This document provides an investment analysis on Xylem Inc. conducted by The Fund @ Sprott. It recommends buying Xylem stock with a target price of $50.36, up from the current price of $37.50. The analysis discusses Xylem's business segments, products, financials, and growth opportunities in the global water industry given factors like increasing regulations, aging infrastructure in developed markets requiring upgrades, and population growth driving greater water needs. Xylem is well-positioned to benefit from investments in water infrastructure, treatment technologies, and efficiency solutions around the world.
1. Xylem
The Fund @ Sprott
Equity Research
Buy, Current: $37.50, Target: $50.36 November 24, 2015
Alejandro Barreto
BCom Candidate 2016
Concentration: Finance
Sector Analyst
alejo.barreto.cas@gmail.com
http://fund.ssb.carleton.ca
K. Gwynne Cunningham
BCom Candidate 2015
Sector Manager
gcgwynne@gmail.com
http://fund.ssb.carleton.ca
Investment Thesis
5-Year Performance
Source: Bloomberg
Unregulated Water Play:
All of Xylem’s revenues are directly related to the water and wastewater industry. Xylem’s
business is focused on the water equipment and application of it required through the water
cycle. This puts Xylem in an attractive position to exploit the long overdue global infrastructure
and water efficiency investments that are set to take place from now to 2030 through the
selection of high margin projects.
Favourable Macro-Economic Conditions:
Innovation and Technology driven Revenues:
There are three main macro-economic conditions that will help drive revenue growth. Due to
the water shortages that are being experienced around the world, regulating agencies are
continuously applying more rigorous regulations on utilities for water efficiency, and
environmental impacts. In addition, growth in population as well as the increasing water
infrastructure needs worldwide pose opportunities for XYL. These two factors will cause
increased spending in both infrastructure as well as specialized control and water efficiency
technologies.
Xylem’s products are highly engineered and customized. Value/innovative products always
have a more sustainable future, as they are not easily substitutable. Xylem currently has a
vitality index of 17%, which means that 17% of sales are from products innovated in the last 5
years, and plans to increase that index to 25% by 2020. This provides Xylem with a sustainable
strategic focus to continue to exploit and dominate the fragmented specialty water equipment
segment is competes in.
2. The Fund @ Sprott | Equity Research
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Company Overview
Xylem is an American company in the industrials sector that designs, manufactures, and
applies highly engineered technologies for the water industry. They are a leading equipment
and service provider for water and wastewater applications with a broad portfolio of products
and services addressing the full cycle of water, from collection, distribution and use, to the
return of water to the environment. Xylem has leading market positions among equipment
and service providers in the core application areas of the water equipment industry:
transport, treatment, test, building services, industrial processing and irrigation.
Xylem operates its business under two separate segments; the Water Infrastructure segment
and the Applied Water segment. Through their water infrastructure segment Xylem designs,
engineers and manufactures water and waste water pumps, filtration, disinfection and
biological treatment equipment, test equipment and controls employing primarily configure-
to-order capabilities, and to a lesser extent engineer-to-order products for customers
requiring customization.
Xylem sells their products in over 150 countries using a combined distribution network of
both a direct sales force and independent channel partners. Their geographic revenue
segments are reported as United States, Europe, Asia Pacific and Other. In 2014 United States
was responsible for 38% of Xylem’s total revenues while Europe, Asia Pacific, and other
accounted for 35%, 12%, and 15% of the revenues respectively.
Figure 1: Revenue by Product Segment Figure 2: Revenue by Geographic Region
Source: Bloomberg, Student EstimatesSource: Bloomberg, Student Estimates
Revenue Mix
Water Infrastructure
Water Infrastructure involves the physical systems needed in the process that collects water
from a source and distributes it to users, and then returns the wastewater back to the
environment. Within the Water Infrastructure segment, Xylem serves its customers, through
three closely linked applications: Transport, Treatment and Test of water and wastewater. The
estimated market size of the water infrastructure market Xylem serves is $20 Billion, of which
Xylem retains a 12.5% market share with $2.4 Billion in sales.
