Martinrea International Inc. (TSX: MRE) reported its first-quarter results this week that were above expectations, and management highlighted the fact that the future is looking bright.
Earnings per share came in at $0.55 — a 25% improvement compared to the same quarter last year and well above consensus expectations of $0.51.
Solid margin improvement
The company made good progress in increasing margins and efficiencies, as the gross margin was 13.2% versus 11.3% in the same quarter last year. For comparison purposes, and to illustrate how effective the company has been in increasing margins, we should note that 2016’s gross margin was 10.9% — up from 10.4% in 2015 and 9.7% in 2014.
Heading further down the income statement, we can see that the company also improved its operating margin to 6.2% from 5.3% last year, and its adjusted EBITDA margin to 10.3% from 8.9% last year.
While sales declined 4.4%, the bullish thesis on Martinrea is still strong, given the operational improvements and efficiencies that are being achieved as well as the fact that the company is focused on higher-margin businesses, which will ultimately make the company a more profitable one.
And we can see this in the company’s improving margins and cash flow generation.
Looking at the cash flow statement, we see that the company generated approximately $97 million in operating cash flow (before changes in working capital) and free cash flow of $14 million (or $29 million before changes in working capital), representing a significant improvement over the same period last year.
Balance sheet strengthening
The company’s long-term debt declined by almost $40 million to $658 million, and its debt-to-equity ratio declined to 73% from 83% last year. That’s still high, but it’s manageable considering the amount of free cash flow the company is generating.
Valuation remains attractive
The stock trades at a P/E of 5.8 times this year’s expected consensus earnings, despite its 23% expected 2017 earnings-growth rate, and it trades at slightly more than its book value with an ROE of 12.7%. With free cash flow of $33 million in 2016, $34 million in the first half of 2017, and improving margins, it is still my view that this is a very cheap stock despite the run up.
Comparing this to Magna International Inc. (TSX: MG)(NYSE: MGA), we see that Magna trades at a P/E of almost 11 times this year’s earnings, and it has an 11% earnings-growth rate based on consensus expectations.
And although Magna is a well-run business with a very healthy ROE of 21.5% and less debt, the company appears to have less room for margin improvements at this point.
