EVENTS:   Acceleration in the Energy Transition - David Scott/CHA-AM Advisors - 12 May 26     ROADSHOWS: Consumer Research & Industry Trends focused on US Retail, E-Tail, and Consumer Products Companies - Scott Mushkin /R5 Capital   •   London   07 - 08 May 26       US Equity Short Research & Strategy - Zach Shannon /Corto Capital Advisors   •   New York   18 - 19 May 26       Investing in Constraint: Governance, Scarcity, and the Next Phase of the Energy Transition - François Boutin-Dufresne & Félix-A. Boudreault & Lenka Martinek /Sustainable Market Strategies   •   London   18 - 19 May 26      
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Fortnightly publication highlighting latest insights from IRF providers

Company Research

Industrials

Report by Iron Blue Financials

Following publication of its FY24 registration document, Iron Blue increases their SGO score to 27/60 (newly top quartile). This principally reflects FY24’s P&L benefit from compression in the expense for inventory and bad debtor impairment provisions, which could provide a tough comp effect in FY25. They also note two new contingent liabilities related to a new Grenfell Tower claim brought against SGO subsidiaries as well as assumed Australia asbestos liabilities with FY24’s CSR acquisition. For the first time the FY24 annual report quantified SGO’s reverse factoring activities (€106m). Iron Blue continues to flag sustained stripped out costs and an elevated gap between PPE capex and the P&L depreciation charge.

Industrials

Report by Iron Blue Financials

SGO’s Iron Blue score increases to 26/60 (newly top quartile / fertile grounds for shorting). This reflects an expanded gap between PPE capex and the P&L depreciation charge (14% of PBT adj, vs. 11% and 7% the two previous years) and another increase in receivables factoring (+6% y/y, +40% since FY20). Stripped out one-off costs remained elevated (10% of FY23 PBT adj). A new contingent liability was named in FY23 concerning competition authority investigations into the additives and admixtures sector in the EU, UK and Turkey, while class actions were instituted in the US and Canada. SGO has also continued to consolidate its Russian operations despite seemingly operating independently from the rest of the group. Iron Blue calculates that €112m of gross cash was stranded in Russia.

Bayer (BAYN GR) Germany

Healthcare

Report by ROCGA Research

ROCGA’s Cash Flow Returns On Investments based DCF valuation platform shows BAYN to be undervalued for the first time in 10 years. BAYN is not a quality company and would not warrant attention, but the valuation gap is compelling with potentially 50% upside. With a few clicks, you can model and value one of 2000 companies across Europe and the US. Other companies that appear on their list of undervalued companies are Ahold, Associated British Foods and Saint-Gobain. A free consultation and trial can be arranged on request.