Report
Valens Research

ADNT - Valens Credit Report - 2019 10 16

Cash bond markets are grossly overstating ADNT's credit risk with a YTW of 7.373% relative to an Intrinsic CDS of 253bps and an Intrinsic YTW of 2.193%. Additionally, Moody's is materially overstating ADNT's fundamental credit risk, with their highly speculative B2 credit rating seven notches lower than Valens' IG4+ (Baa1) rating

Incentives Dictate Behaviorâ„¢ analysis highlights mixed signals for creditors. ADNT's compensation framework should drive management to focus on all three value drivers: asset utilization, margin expansion, and top-line growth, which should lead to Uniform ROA improvement and increased cash flows available for servicing obligations going forward. In addition, management has low change-incontrol compensation relative to their average annual compensation, indicating they are unlikely to pursue a sale or buyout of the firm, reducing event risk

ADNT currently trades at a material discount relative to UAFRS-based (Uniform) Assets, with a 0.6x Uniform P/B (V/A'). At these levels, the market is pricing in expectations for Uniform ROA to fall from 4% in 2018 to 3% through 2023, accompanied by 1% Uniform Asset growth going forward. Given that valuations are likely being compressed by the market's inaccurate perception of the firm's credit risk, ADNT could see material credit-driven equity upside if credit spreads tighten, even without fundamental improvement. Moreover, at current levels, equity downside is likely limited, as asset values begin to offer a floor to valuations at these levels
Underlying
Adient plc

Provider
Valens Research
Valens Research

In 2009, just as the dust was settling from the last major equity and credit market crises, we launched a boutique research firm with the intention of breaking Wall Street’s biases and broken incentives:

  • GAAP and IFRS have failed to provide rules for reliable financial statement reporting
  • Stock analyst recommendations are not grounded in disciplined financial analysis
  • Credit agencies have been set up to grossly fail in their responsibilities to investors and the public markets
  • Utter lack of willingness of major research firms to employ the the most advanced forensic analysis available

We sought to provide investors and company analysts with a source of information that changed all that.
Many years later, our business model remains because little has changed on Wall Street.

  • Corporate credit ratings remain years behind the fundamental underpinnings of company performance
  • Stock analysts continue to make recommendations with deeply inherent biases
  • Research firms have failed to break down the walls between credit, equity, and macroeconomic research
  • The governing accounting bodies have created more leeway for mis-estimates and mis-classifications as financials have become unwieldy and overwhelming

The integrity of Valens Research is founded in our disciplined processes and analytics. No “star” analysts. No corporate advisory relationships. No-nonsense opinions and recommendations.

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