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RaySearch Laboratories: a financial analysis
Executive summary
RaySearch has the fundamental goal to establish itself as the leading provider of treatment
planning systems for radiation therapy. Registered on the mid cap segment of the Nasdaq
OMX Stockholm, RaySearch represents a growing contributor to the global sector.
Recent results have stimulated further investment in the company, which has experienced
an almost doubling of its share price over the past year. An evaluation of profitability,
liquidity and solvency confirms that the fundamentals underlying performance are strong.
Relative to its peers, RaySearch continues to outperform the market, generating high
relative returns while maintaining low financial risk.
Overcoming a 2013 lawsuit, the company appears to be on target to reap further gains from
its investment into RayStation, its flagship product. As sales continue to increase, investors
are anticipating accelerated future cash flows to justify their purchase. With a strong
financial and strategic foundation, RaySearch represents an opportunity for investors to
partner with an increasingly successful business model.
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Table of contents
1. Introduction.............................................................................................................................3
2. Profitability evaluation.............................................................................................................3
2.1 EBIT margin......................................................................................................................... 3
2.2 Generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP)..................................................................4
2.3 Profit margin....................................................................................................................... 4
2.4 Relative profitability............................................................................................................ 5
Table 1: Relative profitability..................................................................................................5
2.5 Return on total assets..........................................................................................................6
Figure 1: Du Pont analysis on ROA.......................................................................................... 6
3. Liquidity evaluation..................................................................................................................7
4. Solvency evaluation..................................................................................................................7
5. Trends analysis.........................................................................................................................8
Figure 2: Multi-year overview ..................................................................................................8
Table 2: Trends analysis............................................................................................................. 9
Figure 3: Profitability trends.................................................................................................... 10
Figure 4: TTMvs 5 Year average margins.................................................................................. 11
6. Stock valuation....................................................................................................................... 11
Figure 5: Share price trend diagram ......................................................................................... 11
Figure 6: Relative share performance....................................................................................... 12
Table 3: Relative P/E ratios...................................................................................................... 12
6.1 Book value........................................................................................................................ 13
6.2 Valuation models .............................................................................................................. 13
7. Conclusion............................................................................................................................. 14
8. Recommendation................................................................................................................... 14
References................................................................................................................................. 15
Pecuniaryinterest declaration..................................................................................................... 16
Appendices ................................................................................................................................ 17
3
1. Introduction
RaySearch Laboratories is a medical technology company that creates advanced software
solutions for improved radiation therapy treatment of cancer. RaySearch was founded in
2000 and is a Swedish registered limited liability company headquartered in Stockholm
(‘Annual report’ 2014).
The parent company’s shares are now listed on the mid cap segment of Nasdaq OMX
Stockholm, with a subsidiary group consisting of five foreign based sales companies –
RaySearch Americas, RaySearch Belgium, RaySearch France, RaySearch UK and RaySearch
Germany (‘Advancing cancer treatment’ 2015).
Annual reports are prepared in accordance with the Swedish Annual Accounts Act
(1995:1554) and the Swedish financial reporting board’s recommendation RFR 2 Accounting
for Legal Entities (‘Annual report’ 2014). All financial statements are presented in Swedish
Krona (SEK).
2. Profitability evaluation
RaySearch’s fundamental goal is to establish itself as the leading provider of treatment
planning systems for radiation therapy (‘Advancing cancer treatment’ 2015). Its long-term
financial target is to have high sales growth and earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT)
margin exceeding 30 percent (‘Annual report’ 2014, p. 10). These targets focus on
profitability and trends, and can serve as the focus of analysis.
2.1 EBIT margin
Higher EBIT margins indicate higher profitability. By dividing operating earnings over net
sales (appendix 1) RaySearch’s 2014 EBIT ratio can be calculated at 27.8 percent - close to
the specified target. Often used interchangeably with operating margin (‘What is the
difference between EBIT and operating income?’ 2016), these ratios allow investors to
understand the true business costs of running the company.
Maverick (2015) describes the operating margin as a ‘key determinant in evaluating growth
potential’ and ‘essential in the assessment of management efficacy’. The margin
incorporates the effectiveness of capital management and the reliance of the business on
capital resources. As a specific EBIT target was mentioned annual report (‘Annual report’
4
2014, p. 10), the subtle differences between an EBIT ratio and operating margin should be
examined:
2.2 Generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP)
Corporate accounting is required to adhere to the standard conventions known as the
generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The terms gross profit margin, operating
profit margin and net profit margin generally refer to one of three key GAAP-approved
measures of profitability. GAAP profit margin calculations are standardised, enabling reliable
competitive analysis.
Non-GAAP profitability metrics such as EBIT and EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes,
depreciation and amortization) may bear close resemblance to GAAP counterparts but may
hide crucial differences. Boyte-White (n.d.) explains:
…gross profit reflects revenue minus only those costs directly associated with
production of goods for sale. Operating profit is equal to gross profit minus any other
overhead, operational or sales expenses necessary to run the business, including
depreciation and amortization of assets. EBITDA essentially splits the difference
between these two metrics by accounting for all expenses generated by production
and day-to-day operations, but adding back in the cost of depreciation and
amortization.
Prudent profitability evaluation includes analysis of GAAP profitability margins along with
EBIT and EBITDA metrics.
2.3 Profit margin
Using the net profit margin ratio, the expense of gearing can be included (AIB, Topic 2,
appendix 2, Parameters of assessing business performance: summary of financial ratios
2015). Often referred to simply as the profit margin, the net profit margin is considered one
of the most crucial indicators of a company's financial health (Boyte-White n.d.).
RaySearch’s net profit margin of 27.6 percent (appendix 2) represents an exceptional return
in absolute terms (AIB, Topic 2, appendix 2, Parameters of assessing business performance:
summary of financial ratios 2015), as does a gross profit margin of 95.9 percent (appendix
3).
5
2.4 Relative profitability
Determining the company’s performance relative to the industry is fundamental to
adequate performance evaluation. Bloomberg groups RaySearch into the Health Care
Equipment & Services industry within the health care sector, where it’s metrics sit amongst
other comparable European companies (‘Health care equipment & services industry’ 2016).
Comparisons with the European subset are limited, with the sample size presenting an
obstacle to reliable appraisal. Comparisons with the US market present an alternative where
the industry averages are drawn from a larger pool companies, some of which have been
identified as direct competitors (‘Annual report’ 2014, p. 29). The 27.6 percent net profit
margin posted by RaySearch in 2014 is considerably above the US industry average of 10.6
percent and the sector average of 16.7 percent (‘Industry information’ 2015).
RaySearch’s profitability becomes even more impressive when global comparisons are
produced. Gurufocus calculates the industry net profit median at 3.2 percent, listing
RaySearch as a high performer among 1750 companies within the global software –
application industry (‘RaySearch Laboratories AB’ 2016). The global operating margin
industry average of 4.7 percent is also radically outperformed by RaySearch.