3. Revenue Mix (Cont.)
Applied Water
Applied Water involves the various uses of water. Since water is used to some degree in
almost every aspect of human life, this segment has a significant number of potential
applications and Xylem participates in all major areas of water demand. Irrigation applications
constitute the majority of all water usage globally. Industrial Water applications account for
the next largest amount of global water consumption. The remaining portion of global water
use resides in human and building consumption, residential and commercial building services.
The estimated market size of the water infrastructure market Xylem serves is $15 Billion, of
which Xylem retains a 10% market share with $1.5 Billion in sales.
Water Infrastructure:
Transport:
The Transport application includes all of the equipment and services involved in the safe and
efficient movement of water from sources such as oceans, groundwater, aquifers, lakes, rivers
and seas to treatment facilities, and then to users. It also includes the movement of
wastewater from the point of use to a treatment facility and then back into the environment.
Lastly, the Transport application also includes dewatering pumps, equipment and services
which provide the safe removal or draining of groundwater and surface water from a riverbed,
construction site or mine shaft. Xylem offers a wide range of highly engineered products such
as water and wastewater submersible pumps, monitoring controls, and application solutions.
In the Water Infrastructure Segment, Transport accounted for approximately 73% of the
segment revenue in 2014.
Treatment:
The Treatment application includes equipment and services that treat both water for
consumption and wastewater to be returned to the environment. The primary markets served
by Xylem in the treatment application are public utilities and industrial operations. Xylem
focuses on three main treatment solutions, (i) filtration, (ii) disinfection systems and (iii)
biological treatment systems. Filtration uses gravity based media filters and clarifiers to clean
both water and wastewater. Disinfection systems (UV and ozone oxidation), treat both public
utility drinking water and wastewater, as well as industrial process water. Biological
treatment systems provide treatment and mixing of solids in wastewater plants. In the Water
Infrastructure Segment, Treatment accounted for approximately 14% of the segment revenue
in 2014.
Test:
Analytical testing instruments are used across most industries to ensure regulatory
requirements are met. Xylem’s testing instruments are predominately focused testing on
water quality levels throughout the water infrastructure loop. Analytical systems are applied
in three primary ways: in the field, in a facility laboratory, or real time, online monitoring in a
treatment facility process. Xylem’s Test revenues accounted for 13% of the Water
Infrastructure Segment revenues in 2014.
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4. Applied Water:
Residential & Commercial Building Services
This business is focused on the four main uses of water in building services applications, such
as in residential homes and commercial buildings, including offices, hotels, hospitals, schools,
restaurants and malls. The first application is in HVAC, where Xylem specialize in pumps and
valves that are used in water-driven heating and cooling systems, along with heat exchangers,
valves, and monitoring and control products that make up the system. The second is the
supply of potable water for consumption, such as for drinking and hygiene. Xylem provides
pumps and boosting systems utilized within buildings, sourcing water from distribution
networks or from wells. The third application is wastewater removal with sump and sewage
pumps. The fourth water-related building service area is fire protection, where Xylem supplies
full pump systems for emergency fire suppression. Building Services accounted for 53% of
Xylem’s Applied Water revenue segment in 2014.
Irrigation
The irrigation business consists of irrigation-related equipment and services associated with
bringing water from a source to the plant or livestock need, including hoses, sprinklers, center
pivot and drip irrigation. Xylem focuses on the pumps and boosting systems that supply this
equipment with water. The company offers mixed flow pumps, and specializes in equipment
"packaged solutions" including monitoring and controls to optimize energy efficiency in
irrigation delivery. Xylem also produces pumps for agriculture applications and irrigation of
gardens and parks. Irrigation accounted for 7% of Xylem’s Applied Water revenue segment in
2014.
