UNITED CAPITAL: BEATING EXPECTATIONS, DELIGHTING INVESTORS WITH JUICY DIVIDEND
The management of United
Capital last week released its full-year earnings report for the period ended
December 31, 2016 to the Nigerian Stock Exchange
(NSE), rekindling investors interest and confidence again, being one of the early filers. It isat the same time thefirst
quoted company with December year-end to declare an impressive dividend on the strength
of its significantly improved numbers and despite the country’s gloomy economic
situation that had affected all sectors and companies operating therein.
This impressive scorecard
of a leading investment company is a consolidated solid quarterly performance
driven by the management’s commitment to deliver value toclients and shareholders
alike,regardless of the harsh operating environment. This is not forgetting the
unstable financial market outlook due to a lack of economic direction that has
persisted till date.
Thecompany has remained
committed to its core operational areas of investment banking, issuing house,
corporate advisory services, project finance, debt restructuring, merger/acquisition
and debt capital marketswith other subsidiaries that are into asset management,
securities trading and trusteeship. These were backed by aggressive product
innovation and marketing, driven by robust technology and professionalism to
deliver satisfactory services in an efficient manner, while ensuring cost and
risk management were up as reflected in the profit margin.
A breakdown of the proceeds
of N3.18 billion from the sale of its 50% stake in UBA metropolitan Life Limited,
worth N2.27 billion in investment and profit of N909.70 million, representing
40% Returns on Investment, which is a plus for the company and its management in
terms of transparency. The company, outside the one-off sale or extraordinary
income has done excellently well in its core businesses as revealed by its
profitability ratios for the period under review.
The gross earnings for the
year was up by 46.34%toN9.00 billion
from N6.15 billion in 2015,driven by investmentfees and transactions from the
core service area of the company.
Within the period also,
earnings power grewby 133.5% to N6.00 billion from N2.57 billion in 2015
without factoring in the income from the sale of 50% of its stake in
metropolitan Life Limited, which produced Earnings Per Share (EPS) of N1.00
outside extraordinary profit. The total profit for the period came to N6.91
billion, representing 168.87% growth from N2.57 billion in 2015.
Also, the Impairment
charges on trading financialassets dropped to negative position of N33.51
million from N666.66 million in 2015, this is as result of improved risk management, as well as the huge income
from investments made within the period under consideration.
The uptrending earnings and surprises of the company’s fundamentals supported the 118.38%
growth in price between the released date of march 18, 2016 to February 16,
2017.
The stock is currently
selling at premium above its book value of N2.37and Price to Earnings (P/E) ratio
of 3.20x. Investors' waiting period has therefore reduced, as a result of the
improved earnings recorded by the company.Its retained earnings for the period
also improved by 57.18% to N13.25 billion from N8.43 billion in 2015.
UNITED CAPITAL PLC
|
|||
FULL YEAR 2016 EARNINGS REPORT
|
|||
COY
|
2015
|
2016
|
% Chg
|
(N)
|
(N)
|
||
Date Released
|
March 18, 2016
|
February 16, 2017
|
|
Price as@Rel.Date
|
1.69
|
3.69
|
118.34
|
Gross Earnings
|
6,153,729,000
|
9,000,955,000
|
46.34
|
Profit After Tax
|
2,570,472,000
|
6,913,526,000
|
168.87
|
Shareholders' Fund
|
10,420,551,000
|
14,237,932,000
|
36.66
|
Dividend Payout
|
0.35
|
0.50
|
42.86
|
|
|||
Earnings Per Share
|
0.43
|
1.15
|
167.44
|
PE Ratio
|
3.94
|
3.20
|
-18.78
|
Earnings Yield
|
25.35
|
31.23
|
23.20
|
Book Value
|
1.74
|
2.37
|
36.21
|
Price to Book Value
|
0.97
|
1.56
|
60.82
|
ROE
|
24.67
|
48.56
|
96.84
|
Profit Margin
|
41.77
|
76.81
|
83.89
|
|
Dec
|
Dec
|
|
SOURCES: COMPANY
DATA & INVESTDATA RESEARCH
Valuation/Recommendations
UCap’s
growing and impressive numbers are the major point of attraction for investors
and traders,despite the economic recession and unstable global and domestic
financial markets. Its 2016 numbersare indicative of whereit would be at a time
new businesses are already coming on stream for the new financial year.
Its current
Book Value at N2.37 and profit margin of 76.81%, is the highest so far in the
market today and signifies that the stock is fairly valued at the current
market price on the strength of its P/E ratio of 3.20x, which is relatively okay;
just as the Dividend Yield of 13.55% is attractive, irrespective the current
inflation rate in the country.
The increasingly consistent dividend payout by the company since 2013 is another point of attraction, as it reveals the potential in the company and the nature of its services which is economic and business development. Based on this reality, we recommend BUY for medium and long-term investors
Technical View
UCAP in 2016
formed a rising channel that was trendy with different pullbacks that created
buy opportunities within the channel but finally broke out its strong resistant
level of N3.90 per unitto an all-time high of N4.06. Traders should watch out
for breakout of the upper channel’s blue trend line for continuation of the up-trend
or reversal to first support level at N3.73and second support price of N3.50
per share. The strength of the trend is strong as ADX is above 20 reading 50.28
History
United
Capital Plcwas established in 2002 and listed on the exchange in 2013 to
provide financial services through its investment banking, Trustees, Asset
Management and Stockbroking. The company's business capacity building and technology–driven has supported its
status as a one-stop shop Investment outlet.
