We expect CPALL to lead the sector with the best 2Q24F core earnings growth YoY at 26% YoY on better CVS sales and margin and more contribution from CPAXT. 2H24F growth will top peers YoY, with solid growth from both CVS and CPAXT. With the highest sales exposure/linkage to the digital wallet, CPALL is also the sector proxy for progress on the scheme (no upside as yet factored into our forecast), with a subcommittee meeting scheduled for July 10 to finalize the conditions, with submission to the Cabinet on July 30. CPALL is now trading at 22x 24PE (-2S.D. over its 10-year PE). All of these will help to turn CPALL’s share price underperformance relative to SET at 3% over a month to improve. Maintain Outperform with an end-2024 DCF TP (WACC 7%, LT growth 2.5%) of Bt77. Catalyst #1: 2Q24F to top the sector YoY. We expect CPALL to report a 2Q24F net profit of Bt5.8bn, +31% YoY but -8% QoQ. Removing extra items (-Bt162mn in 2Q23 and +Bt298mn in 1Q24) uncovers 2Q24F core profit of Bt5.8bn, +26% YoY but -4% QoQ, the sector’s best YoY growth based on the following factors. First, CVS sales will be raised via SSS growth of 4% YoY (vs +4.9% YoY in 1Q24) and store expansion (+150 stores to 14,880 stores, +5% YoY and +1% QoQ). Second, CVS gross margin is estimated to widen YoY on higher sales of high-margin personal care and ready-to-eat (RTE) items brought by the return of tourists and more impulse buying and a drop in low-margin cigarette sales. Third, CVS SG&A/sales will be under control, with lower electricity costs and other costs curtailed by better sales. Lastly, earnings contribution from CPAXT will be higher, with 2Q24F core profit of Bt2bn, +20% YoY from better sales and EBIT margin (wider gross margin and lower SG&A/sales) but -18% QoQ on seasonality.
Catalyst #2: Solid growth YoY in 2H24F. We expect 2H24F core earnings to exhibit the sector’s most outstanding YoY growth, with growth coming from both the CVS unit (sales and margin upped by the return of tourists, more impulse buying and new high-margin products, i.e., RTE and RTD products) and from CPAXT (sales and margin improvement, contributed by both B2B and B2C units).
Catalyst #3: Sector’s proxy to digital wallet. On July 8, Thailand’s deputy finance minister said the timeline for the digital wallet scheme remains on track, with a subcommittee meeting on July 10 to finalize conditions, followed by a policy committee meeting chaired by the Prime Minister on July 15. The PM will then announce the project details on July 24 before it goes to the Cabinet on July 30. Consultations with the legal committee will take place after this date. We have not yet included any earnings upside from the digital wallet. If implemented in 4Q24F, we expect CPALL will gain the most in the sector as 56% of its consolidated sales are linked to this scheme via its convenience stores and by CPAXT’s contribution from food retailers and distributors in B2B and small B2C stores.
Key risks are changes in purchasing power and government policies. Key ESG risks are energy management, sustainable products (E), and labor/employment practices (S).
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