Vaisala - CMD notes: Roadmap for profitable growth

Vaisala held its CMD last Friday, where the company provided insight into its businesses and updated strategy. Based on the CMD and updated financial targets, we see Vaisala’s roadmap for profitable growth as attainable and we have made smaller upward adjustments to our sales estimates. We maintain HOLD recommendation with new target price of 20 euros (prev. 18).

Updated financial targets – more emphasis on growth

Vaisala targets an average annual growth exceeding 5% and EBIT margin exceeding 12%. Earlier Vaisala’s objective was growth with an average annual growth of 5%, and to achieve 15% EBIT margin. The slightly more ambitious growth target is based on both organic and non-organic opportunities, with key areas of growth being liquid measurements, new industrial instruments, digital solutions, and wind lidars. The recent acquisitions of Leosphere (wind lidars) and K-Patents (liquid measurements), provide growth areas for both W&E and IM segments.

Roadmap for profitable growth

We have made minor upward changes to our sales estimates based on the presented roadmap and new financial targets. We expect 2019E net sales to be 390 MEUR (12% growth yoy, driven by Leosphere and K-Patents acquisitions) and EBIT to be 31 MEUR (43 MEUR adjusted for PPA and one-offs), representing 8% EBIT margin (11% adj. EBIT margin). For 2020-21E, we expect above 4% net sales growth, and we estimate EBIT margin to gradually improve from 8 % 2019E towards 10% 2021E (adjusted EBIT margin from 11% 2019E towards 12% in 2021E). Non-organic growth is very likely (although not reflected in our estimates), hence we see above 5% growth very achievable.

HOLD maintained with TP of 20€ (prev. 18)

On our estimates, Vaisala is trading close to par with our peer group on adjusted EV/EBIT multiples. On EV/Sales multiples, Vaisala is trading below peers, reflecting the potential valuation upside should Vaisala succeed in accelerating its profitable growth. We raise target price to 20 euros (prev. 18) but maintain HOLD recommendation.

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