As a global company with multiple foreign based subsidiaries, RaySearch identifies its major
competitors as Varian, Elekta and Phillips (‘Annual report’ 2014, p.29). Accuray is another US
competitor. Comparisons between these publically listed companies are presented in table
1:
Table 1: Relative profitability
2014 Net profit margin
(%)
Operating margin
(%)
Relative net profit
performance (%)
Global Industry Average 3.2 4.7 0
RAYSEARCH 27.6 27.8 +24.4
VARIAN 13.3 17.7 +10.1
ELEKTA 4.8 8.4 +1.6
PHILLIPS 3.5 4.2 +0.3
ACCURAY -8.2 -2.9 -11.4
(‘RaySearchLaboratoriesAB’2016)
6
Caution should be used in industry average comparisons, as determining relative
profitability is greatly affected by the included subset of companies. Published averages are
approximate, reporting practices vary, and operational seasonality can led to deceptive data
and misleading comparisons (Petty et al. 2012, pp. 161-162). However the results posted by
RaySearch far outreach this uncertainty: it is clear that its recent profitability has far
exceeded that of its peers.
2.5 Return on total assets
Measuring the return on asset investment allows operations management profitability to be
assessed. This formula ignores financing and evaluates how well assets are utilised to create
wealth, regardless of capital structure (AIB, Topic 2, appendix 2, Parameters of assessing
business performance: summary of financial ratios 2015). RaySearch delivers a return on
total assets (ROA) of 20.4 percent (appendix 4), again outperforming an industry which
averages just over 3 percent (‘RaySearch Laboratories AB return on assets’ 2016).
Similar to return on equity (ROE), ROA is affected by profit margins and asset turnover. This
can be seen when broken down by the Du Pont Formula; a method that seeks to
demonstrate the various interrelationships involved in ratio analysis:
Figure 1: Du Pont analysis on ROA
(Fahimn.d.)
7
Whilst many analysts argue that a higher ROA is superior, Buffett states that a high ROA may
indicate vulnerability in the durability of the competitive advantage (‘RaySearch
Laboratories AB return on assets’ 2016). Petty et al.’s (2012, p. 13-15) principal 5 also
alludes to the potential vulnerability of exceptionally profitable projects ‘…in competitive
markets, extremely large profits cannot exist for very long’.
RaySearch seeks to maintain its relatively high ROA by driving innovation and differentiating
its main product, RayStation (‘Annual report’ 2014, p. 1). Petty at al. (2012 p. 14) describes
this strategy as creating markets that are not ‘perfectly competitive’, allowing for insulation
from potential rivals.
3. Liquidity evaluation
Nuzum (2016) notes that a decline in liquidity increases the risk of bankruptcy. RaySearch’s
current ratio sits at 3.77, providing an indication that it is well equipped to pay short term
obligations (appendix 5). With a global industry median of 2.1 (‘RaySearch Laboratories AB
current ratio’ 2016), RaySearch attributes it’s highly liquid financial position to a ‘substantial
rise in sales…at the end of the period’ (‘Annual report’ 2014, p. 2). This is congruent with the
trend analysis, which is further examined in section 5. The explanation also allays fears that
the high liquidity may be due to poor working capital management.
4. Solvency evaluation
As insolvency is one of top reasons businesses fail (Nuzum 2016), assessing solvency is
critical to determining the risk associated with a potential investment. In keeping with the
board’s financial risk management policy (‘Annual report’ 2014, p. 5), RaySearch’s debt ratio
has continued to be kept low (appendix 6). This indicates potential to finance new assets
with debt, such as research and development (‘Annual report’ 2014, p. 16).
The debt-equity ratio (appendix 7) is another indicator of low financial risk, a feature
required of companies with higher operational risk (AIB, Topic 2, appendix 2, Parameters of
assessing business performance: summary of financial ratios 2015). These operational risks
are identified as dependence on key personal and partnerships, competition, regulatory
approval and reliance on insurance rebates (‘Annual report’ 2014, pp. 28-29).
8
5. Trends analysis
Ratios employed in financial analysis draw on measures from both the balance sheet
(position) and the income statement (performance) (AIB, Topic 2: Financial accounting
concepts and statements: financial analysis 2015). These figures become a greater tool
when compared with historical data:
Figure 2: Multi-year overview
(‘Annual report’ 2014, p. 6)
9
By calculating ratios from the published data, trends become apparent. Table 2 shows the
redacted ratios:
Table 2: Trends analysis
RATIO 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010
EBIT (%) 27.8 -12.6 12.4 21.9 33.9
Net profit (%) 27.6 -12.2 12.9 22.8 34.1
Gross profit (%) 95.9 97.0 98.3 99.7 99.9
ROA (%) 20.4 -8.6 7.7 10.6 15.6
Current 3.77 2.88 3.58 5.35 6.86
Particular 2013 profitability ratios become an immediate cause for further investigation. The
EBIT, net profit and ROA margins exhibit a significant negative deviation in trend.
Examination of the annual report (2013, p. 5) showed that the significant decline in profit
was primarily due to a legal settlement:
In May 2011, we were sued by the US company Prowess, which claimed that we had
infringed on a patent that they license…this resulted in a settlement agreement with
Prowess. Under this agreement RaySearch will pay Prowess a fixed amount spread
out over three years and Prowess will drop the lawsuit. Since the outcome of the
settlement pertains to events prior to the close of 2013, a provision covering the
entire settlement amount was posted in the 2013 annual accounts.
The total cost of the settlement was SEK 34.8M and was charged entirely to 2013 (‘annual
report’ 2013, p. 44). The ‘Prowess effect’ can be observed clearly in figure 3:
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Figure 3: Profitability trends
(‘RaySearchLaboratoriesAB15-yearfinancials’2016)
Prior to 2013 a trend of negative profit growth is observed. This is despite the ongoing
increased sales reported in figure 2. The annual report (2012, pp. 5, 50) proffers the
following explanation:
The fact that profit increased proportionately less than revenue was due primarily to
the build-up of infrastructure for selling and marketing RayStation, which led to
higher costs…the increase in operating expenses derived mainly from higher
marketing and personnel costs.
The investment into the flagship product, RayStation, is realised in the increased research
and development expenditure as well as in other operating expenses (figure 2). The rise
over the period accords with the 2012 release date of RayStation.
A turnaround in this trend occurs in 2014 and has been sustained in the interim reports of
2015 (‘Financial reports’ 2015). Trailing twelve months (TTM) profitability now appears
highly favourable when compared to the five year average:
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Figure 4: TTM vs 5 Year average profitability margins
(‘RaysearchLaboratoriesAB:financials’2016)
6. Stock valuation
RaySearch’s share capital amounts to SEK 17,141,386.50 (‘Annual report’ 2014, p. 44). The
34,282,773 shares are comprised of 11,324,391 Class A shares and 22,958,382 Class B
shares (‘Annual report’ 2014, p. 44). The quotient value per share is SEK 0.50 (appendix 8).
