Suominen - Additional improvement is not easy
We expect gross margin to decline somewhat from now on
We estimate Americas and Europe to have continued to grow by 9% and 18% y/y respectively in Q4. These rates are very similar to the ones seen in Q3. We expect Q4 gross margin to have declined from the very high 17.1% Q3 figure to 15%, and thus estimate EBITDA down by EUR 4m q/q. USD has weakened by ca. 3% relative to EUR in the past three months and we update our estimates to incorporate the approximately EUR 10m headwind this represents to FY ’21 Americas revenue. We consequently estimate EBITDA down by about EUR 6m in FY ’21 due to pressure on gross margin. We would be surprised if Suominen guides profitability development to be better than flat.
Wipes demand is strong while input prices are recovering
Raw materials prices found their lows in Q4; there wasn’t yet any major spike. Prices have continued to climb so far this year, and this raises uncertainty regarding Suominen’s H1’21 gross margins. There was already negative nonwovens pricing pressure in Q4’20, following the weak H1’20 raw materials prices with a lag. In a more ordinary environment such developments would represent a clear hit on Suominen’s gross margin, however we see there’s still a chance these adverse forces will be somewhat muted by the current extraordinary wipes demand situation. Double-digit top line y/y growth is on the cards for Q4’20 and Q1’21, but beyond that the respective comparison periods turn challenging. We expect only flattish development beyond Q1’21.
Earnings multiples are still very reasonable
Last year has left the bar very high. We estimate Suominen to have recorded more than EUR 60m in FY ‘20 EBITDA and some EUR 40m in EBIT. We don’t see the company reaching such figures again any time soon, yet we expect EBITDA and EBIT to stabilize around ca. EUR 55m and EUR 35m during the next few years. On these estimates Suominen now trades around 6x EV/EBITDA and 10x EV/EBIT, a level which we continue to view attractive. We retain our EUR 6 TP and BUY rating.