The weekly navigator

From the past week, we highlight: 1) Kinnevik seeks a buyback mandate and proposes two new board members ahead of its EGM; 2) we met VEF’s and Creditas’ CEOs in Stockholm; and 3) Flerie is set to present at our Healthcare Conference in Oslo next week.

Elekta (Hold, TP: SEK69.00) - Still in ‘wait and see’ mode

During its Q1 call, Elekta indicated that H1 would be weaker than H2, and we believe this is reflected by consensus. For Q2, we forecast sales growth of c-5% YOY and organic growth of c-1% YOY. We expect order intake of cSEK4.9bn, broadly in line with consensus, and that the book-to-bill in Q2 should remain well above 1x. We are still cautious regarding Elekta’s longer-term performance, and reiterate our HOLD, while we have lowered our target price to SEK69 (76).

One more slow quarter before growth returns

The weekly navigator

From the past week, we highlight: 1) Bure reported Q3 results, outperforming the SIXRX by more than 5%-points; 2) VEF’s largest holding, Creditas, reported Q3 numbers, with origination improving 17% QOQ ahead of a profitable growth reacceleration and potential listing; 3) Apotea (10% of Creades’ unlisted assets) announced its intention to go public before year-end; and 4) Kinnevik’s chair is set to step down in 2025.

The weekly navigator

From the past week, we highlight: 1) Latour reported c9% NAV growth QOQ in Q3, outperforming the SIXRX, while the premium to our NAV is now only 2%; 2) Aker raised its dividend payout policy to 4–6% of NAV, giving it the sector’s highest dividend yield; and 3) Bure is due to report its Q3 results tomorrow, 8 November.

Genmab (Buy, TP: DKK2500.00) - Still awaiting CD-38 decision

Q3 revenue missed our expectations, but operating profit exceeded due to lower operating costs. 2024 guidance for revenue was raised to DKK21.1bn–21.7bn; for opex was narrowed downwards to DKK14.1bn–14.4bn (due to portfolio prioritisation); and for operating profit, narrowed to the high end of DKK6.2bn–7.1bn. Investor focus was on JNJ’s upcoming opt-in decision (data submission expected end-2024). We reiterate our BUY and DKK2,500 target price.

The weekly navigator

From the past week, we highlight: 1) VNV Global wrote down its unlisted portfolio by 3% QOQ in its Q3 report, as its Gett sale remains under regulatory review; 2) starting in this issue, we include Spiltan Invest in our sector overview (SEK9.2bn NAV with the key asset being Paradox Interactive); and 3) Latour is set to report Q3 results next week.

Cash flow outlook even stronger

Storytel (Buy, TP: SEK80.00) - Q3 displays flywheel dynamics

Storytel’s broad-based Q3 beat showcased flywheel dynamics, with solid net adds, record-low churn, a growing share of internal content consumption raising margins, improved customer acquisition efficiency, operating leverage from cost savings, and strong cash flows. We reiterate our BUY and have increased our target price to SEK80 (78), as Storytel’s raised full-year guidance continues to fuel positive consensus revisions, allowing for a combination of a step-change in earnings, FCF momentum, an...

Q3: Impressive profitability and guidance upgrade

Medistim (Hold, TP: NOK172.00) - Q3 report

While up 7% YOY (currency-neutral sales growth 5.3%), revenues of NOK132.8m were below our forecast of NOK136m. The EBIT margin of 24% (Q3 2023: 27%) also fell shy of our forecast of 28.6%. We still see signs that the company’s ‘going direct’ efforts should eventually bear fruit, but we now believe their effect on the revenue side and on margins will take longer to materialise than we initially expected. We also note the cardiac segment is seeing slower progress than we expected, causing us conc...

The weekly navigator

From the past week, we highlight: 1) our deep dive into Kinnevik’s ‘core growth companies’; 2) our lowered target price of SEK105 for Kinnevik, following the Q3 results; 3) our raised target price of SEK330 for Investor; 4) our lowered target price of SEK375 for Industrivärden; and 5) our reduced target price of SEK68 for Flerie.

The weekly navigator

From the past week, we highlight: 1) VEF’s portfolio looks to be in a good place ahead of its Q3 report (due at 08:00 CET on 23 October), but is still trading at a 43% discount to NAV; 2) starting in this issue, we include Byggmästaren in our sector overview; and 3) Kinnevik, Investor, Industrivärden and Flerie are set to report Q3 results next week.

Strength ahead