Industrial
Water is used in most industrial facilities to provide processing steps such as cooling, heating,
cleaning and mixing. Xylem supplies vertical multistage pumps to bring in source water or to
boost pressure for purposes such as circulating water through a manufacturing facility to cool
machine tools, as well as heat exchangers for combined heat and power applications within
power generation plants. Xylem also serves niche applications such as flexible impeller pumps
for wine processing facilities, and water-based detergent dispensing and water circulation
within car washes. Xylem’s boosting pumps are also being used in hydraulic fracturing
applications. Industrial Applications accounted for 40% of Xylem’s Applied Water segment in
2014.
Revenue Mix (Cont.)
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Figure 3: Applied Water Composition Figure 4: Water Infrastructure Composition
5. Sector Outlook
Companies competing in the industrials sector generate revenues by producing goods used in
construction and manufacturing. This sector‘s performance closely reflects the overall state of
the economy, as increased construction is indicative of growth in the overall economy. The
company’s in this sector tend to have large market capitalizations, and have globally
diversified revenue streams. Due to the nature of business of the companies in this sector,
global growth slowdowns can deeply impact the prices of their stocks.
Industrial stocks declined 5.7% so far in 2015, based on the Industrial Select Sector SPDR
Fund ETF (XLI), almost tripling the 2% drop of the S&P 500. The industrials sector may
continue to underperform the market due to the strong dollar, global growth concerns and
exposure to the energy industry, where capital expenditures have been cut by almost all global
oil giants. These companies generate a large portion of sales outside of North America and
many expect a 4% to 7% drop from currency translation in 2015.
Due to the short-term factors which have punished most industrial companies’ stock prices, a
buying opportunity in this sector is present. The companies that will likely outperform the
sector performance are those which produce highly engineered products, whose revenue
exposure is not heavily tied to China, as China’s growth revisions and currency devaluation
pose long-term threats. This is due to the fact that highly engineered products are not as
heavily impacted by growth concerns as a basic industrial product would be.
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Industry Dynamics
Xylem (XYL) operates in the water industry. The water industry supply chain is composed of
Equipment and services firms, Design and Build services companies and utilities companies.
The utilities companies are responsible for the distribution of water to the end users. The rest
of the water industry supply chain is in the business of providing singular or multiple
functions to support the plant operations of Utilities. Besides providing services for utilities
companies, Equipment and services firms also provide certain services directly to end users
such as farms power plants and homes, in the applied water business segment.
Xylem is operates within the Equipment and Services market.
These business address key processes of the water industry. The
key processes of this cycle begin when raw water is extracted by
pumps, which provide the necessary
pressure and flow, to move or
transport, this water from natural
sources, such as oceans, groundwater,
lakes and rivers, through pipes to
treatment facilities. Treatment
facilities can provide many forms of
treatment, such as filtration,
disinfection and desalination, to
remove solids, bacteria, and salt,
respectively. Throughout each of these
stages, analytical instruments test the
water to ensure regulatory
requirements are met so that it can be
utilized by endues customers. A
network of pipes and pumps again
transports this clean water to where it
is needed, such as to crops for
irrigation, to power plants to provide
cooling in industrial water, or to an
apartment building as drinking water in residential and commercial buildings. After usage, the
wastewater is collected by a separate network of pipes and pumps and transported to a
wastewater treatment facility, where processes such as digestion deactivate and reduce the
volume of solids, and disinfection purifies effluent water. Once treated, analytical instruments
test the water to ensure regulatory requirements are met so that it can be discharged back to
the environment, thereby completing the cycle
Figure 5: Water Stress by Country: 2040
Source: World Resources Institute
6. Industry Dynamics Con’t
Figure 6: Future Global Gap Without Efficiency Improvements: 2030
Page 5
Source: World Resources Institute
The world faces a serious water challenge. Less than 1% of the total water available on
earth is fresh water, and this percentage is declining due to factors such as the draining of
aquifers, increased pollution and climate change. In addition, demand for fresh water is not
declining due to population growth, industrial expansion, and increased agricultural
development. By 2025, more than 30% of the world’s population is expected to live in
areas without adequate water supply. Even in developed countries with sufficient clean
water supply, existing infrastructure for water supply is aging and inadequately funded. In
the United States, degrading pipe systems leak one out of every six gallons of water, on
average, on its way from a treatment plant to the customer. These challenges are driving
opportunities for growth in the global water industry, which is estimated to have a total
market size of approximately $550 billion. Within the Equipment and services segment of
the industry there is 3 attractive growth drivers, Regulatory pressures, investments on
water efficiency, water treatment and water infrastructure, and population growth.
