Fellow Finance - Guidance for 2019 lowered

Lowered guidance for sales and profitability

Fellow Finance gave an updated guidance, according to which the 2019 revenue is expected to grow by over 20% (prev. over 30%) while the adjusted operating profit is expected to be lower than in (prev. grow from) 2018. The guidance revision is mainly due to a lower than expected intermediated loan volume and a more aggressive than international expansion strategy. Based on monthly figures the intermediated loans saw good growth during early to mid H1, with the summer months having exhibited a growth pace decline.

Our 2019 adj. EBIT estimate lowered by some 40%

For Fellow Finance to achieve the new guidance a pick-up in intermediated loan volume growth will be needed in H2/19. The more aggressive execution of the international expansion strategy should support volume growth. On our revised estimates we expect a 25% y/y growth in intermediated loan volumes during H2/19 and 2019 sales to grow 22% to EUR 14.6m (prev. 16.5m). The guidance given for operating profit leaves room for notable uncertainty regarding profitability levels. We estimate a 2019 adj. operating profit of EUR 2.6m (prev. 4.5m), down from EUR 3.5m in 2018, based on the expected lower revenue while keeping our cost structure estimates essentially unchanged.

HOLD (BUY) with a target price of EUR 5.5 (9.0)

On our revised estimates valuation does not appear particularly attractive. Fellow Finance will post H1/19 results on August the 23rd, which should provide much-needed clarity on earnings development and outlook. On our clearly lower estimates and increased uncertainty we downgrade to hold ahead of the H1 results with a target price of EUR 5.5 (9.0).