During 2014, the average price of traded shares was SEK 37.9, up from 27.7 (2013). The
traded shares ranged in value from SEK 26.5 to SEK 54.0, with the price rising 93 percent on
year end whilst the Swedish market (OMX) increased 12 percent (‘Annual report’ 2014, p.
44).
Figure 5: Share price trend diagram
(‘Annual report’2014, p. 46)
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On the last trading day of 2014 the closing price was SEK 53.0. This equated to a price to
earnings (P/E) ratio of 30.3 (appendix 9). Since then the price has continued to appreciate,
rising to a current SEK 104 (13 Jan 2016), significantly outperforming competitors:
Figure 6: Relative share performance
(‘BloombergBusiness’2016)
The TTM P/E ratio has elevated to 45.9, significantly above the global industry average of
24.8:
Table 3: Relative P/E ratios
Jan 2016 TTM P/E
ratio
Global industry average 24.8
US industry average 42.1
OMX index average 15.7
RAYSEARCH 45.9
VARIAN 18.1
ELEKTA 42.9
PHILLIPS n/a
ACCURAY n/a
(‘RaySearchLaboratoriesAB’2016); (‘Industryinformation’2015);(‘BloombergBusiness’2016)
13
In an efficient market, the high P/E ratio would an indicator of the expected growth in
company earnings. However to ensure that the stock is not subject to a speculative bubble,
other methods of evaluating the intrinsic or fair value should be considered. The intrinsic
value of an ordinary share is equal to the present value of all future cash flows expected to
be received by the investor (Petty et al. 2012, p. 340).
6.1 Book value
The 2014 book value per ordinary share was found to be SEK 7.34 (appendix 10). This has
remained stable (SEK 5.73 – 7.34) over the past five reporting years. The increasing share
price has elevated the price to book (P/B) ratio from 7.2 to a current 12.4 (appendix 11),
well above the global industry median of 2.4 (‘RaySearch Laboratories AB’ 2016). ‘RaySearch
Laboratories AB P/B ratio’ (2016) makes the observation that the P/B ratio works best for
companies that earn most of their profit from underlying assets, such as banks. It has
limited value for software companies with light assets.
6.2 Valuation models
RaySearch has a policy to pay as dividends approximately 20 percent of the Group’s net
profit on condition that a ‘healthy capital structure is retained’ (‘Annual report’ 2014, p. 46).
Despite recent net profits, no dividends have been paid since 2010.
If earnings are expected to grow at a constant rate, the dividend growth valuation or
dividend discount model may a useful tool to estimate the value of an ordinary share (Petty
et al. 2012, p. 356). By applying a hypothetical 5% dividend growth rate and a required rate
of return of 10%, the 2010 intrinsic value was calculated to be SEK 10 per share (appendix
12a). Different outcomes may be obtained by substituting variables, such as those shown in
appendix 12b and appendix 12c. Appendix 12b also demonstrates the application of the
PVDG model, a tool useful in demonstrating the present values of both the non-growth and
earnings streams (Petty et al. 2012, p. 358).
With a current market value of SEK 104 (13 Jan 2016), it is clear that the market is still
expecting a further acceleration in growth. Irons (2014) addresses this phenomenon with an
enhanced dividend discount model. Designed to deal with a changing growth rate, the
model is particularly applicable for businesses in the growth phase of their lifecycle. Based
on conservative assumptions, the model estimates the current intrinsic value to be SEK 41.5
14
(appendix 13). The current market value suggests assumptions are less conservative, with
traders placing a higher premium on expected future cash flows.
7. Conclusion
The retention of profits is an indirect route for shareholders to increase their ROE (Petty et
al. 2012, p. 341). As a growth company, investors are relying on future cash flows to justify
their purchase, rather than on current dividends. The intrinsic value is based on this
perception, taking account of the amount, timing and riskiness of future cash flows (Petty et
al. 2012, p. 331). The performance evaluation identified significant underlying strengths in
the company. These fundamentals have been recognised by investors and are reflected in
the share price.
8. Recommendation
When the market is functioning efficiently, the market value and intrinsic value of a stock
will be equal (Petty et al. 2012, p. 332). This assumes values fully reflect all available
information and investors are rational, which, according to behavioural finance theory, is
not always the case (Petty et al. 2012, p. 332).
A close analysis of the company and the dynamics of the industry may give an investor an
advantage when identifying risk and potential future cash flows. Inside industry knowledge
may further enhance this advantage, particularly when such information is not readily
comprehensible to the market.
With a strong financial and strategic foundation for a future acceleration in growth,
RaySearch represents an opportunity for investors to partner with an increasingly successful
business model.
15
References
‘Advancing cancer treatment’ 2015, About Raysearch, viewed 5 Jan 2016,
http://www.raysearchlabs.com/about/About-RaySearch/
‘Annual report’ 2009, Investor relations, viewed 11 Jan 2016,
http://www.raysearchlabs.com/investor/financial-reports/?year=2010
‘Annual report’ 2010, Investor relations, viewed 11 Jan 2016,
http://www.raysearchlabs.com/investor/financial-reports/?year=2011
‘Annual report’ 2011, Investor relations, viewed 11 Jan 2016,
http://www.raysearchlabs.com/investor/financial-reports/?year=2012
‘Annual report’ 2012, Investor relations, viewed 11 Jan 2016,
http://www.raysearchlabs.com/investor/financial-reports/?year=2013
‘Annual report’ 2013, Investor relations, viewed 11 Jan 2016,
http://www.raysearchlabs.com/investor/financial-reports/?year=2014
‘Annual report’ 2014, Investor relations, viewed 5 Jan 2016,
http://ar.raysearchlabs.com/en/index.html
Australian Institute of Business (AIB), 2015, ‘Topic 2: appendix 2 - Parameters of assessing
business performance - summary of financial ratios’ in Financial Management Learning
Materials, AIB, Adelaide.
Australian Institute of Business (AIB), 2015, ‘Topic 2: Financial accounting concepts and
statements: financial analysis ’ in Financial Management Learning Materials, AIB, Adelaide.
‘Bloomberg business’ 2016, Bloomberg, viewed 17 Jan 2016,
http://www.bloomberg.com/quote/RAYB:SS
Boyte-White, C n.d., ‘What is the difference between EBITDA margin and profit margin?’,
viewed 5 Jan 2016, http://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/032715/what-difference-
between-ebitda-margin-and-profit-margin.asp
Fahim, T n.d., ‘Finance for non-financial managers’, viewed 9 Jan 2016,
http://www.slideshare.net/AhmedElAty/lep-finanace-investment
‘Financial reports’ 2015, Investor relations, viewed 11 Jan, 2016,
http://www.raysearchlabs.com/investor/financial-reports/?year=2015
‘Health care equipment & services industry’ 2016, Bloomberg Business, viewed 5 Jan 2016,
http://www.investing.businessweek.wallst.com/research/sectorandindustry/industries/indu
strydetail.asp?region=Europe
‘Industry information’ 2015, Hemscott Americas, viewed 5 Jan 2016,
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/521conameu.html#var
Irons, R 2014, ‘Enhancing the dividend discount model to account for accelerated share
price growth', Journal of Accounting and Finance, vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 153–159.
