reports
- Neil Shah
Game Digital - Suspension of estimates
For the purposes of the Takeover Code, Edison Investment Research is deemed to be connected with GAME Digital plc. Under Rule 20.1 Edison must not include any profit forecast, quantified financial benefits statement, asset valuation or estimate of other figures key to the offer, except to the extent that such forecasts, statements, valuations or estimates have been published prior to the offer period (as defined in the Takeover Code) by an offeror or the offeree company (as appropriate) in accor...
- Kate Heseltine
Game Digital - Good performance in a challenging market
Game Digital’s (GMD’s) core retail business performed well in a challenging market, with material planned cost savings absorbing an anticipated 1.4% decline in gross transaction value (GTV) and helping to deliver H119 EBITDA growth of 22%. We reduce our FY19 and FY20 EBITDA forecasts by c 8%, primarily reflecting current market headwinds and a shift in BELONG arena openings into subsequent years. The current share price represents a significant discount to our valuation of 69p.
- Kate Heseltine
Game Digital - Resilience over the peak trading period
Against a challenging retail landscape, Game Digital (GMD) delivered a solid sales performance and growth in higher-margin categories over the peak trading period, alongside ongoing cost efficiencies, which continue to counter trading pressures. Momentum in the BELONG roll-out, which accounts for a significant part of our 67p valuation, remains crucial.
Game Digital - Game on for BELONG
In a challenging market Game Digital (GMD) continues to make ground, meeting our 26% EBITDA growth forecast after achieving planned cost savings, despite the intensified swing to digital. In FY19 we expect the roll-out of BELONG to gather pace, as well as a continued fightback backed by the console industry. The value in our 67p valuation, other than cash of 33p, is in the BELONG roll-out, where continued momentum is crucial.
Game Digital - Part of the retail answer
Even as Game Digital (GMD) faces short-term trading pressure, its developing BELONG gaming arena concept is arguably part of the answer of what to do with the UK’s high streets and shopping centres. The first BELONG sites under the February 2018 agreement with Sports Direct are now opening. With GMD’s share price still less than net cash of 32p, neither the existing business, which currently contributes £10m of EBITDA, nor BELONG which we value at 23p, are attributed any value by the market...
Game Digital - Part of the retail answer
Even as Game Digital (GMD) faces short-term trading pressure, its developing BELONG gaming arena concept is arguably part of the answer of what to do with the UK’s high streets and shopping centres. The first BELONG sites under the February 2018 agreement with Sports Direct are now opening. With GMD’s share price still less than net cash of 32p, neither the existing business, which currently contributes £10m of EBITDA, nor BELONG which we value at 23p, are attributed any value by the market...
Game Digital - Pressures countered: BELONG moves ahead
Game Digital (GMD) has finished its year with cost measures countering trading pressures and with BELONG moving into action as the first, larger, sites open. The clearer future represented by BELONG is not reflected in the share price, which remains less than cash.
Game Digital - The (BE)long game
A year ago we titled our initiation note ‘The long game’. But growth is now more closely tied to the transformative expansion of BELONG, as well as retail formats under the recent collaboration agreement with Sports Direct. These plans represent a direct path to Game Digital’s future identity as a service-based business providing gaming experiences.
Game Digital - Good seasonal trading
Game Digital (GMD) has posted good sales growth over its first 23 weeks and even better results over the Christmas peak. While sales have been led by hardware, management is confident of covering any mix issue through cost savings, and we retain our forecast. With net cash at 35p, the market is valuing this business at 3.5x FY18e EBITDA, which looks misplaced.
Game Digital - Disposal of Multiplay Digital
Game Digital (GMD) has announced the sale of Multiplay (UK), which operates an online game server-hosting business. The disposal reflects a tightening of GMD’s strategy, announced in August, to focus on customers’ gaming interests. We do not expect a material effect on forecasts, but the immediate cash receipt reduces the FY18e EV/EBITDA multiple to only 1.8x.
Game Digital - Sales recovery sees strategy on track
Results confirm that the sales recovery signalled in August has been fully realised in terms of profit delivery. The business transformation strategy is on track, and Game Digital is successfully developing future growth areas such as digital content, virtual reality, BELONG arenas, and tournaments. With significant euro exposure, and buoyant retail growth in Q1 of the current year, an FY18e EV/EBITDA valuation of 2.1x looks misplaced.
Year end on track, the journey continues
Game Digital (GMD) is ending FY17 on revised expectations after demand for the Nintendo Switch caused a short-term hiatus, which we believe masks positive market developments. Refining its medium-term transition strategy, GMD is to exit its B2B web hosting operation. The market values GMD’s business at less than zero, but we keep our 83p share valuation.
Not a game changer
The reduction of profit expectations resulting from UK supply shortages of Nintendo’s Switch console shows, if proof were needed, that Game Digital is still tied into the old product-driven gaming cycle. It is still early days in terms of management’s mission to migrate to a more experiential model, which is where we locate the value. Although the share price has halved on short-term delays, on the main issue the prospects, the execution risks, and the upside associated with success remain intac...
Switch supply impacts short term results
Game Digital has acknowledged that UK supply shortages for the highly successful Nintendo Switch console will have an impact on results in the second half of FY17. This is by nature a timing issue and other aspects of management’s transition strategy remain on course. We have placed our forecasts under review.
The long game
Game Digital (GMD) is a market leader in video gaming with an enviable 32% average share of its two markets. It is executing a major change of strategy aimed at a fuller, experience-based relationship with its customer group, which should bring reduced dependence on the cyclicality of the games market. For the moment management is focused on the transition, while the balance sheet, and hence the dividend yield, is well protected.
Ford Equity International Rating and Forecast Report
Ford Equity International Research Reports cover 60 countries with over 30,000 stocks traded on international exchanges. A proprietary quantitative system compares each company to its peers on proven measures of business value, growth characteristics, and investor behavior. Ford's three recommendation ratings buy, hold and sell, represent each stock’s return potential relative to its own country market.. The rating reports which are generated each week, include the fundamental details behind...
Unfortunately, this report is not available for the investor type or country you selected.
Report is subscription only.
Thank you, your report is ready.
Thank you, your report is ready.