Reporting Season Round-Up: Data#3, Graincorp, Newcrest Mining

Data #3 (ASX: DTL): Strong earnings, backlog to bolster FY23 earnings

Market reaction as at 1040AEST: +2.19$ ($7.46)

Reports H1:

• Record revenue of $1.17bn vs. estimates of $1.16bn

• Record net profit of $17.1m vs. estimates of $17.4m 

• Revenue and net profit rose 16.7% and 38.1% respectively

• Interim dividend of 10 cents per share (fully franked, ex-dividend date of 17 March)

FY23 guidance:

• “The pipeline of large integration project opportunities continues to build as large corporates and government bodies drive transformation agendas … strategic focus on services growth remains an integral part of our software and infrastructure offering, while further improving our margins.” - CEO Laurence Baynham

• No specific guidance provided for FY23

• The company expects sales to peak in the months of May and June, with a profit skew in the second half, in line with previous years

Graincorp (ASX: GNC): FY23 expected to ease from record FY22

Market reaction as at 1040AEST: +5.15% ($7.76)

Provides FY23 earnings guidance:

• Adjusted EBITDA between $470-530m vs. estimates of $434.1m

• Grain exports of 8.5m tonnes to 9.5m tonnes

• Current export program tracking slightly behind last year at 3.0m tonnes year-to-date due to delayed harvest and logistical challenges but full program expected to be in-line with FY22

Outlook commentary from CEO Robert Spurway:

• “We expect GrainCorp to deliver a strong result in FY23 with our supply chains continuing to run at close to full capacity, strong execution from our teams, and positive global demand.”

• “While the recent harvest was interrupted by rain events, with flooding creating challenges for many growers, our teams worked with our grower customers to manage these challenges and bring the crop in.”

• “We also expect strong summer crop receivals in FY23, with total sorghum production forecast to be the fourth highest on record at 2.6 million tonnes.”

Newcrest Mining (ASX: NCM): Rejects Newmont takeover, FY23 earnings beat

Market reaction as at 1040AEST: -1.32% ($23.99)

Newcrest rejected Newmont’s acquisition offer of 0.380 Newmont shares for each Newcrest share held. The board believes the offer does not provide sufficient value for shareholders.

Reports 1H:

• Revenue of $2.12bn vs. estimates of $2.04bn

• EBITDA of $919m vs. estimates of $816.9m

• Revenue and EBITDA both up 24% compared to 1H22

• Free cash flow of -$204m vs. estimates of -$66m

• All-in sustaining cost of $1,089, down 8% on pcp

• Realised gold price of $1,696, down 2% on pcp

• Interim dividend of US 15 cents per share plus a special dividend of US 20 cents per share reflecting early repayment of credit facility

FY23 guidance:

• Capex between $1.42-1.63bn

• Reaffirmed previous production guidance of 2.1-2.4m ounces of gold and 135-155,000 tonnes of copper

• “Newcrest is in an excellent position, and with positive momentum for gold and copper prices continuing into 2023, we look forward to a stronger second half of the year.” - Interim CEO Sherry Duhe

Sonic Healthcare (ASX: SHL) profits down -54% but dividend 42c

Market reaction as at 1040AEST: +6.95% ($31.08)

Reports H1:

• Profits down -54% vs 1HFY22 ($382m)

• Revenue of $4.08bn vs expectations of $4.13bn

• COVID revenue $379m down -72% vs 1HFY22

• Interim dividend of 42c (100% franked)

FY23 outlook:

• "Currently progressing several acquisition and contract opportunities"

• "As a result of Sonic's expanding operations outside Australia, Sonic is exposed to currency exchange rate translation risk"

Evolution Mining (ASX: EVN) misses earnings expectations, 2c dividend

Market reaction as at 1040AEST: -3.63% ($2.92)

Reports H1:

• Underlying NPAT of $103m (+3% yoy)

• Revenue of $1.13bn in line with expectations

• EBITDA of $446.2m vs expectations of $464.6m

• Interm dividend of 2c (100% franked)

• Gold production at 327,502oz

FY23 outlook:

• Production and cost guidance unchanged

• "The level of capital invested in growth projects, predominantly at Cowal and Red Lake, significant reduced the Group cash flow for the period"