16
Maverick, J 2015, ‘Key financial ratios to analyze the healthcare industry’, viewed 5 Jan
2016, http://www.investopedia.com/articles/active-trading/082015/key-financial-ratios-
analyze-healthcare-industry.asp#ixzz3vhhaW65D
Nuzum, T 2016 ‘HD sample assignment extract for you’, Financial Management Discussion
Forum, 12 Jan 2016, viewed 18 Jan 2016,
https://moodle.aib.edu.au/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=5487
‘RaySearch Laboratories AB’ 2016, Gurufocus, viewed 5 Jan 2016,
http://www.gurufocus.com/stock/RSLBF
‘RaySearch Laboratories AB 15-year financials ’ 2016, Gurufocus, viewed 11 Jan 2016,
http://www.gurufocus.com/financials/OTCPK:RSLBF#
‘RaySearch Laboratories AB current ratio’ 2016, Gurufocus, viewed 10 Jan 2016,
http://www.gurufocus.com/term/current_ratio/OSTO:RAY%20B/Current%2BRatio/RaySear
ch%2BLaboratories%2BAB
‘Raysearch Laboratories AB: financials’, Investing.com, viewed 11 Jan 2016,
http://au.investing.com/equities/raysearch-laboratories-ratios
‘RaySearch Laboratories AB P/B ratio’ 2016, Gurufocus, viewed 17 Jan 2016,
http://www.gurufocus.com/term/pb/OTCPK:RSLBF/P%252FB%2BRatio/RaySearch%2BLabor
atories%2BAB
‘RaySearch Laboratories AB return on assets’ 2016, Gurufocus, viewed 9 Jan 2016,
http://www.gurufocus.com/term/ROA/OSTO:RAY%20B/Return%2Bon%2BAssets/RaySearch
%2BLaboratories%2BAB
Petty, J, Titman, S, Keown, A, Martin, J, Martin, P, Burrow, M & Nguyen, H 2012, Financial
management: principles and applications, 6th edn, Pearson Australia, NSW.
Pecuniary interest declaration
As a result of my analysis and recommendation, as of 14 January 2016 I hold 532 RaySearch
B shares.
17
Appendices
Appendix 1 EBIT margin / operating margin
Net sales (285217) - Operating expenses (205857) = 79360 / Net sales (285217)
= 27.8%
Appendix 2 Net profit margin
Net sales (285217) - Operating expenses (205857) - financial items (659) = 78701 / Net sales
(285217)
= 27.6%
Appendix 3 Gross profit margin
Gross profit (273590) / net sales (285217)
= 95.9%
Appendix 4 Return on total assets (ROA)
EBIT (Net sales (285217) - Operating expenses (205857)) = 79360 / Total assets (389753)
= 20.4%
Appendix 5 Current ratio
Current assets (212721) / Current liabilities (56385)
= 3.77
Appendix 6 Debt ratio
Total long term liabilities (81820) / total assets (389753)
= 21.0%
18
Appendix 7 Debt-equity ratio
Total debt (17311 + 41096) = 58407 / total equity (251548)
= 23.2%
c.f. US Industry average = 44.0% (‘Industry information’ 2015).
Appendix 8 Quotient value per share
Total share capital (17141000) / total shares* (34282773)
= 0.5 SEK
* Each Class A share carries ten votes and each Class B share carries one vote at the Annual
General Meeting (AGM). Class A shares are not listed on the stock exchange (‘Annual report’
2014, pp. 44-45)
Appendix 9 P/E ratio
Share price (53.0) / earnings per share (1.75)
= 30.3
Appendix 10 Book value
Equity (251548000) / total shares (34282773)
= 7.34
Appendix 11 Price to book (P/B) ratio
Share price at 2014 year end (53.0) / book value (7.34)
= 7.2
Share price 13 Jan 2016 (104.0) / book value (8.36)
= 12.4
19
Appendix 12 Dividend discount model
a) 2010: 5% dividend growth rate
Earnings per share (EPS) = 0.84
Retained earnings (r) = 0.34 (40.5%)
Dividends (D1) = 0.5 (59.5%)
Required rate of return (RE)= 0.1 (10%)
Growth rate(g) = 0.05 (5%)
Ordinary share price = dividend in year 1 (D1)
Required rate of return (RE) – growth rate (g)
= 0.5 / (0.1 – 0.05)
= 10
So, assuming the company had a 5% dividend growth rate and the required rate of return
was 10%, the 2010 stock value would be SEK 10. The market value was SEK 38.
b) 2010: 6.1% dividend growth rate
Earnings per share (EPS) = 0.84
Retained earnings (r) = 0.34 (40.5%)
Dividends (D1) = 0.5 (59.5%)
Required rate of return (RE)= 0.1 (10%)
Return on equity (ROE) = 0.151 (15.1%)
Growth rate (g) = 0.405 (r) * ROE (0.151)
Growth rate(g) = 0.061
Ordinary share price = dividend in year 1 (D1)
Required rate of return (RE) – growth rate (g)
= 0.5 / (0.1 – 0.061)
= 12.8
So, applying the company’s 6.1% dividend growth rate with a required rate of return of 10%,
would value the 2010 stock at SEK 12.8. The market value was SEK 38.
Or, applying the PVDG model:
20
1. The present value of the non-earning stream:
VE,NG = EPS1
RE
= 0.84 / 0.1
= SEK 8.4
2. Value of the future growth opportunities coming from retained earnings:
PVDG = NPV1
RE - g
= NPV1
0.1 – 0.061
= 0.039
NPV1 = r * EPS1 * ROE
RE – r * EPS1
So NPV1 = 0.405 * 0.84 * 0.151
0.1 - 0.405*0.84
Therefore NPV1 = 0.513702 – 0.3402
= 0.173502
So PVDG = SEK 4.45
3. The value of the combined streams:
VE = SEK 8.4 + SEK 4.4
= SEK 12.8
c) 2016 TTM: 12.1% dividend growth rate
Earnings per share (EPS) = 2.26
Retained earnings (r) = 0.915 (40.5%)
Dividends (D1) = 1.345 (59.5%)
Required rate of return (RE)= 0.15 (15%)
Return on equity (ROE) = 0.299 (29.9%)
Growth rate (g) = 0.405 (r) * ROE (0.299)
Growth rate (g) = 0.121
21
Ordinary share price = dividend in year 1 (D1)
Required rate of return (RE) – growth rate (g)
= 1.345 / (0.15 – 0.121)
= 46.3
So, applying the company’s 2010 rate of dividends with a 12.1% dividend growth rate (based
on current ROE) with a required rate of return of 15%, would value the 2016 stock at SEK
46.3. The market value was SEK 104 (13 January 2016)
NB: Valuing the current stock with a 10% required rate of return is not possible due to the
limitation of the models (Petty et al. 2012, p. 343)
Appendix 13 Enhanced dividend discount model
Simplifies to:
Where:
EPS1 = expected annual earnings per share one year in the future at the firm’s normal
growth rate;
p = the normal retention rate;
(1 – p) = the normal dividend payout rate;
pg = the temporary increase in the retention rate (during the growth phase);
r = the required rate of return;
g = the normal growth rate;
gn = the increase in the dividend growth rate, attributable to the increased retention rate
(gn = ROE * pg);
DR = the reduction in the dividend attributable to the increased retention rate (DR = EPS1 *
pg).
