Fellow Finance - Profitability burdened by one-offs
Fellow Finance’s H2/21 results fell short from our estimates. Revenue declined slightly to EUR 5.2m (Evli EUR 5.8m) despite a 59% increase in brokered financing, as interest income decreased clearly. EBIT amounted to EUR -1.4m (Evli EUR -0.5m), impacted by the one-offs relating to the intended merger and increase in personnel expenses.
- Revenue in H2 amounted to EUR 5.2m (EUR 5.3m in H2/20), below our estimates (Evli EUR 5.8m). Revenue declined 1.4% y/y. The amount of brokered financing during H2/21 grew 59% y/y while fee income grew 35%. Interest income decreased clearly more than expected to EUR 1.2m (H2/20: EUR 2.3m) vs. our expectation of EUR 2.1m.
- Fellow Finance facilitated loans during H2 for a total of EUR 142.3m (EUR 84.3m in H2/20), growing 59%. Loan volumes continued on a good growth track also in H2, as seen throughout 2021, with volumes passing the EUR 20m mark on a monthly basis during the last months of 2021.
- The EBIT in H2 amounted to EUR -1.4m (EUR 0.8m in H2/20), below our estimates (Evli EUR -0.5m). Profitability was burdened by one-off expenses relating to the intended merger and a growth in personnel expenses. Without the non-recurring items, the result for 2021 would have been slightly positive.
- The EPS in H2 amounted to EUR -0.23 per share (EUR 0.02 in H2/20), below our estimate of EUR -0.12.
- Dividend proposal: The BoD proposes that no dividends be paid for FY2021 (Evli EUR 0.0).
- Guidance for 2022: Due to the significant changes in Fellow Finance’s business after the merger, the company does not currently provide a guidance.