Buy ‘oversold’ Breville on strength of global expansion: Morgan Stanley

Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG) was up around 3.55% at noon today after the tough love dished out to the share price since the release of its strong half year results. What is seemingly not being factored into the appliance manufacturer’s share price right now is Breville’s plans for global expansion.

Given recent weakness in the share price, and with global expansion offsetting any decline in industry tailwinds, Morgan Stanley flags what it regards as buying opportunity following the recent selloff and maintains an Overweight rating with a target price of $36.

Strong result

Breville reported a 23.6% jump in half-year FY22 revenue, to $878.7m, with net profit after tax (NPAT) of $77.7m, up 25.1% on first half FY21.It noted “strong” customer demand in its key markets, with revenue jumping 17% in North America, 39% in Europe, and 22% in Asia Pacific.

The business has “more than doubled in three years” the company noted. Breville blamed logistics issues for its lower North American top-line result, where congestion at the LA port constrained the company’s ability to satisfy customer orders.

The company also declared a fully-franked interim dividend of 15 cents per share, up from 13 cents per share paid in  the interim FY21 period.

Breville CEO Jim Clayton said the group was prepared to increase prices if inflation threatens margins.

Future Growth

Breville expects inflationary pressures and supply constraints to continue into the second half, but expects FY22 earnings of $156m, in line with current market consensus.

The company, which had $380m in untapped debt facilities and cash at the end of 2021, says it is investing into new markets and technologies and marketing strategies to boost growth.

Capital spending will increase in the second half above the $22m spent in the first half, the group said.

The group’s investment priorities include ‘swishy’ new ecommerce websites selling the company’s coffee grinders and machines and also offering videos and coffee-making classes by expert baristas.

The market has struggled with Breville over the last year.