22
Assuming:
Dividends (D1) = 1.345 (from appendix 12c)
EPS0 = 3.00
ROE = 0.165
g = 0.05
Accelerated growth rate = 0.20
Accelerated growth period = 3 years
r = 0.10
pg = 0.2 (Normal retention rate (p) = 0.55; accelerated growth period retention rate = 0.75)
Then:
So, applying the company’s 2010 rate of dividends with a 3 year period of 20% accelerated
dividend growth followed by a return to a 5% dividend growth rate with a required rate of
return of 10%, would value the 2016 stock at SEK 41.5, assuming a ROE of 16.5%. The
market value was SEK 104 (13 January 2016)

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Why I believe in RaySearch

  • 1. 1 RaySearch Laboratories: a financial analysis Executive summary RaySearch has the fundamental goal to establish itself as the leading provider of treatment planning systems for radiation therapy. Registered on the mid cap segment of the Nasdaq OMX Stockholm, RaySearch represents a growing contributor to the global sector. Recent results have stimulated further investment in the company, which has experienced an almost doubling of its share price over the past year. An evaluation of profitability, liquidity and solvency confirms that the fundamentals underlying performance are strong. Relative to its peers, RaySearch continues to outperform the market, generating high relative returns while maintaining low financial risk. Overcoming a 2013 lawsuit, the company appears to be on target to reap further gains from its investment into RayStation, its flagship product. As sales continue to increase, investors are anticipating accelerated future cash flows to justify their purchase. With a strong financial and strategic foundation, RaySearch represents an opportunity for investors to partner with an increasingly successful business model.
  • 2. 2 Table of contents 1. Introduction.............................................................................................................................3 2. Profitability evaluation.............................................................................................................3 2.1 EBIT margin......................................................................................................................... 3 2.2 Generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP)..................................................................4 2.3 Profit margin....................................................................................................................... 4 2.4 Relative profitability............................................................................................................ 5 Table 1: Relative profitability..................................................................................................5 2.5 Return on total assets..........................................................................................................6 Figure 1: Du Pont analysis on ROA.......................................................................................... 6 3. Liquidity evaluation..................................................................................................................7 4. Solvency evaluation..................................................................................................................7 5. Trends analysis.........................................................................................................................8 Figure 2: Multi-year overview ..................................................................................................8 Table 2: Trends analysis............................................................................................................. 9 Figure 3: Profitability trends.................................................................................................... 10 Figure 4: TTMvs 5 Year average margins.................................................................................. 11 6. Stock valuation....................................................................................................................... 11 Figure 5: Share price trend diagram ......................................................................................... 11 Figure 6: Relative share performance....................................................................................... 12 Table 3: Relative P/E ratios...................................................................................................... 12 6.1 Book value........................................................................................................................ 13 6.2 Valuation models .............................................................................................................. 13 7. Conclusion............................................................................................................................. 14 8. Recommendation................................................................................................................... 14 References................................................................................................................................. 15 Pecuniaryinterest declaration..................................................................................................... 16 Appendices ................................................................................................................................ 17
  • 3. 3 1. Introduction RaySearch Laboratories is a medical technology company that creates advanced software solutions for improved radiation therapy treatment of cancer. RaySearch was founded in 2000 and is a Swedish registered limited liability company headquartered in Stockholm (‘Annual report’ 2014). The parent company’s shares are now listed on the mid cap segment of Nasdaq OMX Stockholm, with a subsidiary group consisting of five foreign based sales companies – RaySearch Americas, RaySearch Belgium, RaySearch France, RaySearch UK and RaySearch Germany (‘Advancing cancer treatment’ 2015). Annual reports are prepared in accordance with the Swedish Annual Accounts Act (1995:1554) and the Swedish financial reporting board’s recommendation RFR 2 Accounting for Legal Entities (‘Annual report’ 2014). All financial statements are presented in Swedish Krona (SEK). 2. Profitability evaluation RaySearch’s fundamental goal is to establish itself as the leading provider of treatment planning systems for radiation therapy (‘Advancing cancer treatment’ 2015). Its long-term financial target is to have high sales growth and earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) margin exceeding 30 percent (‘Annual report’ 2014, p. 10). These targets focus on profitability and trends, and can serve as the focus of analysis. 2.1 EBIT margin Higher EBIT margins indicate higher profitability. By dividing operating earnings over net sales (appendix 1) RaySearch’s 2014 EBIT ratio can be calculated at 27.8 percent - close to the specified target. Often used interchangeably with operating margin (‘What is the difference between EBIT and operating income?’ 2016), these ratios allow investors to understand the true business costs of running the company. Maverick (2015) describes the operating margin as a ‘key determinant in evaluating growth potential’ and ‘essential in the assessment of management efficacy’. The margin incorporates the effectiveness of capital management and the reliance of the business on capital resources. As a specific EBIT target was mentioned annual report (‘Annual report’
  • 4. 4 2014, p. 10), the subtle differences between an EBIT ratio and operating margin should be examined: 2.2 Generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) Corporate accounting is required to adhere to the standard conventions known as the generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The terms gross profit margin, operating profit margin and net profit margin generally refer to one of three key GAAP-approved measures of profitability. GAAP profit margin calculations are standardised, enabling reliable competitive analysis. Non-GAAP profitability metrics such as EBIT and EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) may bear close resemblance to GAAP counterparts but may hide crucial differences. Boyte-White (n.d.) explains: …gross profit reflects revenue minus only those costs directly associated with production of goods for sale. Operating profit is equal to gross profit minus any other overhead, operational or sales expenses necessary to run the business, including depreciation and amortization of assets. EBITDA essentially splits the difference between these two metrics by accounting for all expenses generated by production and day-to-day operations, but adding back in the cost of depreciation and amortization. Prudent profitability evaluation includes analysis of GAAP profitability margins along with EBIT and EBITDA metrics. 2.3 Profit margin Using the net profit margin ratio, the expense of gearing can be included (AIB, Topic 2, appendix 2, Parameters of assessing business performance: summary of financial ratios 2015). Often referred to simply as the profit margin, the net profit margin is considered one of the most crucial indicators of a company's financial health (Boyte-White n.d.). RaySearch’s net profit margin of 27.6 percent (appendix 2) represents an exceptional return in absolute terms (AIB, Topic 2, appendix 2, Parameters of assessing business performance: summary of financial ratios 2015), as does a gross profit margin of 95.9 percent (appendix 3).
