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2014-03-07 01:43 | Report Abuse
NOL Group will return to profit this year by concentrating on its core Transpacific business and reaping the benefits of its sizeable port holdings, according to one equity analyst firm.
NOL posted a full-year loss of $76 million in 2013, compared with a $412 million loss in 2012, in part due to the improve performance of APL, its container shipping business.
Drewry Maritime Equity Research said NOL’s third consecutive annual loss in 2013 was triggered by weak freight rate market conditions and high fixed costs. However, the equity analyst now believes NOL is now in a better position to return to profitability due to its focus on the trans-Pacific trade — from which 50 percent of its liner revenue is generated — and ongoing efforts to lower its cost base.
“We expect both operating margins and return on equity to recover from historical lows in FY14 and continue on an upward trend in FY15,” said Drewry analyst Rahul Kapoor. “NOL continues to cut its costs significantly and plans to move ahead in this direction in the coming years.”
By focusing on the trans-Pacific trade NOL is also lowering its risk from Asia-Europe, according to Rajat Gupta, also an analyst at Drewry. “U.S. economic data continues to surprise positively, raising market optimism on trade recovery,” she said. “The upcoming trans-Pacific contracting is a key event for both freight and volume development and will in all earnest decide the company’s financial performance in FY14.”
Drewry also rates APL Terminals as NOL’s “hidden gem” due to it being clubbed under “Liners” in financial statements even though it generated some 7 percent of total revenue last year and is ranked 15th on the list of global terminal operators.
“APL Terminals is a major source of income and value to the group,” Kapoor said. “We argue that APL Terminals remains a hidden gem in NOL’s asset portfolio and an opportune divestment of terminal assets even while retaining control will potentially unlock and add tremendous value for shareholders.”
Stock: [NOL]: NEPTUNE ORIENT LINES LIMITED
2014-03-07 01:55 | Report Abuse
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