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Aspo - Challenges cut EBIT for the year

Aspo’s outlook worsened this spring, and Q2 results fell below reduced estimates. ESL and Telko face their own issues, but the challenges are largely temporary in nature.

ESL and Telko had issues which burdened profitability

Aspo’s EUR 133m Q2 revenue was a bit soft relative to the EUR 143m/138m Evli/cons. estimates, while the EUR 3.6m adj. EBIT fell clearly short of the EUR 6.5m/6.5m Evli/cons. estimates due to especially because of ESL’s challenges but also because of the hit Telko endured as market prices dropped (down 40% y/y in some plastics categories). Increased Asian imports restrained volumes in the case of plastics, but overall Telko’s demand outlook stays good. ESL was hit by Supramax losses while demand for the smaller core vessels remains rather stable albeit at a lower level of volumes this year; the demand softness is due to the key industries, steel and forest, which make more than 50% of volumes. Leipurin performed pretty much as expected.

We expect modest improvement in conditions for H2

Aspo’s guidance implies EBIT in the range of EUR 13-23m for H2; Q3 will improve a bit q/q but will still not be great. ESL’s demand and Telko’s market prices are the main drivers, meaning Aspo could still reach the upper end of the range should the situation begin to improve soon. We estimate ESL’s FY ’23 EBIT at EUR 22m, a steep drop relative to the EUR 37m comparison figure but also likely to be the trough before ESL’s fleet expands with green coasters. The Supramaxes will be sold, and ESL’s market opportunity is set to grow long-term thanks to significant industrial investments on both sides of the Bothnian Bay. Telko still pursues European M&A despite the market challenges.

This year is likely to set quite low comparison figures

We estimate adj. EBIT of EUR 28.7m for the year; the respective above 12x EV/EBIT multiple represents a somewhat elevated level as both ESL and Telko are likely to generate quite soft figures for the year. We believe Aspo has a fair chance of reaching above EUR 35m EBIT again next year as the recent troubles of ESL and Telko are largely temporary in nature and Leipurin proceeds according to plan. Aspo is then valued around 9x EV/EBIT on our FY ‘24 estimates, which we consider a fair level. Our new TP is EUR 7.0 (8.0) as we revise our EBIT estimates down by some 10-15% for this year and next. We retain our HOLD rating.

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