  • 5. 5 2.4 Relative profitability Determining the company’s performance relative to the industry is fundamental to adequate performance evaluation. Bloomberg groups RaySearch into the Health Care Equipment & Services industry within the health care sector, where it’s metrics sit amongst other comparable European companies (‘Health care equipment & services industry’ 2016). Comparisons with the European subset are limited, with the sample size presenting an obstacle to reliable appraisal. Comparisons with the US market present an alternative where the industry averages are drawn from a larger pool companies, some of which have been identified as direct competitors (‘Annual report’ 2014, p. 29). The 27.6 percent net profit margin posted by RaySearch in 2014 is considerably above the US industry average of 10.6 percent and the sector average of 16.7 percent (‘Industry information’ 2015). RaySearch’s profitability becomes even more impressive when global comparisons are produced. Gurufocus calculates the industry net profit median at 3.2 percent, listing RaySearch as a high performer among 1750 companies within the global software – application industry (‘RaySearch Laboratories AB’ 2016). The global operating margin industry average of 4.7 percent is also radically outperformed by RaySearch. As a global company with multiple foreign based subsidiaries, RaySearch identifies its major competitors as Varian, Elekta and Phillips (‘Annual report’ 2014, p.29). Accuray is another US competitor. Comparisons between these publically listed companies are presented in table 1: Table 1: Relative profitability 2014 Net profit margin (%) Operating margin (%) Relative net profit performance (%) Global Industry Average 3.2 4.7 0 RAYSEARCH 27.6 27.8 +24.4 VARIAN 13.3 17.7 +10.1 ELEKTA 4.8 8.4 +1.6 PHILLIPS 3.5 4.2 +0.3 ACCURAY -8.2 -2.9 -11.4 (‘RaySearchLaboratoriesAB’2016)
  • 6. 6 Caution should be used in industry average comparisons, as determining relative profitability is greatly affected by the included subset of companies. Published averages are approximate, reporting practices vary, and operational seasonality can led to deceptive data and misleading comparisons (Petty et al. 2012, pp. 161-162). However the results posted by RaySearch far outreach this uncertainty: it is clear that its recent profitability has far exceeded that of its peers. 2.5 Return on total assets Measuring the return on asset investment allows operations management profitability to be assessed. This formula ignores financing and evaluates how well assets are utilised to create wealth, regardless of capital structure (AIB, Topic 2, appendix 2, Parameters of assessing business performance: summary of financial ratios 2015). RaySearch delivers a return on total assets (ROA) of 20.4 percent (appendix 4), again outperforming an industry which averages just over 3 percent (‘RaySearch Laboratories AB return on assets’ 2016). Similar to return on equity (ROE), ROA is affected by profit margins and asset turnover. This can be seen when broken down by the Du Pont Formula; a method that seeks to demonstrate the various interrelationships involved in ratio analysis: Figure 1: Du Pont analysis on ROA (Fahimn.d.)
  • 7. 7 Whilst many analysts argue that a higher ROA is superior, Buffett states that a high ROA may indicate vulnerability in the durability of the competitive advantage (‘RaySearch Laboratories AB return on assets’ 2016). Petty et al.’s (2012, p. 13-15) principal 5 also alludes to the potential vulnerability of exceptionally profitable projects ‘…in competitive markets, extremely large profits cannot exist for very long’. RaySearch seeks to maintain its relatively high ROA by driving innovation and differentiating its main product, RayStation (‘Annual report’ 2014, p. 1). Petty at al. (2012 p. 14) describes this strategy as creating markets that are not ‘perfectly competitive’, allowing for insulation from potential rivals. 3. Liquidity evaluation Nuzum (2016) notes that a decline in liquidity increases the risk of bankruptcy. RaySearch’s current ratio sits at 3.77, providing an indication that it is well equipped to pay short term obligations (appendix 5). With a global industry median of 2.1 (‘RaySearch Laboratories AB current ratio’ 2016), RaySearch attributes it’s highly liquid financial position to a ‘substantial rise in sales…at the end of the period’ (‘Annual report’ 2014, p. 2). This is congruent with the trend analysis, which is further examined in section 5. The explanation also allays fears that the high liquidity may be due to poor working capital management. 4. Solvency evaluation As insolvency is one of top reasons businesses fail (Nuzum 2016), assessing solvency is critical to determining the risk associated with a potential investment. In keeping with the board’s financial risk management policy (‘Annual report’ 2014, p. 5), RaySearch’s debt ratio has continued to be kept low (appendix 6). This indicates potential to finance new assets with debt, such as research and development (‘Annual report’ 2014, p. 16). The debt-equity ratio (appendix 7) is another indicator of low financial risk, a feature required of companies with higher operational risk (AIB, Topic 2, appendix 2, Parameters of assessing business performance: summary of financial ratios 2015). These operational risks are identified as dependence on key personal and partnerships, competition, regulatory approval and reliance on insurance rebates (‘Annual report’ 2014, pp. 28-29).
