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Original-Research: R. Stahl AG - from NuWays AG

Classification of NuWays AG to R. Stahl AG

Company Name: R. Stahl AG

ISIN: DE000A1PHBB5

Reason for the research: Update

Recommendation: Kaufen

from: 18.04.2024

Target price: EUR 29.00

Target price on sight of: 12 Monaten

Last rating change:

Analyst: Christian Sandherr

Strong FY23 results with a record high in revenue; chg. est.

Topic: R. Stahl confirmed its strong FY23 prelims and released a promising

FY24e guidance supported by a solid preliminary first quarter revenue of EUR

84.7m.

To recap, FY23 sales increased by 21% yoy to a record high of EUR 331m,

exceeding the guidance range of EUR 305-320m. The remarkable increase in

revenue was carried by an unbroken demand for electrical explosion

protection solutions in the LNG and gas industry as well as further

improved supply chains and price increases. The adj. EBITDA grew by 73% to

EUR 38.6m, hitting the guidance range of EUR 35-40m with a significantly

improved margin of 11.7% (+3.6 pp) due to price increases as well as a good

utilization of production capacities and targeted cost management.

What's new: Free Cashflow improved to EUR 0.3m (FY23: EUR -4.4m), due to a

strong operating performance and despite a further expansion of working

capital. For instance, inventories and prepayments rose 30% yoy to EUR 64m

(FY22: EUR 37m) due to an increased stock in electronic materials.

Furthermore, R. Stahl recognized a full impairment of the 25% stake in the

Russian company ZAVOD Goreltex as expected (NuWays Update 16.02.2024).

However, the EUR 10.3m write-off did not affect liquidity and adjusting for

the impairment, EBT would have been EUR 12.3m (FY22: EUR 3.9m).

Solid Q1 sales with profitability on a high level: Preliminary sales in the

first quarter came in at EUR 84.7m (eNuW: EUR 81m), an 8.5% increase yoy (Q1

FY23: EUR 78.1m). After a subdued order intake of EUR 74.5 in the fourth

quarter, due to a soft chemical industry in the DACH region, order intake

came in at EUR 92.3m, slightly below last year (Q1 2023: EUR 96.7m). Adj.

EBITDA in the first quarter decreased 19% to EUR 8.4m (eNuW: EUR 7.9m), with a

lower but still solid margin of 9.9% (-3.4 pp) due to higher personnel

costs and a EUR 2m one-off from the implementation of the EXcelerate strategy

program.

Conservative FY24e guidance: Management expects sales in the range of EUR

335-350m (eNuW: EUR 347m) and an adj. EBITDA of EUR 35-45m (eNuW: EUR 39.7m)

supported by a strong demand from the LNG industry. In our view, the

guidance seems reasonable thanks to R. Stahl having done its homework by

implementing changes on the back of efficiency, structural trends kicking

in and a high preliminary order backlog of EUR 123m at the end of Q1. We

reiterate our BUY rating with a slightly reduced PT of EUR 29 (old: EUR 31),

based on DCF.

You can download the research here:

http://www.more-ir.de/d/29451.pdf

For additional information visit our website

www.nuways-ag.com/research.

Contact for questions

NuWays AG - Equity Research

Web: www.nuways-ag.com

Email: research@nuways-ag.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nuwaysag

Adresse: Mittelweg 16-17, 20148 Hamburg, Germany

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Offenlegung möglicher Interessenskonflikte nach § 85 WpHG beim oben analysierten Unternehmen befinden sich in der vollständigen Analyse.

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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this research.

The result of this research does not constitute investment advice

or an invitation to conclude certain stock exchange transactions.

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