1Q21 Earnings Rose 43%, Beating Estimates On Lower-Than-Expected Opex
1Q21 Earnings Rose 43%, Beating Estimates On Lower-Than-Expected Opex
1Q21 Earnings Rose 43%, Beating Estimates On Lower-Than-Expected Opex
Whisky segment sees robust growth. Sales from EMP’s whisky segment grew by 27.2%
y/y to Php3.9Bil. Recall that 1Q20 sales of the whisky business declined by 7.7% y/y as
operations were negatively affected by the early onset of the pandemic. Nevertheless,
EMP’s whisky business saw strong demand in the first quarter of 2021, up 17% compared
to pre-pandemic sales in 1Q19. Growth was led by the continued pick up in off-premise
and e-commerce channels. Its Jura brand is now the number 1 brand in the UK off-trade,
delivering 38% volume growth. Meanwhile, its Tamnavulin brand holds the number 2
spot with volumes up 80% y/y. EMP said most international markets are recovering amid
the reopening of the global economy with Asian markets leading the growth. The strong
topline growth of the whisky business was complemented by better product mix with GPM
up 670 bps y/y as well as lower operating expenses. These factors allowed whisky profits to
grow 122% y/y and 9% higher versus pre-pandemic profits.
Maintain HOLD rating. We currently have a HOLD rating on EMP with a FV estimate
of Php9.5/sh. EMP’s international segment has done very well despite the pandemic. We
expect the whisky business to continue driving EMP’s long term growth amid its strong and
fast-growing brand portfolio, which has grabbed significant share across global markets.
Domestic brandy operations has also improved amid the steady reopening of the economy
and cost containment efforts. At EMP’s current price of Php9.3/sh, however, there is no
more upside to our FV estimate.
FORECAST SUMMARY
Year to December 31 (Php Mil) 2017 2018 2019 2020E 2021E 2022E
Revenues 42,206 46,346 50,260 50,952 54,328 57,562
%change y/y 4.3% 9.8% 8.4% 1.4% 6.6% 6.0%
EBITDA 8,631 9,511 10,024 11,163 11,612 11,841
%change y/y -14.9% 10.2% 5.4% 11.4% 4.0% 2.0%
EBITDA margin 20.4% 20.5% 19.9% 21.9% 21.4% 20.6%
Net Profit 6,322 6,658 6,726 7,796 8,061 8,147
%change y/y -17.8% 5.3% 1.0% 15.9% 3.4% 1.1%
Net profit margin 15.0% 14.4% 13.4% 15.3% 14.8% 14.2%
EPS (in Php) 0.39 0.41 0.42 0.48 0.50 0.51
%change y/y -17.8% 5.3% 2.6% 14.1% 3.4% 1.1%
RELATIVE VALUE
P/E(X) 23.6 22.4 21.8 19.1 18.5 18.3 Justin Richmond Cheng
ROE(%) 11.5% 11.6% 11.0% 11.7% 11.3% 10.7% Research Analyst
Dividend Yield (%) 2.0% 1.7% 1.8% 1.8% 2.0% 2.1% justin.cheng@colfinancial.com
*So urce: EM P , COL estimates
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the COL Financial website as these may be subject to tampering or unauthorized alterations.
EARNINGS ANALYSIS I EMP: 1Q21 EARNINGS ROSE 43%, BEATING ESTIMATES ON
LOWER-THAN-EXPECTED OPEX
EMP’s 1Q21 earnings rose 43% y/y to Php2.1Bil, outperforming both COL and consensus
estimates at 25.9% and 26.5% of full-year forecasts, respectively. The outperformance
was mainly due to lower-than-expected operating expenses as sales were in line.
Operating expenses during the quarter contracted by 14% y/y to Php1.5Bil amid reduced
spending due to lockdowns and ongoing travel bans. In particular, the ongoing travel
restrictions led to lower salaries and wages (-3.4%), advertising costs (-8.4%), and travel
and transportation (-35%), among others. Meanwhile, EMP’s sales grew 14.5% y/y to
Php11.9Bil. This was in line with COL estimates (21.8% of FY) but ahead of consensus
(24.8% of FY) as 1Q sales historically accounted for 20-21% of full-year figures. Broken
down, both brandy (+7.7%) and scotch whisky (+27.2%) recorded higher sales during the
quarter.
% of estimates
1Q20 1Q21 % change
in Php Mil COL Consensus
Sales 10,360 11,858 14.5% 21.8 24.8
Gross profit 3,410 3,898 14.3% 21.6 23.7
Gross profit margin 32.9% 32.9% - - -
Operating income 1,678 2,412 43.7% 25.7 24.0
Operating income margin 16.2% 20.3% - - -
Net income 1,457 2,084 43.0% 25.9 26.5
Net income margin 14.1% 17.6% - - -
Sales from EMP’s brandy business grew 7.7% y/y to Php8.2Bil, notwithstanding some
liquor restrictions in certain areas of the Philippines. This is an improvement relative to
the 1.4% sales decline in 1Q20. Growth was achieved amid improving demand for both
local and offshore brandy sales (e.g. USA, UK, and Mexico). Its Emperador and Fundador
brands both saw increasing sales during the quarter. Meanwhile, gross profit margin
(GPM) from the brandy business dropped 380 bps y/y to 28.2% amid higher input costs
and a more unfavorable sales mix. Nevertheless, profits from the brandy business still
managed to grow 20.4% y/y to Php1.4Bil. This was largely due to EMP’s continued cost
control initiatives over marketing, promotions, and representation expenses.
