Vermilion Compass: Weekly Equity Strategy

Are the Lows "In" for this Pullback? While we are not yet out of the woods, we continue to see evidence that suggests the lows may be "in" for this pullback. Last week (4/23/24 Compass) we discussed the possibility that further downside was limited on the S&P 500 due to a multitude of reasons (SPX had simply filled 2/22/24 gap support that we had been discussing since late-February, Russell 2000 and Equal-Weighted S&P 500 were holding above key supports, short-term oversold conditions, subdued ...

Improving market - BUY the leader

EBIT down 4-1%. Uptick in sold units to continue in Q2'24e. Housing market rebound in the making - BUY

Trelleborg (Hold, TP: SEK395.00) - Sunnier skies await

Overall, Trelleborg’s Q1 was in line with our estimates and consensus, while we believe the outlook comment heading into Q2 might be on the overly cautious side. We have made limited (1% on average) estimate changes on adj. EBITA for 2024–2026e and reiterate our HOLD. We have raised our target price to SEK395 (380) and see limited upside potential for the stock.

Highlighting H2 improvement

Solid Q1 numbers, in line Q2 guidance. No underlying changes, but adding M&A means +2% on '24e EBITA. Maintain HOLD and TP at SEK 375.

JM AB: 2 directors

Two Directors at JM AB bought/maiden bought 1,550 shares at between 183.170SEK and 184.000SEK. The significance rating of the trade was 68/100. Is that information sufficient for you to make an investment decision? This report gives details of those trades and adds context and analysis to them such that you can judge whether these trading decisions are ones worth following. Included in the report is a detailed share price chart which plots discretionary trades by all the company's directors ov...

Norsk Hydro (Sell, TP: NOK50.00) - Q1 slightly on the soft side

Q1 EBITDA was c2% below consensus, with a somewhat soft mix, as Extrusions and Aluminium Metal, the two largest segments, were below forecasts. We have increased our 2024e EPS by 7% on the USD2,600/t spot aluminium price, and 2025–2026e by 2% on the Q1 results. We are 30% below consensus 2025e EBITDA; we do not see enough demand to raise aluminium prices above the marginal producer’s cost, as the price appreciation in recent weeks suggests. We still expect aluminium prices to decline with lower ...

Demand growing faster than supply - BUY

Q1'24 EBITDA of NOK 5.4bn, '24e-'26e EBIT up 2-3% post report. Market tightening rapidly in Q1 - demand up 5%, supply up 3%. Reiterate BUY — TP NOK 75.

No drama, limited ests revisions

EBITDA 2% below on higher cost

Jm Ab (Sell, TP: SEK155.00) - Q1 EPS miss

Higher tax costs than forecast meant Q1 EPS missed expectations. Sales of new homes were broadly in line with our estimate – but starts were below, prompting us to cut our 2024e EPS by c19% and 2025e by c5%. However, expecting a catch-up effect, we have raised our 2026e EPS by c16%. In our view, the valuation is already pricing in a market recovery, while we still see a risk of setbacks, mainly from fewer and slower interest rate cuts, and we see a better risk/reward elsewhere in the sector. We ...

Trelleborg (Hold, TP: SEK380.00) - Close to fairly valued in our view

We forecast Q1 sales of SEK8,546m (-1% organic growth YOY) and adj. EBITA of SEK1,479m. We have raised our 2024–2026e adj. EBITA by c9% on average, on the inclusion of the Baron acquisition, our more positive view on the general industrial cycle, and FX movements. We have increased our target price to SEK380 (350) based on our estimate changes and current multiples. However, on our view of limited upside potential and following incremental increases in the valuation (absolutely and relative to o...

Topdanmark (Hold, TP: DKK320.00) - Weathering the storm

Despite harsh winter weather, Topdanmark reported Q1 PTP up ~1% YOY due to a strong investment result and solid underwriting. The combined ratio was 84.8%, 1.2%-points higher YOY, supported by low large claims and high run-off gains. While the underlying claims ratio was up YOY, pricing measures should continue to support improved underwriting. On somewhat increased cost control, we have raised our 2025–2026e EPS by ~1%. We reiterate our HOLD and DKK320 target price.

