PSH reported an 89.5% YoY and 68.5% QoQ plunge in 4Q23 net profit to Bt123mn, 62% below market consensus, on its lowest ever real estate gross margin and higher SG&A. This brought 2023 net profit to Bt2.2bn (-20.5%). In 2024, PSH aims for higher growth with a 46% jump in presales and 105% in new launches; we see this as challenging since competition is getting tougher and demand is limited in some segments. We maintain our tactical call of Underperform with a 2024 TP of Bt9.50/sh (from Bt10.0) on average PE (16 years) of 9.9x. 2H23 dividend is Bt0.65/share. 4Q23 net profit plunged 89.5% YoY and 68.5% QoQ to Bt123mn, a whopping 62% below consensus, pressured by its lowest ever real estate gross margin at 27.8% on holding fire sales to clear out inventory. Hospital business gross margin was 15%. Revenue was Bt5.8bn (-43.7% YoY but inched up 1.5% QoQ), 92% from real estate, backed by sale of inventory, and 8% from its hospital. SG&A was a high 27.3% from inventory sales promotions. EBIT was negative in 4Q23. 2023 net profit was Bt2.2bn (-20.5%), 9% below our forecast. 2024 targets: recovery in real estate and high growth in hospitality. PSH hopes for 2024 presales of Bt27bn (+46%) 75% from low-rise and 25% from condos, the highest in five years. It plans to launch 30 new projects with a total value of Bt29bn (+105%), 84% or Bt25bn low-rise (value up 77%) and 16% condos (value down 56%). In 2024 it will focus more on the mid and upper segments priced at Bt3-7mn/unit and up to avoid high cancellations and rejections. For its hospital, it aims at 27% growth to Bt2.3bn. We see the real estate target as quite challenging since high presales will have to come from higher value launches in the mid and upper segments where competition is tougher. It plans three real estate and wellness projects worth Bt8.8bn via its JV with ORI, with launches in 2025. Adjust 2024 forecast down slightly. PSH has current backlog of Bt4.46bn (68% to be booked as revenue in 2024 and 32% in 2025), with unsold inventory of Bt10bn, 42% condos and 58% low-rise. To clear this out, PSH will continue to use pricing and promotions this year and this has led us to adjust down our 2024 gross margin projection to 30.5% from 31%, but we keep our revenue forecast at Bt27.7bn (+14.5%). This lowers our net profit forecast to Bt2bn (-7%) from Bt2.16bn. We expect the hospital to contribute 8% of revenue. Risks and concerns. 1) Continued high rejections in the mid-low/low segments. 2) Stiff competition in ready-to-move (RTM) condos since many developers are trying to clear out inventory Maintain Underperform. Although investments and the hospital business are in a growth stage with returns expected to be higher in 2024, core business real estate will see a slower recovery. We thus maintain our tactical call of Underperform with a 2024 TP of Bt9.50/sh (from Bt10.0) on average PE (16 years) of 9.9x. 2H23 dividend was Bt0.65/share, a payout ratio of 95% (record high), with XD on Mar 1, giving yield of 5%. |