Fortnox (No_rec, TP: SEK) - Recommendation and target price withdrawn

This morning, EQT X and First Kraft (Olof Hallrup, Fortnox’s chairman of the board, who owns 18.9% of the shares) announced a take-private offer for Fortnox at SEK90/share or SEK58bn (38% premium to the last close, 13% premium to its recent highs in February). Fortnox’s board of directors recommends the bid, and the consortium said the deal is “best and final” (the consortium will not raise the price), corresponding to a 2025–2026e EV/EBIT of 47–35x and P/E of 61–46x on our numbers. The acceptan...

EQT + CoB bid to take FNOX private

Weekly Real Estate Matrix

Securitas (Buy, TP: SEK192.00) - More of the same in Q1e

We expect Q1 to show similar trends to the most recent quarters, but negative FX translation effects (strengthening SEK) still result in cuts to our 2025–2027e EPS of 4–5%. We continue to see a robust transformation case, as the journey towards the 8% profit margin target by end-2025 continues, with our H2 2025e EBITA margin now at 7.8–7.9%. We reiterate our BUY, but have lowered our target price to SEK192 (200).

Weekly Real Estate Matrix

Everything is connected

Geopolitical uncertainty has affected market interest rates and thus the Nordic real estate sector – and we see no near-term fix. The yield gap (risk premium) has remained broadly unchanged in the recent market volatility, meaning interest rates changes explain most of the YTD share price performance – a correlation we expected will continue. The local office rental market remains soft, and we expect the logistics market to follow suit. However, given the deleveraging efforts in recent years and...

Weekly Real Estate Matrix

A tenant bankruptcy, a lost rating, more newbuilds and new issues

This week, Castellum lost its seventh-largest tenant after Northvolt declared bankruptcy, Citycon’s IG rating was withdrawn, construction companies continue to start newbuilds (NCC in Finland), Corem announced a lease extension, and Kojamo and Sagax issued new bonds. The weighted-average implied EBITDA yields on the stocks we cover are 5.17–5.49% for 2025–2026e.

Ambea (Buy, TP: SEK130.00) - Acquiring Validia Oy

Ambea’s acquisition of Validia Oy, entering the Finnish social care market, makes good sense to us. A post-integration valuation of c7.5x EV/EBITA and tacit ROIC of c13% suggest a solid deal, and consolidating Validia Oy implies 4–5% increases to our 2025–2027e adj. EPS. We see a strong case, with robust demand, solid FCF and financials giving room for share buybacks/dividends and further possible acquisitions. We reiterate our BUY and have raised our target price to SEK130 (123).

Set for spicy growth

Our recent field trip to India (visiting Volvo, Epiroc, Trelleborg, Autoliv and others) alongside our analysis suggests the country is set to take centre stage as a global manufacturing hub over the coming decade, shifting from being the sixth- to the third-largest end-market for the Swedish Industrial sector. India’s strong economic growth trajectory and favourable demographics mean the companies: 1) see double-digit growth as sustainable; 2) are pursuing manufacturing capacity expansions; and ...

Weekly Real Estate Matrix

Tough macro

Share prices for the names we cover are down by 7% week-on-week on average following the hike in market interest rates. In other news, February residential prices for Norway and Sweden were published, Skanska announced another large newbuild in Sweden, and Pandox acquired a EUR66m hotel in Cologne, Germany. The weighted-average implied EBITDA yields on the stocks we cover are 5.12% for 2025e and 5.43% for 2026e.

Weekly Real Estate Matrix

Better markets and more Q4 results

Positive data points for January were Colliers’ market update showing Nordic commercial real estate transaction volumes were up 17% YOY, while Norwegian residential developer, Union, said house sales improved 52% YOY, although both were from very low bases. Citycon released Q4 results this week, and Skanska announced a new development. The weighted-average implied EBITDA yields on the stocks we cover are 4.94% for 2025e and 5.24% for 2026e.

Weekly Real Estate Matrix

Last of the Q4s

Q4 reporting season wrapped up this week, with the last six of the names in the sector we cover releasing their results. In other news, the largest-ever hotel transaction in the Nordics was announced. The weighted-average implied EBITDA yields on the stocks we cover are 4.85% for 2025e and 5.22% for 2026e.

Catena (Hold, TP: SEK470.00) - Investment capacity; few prospects

PFPM was 6% below consensus in Q4, while the vacancy remained solid. We reiterate our HOLD, as we consider Catena overcapitalised and are concerned about the lack of attractive investment opportunities, especially since the project market, historically the company’s highest ROI investment, is slow. Also, we believe the valuation looks stretched versus its European logistics peers. We have cut our target price to SEK470 (490) and our 2026-2027e FFOps by 3%.

Valuation looks attractive

Miss on higher net financials

Who stands to benefit?

A potential peace deal between Russia and Ukraine could unlock one of the largest reconstruction efforts in modern history. The World Bank estimates Ukraine will need USD486bn in rebuilding efforts over the next decade, but we estimate this would add only c2% to annual European construction spending. While the direct earnings effect may be modest, we expect the “rebuild Ukraine theme” to drive investor sentiment. We see Volvo, Epiroc, Hexagon, Metso, Hiab and ABB as some of the primary beneficia...