AT & S Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik BATS-CHIXE:ATSV Stock Report

First quarter 2023 earnings released: EPS: €2.35 (vs €0.19 loss in 1Q 2022)

First quarter 2023 results: EPS: €2.35 (up from €0.19 loss in 1Q 2022). Revenue: €502.6m (up 58% from 1Q 2022). Net income: €91.3m (up €98.7m from 1Q 2022). Profit margin: 18% (up from net loss in 1Q 2022). The move to profitability was driven by higher revenue. Over the next year, revenue is forecast to grow 29%, compared to a 9.3% growth forecast for the industry in the United Kingdom. Over the last 3 years on average, earnings per share has increased by 63% per year but the company’s share price has only increased by 49% per year, which means it is significantly lagging earnings growth.

AT & S Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik Aktiengesellschaft Provides Earnings Guidance for the Financial Year 2022-2023 and 2025-2026

AT & S Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik Aktiengesellschaft provided earnings guidance for the financial year 2022-2023 and 2025-2026. In the financial year 2022-2023, AT&S will continue to concentrate on the start-up of the new production capacities at plant III in Chongqing, push ahead the investment project in Kulim and the expansion of the site in Leoben and implement technology upgrades at other locations. The expectations for AT&S’s segments are currently as follows: the market conditions for IC substrates continue to offer significant growth opportunities in the medium term. The 5G mobile communication standard as well as the module printed circuit board business will remain positive drivers in the area of Mobile Devices. In the Automotive segment, the semiconductor shortage should ease somewhat and the growth trend should therefore intensify. In the Industrial and Medical segments, AT&S expects a continued positive development for the current financial year. As part of the strategic projects, the management is planning investments totaling up to €1 billion for the financial year 2022-2023 depending on the progress of projects. Roughly €150 million are budgeted for basic investments. Planned investments amounting to €100 million of the investment budget for the financial year 2021-2022 have been postponed to the financial year 2022/23. As a result, the planned investment volume totals €1,250 million. In view of the good development of the first quarter, AT&S confirms its outlook for the financial year 2022-2023. Revenue is expected to total €2.2 billion. Taking into account effects of the ramp-up of the new production capacities in Kulim, Leoben and Chongqing amounting to approximately €75 million, the adjusted EBITDA margin should range between 27 and 30%. The exchange rates expectations for the current years are based on 1.07 euros/US dollar and 6.9 euros/RMB. AT&S expects volatility in the market environment to increase in the second half of the year. The management will carefully monitor such developments and take appropriate measures as required.The progress of the production capacity expansion in Chongqing and in Kulim, as well as the expansion of the site in Leoben is still positive despite the challenging global economic and health situation. Therefore, AT&S assumes that revenue of €3.5 billion will be generated in the financial year 2025-2026 and expects an EBITDA margin in the range from 27 to 32%.

Investor sentiment improved over the past week

After last week's 16% share price gain to €49.90, the stock trades at a forward P/E ratio of 12x. Average forward P/E is 22x in the Electronic industry in the United Kingdom. Total returns to shareholders of 239% over the past three years.

Upcoming dividend of €0.90 per share

Eligible shareholders must have bought the stock before 26 July 2022. Payment date: 28 July 2022. Payout ratio is a comfortable 33% and this is well supported by cash flows. Trailing yield: 1.6%. Lower than top quartile of British dividend payers (5.3%). In line with average of industry peers (1.6%).

AT & S Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik Aktiengesellschaft Approves Dividend for the Financial Year 2021/22 , Payable on July 28, 2022