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Sequoia Financial Group (ASX:SEQ)

Service provider to Australian wealth management industry

Market cap: $92m

Strong upgrade cycle following continued earnings growth:

After three profit upgrades in FY21, SEQ delivered another upgrade at its half year results. We expect SEQ will upgrade its earnings again prior to year-end. Cash earnings per share (EPS) has increased from ~2cps in FY20 to ~7cps in FY22. Continued EPS growth will ultimately drive share price growth.

Multiple re-rate: SEQ trades on less than 10x cash NPAT. We believe this is too low for a company with SEQ’s strong track record and growth profile.

M&A activity: SEQ has $17m cash available for acquisitions. SEQ has previously undertaken smart accretive acquisitions that help to either build out its product suite (services to advisors), or its distribution base (advisors). This cash could potentially fund an additional $3 – $4m in EBITDA (~33% uplift), assuming no share consideration.

Potential sale of asset: SEQ owns a fast-growing securities clearing business (Morrisons). Market commentary around pricing of comparable business, suggests Morrisons could itself be valued in excess of SEQ’s current market capitalization.

Kip McGrath Education Centres (ASX:KME)

Global tutoring company

Market cap: $67m

Powerful thematic/ COVID reopening play: strong demand globally for remedial teaching as both parents and schools look to catch up on the significant disruptions COVID has had on education.

Re-rate opportunity – growth re-emerging: For the past three years, KME’s profit has remained flat, on the back of disruptions to face-to-face lessons, and increased investment in building up KME’s corporate (direct) offering. In 1H22, we saw the first signs of growth, with global network revenues up 16%, with KME generating strong normalized EBITDA growth of 45%. Organic revenue growth of 20%+p.a. and margin expansion is achievable by KME over the next several years, which will drive strong increases in EPS. As noted above, EPS growth will drive share price growth.

Expanding global footprint: Having built up market leading positions in UK and Australia and global network revenues of ~$100m, KME is looking to establish a presence in the United States via its recent acquisition, Tutorfly.

Pure Profile (ASX:PPL)

Global data and insights company

Market cap: $59m

Compelling tailwinds: Data is becoming increasingly important and highly valued. There is an ongoing increase in demand for high quality, accurate and relevant data to assist businesses in strategic and operational planning.

Strong revenue growth ambitions: PPL is confident of maintaining ~30% ongoing organic revenue growth.  Management has medium term aspirations for PPL to be a $100m+ revenue company. Revenue growth will come from continued expansion into offshore markets, building on its success in UK, and more recently Asia. We would expect margins to grow rapidly at scale, driving significant profits and hopefully a much higher share price from here.

Re-rate opportunity – strong turnaround thesis emerging: New management has been in charge for over 12 months, delivering increasing operating profits over that time. Numerous legacy issues have now been resolved, however PPL remains misunderstood in the market, with its poor history weighing negatively on the stock. Market confidence and interest in the stock should return over time, as PPL continues to execute strongly under new management.

PTB Group (ASX:PTB)

Largest global non-OEM aligned maintenance provider for PT6A/T plane engines

Market cap: $147m

Continued earnings growth – two significant drivers:

1)      Operational improvements in the US: PTB’s US workshop capacity is currently 3x larger than in Australia, yet both countries generate similar levels of profits. With workshop size a reasonable proxy for earnings, significant potential therefore exists to grow earnings out of the US as operational efficiencies are implemented.

2)      New plane leasing deals: PTB has funding capacity to finance ~20 new plane leasing deals that can generate $0.3m – $0.5m pa margin per deal.

Upgrade cycle: PTB upgraded its profit outlook prior to announcing its half year results. With its strong business momentum, and a track record of beating guidance, we believe PTB will continue to deliver results ahead of expectations, with the growth generating increased market interest in this very well managed business.

Despite a strong share price performance over the past 12 months, PTB trades on a below average market multiple, thus offering attractive value for a well run company which is best of breed in its niche, with a strong global growth profile.

Early Pay (ASX:EPY)

Australian small business financier, primarily through invoice discounting.

Market cap: $136m

Continued earnings growth/upgrade cycle: EPY has already delivered three profit upgrades so far in FY22. Based on its 1H22 result, another upgrade is likely. We expect that this strong earnings growth momentum will continue into FY23.

Operating leverage: With significant scale and technology platform now built out, we understand each incremental dollar in revenue contributes 70c of profit before tax for EPY, further driving margins and profit.

Inflation beneficiary:  higher inflation equates to higher invoice values purchased by EPY – up to 10% for some customers.

Takeover target: prior to COVID, EPY received two takeover offers at higher prices that where it is currently trading. In our view, EPY is a much better business today than when the previous offers were made.

Market recognition of technology credentials: Technology driven on-line financial platforms typically trade on premium multiples. Two years ago, EPY purchased the Skippr on-line invoice financing business, and has further developed this over the last two years. EPY now owns a market leading online platform that is providing significant market share gains, higher client retention, and lower operating costs.