Figure 7: Global Market Share: Subsectors Figure 8: Global Profiles: Water Demand
Source: World Resources Institute Source: United Nations
7. Page 5
Growth Drivers
Regulatory Pressures:
As pressure on the world’s water resources continues to grow, national and local
governments are trying to raise awareness as well as develop both short-term and long-
term goals. Examples of current government initiatives can be found all around the world
but two notable ones are China’s 5 year plan and Pennsylvania’s and California’s current
water infrastructure investment incentives. From 2005 to 2010 China was able to reduce
water consumption by 37%. As a result of successful measures, primarily regulations on
farmers, requiring more water conserving practices in irrigation, and wastewater
recycling, China has outlined that it will spend a further than $488 Billion Yuan to the
Chinese water industry in 2015 of which half of will be used towards water conservation
efforts. Vice-Minister Zhou Jian of the Ministry of Environmental Protection stated in 2014
that a total of $3 Trillion Yuan were going to be invested into treatment technologies to
help fix China’s current water pollution issues.
As well as the exemplary government initiatives in China, there is also a huge investment
gap in the United States which has caused several states to provide the water industry
with investment incentives to update the current infrastructure. In Pennsylvania the
state’s government has begun to offer tax deferrals on profits earned from water
infrastructure projects. To add to the tax cut the infrastructure costs can be charged
directly to the utility users through an infrastructure repair surcharge, allowing the
companies to earn a guaranteed return on infrastructure projects regardless of water
consumption. In California due to the water shortage that the state is expected to face in
the next 10 years, the state government has issues a quota of maximum usage per
household, and has also decoupled revenues for utility companies. The trends of
government regulation and government initiatives in the water industry demonstrate the
growth potential of companies in the equipment and services segment as their innovative
products will help drive the increased efficiency, and treatment in the water industry.
Water Investments:
The United States water infrastructure along with various other developed nations is aging
and in need of maintenance. The useful life of the water systems used in developed nations
is considered to be between 60-80 years. The current infrastructure used in the United
States dates back to the late 19th century and early 20th. This aging infrastructure causes
both leakages due to erosion as well as an inefficient water cycle process due to the use of
outdated technologies. the water issues arising due to these outdated infrastructures can
already be witnessed in various regions of the United states such as California. in this
specific region the expected water shortages in the next 10 years have caused the state to
both reduce vegetation areas and place a quota limiting the maximum amount of water
that is to be used per household. The EPA suggests that approximately $1 trillion USD will
be needed to update the current infrastructure to meet the required efficiency demands to
create a sustainable water system in the United States. From this $1 trillion, $277 Billion is
supposed to be used to address repairs and improvements needed in the current drinking
water systems. These drinking water repairs and improvements are expected to be aided
by the production of water conservation products manufactured by the higher-end
technology focused equipment and services firms.
8. Growth Drivers (Cont.)
Water Investments Continued
In emerging markets, the main issue is the development of water infrastructure as vast
number of people inhabiting these countries are still not reached by clean potable water. This
gap between supply and demand has been taken very seriously by the emerging economies
and has caused a great amount of investment in the various water industry segments
(infrastructure, treatment, efficiency technologies). In 2015 China alone will invest more than
their 2014 investment of $79 Billion USD into the water supply chain. Almost half of this
amount is targeted towards improving current conservation technologies. As well as the $79
Billion, China plans to spend a further $315 Billion on controlling the current water pollution
damaging its water supplies. For emerging economies investments in all areas of the water
cycle are excepted to grow from twice to three times as fast as investments in the developed
world. In China a huge developing trend is intensive investments in water technology firms to
develop efficient wastewater recycling facilities. The Chinese government are very concerned
with assuring its entire population of clean water supplies.
