LCT, a large consumer of naphtha at c.2-2.3m MTPA would be a significant beneficiary of depressed crude oil prices, in our view.
We expect product spread to improve as naphtha and ethylene prices have dropped in tandem; this is positive for its profit margins as PU at its Indonesian ops is also ramping up.
We estimate that for every US$10/mt drop in average naphtha price would rake in savings of c.US$23m in feedstock costs.
We reiterate our BUY recommendation on the stock with an unchanged SOP-derived TP of RM7.25. We believe prolonged lower oil price is a key catalyst to the stock price.
Key beneficiary of low crude prices
The plunge in crude oil price has sent naphtha prices lower; naphtha price is now at c.US$500/mt, over 20% lower than 3Q18 average price of US$680/mt. We believe LCT is a key winner in the current low crude price scenario; its annual consumption of c.2-2.3m MTPA of naphtha (produced mainly from crude oil) as its main production feedstock accounts for c.50-70% of total operating cost.
RM18m savings for each US$10/mt drop in naphtha
Prior to 2018, LCT consumes 2m MTPA of naphtha, on average. With the new TE3 plant (began operation at end 2017), LCT now consumes c.2.3m MTPA (Table 1). We estimate that every US$10/mt drop in average naphtha price could net annual savings of US$23m (RM92m @ RM4/US$) in feedstock cost. Assuming it retains 20% of the savings (from being passed on to buyer), LCT’s could add c.RM18m in gross profits or +1.5%.
Ethylene-PE spread widened
The plunge in ethylene price has widened the ethylene-PE spread to c.US$300/mt (Chart 2). We expect the PU at LCT’s Indonesia plants to improve as management noted PU was kept low at c.70% during unfavourable ethylene-PE spread market.
Maintaining utilisation rate
Its 9M18 PU stood at 84% (9M17: 69%), slightly below the guidance of 85% for 2018. Management noted that the TE3 plant is currently under a 3-month general maintenance shutdown and would resume by Jan 2019. Still, management believes it is on track to achieve its target as other downstream plants will be running as normal.
Reiterate BUY call, undemanding valuation
Reiterate BUY with an unchanged SOP-derived TP of RM7.25. We note that the stock currently trades at undemanding multiple of 9.3x FY18 ex-cash P/E before easing to 8.1x in FY19. We believe prolonged lower oil price is a key catalyst to share price.
but all these becomes non issue when you put on a long term investor cap
why pick this for long term ?
ask yourself what kind of company is this ?
answer : a world class company. It has economy of scale, financial resources, expertise and proper governance to go very far
I can see traces of moat in this group (anyway, I am not a big fan of moat, I am not obsessed with it. I believe it is a topic that need to be revisited and challenged, after Buffett promulgated it as the holy grail for long term portfolio success)
buy now, put aside, hold for lets say, 10 years, ride the cycles, let it grow organically (yes, nowadays I have become very patient). Let your money works for you
no guarantee it will work, but it is a rational bet
that is my game plan
Posted by Ricky Kiat > Jan 16, 2019 10:55 AM | Report Abuse
bro icon888, my concern is petchem build a new plant at pengerang(2019),likely use naphtha as material. pls check.
From the previous financial data, the revenue for LCTitan is increasing steadily. Lower crude oil price was also observed in the last quarter of 2018. Couple with the probable announcement of dividend, higher share price is anticipated
Lotte is testing everyone's patience. Good company yet no price performance thus far. Guess it'll only move upon release of the quarterly end January. Sit tight...
Only listed for less than 2 years, have one year full earning records only. The PE ratio is 9.2, ROE 9.4%, and dividend yield 4.97%, continue to observe performance
Usually when oil price drop, the nearest quarter will suffer. Because the inventory is produced using high cost raw material, but selling at lower price due to resin price drop.
There's a delay on the selling price as reflected to the raw material price movement. Previous quarters LCTitan at lower margin due to higher raw material price.
So this coming quarter, selling price is mostly still maintain and thus margin believed to be improved due to lower raw material price.
This book is the result of the author's many years of experience and observation throughout his 26 years in the stockbroking industry. It was written for general public to learn to invest based on facts and not on fantasies or hearsay....
SamuelLuke
2,020 posts
Posted by SamuelLuke > 2019-01-07 17:03 | Report Abuse
Wait till they announce dividend