It was then fully owned by United Bank for Africa Plc before being quoted on the
NSE, thereby becoming a publicly owned company with its own shareholders. Its excellent service delivery in
helping governments, corporate organisations
and individuals to achieve their financial goals inthe financial market
has always supported its strong performance.
Its 17 years
of active participation inhelping to deepenthe Nigerian Financial Market
has affordedthe company
opportunities to participate in various offers, including financing of
projects, financial advisory service, packaging of Initial Public Offerings,
Right Issues, Debentures, as well as corporate and government bonds
Management
The Chika
Mordi and OluwatoyinSanni led boardand
management have demonstrated commitment and tenacity in plotting the affairs in delivery value for
all stakeholders as revealed by the
scorecard in the last four years since becoming listed on the exchange. The earnings
performanceshows the calibre of its management and at the same time the
strategic inputs in its products or services that is driving the high power profitability
level.
The notable performance of the company as revealed in the 2016 financials, points to the need to encourage the management to remained active and focus on driving its business model that producesstrong earnings that can support its share price going forward.
The notable performance of the company as revealed in the 2016 financials, points to the need to encourage the management to remained active and focus on driving its business model that producesstrong earnings that can support its share price going forward.
Performance Analysis
The company's performance for
the four-year period (2013 to 2016)reveals that the management has surpassed
its forecast and projection it gave when it was listed on the exchange with consistent
growth in earnings power and rewards to shareholders.
Within the period, for
example, the companyhas consistently grown its gross earnings and other
profitability ratios.
Grossincome for the period
grew by 96.94%from N4.57 billion to N9.00 billion in 2016, also the profitability
level moved significantly, from N1.76 billion in 2013 to N6.91 billion and
representing a 292.61% increase. This is very much in line with the commitment
of management to grow earnings and manage cost as reflected in its profit
margin for the review period, as it remain above the 15% international standard.
Net assets of the company, currently stands at N14.23billion from N8.38 billion in 2013 revealing an uptrend in the last four years.
Thecompanyhas paid a total
dividend of N1.30 since it became a quoted, a function of its strong earnings
position for this period, but the recent two-yearimprovement in payout calls
for more input to sustain the tempo by consistently growing its earnings power.
UNITED CAPITAL PLC FOUR-YEAR FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE
|
||||
|
2013
|
2014
|
2015
|
2016
|
Date Released
|
Mar. 31, 2014
|
Mar.13, 2015
|
Mar. 18, 2016
|
Feb. 16, 2017
|
Price @ Released Date
|
2.55
|
1.38
|
1.70
|
3.69
|
Gross Earnings
|
4,573,241,000
|
4,676,602,000
|
6,153,729,000
|
9,000,955,000
|
Profit After Tax
|
1,763,011,000
|
1,846,348,000
|
2,570,472,000
|
6,913,526,000
|
Shareholders' Fund
|
8,381,272,000
|
9,076,455,000
|
10,420,549,000
|
14,237,932,000
|
Dividend
|
0.25
|
0.20
|
0.35
|
0.50
|
SOURCES: COMPANY
DATA & INVESTDATA RESEARCH
Estimated Performance Ratios
Performance ratios
for the period under review shows that the amount earned by stakeholderswere
significantly better at 115 kobo, than the 29kobo in 2013 when it became a
public company, increasing yearly from 31kobo in 2014; to 43 kobo in 2015. This
is a reflection of the stable and up-trending earning power in an unstable-risk
financial market. This shows how resilient the company has been.
Price Earnings
ratio isokay and attractive at the current estimate of 3.20x from ahigh of
8.68x in 2013. The last full year EPS is a yield of just 31.23% of the market
price as of the release date. This simply signifies an improvement on the
stock's valuation by the market as against the posted numbers.
The Book Value of the company moved from N1.40 in four years to N2.37 as the share price equally moved from the price of N1.30as of listing date to N3.82. The enhanced Book Value for the period resultedfrom the company improving upon and retaining some of it its earnings which moved from N6.72 billion in 2013 to N13.25 billion, this supported shareholders’ funds tremendously. Putting this ratio and the market price of the stock side-by-side, signals opportunity for medium and long term investors. The profit margin of the company over the years have improved as management effectively controlled cost to boost profit.
UNITED CAPITAL
PLC ESTIMATED RATIOS
|
||||
|
2013
|
2014
|
2015
|
2016
|
Earnings PerShare
|
0.29
|
0.31
|
0.43
|
1.15
|
PE Ratio
|
8.68
|
4.43
|
3.97
|
3.20
|
Earnings Yield
|
11.52
|
20.30
|
25.20
|
31.23
|
Book Value
|
1.40
|
1.51
|
1.74
|
2.37
|
ROE
|
21.10
|
26.92
|
31.56
|
48.56
|
Profit Margin
|
38.55
|
39.48
|
41.77
|
76.81
|
Year End
|
Dec
|
Dec
|
Dec
|
Dec
|
SOURCES: COMPANY DATA & INVESTDATA RESEARCH
Comments
Post a Comment