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Figure 9: Forecasted Water Demand: 2030
Source: Water Resources Group
9. Growth Drivers (Cont.)
Population Growth
The United Nations Population Fund has estimated that the world’s population will increase
by 20.7% from now to 2030. The total population at that point in time will reach 8.321 Billion.
As the world’s population continues to grow it will continuously require more crops and
therefore more agriculture. In the majority of the world’s underdeveloped nations, irrigation
makes up between 70%-90% of total human water use. This would lead to an assumption that
is still often made by investors, “If demand for agriculture grows, water withdrawals will also
increase”. This assumption does not hold. Due to the fact the world is constantly becoming
more efficient in both withdrawal methods, efficient irrigation systems, and technologically
advanced water recycling methods. Through these developments in the water industry Asia,
the one continent with significantly growing water withdrawals from 1975-2000 was able to
reach its peak withdrawals in 2013 at 554.10 Billion Cubic meters. As peak water
withdrawals have been reached in all continents, due to increasing water efficiency
technologies, it is expected that total water withdrawals will not grow with the population but
rather technology developments will continue to improve the efficiency in water usage to
support the world’s water needs. This theory is supported easily comparing United States ‘
historical water withdrawals, with its historical population growth. In this comparison it is
easy to identify the stagnant growth in water withdrawals over the last 40 years, significantly
lagging the 48% population growth in the same time period.
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Figure 10: Investment in Infrastructure Imminent
10. The Fund @ Sprott | Equity Research
Page 9
Figure 11: Market Share of Main Business Line Figure 12: Operating Margin Comparison
Source: BloombergSource: Bloomberg
Position and Strategy
Pentair’s core competencies lie in its top-tier sales team, and its innovative , highly engineered
products focused on efficient water use and optimal fluid flow . Pentair has a diversified
portfolio of products, but is mainly exposed to fluids other than water (oil, beverages). 34% of
Pentair’s revenues come from valves and controls, 23% from flow and filtration, 24% from
technical solutions and 19% from water quality systems. Out of its $7 Billion in revenues 69%
is related to non-water services, while 31% is related to water. Although this is currently its
portfolio breakdown, Pentair has stated that it is will be focusing future growth efforts in the
water industry, as it is experiencing slacking revenues from its exposure to other industries.
Competitors:
Xylem has positioned themselves as the World’s largest water pure-play company. Due to its
focus on high-engineered water solutions at all steps of the water cycle, there are no
competitors that are in the same number of water industry segments or that produce products
and services of the same quality. Given this special competitive scenario that Xylem is in, the
closest competitor that would be of concern to Xylem is Pentair.
Pentair
Pentair plc is a focused diversified industrial manufacturing company with four revenue
segments: Valves & Controls, Process Technologies, Flow Technologies and Technical
Solutions.
Valves & Controls: Designs, manufactures, markets and services valves, fittings,
automation and controls and actuators.
Process Technologies : Designs, manufactures, markets and services innovative water
system products and solutions to meet filtration, separation and fluid process management
challenges in food and beverage, water, wastewater, swimming pools and aquaculture
applications.
Flow Technologies : designs, manufactures and markets products and services designed
for the transfer and flow of clean water, wastewater and a variety of industrial applications.
