KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 11 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia ended higher today as buying on selected blue chips continued, said a brokerage. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 8.85 points or 0.51 per cent to 1,756.39 from Tuesday’s close of 1,747.54. The barometer index opened 3.69 points higher at 1,751.23 before moving as low as 1,745.51 in early trade to as high as 1,757.15 during the mid-afternoon session. Market breadth was positive with gainers leading losers 575 to 474, while 549 counters were unchanged, 1,087 untraded and 11 suspended. Turnover expanded to 2.55 billion units valued at RM3.06 billion from yesterday’s 2.19 billion units valued at RM2.35 billion.
Results track expectations
ECW’s 1QFY10/16 net profit (+>100% YoY) was within our expectation but slightly below consensus. 4MFY16 actual sales are on track to meet its own sales target of MYR3b (excluding the overseas projects pending the listing of its associate company) for FY16. Potential enbloc sales at Bukit Bintang City Centre (BBCC) will lower the overall project risk. We maintain earnings forecasts, MYR1.67 RNAV-TP and BUY rating.
Earnings driven by better margin and lower taxes
ECW’s 1QFY10/16 net profit was MYR20.7m (>+100% YoY, +5% QoQ) accounting for 21%/18% of our and consensus full-year estimates. The strong YoY earnings growth was mainly driven by better operating margin and lower tax charges. EBIT margin improved by 2ppt YoY and QoQ to 7.8% on lower administrative and marketing expenses. As at end-Jan 2016, ECW’s net gearing stood at 0.46x, from 0.37x at end-Oct 2015.
On track to meet its ambitious sales target
ECW has locked in MYR607.8m in property sales in 4MFY16, 20% of its MYR3b sales target (excluding ≈MYR1b sales from its overseas projects via associate company) for FY16 - on track. Sales should pick up strongly with the potential enbloc sale of retail spaces in BBCC. The enbloc sale will lower the overall project risk – a positive in view of stiff competition from upcoming projects such as TRX and Bandar Malaysia. ECW will softlaunch the service apartments and strata offices of BBCC by end-March 2016.
Maintaining earnings forecasts
Our sales assumption for FY16 is MYR2.8b, excluding the potential sales from its overseas projects via its associate company. Our MYR1.67 TP is based on an unchanged 40% discount to MYR2.79 RNAV. Unbilled sales stood at MYR4.4b at Jan 2016 (1.2x our FY16F revenue), providing medium-term earnings visibility.
Source: Maybank Research, 25 March 2016
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