Whitehaven Coal (ASX: WHC) beats profit expectations but cuts dividend

Market reaction as at 1040AEST: -4.40% ($7.83)

Reports H1:

• H1 NPAT of $1.8bn vs expectations of $1.74bn

• Revenue $3.81bn vs expectations of $3.78bn

• EBITDA $2.65bn vs expectations of $2.61bn

• Interim dividend of 32c, down from expected 44c

• WHC achieved coal price of $552 a tonne and a unit cost of $96 a tonne

FY23 guidance:

• Unit cost of coal excl. royalties $95-$102/tonne

• "We continue to see a focus by Asian end users on meeting their energy security requirements with significant interest for high-CV thermal coal from April 2023 onward"

Domain Holdings (ASX: DHG) – Notes “challenging” market

Market reaction as at 1040AEST: +2.61% ($3.14)

Reports H1:

• H1 underlying NPAT $15.9m versus expectations of $18.7m

• Revenue $186.6m against expectations of $183.1m

• EBITDA A$49.3m versus guidance of $48m

• Interim DPS 2.0c, fully franked; record 23-Feb, payable 14-Mar

FY23 outlook:

• DHG notes that trading in Jan-23 reflects a continuation of the challenging market environment experienced in FY23 Q2. Domain's success in signing new and upgraded depth contracts provides significant upside once market conditions stabilise

• FY23 costs are expected to be A$250-255M, consistent with the guidance provided to the market in Dec-22

• Reaffirmed its expectation for a “low single digit percentage point” reduction in group EBITDA margin in financial year 2023

South32 (ASX: S32) beats profits expectations for the first half

Market reaction as at 1040AEST: -2.60% ($4.50)

Reports H1:

• H1 underlying NPAT $560m vs expectations of $501.8m

• Statutory NPAT $685m

• Revenue $4.52bn ex-items vs expectations of $4.36bn

• Underlying EBITDA $1.36bn vs expectations of $1.34bn

• Interim dividend $0.049/sh (100% franked), down from last year’s $0.087/sh

FY23 guidance:

• Production guidance unchanged

• “Operating unit cost guidance has been lowered or held largely unchanged for the majority of our operations”

Telstra (ASX: TLS): Solid results and a dividend increase

Market reaction as at 1040AEST: +0.48% ($4.16)

Reports H1:

• NPAT attributable from ordinary activities $865m vs year-ago $698m

• Revenue up 6.4%, from $10.89bn a year ago to $11.58bn – ahead of expectations of $11.04bn

• Underlying EBITDA up 12%, from $3.47bn a year ago to $3.9bn – ahead of expectations of $3.8bn

• Interim dividend 8.5cps, +6.3% from a year ago

FY Guidance (Jun 2023):

• Revenue $23-25bn versus expectations of $23.2bn

• Underlying EBITDA $7.8-8.0 versus expectations of $7.91bn

• Telstra noted in its update that it has made “good early progress” on its new growth plan, whist guidance was reaffirmed across all metrics.

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG): Operating EPS up 10%

Market reaction as at 1040AEST: +0.86% ($19.98)

Reports H1:

• H1 operating EPS $0.464, up 10.7% on last year’s $0.419 – expectations were for $0.47

• Operating profit $876.5m, up from $786.2m last year (+11%)

• Statutory NPAT $1.09bn, down from $2bn last year

• Total revenue $1.02bn, down from $1.03bn last year

• Interim distribution 15cps, flat y/y; record 31-Dec-22, payment 24-Feb-23

Outlook:

• FY DPS guidance 30cps

• Expects operating EPS growth of +13.5% y/y

• Goodman upgraded its full year guidance, now expecting full year operating EPS growth of 13.5%, up from 11%.

Bapcor (ASX: BAP): Sneaks modest profit growth amid tough environment for retailers

Market reaction as at 1040AEST: +3.87% ($6.45)

Reports H1:

• Reports H1 pro-forma NPAT $62m, up 2% from last years $60.7m

• Revenue $1.00bn, up 11% on last years $900.1m

• Pro-forma EBITDA $146.3m, up 7% on last year’s $137.2m

• DPS 10.5c, fully franked

Trading update and outlook:

• Bapcor expects a solid underlying performance in FY23 with slight improvements in trading in 2H23 compared to 1H23. The final result, however, will be subject to market conditions.