This idea was first published on substack.
Consumer staples have always been a feature in the 8% eco-system because the revenues are recurring, the businesses easy-to-understand and generate good cashflows and dividends.
We have discussed Reckitt (RKT) briefly on this blog and more extensively on substack. This post serves as an update with the following framework: review, update, value and decide. The stock has performed terribly since 2020 and while the substack portfolio added at the lows in 2023, we have not seen a strong recovery. The position today is slightly underwater.
Hence, this update today. Let's start with the review of the investment thesis.
1. Review thesis
Reckitt also continued to manage its cashflow well growing its FCF and returning via dividends and share buyback. Its dividend yield is at a very palatable 4.4% today. Being listed in UK, there is also no withholding tax. Due to the collapse in its share price. FCF yield is close to 7%.
2. Update
The biggest elephant in the room today related to the looming litigation in its infant milk business. Earlier this year, Reckitt and Abbott were sued because its specialized milk formula allegedly caused the deaths of premature babies fed with their products. Verdicts ruled against both companies stated that they failed to warn of the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) which has fatality rate of 15-40%.
Reckitt was ordered to pay USD60m to a mother while Abbott also subsequently lost another case and was order to pay USD495m! There are c.3,000 cases filed against both companies and the legal liabilities could be GBP3-5bn or more for Reckitt. Reckitt has another trial with important dates starting in end Sep 2024 to Mar 2025 which would provide more datapoints.
3. Valuation
It is worth noting that Reckitt's market cap fell from GBP38bn to GBP31bn today, more than the abovementioned legal liabilities. Although we cannot rule over future revenue impact and more litigation, the share price collapsed have broadly discounted this NEC issue. Let's look at how valuations are:
The table above shows that Reckitt has c.49% upside with IV at GBP67 per share, c.10% lower than the previous GBP70 calculated 18 months ago. However given the litigation is not over, it might be risky to do anything now.
Peers have largely rerated in the last 18 months with average EV.EBITDA at 17x vs a more reasonable 15x when the last exercise was done. RKT does look exceptional cheap here.
4. Decision
While there is good margin of safety, it would be prudent to buy more today as litigation could be very detrimental as we had seen with Bayer (share price dropped 50% and never recovered). The 2024 low at GBP40 would be broken should the verdict be unfavorable. If so, Reckitt could fall further to GBP35. This means the risk reward is -c.30% downside (GBP45/35) vs 49% upside (GBP45/67).
As such the decision would be to HOLD for now.
Huat Ah!
Investment is one of the best ways to achieve financial freedom.For a beginner there are so many challenges you face.Trading on the Crypto market has really been a life changer for me. I almost gave up on cryptocurrency at some point, until I got a proficient trader Bernie Doran, he gave me all the information required to succeed in trading I invested $1500. and got back $16,500.00 within 7 days of investment. His strategies and signals are the best ,he can also help you recover your lost cryptocurrencies, reach out to him on Gmail: BERNIEDORANSIGNALS@ GMAIL. COM or WhatsApp +14242850682
ReplyDelete