Multiple re-rate: EPY trades on less than 9x cash NPAT, and a 7% dividend yield. We believe this is too low for a company with EPY’s track record, growth profile and increasing benefits it is seeing from its investment in technology.

AF Legal (ASX:AFL)

Australia’s largest national family law firm

Market cap: $30m

Business now at scale – operating leverage emerging: AFL has now grown its footprint to 17 offices across Australia with a 2% market share. Having doubled its annual revenue run-rate to $22m over the past 12 months (50% revenue CAGR since formation in FY17), AFL is now able to more efficiently cover its head office costs.

Large market opportunity: AFL continues to target a 10% market share ($100m revenue). EBITDA margins are strong at 26%, and will improve with scale, suggesting a medium term EBITDA target of $30m (current EBITDA run-rate is ~$6m & current EV is $26m).

Undemanding multiple: trading around 10x NPATA, there is plenty of room for a multiple re-rate, given the attractive organic (20% growth) and inorganic growth profile and the size of the potential opportunity.

M&A Activity: Having successfully refined its acquisition model and built out its back-office infrastructure, AFL also now has the potential to significantly scale its business by way of acquisition, to further strengthen its already dominant market position.

Cryosite (ASX:CTE)

Clinical trial logistics (specialised storage and transport).

Market cap: $22m

Supportive underlying thematics: CTE is benefiting from onshoring of clinical trials as governments increasingly appreciate the importance of drug development from both a political and supply chain perspective.

Continued earnings growth: after organic growth of 26% in 1H22, future revenue growth is underpinned by CTE’s entry into a new, much larger market – providing global pharmaceutical companies with logistics support for high value, temperature controlled, highly regulated government approved drugs. The drug logistics market represents a much larger market opportunity than clinical trial logistics and has the same high barriers to entry, due to government licenses required to operate and specialised infrastructure requirements.

Recommencement of dividends: After last paying a dividend in 2017, given its cash position and encouraging outlook, we expect CTE to be in a position to recommence paying dividends this year. This would be positive for the stock.

Potentially significant non-core asset: CTE is rebuilding its cord blood cell storage business which has the potential to generate significant long term annuity earnings.

Ansarada (ASX:AND)

Global deal and compliance software company

Market cap: $202m

Supportive long term structural trends to drive demand for AND’s products: 1) continued high levels of global M&A activity 2) growing investment globally in infrastructure & 3) increasing demands on boards to manage ESG and general compliance.

Growing customer base + increase spend per customer = accelerating revenue:

AND has grown its customer base every year from formation in  2006 (2 customers) to 2021 (3559 customers). Revenue per subscription customer is now also increasing (up 29% year on year) as a result of cross selling and price increases. Revenues from US and Europe were both up ~50% at 31 December 2021.

Re-rate opportunity: AND emerged on the ASX out of a rather messy back-door listing, which may have impacted the market’s perception of the stock. In addition, it is not a typical software stock with easy to model recurring revenues, and there is also a perception that it is heavily tied to the M&A cycle. These factors are potentially impacting pricing of what is a market leading technology business with genuine global potential already generating ~$50m in revenues. We see upside as the market begins to better understand the business and its global opportunity.

Laserbond (ASX:LBL)

Laser engineering technology company with global customer base

Market cap: $99m

COVID reopening play: Opening of international borders should support growth of LBL’s international technology and product sales. LBL is working with Austrade to convert a strong pipeline of opportunities in America, India and Asia, and is targeting $60m in revenue in FY25.

Re-rate opportunity: market recognition of technology credentials: While LBL is sometimes viewed as a low IP mining services/engineering company, it is in fact making strong progress commercializing (very profitably) its high value, innovative material remanufacturing technology. The IP backing this technology, and its credentials, have been built up over the last 20 years.

Supportive ESG trends provide a strong tailwind: The typical carbon footprint for a LBL remanufactured part is less than 1% of a new part, as well as extending the life of the equipment for between 2 to 20 times of a standard part.

Diverger (ASX:DVR)

(previously Easton Investments)

Australian wealth and accounting services provider

Market cap: $37m

Strong growth opportunity: Management has an aggressive target to triple net revenue by FY24 through both organic and inorganic initiatives.

M&A activity – DVR is well placed to be a key consolidator of the fragmented financial advice industry where increased regulation and conflicted operating models has seen the exit of the major players (banks).

Undemanding multiple: trading at around 10x NPATA, there is opportunity for a multiple re-rate as DVR’s growth profile improves.

Under-appreciated relationship with major shareholder: HUB24 (ASX:HUB m/c: $2.2b) is DVR’s largest shareholder, and has strong DVR board representation. HUB is supportive of DVR’s growth strategy, and is working closely with DVR to progress various technological initiatives to improve operations and efficiencies of financial advisors and to make DVR the clear technological leader in the space.