Technical Solutions : designs, manufactures, markets and services products that guard
and protect some of the world’s most sensitive electronics and electronic equipment, as well
as heat management solutions designed to provide thermal protection to temperature
sensitive fluid applications
11. The Fund @ Sprott | Equity Research
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Xylem’s peers were selected on the basis, that they are the four largest global companies, with
the largest amount of revenue exposure to water listed on American exchanges. The 3
companies that were selected as Xylem’s peers were Gorman Rupp ( GRC) , Flowserve Corp
( FLS), and Pentair (PNR), who directly competes with Xylem on various product segments
Xylem in comparison to its peers does not look undervalued. This is likely caused by the fact
that the entire water industry has been underperforming the rest of the industrials sector and
therefore the industry as a whole is potentially undervalued. Xylem’s 18.62 price to earnings
ratio closely resembles the S&P 500 price to earnings ratio of 18.67. I believe this is
comparison demonstrates a good buying opportunity for shares of Xylem. This is because
Xylem’s growth prospects and the water industry as a whole are a lot more enticing the
average of the 500 companies represented by the S&P 500. This essentially means that at its
current price, one can purchase Xylem’s shares at the same price to earning multiple at the
average price to earnings multiple of the 500 companies compromising the S&P 500 while
obtaining significantly better growth prospects. Due to positive growth outlook for Xylem it is
currently trading at a significantly higher PEG ratio than its closest peer Pentair.
To the benefit of Xylem shareholders, Xylem has a low debt to equity ratio at 15% when
compared to its peers, aside from Gorman Rupp(GRC) who currently has no debt on its books.
This is extremely positive when considering the expected growth of water efficiency products,
as well as the growth of worldwide water infrastructure investment, as it will assure that
Xylem will be able to easily, and at a low cost obtain cash through debt issuance if it needed
Given its growth focused strategy Xylem also offers a low dividend yield when compared to its
peers. This is positive as Xylem has consistently provided return on equity above 10%,
demonstrating the consistently effective reinvestment of capital.
Relative Valuation:
Source: Bloomberg
12. Risk Analysis
Competitive Positioning
Foreign Exchange Risk:
Xylem conducts approximately 62% of their business in various locations outside the United
States. This exposes them to fluctuations in foreign currency transaction exchange rates, Most
significantly with respect to the Euro, Swedish Krona, British Pound, Australian Dollar,
Canadian Dollar, Polish Zloty, and Hungarian Forint. Any significant change in the value of
currencies of the countries in which Xylem does business relative to the value of the
U.S. Dollar or Euro could affect Xylem’s ability to sell products competitively and control their
cost structure. Additionally, Xylem is subject to foreign exchange translation risk due to
changes in the value of foreign currencies in relation to the Us Dollar (Xylem’s reporting
currency). The translation risk is primarily concentrated in the exchange rate between the U.S.
dollar and the Euro, British Pound, Chinese Yuan, Swedish Krona and Canadian Dollar. As the
U.S. dollar continues to strengthen relative to other currencies, this could have a negative
effect on Xylem’s financial statements, as revenues from other countries will be significantly
less when translated to US Dollars.
Xylem has strategically positioned itself at all steps of the water cycle. With the water
industry projected to incur large investment growth as mentioned before, Xylem is a company
providing shareholders’ with large growth potential at a value stock price. Xylem is an
industry leader in all six of its diversified revenue segments. Xylem has differentiated itself
from its competitors by providing highly customized, highly engineered products with
unmatched functionalities at a reasonable cost, due to its increasingly lean operations. Xylem
has consistently been able to produce new and innovative products , while only allocating 4%
of its revenues to R&D. This is demonstrated through its high vitality index of 17%, meaning
that 17% of Xylem’s sales are derived from products innovated within the last 5 years. Xylem
has a revolutionary product development history, including the world’s first submersible
pump, which is vastly more efficient than jet pumps which were the standard, and suffered
cavitation problems from being elevated above water. Through these developments Xylem has
created a positive brand image and is able to attribute 40% of its revenues to recurring
revenues. As well as its industry leading products, Xylem has focused its growth in emerging
markets to take advantage of the new water infrastructure deployment and increasing water
regulations taking place.