  • 8. 8 5. Trends analysis Ratios employed in financial analysis draw on measures from both the balance sheet (position) and the income statement (performance) (AIB, Topic 2: Financial accounting concepts and statements: financial analysis 2015). These figures become a greater tool when compared with historical data: Figure 2: Multi-year overview (‘Annual report’ 2014, p. 6)
  • 9. 9 By calculating ratios from the published data, trends become apparent. Table 2 shows the redacted ratios: Table 2: Trends analysis RATIO 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 EBIT (%) 27.8 -12.6 12.4 21.9 33.9 Net profit (%) 27.6 -12.2 12.9 22.8 34.1 Gross profit (%) 95.9 97.0 98.3 99.7 99.9 ROA (%) 20.4 -8.6 7.7 10.6 15.6 Current 3.77 2.88 3.58 5.35 6.86 Particular 2013 profitability ratios become an immediate cause for further investigation. The EBIT, net profit and ROA margins exhibit a significant negative deviation in trend. Examination of the annual report (2013, p. 5) showed that the significant decline in profit was primarily due to a legal settlement: In May 2011, we were sued by the US company Prowess, which claimed that we had infringed on a patent that they license…this resulted in a settlement agreement with Prowess. Under this agreement RaySearch will pay Prowess a fixed amount spread out over three years and Prowess will drop the lawsuit. Since the outcome of the settlement pertains to events prior to the close of 2013, a provision covering the entire settlement amount was posted in the 2013 annual accounts. The total cost of the settlement was SEK 34.8M and was charged entirely to 2013 (‘annual report’ 2013, p. 44). The ‘Prowess effect’ can be observed clearly in figure 3:
  • 10. 10 Figure 3: Profitability trends (‘RaySearchLaboratoriesAB15-yearfinancials’2016) Prior to 2013 a trend of negative profit growth is observed. This is despite the ongoing increased sales reported in figure 2. The annual report (2012, pp. 5, 50) proffers the following explanation: The fact that profit increased proportionately less than revenue was due primarily to the build-up of infrastructure for selling and marketing RayStation, which led to higher costs…the increase in operating expenses derived mainly from higher marketing and personnel costs. The investment into the flagship product, RayStation, is realised in the increased research and development expenditure as well as in other operating expenses (figure 2). The rise over the period accords with the 2012 release date of RayStation. A turnaround in this trend occurs in 2014 and has been sustained in the interim reports of 2015 (‘Financial reports’ 2015). Trailing twelve months (TTM) profitability now appears highly favourable when compared to the five year average:
  • 11. 11 Figure 4: TTM vs 5 Year average profitability margins (‘RaysearchLaboratoriesAB:financials’2016) 6. Stock valuation RaySearch’s share capital amounts to SEK 17,141,386.50 (‘Annual report’ 2014, p. 44). The 34,282,773 shares are comprised of 11,324,391 Class A shares and 22,958,382 Class B shares (‘Annual report’ 2014, p. 44). The quotient value per share is SEK 0.50 (appendix 8). During 2014, the average price of traded shares was SEK 37.9, up from 27.7 (2013). The traded shares ranged in value from SEK 26.5 to SEK 54.0, with the price rising 93 percent on year end whilst the Swedish market (OMX) increased 12 percent (‘Annual report’ 2014, p. 44). Figure 5: Share price trend diagram (‘Annual report’2014, p. 46)
  • 12. 12 On the last trading day of 2014 the closing price was SEK 53.0. This equated to a price to earnings (P/E) ratio of 30.3 (appendix 9). Since then the price has continued to appreciate, rising to a current SEK 104 (13 Jan 2016), significantly outperforming competitors: Figure 6: Relative share performance (‘BloombergBusiness’2016) The TTM P/E ratio has elevated to 45.9, significantly above the global industry average of 24.8: Table 3: Relative P/E ratios Jan 2016 TTM P/E ratio Global industry average 24.8 US industry average 42.1 OMX index average 15.7 RAYSEARCH 45.9 VARIAN 18.1 ELEKTA 42.9 PHILLIPS n/a ACCURAY n/a (‘RaySearchLaboratoriesAB’2016); (‘Industryinformation’2015);(‘BloombergBusiness’2016)
  • 13. 13 In an efficient market, the high P/E ratio would an indicator of the expected growth in company earnings. However to ensure that the stock is not subject to a speculative bubble, other methods of evaluating the intrinsic or fair value should be considered. The intrinsic value of an ordinary share is equal to the present value of all future cash flows expected to be received by the investor (Petty et al. 2012, p. 340). 6.1 Book value The 2014 book value per ordinary share was found to be SEK 7.34 (appendix 10). This has remained stable (SEK 5.73 – 7.34) over the past five reporting years. The increasing share price has elevated the price to book (P/B) ratio from 7.2 to a current 12.4 (appendix 11), well above the global industry median of 2.4 (‘RaySearch Laboratories AB’ 2016). ‘RaySearch Laboratories AB P/B ratio’ (2016) makes the observation that the P/B ratio works best for companies that earn most of their profit from underlying assets, such as banks. It has limited value for software companies with light assets. 6.2 Valuation models RaySearch has a policy to pay as dividends approximately 20 percent of the Group’s net profit on condition that a ‘healthy capital structure is retained’ (‘Annual report’ 2014, p. 46). Despite recent net profits, no dividends have been paid since 2010. If earnings are expected to grow at a constant rate, the dividend growth valuation or dividend discount model may a useful tool to estimate the value of an ordinary share (Petty et al. 2012, p. 356). By applying a hypothetical 5% dividend growth rate and a required rate of return of 10%, the 2010 intrinsic value was calculated to be SEK 10 per share (appendix 12a). Different outcomes may be obtained by substituting variables, such as those shown in appendix 12b and appendix 12c. Appendix 12b also demonstrates the application of the PVDG model, a tool useful in demonstrating the present values of both the non-growth and earnings streams (Petty et al. 2012, p. 358). With a current market value of SEK 104 (13 Jan 2016), it is clear that the market is still expecting a further acceleration in growth. Irons (2014) addresses this phenomenon with an enhanced dividend discount model. Designed to deal with a changing growth rate, the model is particularly applicable for businesses in the growth phase of their lifecycle. Based on conservative assumptions, the model estimates the current intrinsic value to be SEK 41.5
  • 14. 14 (appendix 13). The current market value suggests assumptions are less conservative, with traders placing a higher premium on expected future cash flows. 7. Conclusion The retention of profits is an indirect route for shareholders to increase their ROE (Petty et al. 2012, p. 341). As a growth company, investors are relying on future cash flows to justify their purchase, rather than on current dividends. The intrinsic value is based on this perception, taking account of the amount, timing and riskiness of future cash flows (Petty et al. 2012, p. 331). The performance evaluation identified significant underlying strengths in the company. These fundamentals have been recognised by investors and are reflected in the share price. 8. Recommendation When the market is functioning efficiently, the market value and intrinsic value of a stock will be equal (Petty et al. 2012, p. 332). This assumes values fully reflect all available information and investors are rational, which, according to behavioural finance theory, is not always the case (Petty et al. 2012, p. 332). A close analysis of the company and the dynamics of the industry may give an investor an advantage when identifying risk and potential future cash flows. Inside industry knowledge may further enhance this advantage, particularly when such information is not readily comprehensible to the market. With a strong financial and strategic foundation for a future acceleration in growth, RaySearch represents an opportunity for investors to partner with an increasingly successful business model.
