Morningstar | Mixed Quarter for Sodexo, but Still on Track to Recovery
Narrow-moat Sodexo, our best idea in food services, posted a somewhat mixed third quarter. While organic revenue growth came in above our and the Street’s expectations at 3.5%, management’s full-year guidance appears to have been taken rather less positively by investors. Full-year organic revenue growth guidance was at the top of the range at 3%; however, operating margin guidance was at the bottom of the range at 5.5%. Although a 5.5% operating margin represents little improvement on 2018, a top-line growth rate of 3% is a clear indication to us that the company is getting back on track following its profit warning last year. As such, we do not expect to make any material changes to our forecasts, and we reiterate our EUR 117 fair value estimate. We still see attractive upside potential from the prevailing share price.At the first-half results, we highlighted the shift into positive territory for Sodexo’s two problematic North American businesses; education, and healthcare and seniors. In the last quarter, we saw further improvement from a revenue growth perspective, with the former growing 1.4% and the latter 2.2% over the period. However, the company has admitted that client retention in the North American healthcare business has been difficult, resulting in the loss of several midsize contracts, which will affect next year. While this is disappointing, we believe it is more reflective of the timing of contracts and the competitive operating environment in this area than anything structurally wrong with the offering, evidenced by the fact that new business here continues to grow.
Longer term, we believe the fragmented nature of the food services industry offers large players such as Sodexo a significant opportunity to increase market share at the expense of local/regional players. This is particularly true with international clients, which prefer the increased level of control and ease in dealing with one main food services provider.
Sodexo is a services company which partners with companies, institutions and local authorities. Co. designs, manages and delivers Quality of Life services. Co.'s offers are: On-Site Service Solutions (Co.'s services are: Corporate, Defense, Justice Services, Remote sites, Health Care, Seniors, Education and Sports and Leisure), Benefits and Rewards Services Solutions (Co.'s offers focus on the following services: recruit and retain employees and increase their motivation; mobilize teams around quantitative or qualitative objectives; ensure delivery of Public Benefits), and Personal and Home Services (services in childcare; tutoring and adult education; concierge services and senior care).
Morningstar, Inc. is a leading provider of independent investment research in North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. The company offer an extensive line of products and services for individual investors, financial advisors, asset managers, and retirement plan providers and sponsors.
Morningstar provides data on approximately 530,000 investment offerings, including stocks, mutual funds, and similar vehicles, along with real-time global market data on more than 18 million equities, indexes, futures, options, commodities, and precious metals, in addition to foreign exchange and Treasury markets. Morningstar also offers investment management services through its investment advisory subsidiaries and had approximately $185 billion in assets under advisement and management as of June 30, 2016.
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