HSG - Solid QoQ earnings boosted by GPM expansion – Earnings Flash
  • 2024-04-27T00:00:00
  • Company Research
  • HSG released its preliminary Q2 FY2024 results with net revenue of VND9.2tn (USD368mn; +2% QoQ, +32% YoY) and NPAT-MI of VND319bn (USD12.7mn; +209% QoQ, +25% YoY). We note that FY refers to financial year, and that HSG’s FY end is September 30.
  • Robust YoY but flat QoQ quarterly sales growth: In Q2 FY2024, HSG posted robust 32% YoY sales growth from Q2 FY2023’s low base, driven by a strong YoY rebound in exports demand and a moderate recovery in domestic construction activities. However, on a QoQ basis, sales only grew by 2%.
  • Quarterly GPM narrowed YoY, yet expanded QoQ: YoY, GPM in Q2 FY2024 decreased by 130bps, as steel prices remained stable over the past three months due to weak demand from China, contrasting with the previous year's rising prices due to optimism for a strong rebound in China which never materialized. However, GPM expanded by 160bps QoQ, attributed to wider spreads between galvanized steel products and HRC input prices. YTD, HRC input prices have mostly remained flat due to sluggish construction demand from China, while output ASPs have recovered moderately, supported by both domestic and exports demand recovery. This dynamic aligns with our expectation for Vietnam’s steel sector 2024F GPM, as stated in our Vietnam 2024 Strategy report at the beginning of this year.
  • Quarterly SG&A expenses surged YoY: Q2 FY2024 SG&A expenses rose by 42% YoY, driven by a 142% surge in exports expenses (22% of total Q2 FY2023’s SG&A) and a 55% rise in salary expenses (27% of the total of Q2 FY2023’s SG&A). We believe the rise in exports expenses was due to the recent hike in global freight rates because of the Red Sea tension and a severe drought in the Panama Canal.
  • We note that HSG recorded an abnormally high net FX gain of VND124bn (USD5mn) in Q2 FY2024, which surpassed its full-FY2023 net gain of VND113bn (USD4.5mn). HSG has yet to provide further explanations for this gain.

Overall, with the above dynamics, Q2 FY2024 NPAT-MI doubled QoQ. However, 1H FY2024 sales and NPAT-MI only met 33% and 27% of our prior FY2024F forecasts, respectively, suggesting potential downside risks to future projections.

HSG’s 1H FY2024’s results

VND bn

Q2

FY2023

Q1 

FY2024

Q2

FY2024

Q2 FY24

QoQ 

Q2 FY24

YoY 

1H

FY2023

1H

FY2024

1H FY24

YoY

FY2024F

Old

1H as % of FY2024F

Revenue

6,981

9,073

9,248

2%

32%

14,898

18,321

23%

55,364

33%

Gross profit 

934

950

1,117

18%

20%

1,094

2,067

89%

6,692

31%

SG&A

-644

-839

-913

9%

42%

-1,412

-1,752

24%

-4,678

37%

EBIT

290

110

204

85%

-30%

-318

314

-199%

2,014

16%

Interest expenses

-57

-25

-29

14%

-50%

-105

-54

-48%

-141

38%

FX gain/loss

55

19

124

542%

124%

21

144

583%

2

7175%

Other gain/loss

15

11

14

30%

-7%

38

25

-35%

59

42%

PBT

303

115

313

172%

3%

-364

428

N.M.

1,934

22%

NPAT-MI

256

103

319

209%

25%

-424

422

N.M.

1,547

27%

GPM

13.4%

10.5%

12.1%

 

 

7.3%

10.5%

 

12.1%

 

SG&A exp./Sales

9.2%

9.2%

9.9%

 

 

9.5%

9.2%

 

8.5%

 

OPM

4.2%

1.2%

2.2%

 

 

-2.1%

1.2%

 

3.6%

 

NPM

3.7%

1.1%

3.4%

 

 

-2.8%

1.1%

 

2.8%

 

Source: HSG, Vietcap forecast (Last updated on February 22, 2023). HSG’s financial year end is September 30.

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