CPAXT will be one of the sector’s main gainers on government stimulus now under consideration: the digital wallet and welfare card schemes. With 3Q24TD showing better SSS growth than peers, we expect 3Q24F earnings to grow YoY on better sales and margin, then rise to the year’s best in 4Q24F (up YoY and QoQ). With business restructuring on track, synergy will be seen gradually in 4Q24F and more clearly in mid-2025F and be a medium-term catalyst. We maintain Outperform with an end-2024 DCF TP of Bt39 (WACC of 7.0%, LT growth of 2.5%). To gain on new government stimulus. Newspapers report that the new government is considering measures to boost domestic consumption. As a part of the Bt10,000 handout for 50mn Thais worth Bt450bn in the digital wallet scheme, which is expected to proceed, the new government is considering first enacting an urgent new measure of a Bt10,000 handout for vulnerable groups on a welfare card scheme worth Bt145bn, effective within September. Details and timeline of the new measures have not been provided, pending approval. Digital wallet scheme: According to details from the prior government, the first round of transactions will involve small retail shops, including modern trade CVS business and the second round will be retailer to retailer. We see CPAXT as poised to gain directly from sales (24% of consolidated sales) to food retailers & distributors in the B2B unit and small stores in the B2C unit. Welfare card scheme: CPAXT will gain directly, via 24% of sales if conditions are similar to the digital wallet scheme or 14% of sales if spending at traditional trade is unchanged, supporting sales to food retailers and distributors in the B2B unit. It will benefit indirectly from better purchasing power. We have not yet factored any sales upside into our forecast. Solid 2H24F earnings. In 3Q24TD, we estimate SSS growth to lead peers: +2% YoY at the B2B unit in Thailand, +2-5% YoY and +5-7% YoY at the B2C unit in Thailand and Malaysia. We expect 3Q24F earnings to grow YoY from better sales and margin with more high-margin fresh food products and controlled SG&A/sales (lower utilities and operating expenses on the earlier closure of non-performing small B2C stores) but be flat/down QoQ on seasonality. Its 4Q24F earnings will grow both YoY and QoQ to this year’s high. Synergy from business restructuring ahead. CPAXT’s business restructuring is on track. Upon completion in early 4Q24, CPAXT targets synergy from the B2B and B2C units under the new company of Bt5bn in 4Q24-2027: 50% will come from sales and margin improvement and the rest from capex reduction. CPAXT expects synergy to start to be seen gradually in 4Q24 from back office cost savings, i.e. system and insurance expenses, and more clearly in mid-2025 from joint purchasing and distribution from repackaging products in small and large sizes in the B2B and B2C units. Note that we have factored in Bt1.7bn in 4Q24-2027 in P&L business synergy post amalgamation (below its target of Bt2.5bn). Key risks are changes in purchasing power and government policies, and market competition. Key ESG risks are energy management, sustainable products (E), and labor/employment practices (S). |