Bank Negara Malaysia declared a RM5 billion dividend for 2025 , maintaining payouts to the government despite a moderation in earnings . Earnings Ease After Strong Prior Year BNM reported net profit of RM12.45 billion in FY2025 , down 5.7% YoY from RM13.16 billion. The decline was driven by: Lower total income (RM14.35 billion vs RM14.98 billion) Costs related to reserve management and monetary operations Despite softer earnings, the central bank sustained its second consecutive RM5 billion dividend , following a record RM5.25 billion payout in 2024 . Strong Reserves Provide Stability A significant portion of profits — RM7.45 billion — was allocated to the risk reserve , which rose to RM155.31 billion . This reserve acts as a financial buffer against: Exchange rate volatility Global financial market fluctuations BNM highlighted that 85% of its assets are denominated in foreign currencies , re...
Highlights
- The absence of pricing premium (as a result of demand weakness), coupled with rising transportation cost to the Middle East (as transportation costs are borne by Evergreen), management has started diverting its marketing efforts from the Middle East back to the Southeast Asian region.
- Despite the ASP pressure for MDF products, we continue to see strong earnings prospects in the company.
- Renewed weakness in MYR against the US$ arising from more hawkish Fed and lackluster domestic market outlook is a boon to Evergreen’s earnings.
- Costs of key inputs (i.e. rubber log wood and glue) continue to trend lower, and these will partly alleviate margin pressure from lower ASP.
- Evergreen is on track to reap more benefits from its cost rationalization exercise.
- The new RTA furniture line has commenced commercial operations since May-16. Having convinced about the potential of the RTA furniture business, Evergreen has placed deposits for an additional RTA furniture line, which is expected to commence operation (hence contributing to its bottom line) by 2HFY17.
Risks
- Escalating raw material and labour costs;
- Weaker-than-expected demand for MDF; and
- Fluctuating foreign currency movement (in particularly the US$).
Forecasts
- FY16 net profit forecast lowered by 10.7% to RM102.8m, largely to account for: (1) Lower blended ASP assumption for MDF; and (2) Lower rubber log wood cost assumption
- FY17 net profit forecast remains unchanged at RM123.4m as our lower blended ASP assumption for MDF products is offset by: (1) Lower rubber log wood cost assumption; (2) Contribution from the additional RTA production line; and (3) An upward revision in our US$:MYR assumption.
Rating
- BUY
- Positives - (1) Attractive valuations with good earnings visibility; (2) Healthy balance sheet; and (3) Rubber plantation land bank value has yet to be reflected in current share price valuation.
- Negative – Demand weakness from Middle East.
Valuation
- Maintain BUY recommendation with unchanged TP or RM1.60 (based on unchanged 11x FY17 core EPS of 14.6 sen).
Source: Hong Leong Investment Bank Research, 03 June 2016
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