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The Wrap: Telcos, Gas, House Prices & Credit

Weekly Reports | Feb 08 2019

This story features TELSTRA GROUP LIMITED, and other companies. For more info SHARE ANALYSIS: TLS

Weekly Broker Wrap: telcos; accounting software; chemicals; east coast gas; and house prices & credit

-Labor's planned NBN write-down likely to be a positive catalyst for Telstra
-UK government initiative provides opportunity for Xero
-Ammonia prices depressed as global market is oversupplied
-Longer-term supply deficit in LNG to sustain higher gas prices
-Slump in house prices broadens, UBS sees credit tightening thesis playing out

 

By Eva Brocklehurst

Telcos

JPMorgan notes press speculation that the Labor Party is looking at a potential write-down of the NBN if it wins the federal election. This is one of the positive catalysts the broker expects for Telstra ((TLS)) shares this year. Positive structural changes are also expected for the fixed telecom industry, and a reversal of the negative impact for the NBN that has occurred over the last four years.

JPMorgan's analysis suggests accretion of 0.9-1.3c in earnings per share for Telstra with every 5% improvement in NBN broadband margins over FY20-23. A strong first half result is expected, although post-paid average revenue per unit (ARPU) is expected to decline -5.0% because of the loss of extra data charges.

JPMorgan agrees that a 40-50% write-down of the NBN is required in order to lower the wholesale cost to make broadband more affordable. Telstra has recently argued that wholesale NBN costs need to be -$20 lower in order for the economics to work through re-sellers and in order to lower the retail price for consumers.

JPMorgan notes telcos outperformed technology over 2018. Given the macro economic backdrop this should again be the case in 2019, because of the defensive nature of telco stocks, and potential changes in the industry structure for both mobile and fixed line calls.

JPMorgan believes the technology sector still trades at a relatively lofty valuation. Individual stocks are likely to trade on their merits throughout 2019, nevertheless. Telstra remains the broker's top pick for the telecom, media and technology grouping, along with NextDC ((NXT)) and Seek ((SEK)).

Accounting Software

Morgan Stanley envisages the UK government initiative called "making tax digital" is a significant catalyst for the UK accounting software market. After observing the US accounting software market, the broker has dismissed the opportunity for Xero ((XRO)) as it has has strong competition from Intuit, which enjoys a substantial incumbent position in the US.

Instead, the broker believes the UK market opportunity, twice the size of Australasia, now has a regulatory catalyst to drive penetration for the small-medium enterprise sector closer to the Australasian level of 75-80%, from 20% currently.

Over 1m businesses are affected by the regulatory changes coming into effect in the UK on April 1, 2019. Given that Sage is shifting its focus to the higher-end market, Morgan Stanley foresees Intuit and Xero emerging as winners in the UK SME sector, with their stronger cloud offerings, to the detriment of Sage.

Chemicals

While explosives are recovering as mining sentiment improves, Ord Minnett notes the ammonia market is long and, as a result, price growth has been subdued. Recent pricing for ammonia is negative for both Incitec Pivot ((IPL)) and Orica ((ORI)), as the global market is oversupplied. The potential for further price reductions in ammonia is high and the broker estimates the price dropping to US$260/t by June 2019.

Some near-term stability may eventuate but contract re-pricing is considered a risk for earnings growth for both companies. Ord Minnett maintains a Buy rating for Incitec Pivot, expecting earnings from the Louisiana plant will drive growth. Orica, on the other hand, is challenged from a growth perspective as the Burrup facility is a long-term and uncertain driver of earnings. Ord Minnett has a Hold rating for Orica.

East Coast Gas

LNG producers expect a supply deficit from the early 2020s. An ACCC inquiry into the supply and demand for wholesale gas in Australia has pointed to adequate short-term supply but longer-term risks.

Strong growth in global LNG demand is typically met by more staggered growth in supply, Bell Potter notes, given the significant barriers to bringing large-scale LNG production online.

This supply deficit, together with the longer-term risks to Australian domestic supply, should mean sustained higher gas prices on the east coast of Australia. The broker expects that over 2019-21, regional LNG benchmark prices will average US$10-12/MMBtu. This translates to a domestic LNG netback price of $11.70-14.20/GJ.

Bell Potter highlights those ASX-listed companies leveraged to these themes include Santos ((STO)), Beach Energy ((BPL)), Senex Energy ((SXY)), Cooper Energy ((COE)), Comet Ridge ((COI)), Central Petroleum ((CTP)) and Blue Energy ((BUL)).

House Prices & Credit

UBS observes the downturn in house prices continues to broaden. House prices remain weaker than unit prices and the falls are still headed by Sydney and Melbourne, down -9.7% and -8.3% (year on year) in January, respectively.

Prices have also slowed in Brisbane and Adelaide and there is renewed weakness in Perth and Darwin. Even regional prices are now falling, despite levels being far below the national average. Home sales have fallen to the lowest level in 21 years and this is a very negative indicator for the renovations market and housing-related consumption, in the broker's view.

The peak-to-trough decline in home prices is still around -6%. UBS has long expected a -10% drop, or more if regulators do not ease rates. UBS also expects a negative household wealth effect to slow consumption.

If credit tightening hits the business sector as well, the broker suggests this would pose a serious negative risk to the economy and be consistent with its "credit crunch" scenario. This is because small-medium enterprises account for 29% business credit and 68% of jobs.

The deputy Reserve Bank governor, Guy Debelle, has also warned there may be a bigger impact on lending to small business because of the extensive use of property as collateral for their business loans. So far, there is only limited evidence that business credit is tightening, with survey suggesting the difficulty in accessing finance is nowhere near GFC levels.

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CHARTS

COE COI CTP IPL NXT ORI SEK STO TLS XRO

For more info SHARE ANALYSIS: COE - COOPER ENERGY LIMITED

For more info SHARE ANALYSIS: COI - COMET RIDGE LIMITED

For more info SHARE ANALYSIS: CTP - CENTRAL PETROLEUM LIMITED

For more info SHARE ANALYSIS: IPL - INCITEC PIVOT LIMITED

For more info SHARE ANALYSIS: NXT - NEXTDC LIMITED

For more info SHARE ANALYSIS: ORI - ORICA LIMITED

For more info SHARE ANALYSIS: SEK - SEEK LIMITED

For more info SHARE ANALYSIS: STO - SANTOS LIMITED

For more info SHARE ANALYSIS: TLS - TELSTRA GROUP LIMITED

For more info SHARE ANALYSIS: XRO - XERO LIMITED