Due to the increasing water regulations in developed nations, Xylem’s test and
control, as well as its residential and commercial building services are poised to see revenue
growth. This is due to the increased regulation for energy and water efficiency in buildings as
well as increased control of contaminants in water distributed for use as well as water
returned to the eco system. Xylem provides industry leading products in both of the affected
revenue segments, positively positioning Xylem for the future.
As for its emerging economy growth, Xylem has established a local presence in China ,
and is recognized locally as the water technology leader. Using its brand presence as well as
technological expertise, Xylem will highly benefit from the recent Chinese government
mandates focused on water protection, pollution and control. By 2020 Xylem plans to earn
25% of its revenues from emerging economies, as opposed to the current 21% it earns. Xylem
plans to drive both its emerging market growth and developed market growth through
increased innovation , and aims to raise its vitality index to 25% by 2020.
Therefore the two main business aspects allowing Xylem to position itself better
than its competitors its is drive to grow through innovation, and its strategic brand position in
emerging markets, allowing Xylem to be better equip to prosper from the growth of these
markets.
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13. The Fund @ Sprott | Equity Research
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Income Statement
Xylem’ revenues have been forecasted to increase by 31% over the next five years. The main
driver for revenue growth will be Xylem’s emerging market revenues. I have forecasted a 9%
growth rate in its Asia Pacific revenues for 2015, slowing down to a 5.5% revenue growth in
2019. This estimates are based on industry experts estimates for Chinese investment in water,
as well as Xylem management’s projected growth for revenues within Asian Pacific markets.
Xylem’s operating margins are forecasted to increase significantly from 14.2% to 17.3% due to
Xylem’s increasing lean initiatives, and its intention of opening production facilities and
research facilities in emerging economies, with India being its primary target By successfully
decreasing operational square footage and opening production and research facilities in
emerging economies, Xylem will be able to take advantage of lower costs.
EPS is forecasted to grow continually from $1.85 in 2014 to $2.90 in 2019. This growth will
be sustained through Xylem’s increasing revenues and margins, and continued anti-dilutive
share repurchases
Figure 11: Income Statement Forecast
Balance Sheet
Xylem’s low debt to equity ratio will allow to issue debt necessary for growth at a low cost and
without significantly increasing the company’s bankruptcy risks. Due to this positive ratio, I
have forecasted Xylem to issue $600 Million in debt in 2016 , to support its emerging market
growth efforts.
Financial Statement Analysis
Source: Bloomberg, Student Estimates
Figure 12: Balance Sheet Forecast
Source: Bloomberg, Student Estimates
Inflation, and other manufacturing and operating cost increases:
Increased inflationary forces could be detrimental to Xylem’s business, as manufacturing uses
raw materials and commodities as inputs, which tend to see the highest increases in prices,
not completely offset by increases in Xylem’s products’ pricing. Xylem’s operating costs could
experience negative fluctuations, particularly due to changes in commodity prices, raw
materials, energy and related utilities, freight, and cost of labor. In order to remain
competitive, Xylem may not be able to completely offset the increased costs with increasing
pricing.
Risk Analysis (Cont.)
14. The Fund @ Sprott | Equity Research
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Cash Flow Statement
Xylem has continuously been able to produce cash flows from operations greater than 100%
of its revenues. This signals Xylems ability to earn its cash through its core business activities,
and its ability to efficiently use its working capital. Given its historical numbers, Xylem is
projected to continue to produce operating cash flows of over 100% of its net income.