Renovation rules now a reality

The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) was approved on 12 April, requiring the modernisation of existing real estate in the EU, and will soon enter the Official Journal of the EU. Member states will have two years to incorporate the provisions into their national legislation. While Q1 is Nordic construction’s low season due to winter effects, we see some downside risk to Q1e consensus and longer-term to 2024–2026e EBIT on lower development gains. We recommend a stock-picking approa...

Norsk Hydro (Sell, TP: NOK50.00) - 30% below 2025e EPS consensus

We expect aluminium prices to come down with falling global energy prices, and reiterate our SELL and NOK50 target price. We are 30% below consensus on 2025e EBITDA; we do not see large enough demand to raise aluminium prices above the marginal producer’s cost, as suggested by the price appreciation in recent weeks, we believe. We expect Q1 EBITDA of NOK6.2bn (results due at 7:00 CET on 24 April), driven by high hydropower production volumes in the quarter. We have reduced our 2025–2026e EPS by ...

Repricing the tonic for bad weather

We expect above-normal weather-related claims in Q1 as a result of heavy rain and snowfall (and record-low temperatures) in the Nordics at the start of the year. On the positive side, we believe the non-life insurers should see the effects of 2023’s repricing efforts, while their latest CMD presentations leave us confident the sector remains committed to maintaining underwriting discipline. Tryg is our top pick in the Nordic P&C sector, while we also reiterate our BUYs on Sampo and Gjensidige an...

Jm Ab (Sell, TP: SEK155.00) - Hockey-stick recovery unlikely

The share price has rallied on the peak interest rate narrative, improved consumer sentiment and short covering, but new housing sales remain weak QTD. We expect Q1 profit to miss Infront consensus on price cuts, but starts to be above (results due at 08:00 CET on 23 April). Overall, we believe the share price has run too far ahead of the recovery and profit lead times are much longer than reflected in market expectations. We reiterate our SELL, but have raised our target price to SEK155 (130).

Elekta AB: 1 director

A director at Elekta AB bought 3,150 shares at 76.860SEK and the significance rating of the trade was 68/100. Is that information sufficient for you to make an investment decision? This report gives details of those trades and adds context and analysis to them such that you can judge whether these trading decisions are ones worth following. Included in the report is a detailed share price chart which plots discretionary trades by all the company's directors over the last two years clearly show...

Elekta (Hold, TP: SEK82.00) - A soft quarter

Q3 earnings were softer than we and the market expected. The weak order intake stood out, while strong cash flow was the bright spot in the report. Order intake (c14% below our forecast and consensus) remains hampered by still-poor performance in APAC (mainly China). EMEA was also weak, but on very challenging comparables. Overall, the company was optimistic that Q4 would be in line with last year, bolstering the share price. We reiterate our HOLD, but have trimmed our target price to SEK82 (SEK...

Elekta (Hold, TP: SEK83.00) - Still on the sidelines

After a disappointing Q2, we forecast Q3 2023/24 to show an improvement (results due at 07:30 CET on 29 February), although we still expect a soft quarter, with declining order intake YOY. Overall, we have made some negative revisions to our forecasts ahead of the report, and reiterate our HOLD, but have lowered our target price to SEK83 (90).

Norsk Hydro (Sell, TP: NOK50.00) - Little support for 22% EPS growth

Q4 EBITDA was 13% below consensus and we consider consensus 2023–2026e EPS CAGR of 22% too high (NOK7.8 in 2026e). Norsk Hydro’s earnings are closely linked to energy prices, and we expect global energy prices to continue to decline. Annually, EPS averaged NOK2.2 in the 10 years prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with lower energy prices. We have cut our 2024-2025e aluminium price forecast by USD50/t and our Norwegian electricity price by EUR10/Mwh, and our 2024–2025e EPS by 6–9%. We reitera...