ATHEX headed north yesterday for a 5th session in a row, outperforming the European stock markets. In more detail, the General Index rose by 0.13% at 1,408.05 units (FTSE Large Cap: +0.15%, FTSE Mid Cap: -0.05%, Banks Index: +0.40%) and the traded value was shaped at EUR 64.7m, down from Monday’s EUR 206.8m. We expect ATHEX to consolidate at current levels.
Macro Headlines
Brussels approves Greek budget plan
According to Kathimerini, the European Commission has given a positive evaluation of Greece’s 2025 budget plan and medium-term fiscal strategy. As a reminder, the draft budget for 2025e has been already submitted in the Greek parliament, will be discussed from 11th December and is expected to be approved on 15 December.
Sector Headlines
Press reports on extra tax on systemic banks are not valid-Government spokesman
Reportedly, the government’s spokesman stated that press reports about the imposition of an extra tax on systemic banks’ profits are not valid, but also cited that the government is scrutinizing all the tools, so that banks can adapt to the needs of the citizens.
Company Headlines
Fourlis 9M24 results out
Fourlis posted a strong set of results, with total revenues up by 4.6% YoY to EUR 407.6m, with revenue growth across all business units. EBITDA of the group reached EUR 44.4m, up by 10.9% YoY with margin improvement to 10.9% vs. 8.1 in 9M23 on the back of group’s competitive advantage in its supply chain. Finally, net profit jumped by 129.1% YoY to EUR 12.0m, doubling the respective margin to 2.9%. Management stated that the operating cash flow generation enables the group to follow its expansionary plan while also committed that will further reduce Net debt of the retail business from EUR 86.3m (vs. EUR c. 94m in FY23).
KRI KRI 9M24 results out
The company posted its results, with revenue up by 17.4% YoY to EUR 204.5m with yogurt segment total sales increase by 16.3% in value and 19.7% in volume terms (yogurt exports up by 29.9% YoY, while exports reached 62.2% of total sales). EBITDA of the group reached EUR 43.7m, up by 5.2% YoY, while net profit increased by 20.4% YoY to EUR 36.4m. Finally, the company has planned investments of EUR 50.0m for the next 3 years to further enhance its productivity.
SunriseMezz is trading ex-capital today
The stock is trading ex-capital return today (EUR: 0.0504/share, Yield: 16.3%) and payment will commence on 03 December.
PhoenixVega Mezz is trading ex-capital today
The stock will trade ex-capital return today (EUR: 0.0128/share, Yield: 14.3%) and payment will commence on 03 December.
Jumbo Share buyback
The company announced that it purchased on 25 November, 32,000 own shares at an average price of EUR 24.6975. The company now holds 515,663 shares or 0.38% of the total share capital.
The ASE Index finished on the flatline, on a relatively low EUR 64m turnover. The banking index posted 0.4% gains, with NBG gaining 1.5%, offsetting Bank of Cyprus 1.1% as well as Piraeus and Alpha Bank’s 0.6% losses. On non-financials, Hellenic Exchanges increased 2%, OPAP rose 1.4%, Titan finished 1% higher, followed by GEK Terna and PPA +0.8%. Cenergy recorded a 1.8% drop, PPC slipped 1.3%, while Aegean and OTE were down 1% on the day.
MACRO – CORPORATE NEWS
MACRO
The EU Commission approved Greece’s medium-term budget plan for the 2025-2028 period yesterday.
HELLENIQ ENERGY <ELPE GA, OW>
Reportedly, Edison’s decision regarding Helleniq Energy’s offer for the acquisition of the 50% stake in Elpedison will be announced next week. Elpedison’s value ranges from EUR 400m to EUR 600m.
TERNA ENERGY <TENERGY GA, OW>
According to press reports, the transfer of Terna Energy’s c.37% stake to Masdar is expected to be completed until Friday.
FOURLIS GROUP <FOYRK GA>
Fourlis released its 9M24 results yesterday, with the company on track to meet FY24 guidance. Revenues reached EUR 407.6m, up 4.6% yoy, driven by growth across all three retail segments as well as Trade Estates. Specifically, the retail business revenues increased 2.6% yoy, to a total of EUR 390m, with IKEA sales up 2.1% yoy at EUR 257.3m and Intersport’s revenues at EUR 130.7m (+2.9% yoy). Moreover, Holand and Barrett sales tripled over the nine-month period, at EUR 1.6m vs EUR 0.5m in the corresponding period of 2023. Group’s EBITDA (OPR) stood at EUR 44.4m, rising +40.9% yoy, with EBITDA margins improving further to 10.9%, supported by IKEA’s EBITDA performance (+40.4% yoy). EBIT reached EUR 37.5m compered to EUR 21.5m in 9M23, while profits after tax on a consolidated basis amounted to EUR 12m (+129% yoy). Groups’ net debt amounted to EUR m 307.9m, with retail business net debt down to EUR 86.3m. Trade Estates recorded a strong performance with FFO at EUR 10.7m, up 65.1% yoy, with NAV at EUR 2.5/share.
Market Comment // Trading within a tight range intraday, the Greek market eked out mild gains on Tuesday to reach 1,408 points (+0.13%). Daily turnover slid to just €64m though, markedly below recent levels and the 100-day MA of €120m. Ellaktor (+3.21%) led gainers, followed by Ideal (+2.63%) and ATHEX (+2.09%), while NBG, OPAP, Viohalco, AIA, ADMIE and Titan Cement all booked gains >1%. On the other hand, Optima Bank (-2.15%) and Cenergy (-1.86%) underperformed among laggards, followed by Kri Kri, Motodynamics, PPC, Bank of Cyprus and Aegean Airlines (all on >1% losses). EU futures point to a tepid opening today, as investors assess the potential US tariff implications and position themselves for the crucial US PCE deflator figures to be announced later in the day.
Economy // The EC approved, as expected, Greece’s 2025 budget plan and medium-term fiscal strategy under its new economic governance framework. Of note is that Greece was one of the just 8 countries deemed in compliance with fiscal recommendations.
Kri-Kri // Kri Kri delivered blowout results above our estimates for yet another time, with 9M revenue rising +17.4% yoy (to €207.5m) driven by strong volume growth in international yogurt only partially offset by lower price/mix. Of note is that Q3 sales growth accelerated to 20% from 15.8% in H1’24. 9M EBIT reached €39.8m (+4.9% yoy; vs. our estimate of €37.9m) leading to a material growth in net profit given the lower tax rate (€36.4m, +20.4% yoy). Management’s FY’24 EBIT guidance (16% EBIT margin on sales >€245m) has already been surpassed, with 2024 poised to set a new record for the group and mid single digit upgrades to follow, by our math.
Fourlis // Q3’24 results were in line with our expectations, with 3.4% revenue growth for the OpCo being coupled with very strong gross margins (+1.8ppts yoy) only partly offset by higher expenses, thus leading to c5% growth in Q3 OpCo EBITDAaL (€11.9m). In a similar vein, OpCo EBIT increased to €8m, with the respective margin rising 10bps yoy to 5.5%. The Q3/9M results indicate upside risk to the FY24e OpCo guidance, as the latter implies a small yoy decline in Q4 OpCo EBIT.
Austriacard // New note on Austriacard where we recalibrate our numbers in light of the improved medium-term outlook and the strong Q3’24 results, which we argue place the group firmly on track to achieve the guidance for 10% revenue growth and 10-12% EBITDA growth in FY’24. We lift our 2024e adj. EBITDA forecast by c3%, pushing through similar upgrades for 2025-26e (c4-5%) now expecting +10% adj. EBITDA CAGR on an underlying basis of 9% revenue CAGR over the next 3 year period, predicated on greater volumes/mix in payment solutions and support from digitization and document management projects. Our valuation now places ACAG at a range of c€7.8-€9.7/share, with our baseline value at €8.6/share – slightly higher than our previous €8.2. This places ACAG at 6.3x 2025e EV/EBITDA, still at a significant discount vs the median valuation of the broad peer group.
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