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Centurion - RHB Invest 2022-08-16: Headwind To Tailwind; BUY

CENTURION CORPORATION LIMITED (SGX:OU8) | SGinvestors.io CENTURION CORPORATION LIMITED (SGX:OU8)

Centurion - Headwind To Tailwind; BUY

  • Centurion (SGX:OU8) reported strong 1H22 results, with revenue rising 40% y-o-y to S$90.5m and core PATMI surging 42% y-o-y to S$29m. This affirms our view that both of its workers and student accommodation businesses are recovering rapidly.
  • We believe that FY22F will be a superb year for Centurion, and lift our target price to S$0.51 – pegged to 7.5x FY22F P/E, to better reflect its value.



Solid recovery in demand for worker accommodations.

  • Centurion's revenue from its worker accommodation segment expanded by 38% y-o-y to S$67m in 1H22, as the demand for labour spiked up post lifting of COVID-19 measures.
  • Centurion’s average occupancy rate in its Singapore worker dormitories recovered to > 95%. We also expect a potential rise in its rental prices to mitigate the rise in operational costs it will incur due to inflation – and Centurion may pass on the cost increases to its customers.


Strong demand still intact, with rate hikes being likely.

  • Its student accommodation business in 1H22 grew by 43% y-o-y to S$22.5m, mainly due to the improvement in the occupancy rates of its facilities in the UK, Australia, the US and Korea. Pre-leasing for 2022-2023F is ongoing and bookings for the year are also strong.
  • Centurion has also acquired a 103-bed freehold asset in Nottingham in the UK, which will be completed in 4Q22 and should boost overall profitability.
  • The Centurion US Student Housing Fund has commenced the sale process of its US assets (where Centurion owns 28.7% of the units), as management continues its strategic review of its portfolio assets. We think that it will also sell its UK assets if a good offer comes along, which should help to reduce gearing even further.
  • In addition, with inflation rates spiking up – especially in the UK and the US – we think Centurion is likely to raise its dormitory rates by the end of the year, which will be positive for overall numbers.


Resilient and defensive business.

  • With construction activities resuming actively and demand for workers surging, coupled with global COVID-19 restrictions loosening, we expect its worker and student accommodation business to continue recovering strongly.
  • As Centurion's share price is trading at just 5.6x FY22F P/E and at a 52% discount to its NAV of S$0.796, Centurion is undervalued – even though this company has upbeat growth prospects.
  • Centurion also declared an interim dividend of S$0.005 for 1H22. 
  • Maintain BUY recommendation on Centurion, new target price of S$0.51 from S$0.43, 34% upside with ~5% upside.

ESG.






Jarick Seet RHB Securities Research | https://www.rhbgroup.com/ 2022-08-16
SGX Stock Analyst Report BUY MAINTAIN BUY 0.51 UP 0.430



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