Xylem’s has historically grown its business through organic growth supported through capital
expenditures. Management has given guidance stating that Xylem’s future growth will be
aided by bolt-on acquisitions in emerging markets. For this reason $100 million has been
forecasted annually in acquisition investments, as well as Xylem’s guidance for $125-$135
million in annual capital expenditures
Xylem has authorized $70 million in share buybacks for 2015, and an additional $250 million
in share buybacks with no specific timeline, which has been forecasted into the cash flow
statement. As well as the share buybacks an issuance of $600 million in debt has been
forecasted to support Xylem’s growth activities
Figure 13: Cash Flow Forecast
Source: Bloomberg, Student Estimates
Valuation
Discounted Cash Flow
We decided to use a discounted Cash Flow model to value Xylem’s shares. We believe that this
was the best model to use, as there were no significantly similar peers for a relative valuation
model, as well as the fact that Xylem’s reliable operating cash flows allowed for a fair DCF
valuation
A CV rate of 4% was utilized as we view Xylem to be operating in a n industry with high
growth potential, and therefore elected to go with a CV higher than both inflation and world
GDP growth. Although 4% was used as the CV growth rate, Xylem would still be undervalued
had a 2% rate or higher been used.
Figure 14: DCF Calculation
15. The Fund @ Sprott | Equity Research
Page 14
Disclaimer
This report was written by a student currently enrolled in a program at the Sprott School of Business. The purpose of this report is to demonstrate
the investment analysis skills of Sprott students. The analyst is not a registered investment advisor, broker or an officially licensed financial profes-
sional. The investment opinion contained in this report does not represent an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities. This report is written
solely for the consideration of this student managed investment fund and should not be used by individuals to make personal investment decisions.
Unless otherwise noted, facts and figures included in this report are from publicly available sources. We cannot guarantee that the information in
this report is 100 percent accurate, although we believe it to be from reliable sources. Information contained in this report is only believed to be
accurate as of the day it was published, and it is subject to change without notice. It cannot be guaranteed that the faculty or students do not have an
investment position in the securities mentioned in this report.
Buy, Price: $37.50 Target : $50.36
Investment Positives
Growth Through Emerging markets:
Xylem’s focus on emerging market growth will prove to be successful due to several factors.
Xylem has clear prioritization and focused investments in China, Middle East and India which
will drive greater market penetration as it is targeting optimal markets. As well as focusing its
growth on optimal emerging economies, Xylem will benefit from the its local brand
recognition in the markets it intends to generate its growth from.
Expanding Margins:
Xylem has continuous cost optimization as one of its three strategic priorities. Xylem will be
able to realize decreasing expenses, through the continuous reduction of facility square
footage as well as its drive for global talent procurement, allowing it to access labor at lower
costs.
Growth Stock at Value Price:
Since its spin–off form its parent company, Xylem has provided a share price appreciation of
47.929% as opposed to the 72.09% price appreciation that XLI ( Industrials etf) has produced.
This means that Xylem has underperformed its industry in the past and therefore trades at a
low p/e multiple due to its stock performance. Since we anticipate that Xylem’s core business
will provide higher than sector return for the foreseeable future, it is reasonable to assume
that at its current price levels, one would be purchasing Xylem’s income growth at a discount.
Investment Negatives
Xylem’s Exposure to the Euro:
Since 35.2% of Xylem’s current revenues are from Europe, the devaluation in the Euro as well
as the instability of the European Union have negatively impacted Xylem’s revenues. If this
economic situation were to prolong itself Xylem’s profits could be significantly impacted. To
mitigate this risk Xylem has focused its future growth in other regions.
Overall, I feel that the positives of investing right now outweigh the
negatives of investing and that is why my final recommendation is a
Buy.
Investment Recommendation
16. The Fund @ Sprott | Equity Research
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Appendix A
Pro-forma Financial Statements
Figure A1: Income Statement
17. The Fund @ Sprott | Equity Research
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Figure A2: Common Size Income Statement
18. The Fund @ Sprott | Equity Research
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Figure A3: Balance Sheet
19. The Fund @ Sprott | Equity Research
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Figure A4: Common Size Balance Sheet
20. The Fund @ Sprott | Equity Research
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Figure A5: Cash Flow Statement
21. The Fund @ Sprott | Equity Research
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Appendix B
Valuation Charts and Sensitivity
Figure B1: Profitability Forecast
Figure B3: Dividend Payout Ratio and Net Income to Operating Cashflows
Source: Bloomberg, Student Estimates
Source: Bloomberg, Student Estimates