Disclaimer: This isn’t funding recommendation. PLEASE DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH !!!
As at all times with my extra detailed writeups, I’ll concentrate on the gernal part within the submit and fix the complete pdf for anybody within the particulars.
- Elevator pitch:
EVS Broadcast is a 400 mn EUR market cap Belgian expertise agency that’s the world chief in Reside sports activities broadcasting/manufacturing expertise that after earned margins increased than Nvidia does as we speak.
After a comparatively lengthy part of stagnation from 2008-2019, EVS appears to have discovered its path to respectable progress once more underneath new administration. The principle driver is a brand new expertise cycle that may shift the product choices from {hardware} targeted options to extra Software program/Saas merchandise and a transfer into adjoining markets (Studio manufacturing).
For an organization with EBIT margins > 20%, capital return >20%, web money and a focused progress charge of 10% p.a. (which they’ve achieved since 2019), the present valuation of ~9x EV EBIT or 10-11x P/E is grime low cost and provides appreciable upside for the affected person investor.
As EVS has been engaged on AI options since no less than 2017 and has already functioning merchandise to indicate, one will get any potential “AI upside optionality” for completely free.
- Introduction
The primary time I got here throughout EVS in 2014 on the weblog. Again then it seemed like a reasonably valued, extraordinarily worthwhile firm that had nonetheless some difficulty with regard to progress and potential additional Expertise modifications. Their preliminary progress got here from a expertise change from tapes to digital exhausting drives for which they grew to become the clear market chief within the area of interest of Sports activities broadcasting.
One other warning signal again then was that they only completed constructing their shiny new HQ.
Trying again, it was a sensible resolution to remain away, as the corporate shrank for a number of years till very not too long ago.
Then only recently, I got here throughout them as soon as extra in my “All Belgian Shares” collection and got interested.
What has modified at first sight is that since 2019 they’ve new administration and that particularly within the final 3 years the corporate managed to develop properly and stabilize margins on a nonetheless very engaging stage. Valuation sensible, the inventory is even cheaper than 2014.
So once I got here throughout the corporate as soon as once more within the Al Belgian Shares collection, I made a decision to do a brand new deep dive.
Full PDF:
- The Firm & the enterprise
EVS is a Belgian firm that’s comparatively younger, it was based in 1994 and went public in 1998. It was based by 2 individuals which since then have left the corporate. They acquired an organization in 1998 that introduced on board Michael Couson, who as we speak is the biggest shareholder with round 6%.
Right here is an outline of some KPIs:
6. Valuation/Return expectations
In a latest interview, the CEO reiterated his long run goal: Doubling of gross sales till 2030 (goal 350-400 in 2030). He explicitly talked about that he needs to attain this by means of natural progress and acquisition.
My brief type pitch can be the next: If you should buy one thing for a P/E of 10 or 11 that grows by 10% p.a. for a while and may be very worthwhile and has web money, you’ll very seemingly come out alright with restricted draw back danger.
The longer model appears to be like as follows:
The goal from the CEO represents a high line progress charge of ~10% p.a. . Assuming no fairness dilution, fixed profitability and the present dividend yield of three,6%, that progress charge ought to outcome in a return of round ~13-14% p.a. with none a number of enlargement..
That sounds fairly OK to me for such a top quality enterprise with no leverage and many others. .
If they really handle to ship on that, a a number of enlargement is extremely seemingly in some unspecified time in the future in time which may add one other 3-4% p.a.
Even when profitability goes down a bit of bit, this nonetheless ought to be greater than sufficient. Total I do assume that I may double my cash right here over the following 5 years (together with dividends).
12. Professional’s and Con’s
As at all times, earlier than coming to the conclusion, a fast record of professional’s and con’s:
- low valuation, low cost in comparison with margins and return on capitaö
- New CEO 2019, new CFO in 2021, progress since 2019 respectable after lengthy stagnation
- Might 2020 Acquisition of AXON
- Long run charts in Annual experiences and IR presentation
- Respectable aggressive benefits, nonetheless good margins
- 2024 giant occasion 12 months
- clear reporting, no bullshit changes
- low tax charge due to R&D Exemptions
- some share purchase backs in 2020 at very low costs, no additional buybacks
- Expertise change / new Funding cycle from On premise to distributed and HD to UHD
- Early mover in AI, Precise helpful AI purposes already realized that save prospects cash (cheaper cameras)
- some tailwind from growing recognition and significance of reside sports activities
- no apparent brief time period catalysts
- Development requires Working capital (stock, receivables)
- solely restricted share purchase backs
- 7 C-Stage staff (however whole comp OK)
- TV Studios as prospects are general in decline in decline
13. Conclusion and recreation plan:
Total, EVS Broadcast as we speak appears to be a really attention-grabbing inventory. Evidently the lengthy stagnation interval is over and that new administration is ready to ship respectable progress.
Based mostly on the very modest valuation of a P/E of 10-11 for 2024 (not contemplating the 4 EUR et money per share), the draw back appears to be fairly restricted.
Alternatively, if Administration may ship on its targets (10% progress p.a. till 2030), the upside might be substantial, even with out a number of enlargement.
In the event that they ship, for a global Expertise firm dominating its area of interest, considerably increased valuation multiples might be potential.
Subsequently I made a decision to allocate ~3,3% of the portfolio right into a “starter place”, reinvesting my Proceeds from my partial DEME sale.
The sport plan is straightforward: Sit tight and watch how the enterprise develops over the following 18-24 months and if the Administration can ship.
Appendix A) Bonus Soundtrack:
