Report

Cognor - Rebar Margins Reach Record Highs

According to the Polish Union of Steel Distributors, in June prices of steel rebar in the domestic market have spiked to a record level of PLN 4,000/t. Thanks to a much slower rise in the costs of secondary steel inputs, in the last few days the margins for rebar producers have skyrocketed toPLN 2,000/t as compared with a 2020 average of PLN 900/t. This implies record profits for Cognor’s subsidiary rebar producer Ferrostal , indicating potential for record earnings in the full FY2021 (at a projected PLN 222m) similar to those achieved in 2007 (PLN 227m). With this, we see Cognor’s net debt as decreasing below PLN 40m at the end of 2021, potentially giving rise to expectations of higher 2021 dividends which, in our view, could be raised to PLN 0.44 per share to make dividend yield of over 12%. We have updated our models for Cognor to reflect the rally in rebar prices, the upward shift in prices of scrap, and an uptrend in electricity costs, as well as revising higher our dividend expectations for 2021 and 2022. In the long term, we see continued growth in rebar demand driven by Poland’s planned new infrastructure stimulus.

Underlying
Cognor Holding SA

Cognor Holding SA, formerly Cognor SA, is a Poland-based company that operates in the steel industry. The Company's activities are divided into four business segments: Scrap, Production, Distribution and Other. The Scrap division focuses on buying, processing, refining and selling of scrap metal and nonferrous scrap. The Production division is responsible for processing scrap metal into steel billets, as well as converting steel billets and nonferrous scrap into finished products. The Distribution division sells various commodities, such as steel products, steel and nonferrous scrap and steel billets. The Other division includes materials recycling, among others. The Company's products range comprises metal bars, steel sheet, plates, pipes and rods, as well as sheet zinc and tin plates, among others. It operates through a number of subsidiaries, such as Cognor Blachy Dachowe SA, Zlomrex Metal Sp z o o and Huta Stali Jakosciowych SA. The Company is controlled by PS Holdco Sp z o o.

Provider
mBank
mBank

Set up in 1986, mBank (originally BRE – Export Development Bank) is Poland’s 4th largest universal banking group in terms of total assets and 5th by net loans and deposits at the end of June 2019. mBank has one of the oldest brokerages in Poland – we have been providing brokerage services since 1991 - and the biggest, serving about 300 ths clients.

We provide all brokerage services available in the Polish capital market (i.e. Warsaw Stock Exchange, non-public markets and forex) in a way that meets the expectations of all groups of investors, both individual and institutional. Participating in the dynamic growth of the Polish capital market since its inception, we have acquired competences and experience needed to provide the highest quality of service and we have won the trust and satisfaction of our Clients.

Over the past decade, mBank's Equity Research Team has been consistently ranked among the top research teams in Parkiet's annual institutional investor surveys (Parkiet is Poland's leading daily business newspaper). mBank analysts provide coverage on an extensive list of companies, mainly in Poland but also elsewhere in the CEE region: Austria, Czechia, Portugal, Ukraine and Hungary. 

Clients get access to a comprehensive selection of research products including daily market insights, monthly roundups, macroeconomic views, industry- and company- specific analyses, investing strategies, earnings comments, etc.

We give our institutional clients numerous opportunities to connect with industry professionals, top executives, and leading analysts:

  • Get direct access to senior management teams at listed companies (over 30 meetings in 2018),
  • Engage in our many industry events, featuring listed Polish and global firms (in 2018, we hosted sector-themed conferences around industrials, chemical companies, telecoms, retail, and financials, and co-hosted a Best of Poland investors' with Commerzbank and the Warsaw Stock Exchange),
  • Stay informed through an array of enlightening discussion panels, workshops, and briefing sessions with regulatory officials.

Other Reports on these Companies
Other Reports from mBank

ResearchPool Subscriptions

Get the most out of your insights

Get in touch