Sales from EMP’s whisky segment grew by 27.2% y/y to Php3.9Bil. Recall that 1Q20 sales
of the whisky business declined by 7.7% y/y as operations were negatively affected by the
early onset of the pandemic. Nevertheless, EMP’s whisky business saw strong demand in
the first quarter of 2021, up 17% compared to pre-pandemic sales in 1Q19. Growth was
led by the continued pick up in off-premise and e-commerce channels. Its Jura brand is
now the number 1 brand in the UK off-trade, delivering 38% volume growth. Meanwhile,
its Tamnavulin brand holds the number 2 spot with volumes up 80% y/y. EMP said most
international markets are recovering amid the reopening of the global economy with
Asian markets leading the growth. The strong topline growth of the whisky business was
complemented by better product mix with GPM up 670 bps y/y as well as lower operating
expenses. These factors allowed whisky profits to grow 122% y/y and 9% higher versus
pre-pandemic profits.
Biggest brandy company in the world 2017 2018 2019 2020E 2021E 2022E
Gross Profit Margin 34.6% 34.6% 33.7% 32.3% 33.3% 33.9%
Emperador is the largest brandy company EBITDA Margin 20.4% 20.5% 19.9% 21.9% 21.4% 20.6%
in the world. The strong organic growth of Operating Profit Margin 20.9% 18.5% 15.9% 17.7% 17.3% 16.6%
its Emperador brandy has made it the best- Net Profit Margin 15.0% 14.7% 13.6% 15.3% 14.8% 14.2%
Times Interest Earned (X) 9.87 10.46 10.21 11.65 11.56 11.19
selling brandy brand in the world, selling Current Ratio (X) 3.04 2.77 2.24 2.52 2.60 2.71
around 30 Mil cases each year. Emperador Net D/E Ratio (X) 0.48 0.54 0.43 0.34 0.28 0.23
Days Inventory 217.8 223.6 221.6 218.5 215.2 213.0
solidified its position as the biggest brandy
Days Receivable 129.1 148.7 172.3 154.7 154.7 154.7
company by acquiring Fundador in 2015 Days Payable 159.8 159.4 186.3 155.7 162.3 162.1
and Domecq brandies in 2016. Asset T/O (%) 37.8% 39.3% 39.9% 39.6% 40.2% 40.8%
ROAE (%) 10.6% 10.8% 10.2% 10.8% 10.4% 9.9%
Methodology 2020E
P/E
2021E 2020E
EPS Growth
2021E
Emperador Distillers 19.11 18.48 2.6% 3.4%
United Spirits Ltd. 49.94 54.30 1590.0% -802.4%
Heineken N.V 21.29 19.75 3.9% 7.8%
Remy Cointreau 34.27 30.23 13.3% 13.4%
Pernod Ricard SA 24.72 22.11 10.7% 11.8%
Diageo Plc 23.99 22.20 8.3% 8.1%
Davide Campari-Milan S.p.A. 32.88 29.14 12.1% 12.9%
Hite Jinro Co. 31.00 26.07 12.9% 12.6%
Industry Average 31.2 29.1 235.9% -105.1%
Industry Median 31.0 26.1 12.1% 11.8%
I MP OR TA NT R AT ING DEFINITIONS
BUY
Stocks that have a BUY rating have attractive fundamentals and valuations based on our analysis. We expect the share price to outperform the market in the
next six to 12 months.
HOLD
Stocks that have a HOLD rating have either 1) attractive fundamentals but expensive valuations 2) attractive valuations but near-term earnings outlook might
be poor or vulnerable to numerous risks. Given the said factors, the share price of the stock may perform merely in line or underperform in the market in the
next six to twelve months.
SELL
We dislike both the valuations and fundamentals of stocks with a SELL rating. We expect the share price to underperform in the next six to12 months.
I MP OR TA NT DISC L AIM ER
Securities recommended, offered or sold by COL Financial Group, Inc. are subject to investment risks, including the possible loss of the principal amount invested.
Although information has been obtained from and is based upon sources we believe to be reliable, we do not guarantee its accuracy and said information may
be incomplete or condensed. All opinions and estimates constitute the judgment of COL’s Equity Research Department as of the date of the report and are
subject to change without prior notice. This report is for informational purposes only and is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of
a security. COL Financial and/or its employees not involved in the preparation of this report may have investments in securities of derivatives of the companies
mentioned in this report and may trade them in ways different from those discussed in this report.
C O L R E S EAR C H T EAM