18 November 2014
Update | Sector: Consumer
Nestle India
BSE Sensex
28,163
S&P CNX
8,426
CMP: INR6,152
TP: INR5,400
Neutral
Volume growth back in the narrative
Portfolio rationalization to continue
Stock Info
Bloomberg
Equity Shares (m)
52-Week Range (INR)
1, 6, 12 Rel. Per (%)
M.Cap. (INR b)
M.Cap. (USD b)
NEST IN
96.4
6,625/4,536
9/16/-57
593.2
9.6
Following are the key takeaways from Nestle’s (NEST) analyst meet:
Focus on volume growth, though not at the expense of margins.
Portfolio rationalization to continue; re-launches and not new launches.
Changing communication and positioning in Infant Nutrition.
Financial Snapshot (INR Billion)
Y/E Dec
2014E 2015E 2016E
Net Sales
98.6 111.0 126.9
EBITDA
Adj PAT
EPS (INR)
Gr (%)
BV/Sh (INR)
RoE (%)
RoCE (%)
P/E (x)
P/BV (x)
20.6
12.5
7.1
50.4
52.3
47.6
23.1
23.6
14.7
18.0
54.5
67.7
40.4
21.1
27.4
17.4
18.4
58.3
71.9
34.1
18.8
129.2 152.4 180.5
266.8 292.1 327.3
Shareholding pattern (%)
Sep-14 Jun-14 Sep-13
Promoter
DII
FII
62.8
4.8
14.3
62.8
5.1
14.5
62.8
6.3
12.6
Others
18.1
17.7
18.3
*FII includes depository receipts
Stock Performance (1-year)
Nestle
Sensex - Rebased
10,000
8,500
7,000
5,500
4,000
“Volumes” back in the narrative:
Management emphasized on volume-led
growth (this was a key change versus earlier analyst meets) and
“protection” of market shares but “without sacrificing margins” as it
believes the first two objectives can be met without necessarily eroding
margins. Increased focus on volumes will necessitate higher investments in
brand spends. However, it will largely focus on renovation and not entry
into new categories, which, in our view, is a key disappointment.
9MCY14 domestic volumes down 1.6%:
NEST’s domestic volumes continue
to remain tepid and have declined 1.6% in 9MCY14. Volume growth was
weak in Milk Products (-3.4%), Beverages (-7.5%) and Chocolates (-11.6%),
while relatively better in Prepared Dishes (+1.8%). Continued portfolio
rationalization and high competitive intensity impacted Chocolates, while
Beverages category volumes were impacted by weaker performance in Out
of Home (OOH) segment and portfolio culling. We note that secondary sales
growth was marginally better versus primary growth and quarter on
quarter trends did not change much in 2QCY14 and 3QCY14, though
1QCY14 recorded the highest volume decline.
NEST has not materially underperformed the industry:
The FMCG industry
and F&B growth rates have slowed down sharply (from 11.9% to 6.7% for
industry and 13.6% to 8.5% for F&B). Even categories in which NEST is
operating have slowed down from 16.5% to 8.5%. Hence, company’s 7.7%
growth in domestic sales in 9MCY14 is not materially inferior.
NHW remains strategic priority; key changes in Infant products strategy:
It
has emphasized 1) protecting market share, 2) focus on volume-led growth
and 3) fostering an inspired organization as the key priorities. In Infant
Nutrition, it is taking several initiatives – 1) using third party field force to
drive penetration in unexplored geographies, putting 100gm packs of
Cerelac
in those markets etc, 2) innovative communication strategy –
demonstrate what happens inside a baby’s stomach, leverage digital media,
Superbaby campaign (5m views) etc and 3) addressing Cow’s milk
opportunity – no longer fighting cow’s milk as it is culturally well ingrained.
Instead, it is positioning
Lactogen
as the best adapted cow’s milk for infants
and driving the right communication with doctors through MRs.
Valuation and view:
Despite the benign base, NEST’s volume growth is yet
to show a recovery. Continued portfolio rationalization and lack of visibility
on entry into new categories (“re-launches and not new launches”) will cap
the near term volume growth, in our view. Rich valuations (41.6x CY15E and
35.1x CY16E EPS) do not provide any margin of safety. Maintain
Neutral
with a revised target price of INR5,400 (30x CY16E EPS).
Gautam Duggad
(Gautam.Duggad@MotilalOswal.com); +91 22 3982 5404
Manish Poddar
(Manish.Poddar@MotilalOswal.com); +91 22 3027 8029
Investors are advised to refer through disclosures made at the end of the Research Report.