality in the March quarter (1Q20) and timing of handset launches.
- As more countries have since implemented strict border controls and lockdowns (extended to 1 Jun domestically), the full brunt of the roaming impact should be felt in 1QFY21, ie June.
- We cut SingTel's FY20-22F core earnings by 2.8%, 5.7%, and 4.6%, after imputing weaker roaming revenues on the overall consumer business, and the slide in AUD/SGD (-6% YTD) which affects Optus.
Dividend looks to be recalibrated.
- We see some risk to dividend payouts ahead, which largely hinges on the group’s capex intensity (FY20 capex guided at SGD2.2bn). There could be a fine line here, as the group may want to be ahead of the game when 5G makes landfall.
- Recent media reports of Optus exploring a tower sale to raise up to AUD2bn might be a shot in the arm, providing some buffer for dividends. We also think management may want to keep its powder dry, taking on a more prudent stance on capital allocation due to the economic uncertainties. See SingTel Dividend History.
- SingTel’s DPS guidance was for an absolute payout of 17.5 SG cents for FY19-20. We tone down FY21-22F DPS to 16 cents, from 17.5 cents.
Associates – some challenges but overall recovery trend intact.
- The extended lockdown in India (until 3 May) could impact SingTel’s India associate, Airtel, due to the high dependence on traditional recharge methods (affecting > 30m subs) – although the industry-wide re-pricing last Dec (4Q19: +5% q-o-q) should see ARPU rising further in 1Q20 Management sees little outright impact from its other associates, namely Telkomsel in Indonesia, Globe in the Philippines, and Advanced Info Service in Thailand.
- SingTel also noted that competition has intensified in Thailand with the re-introduction of unlimited prepaid plans, while the flight to better quality services is benefitting Telkomsel.
- See SingTel Share Price; SingTel Target Price; SingTel Analyst Reports; SingTel Dividend History; SingTel Announcements; SingTel Latest News.
- Upgrade to BUY from Neutral.
Singapore Research
RHB Securities Research
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https://www.rhbinvest.com.sg/
2020-04-24
SGX Stock
Analyst Report
3.30
DOWN
3.450