  • 15. 15 References ‘Advancing cancer treatment’ 2015, About Raysearch, viewed 5 Jan 2016, http://www.raysearchlabs.com/about/About-RaySearch/ ‘Annual report’ 2009, Investor relations, viewed 11 Jan 2016, http://www.raysearchlabs.com/investor/financial-reports/?year=2010 ‘Annual report’ 2010, Investor relations, viewed 11 Jan 2016, http://www.raysearchlabs.com/investor/financial-reports/?year=2011 ‘Annual report’ 2011, Investor relations, viewed 11 Jan 2016, http://www.raysearchlabs.com/investor/financial-reports/?year=2012 ‘Annual report’ 2012, Investor relations, viewed 11 Jan 2016, http://www.raysearchlabs.com/investor/financial-reports/?year=2013 ‘Annual report’ 2013, Investor relations, viewed 11 Jan 2016, http://www.raysearchlabs.com/investor/financial-reports/?year=2014 ‘Annual report’ 2014, Investor relations, viewed 5 Jan 2016, http://ar.raysearchlabs.com/en/index.html Australian Institute of Business (AIB), 2015, ‘Topic 2: appendix 2 - Parameters of assessing business performance - summary of financial ratios’ in Financial Management Learning Materials, AIB, Adelaide. Australian Institute of Business (AIB), 2015, ‘Topic 2: Financial accounting concepts and statements: financial analysis ’ in Financial Management Learning Materials, AIB, Adelaide. ‘Bloomberg business’ 2016, Bloomberg, viewed 17 Jan 2016, http://www.bloomberg.com/quote/RAYB:SS Boyte-White, C n.d., ‘What is the difference between EBITDA margin and profit margin?’, viewed 5 Jan 2016, http://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/032715/what-difference- between-ebitda-margin-and-profit-margin.asp Fahim, T n.d., ‘Finance for non-financial managers’, viewed 9 Jan 2016, http://www.slideshare.net/AhmedElAty/lep-finanace-investment ‘Financial reports’ 2015, Investor relations, viewed 11 Jan, 2016, http://www.raysearchlabs.com/investor/financial-reports/?year=2015 ‘Health care equipment & services industry’ 2016, Bloomberg Business, viewed 5 Jan 2016, http://www.investing.businessweek.wallst.com/research/sectorandindustry/industries/indu strydetail.asp?region=Europe ‘Industry information’ 2015, Hemscott Americas, viewed 5 Jan 2016, http://biz.yahoo.com/p/521conameu.html#var Irons, R 2014, ‘Enhancing the dividend discount model to account for accelerated share price growth', Journal of Accounting and Finance, vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 153–159.
  • 16. 16 Maverick, J 2015, ‘Key financial ratios to analyze the healthcare industry’, viewed 5 Jan 2016, http://www.investopedia.com/articles/active-trading/082015/key-financial-ratios- analyze-healthcare-industry.asp#ixzz3vhhaW65D Nuzum, T 2016 ‘HD sample assignment extract for you’, Financial Management Discussion Forum, 12 Jan 2016, viewed 18 Jan 2016, https://moodle.aib.edu.au/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=5487 ‘RaySearch Laboratories AB’ 2016, Gurufocus, viewed 5 Jan 2016, http://www.gurufocus.com/stock/RSLBF ‘RaySearch Laboratories AB 15-year financials ’ 2016, Gurufocus, viewed 11 Jan 2016, http://www.gurufocus.com/financials/OTCPK:RSLBF# ‘RaySearch Laboratories AB current ratio’ 2016, Gurufocus, viewed 10 Jan 2016, http://www.gurufocus.com/term/current_ratio/OSTO:RAY%20B/Current%2BRatio/RaySear ch%2BLaboratories%2BAB ‘Raysearch Laboratories AB: financials’, Investing.com, viewed 11 Jan 2016, http://au.investing.com/equities/raysearch-laboratories-ratios ‘RaySearch Laboratories AB P/B ratio’ 2016, Gurufocus, viewed 17 Jan 2016, http://www.gurufocus.com/term/pb/OTCPK:RSLBF/P%252FB%2BRatio/RaySearch%2BLabor atories%2BAB ‘RaySearch Laboratories AB return on assets’ 2016, Gurufocus, viewed 9 Jan 2016, http://www.gurufocus.com/term/ROA/OSTO:RAY%20B/Return%2Bon%2BAssets/RaySearch %2BLaboratories%2BAB Petty, J, Titman, S, Keown, A, Martin, J, Martin, P, Burrow, M & Nguyen, H 2012, Financial management: principles and applications, 6th edn, Pearson Australia, NSW. Pecuniary interest declaration As a result of my analysis and recommendation, as of 14 January 2016 I hold 532 RaySearch B shares.
  • 17. 17 Appendices Appendix 1 EBIT margin / operating margin Net sales (285217) - Operating expenses (205857) = 79360 / Net sales (285217) = 27.8% Appendix 2 Net profit margin Net sales (285217) - Operating expenses (205857) - financial items (659) = 78701 / Net sales (285217) = 27.6% Appendix 3 Gross profit margin Gross profit (273590) / net sales (285217) = 95.9% Appendix 4 Return on total assets (ROA) EBIT (Net sales (285217) - Operating expenses (205857)) = 79360 / Total assets (389753) = 20.4% Appendix 5 Current ratio Current assets (212721) / Current liabilities (56385) = 3.77 Appendix 6 Debt ratio Total long term liabilities (81820) / total assets (389753) = 21.0%
  • 18. 18 Appendix 7 Debt-equity ratio Total debt (17311 + 41096) = 58407 / total equity (251548) = 23.2% c.f. US Industry average = 44.0% (‘Industry information’ 2015). Appendix 8 Quotient value per share Total share capital (17141000) / total shares* (34282773) = 0.5 SEK * Each Class A share carries ten votes and each Class B share carries one vote at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). Class A shares are not listed on the stock exchange (‘Annual report’ 2014, pp. 44-45) Appendix 9 P/E ratio Share price (53.0) / earnings per share (1.75) = 30.3 Appendix 10 Book value Equity (251548000) / total shares (34282773) = 7.34 Appendix 11 Price to book (P/B) ratio Share price at 2014 year end (53.0) / book value (7.34) = 7.2 Share price 13 Jan 2016 (104.0) / book value (8.36) = 12.4
  • 19. 19 Appendix 12 Dividend discount model a) 2010: 5% dividend growth rate Earnings per share (EPS) = 0.84 Retained earnings (r) = 0.34 (40.5%) Dividends (D1) = 0.5 (59.5%) Required rate of return (RE)= 0.1 (10%) Growth rate(g) = 0.05 (5%) Ordinary share price = dividend in year 1 (D1) Required rate of return (RE) – growth rate (g) = 0.5 / (0.1 – 0.05) = 10 So, assuming the company had a 5% dividend growth rate and the required rate of return was 10%, the 2010 stock value would be SEK 10. The market value was SEK 38. b) 2010: 6.1% dividend growth rate Earnings per share (EPS) = 0.84 Retained earnings (r) = 0.34 (40.5%) Dividends (D1) = 0.5 (59.5%) Required rate of return (RE)= 0.1 (10%) Return on equity (ROE) = 0.151 (15.1%) Growth rate (g) = 0.405 (r) * ROE (0.151) Growth rate(g) = 0.061 Ordinary share price = dividend in year 1 (D1) Required rate of return (RE) – growth rate (g) = 0.5 / (0.1 – 0.061) = 12.8 So, applying the company’s 6.1% dividend growth rate with a required rate of return of 10%, would value the 2010 stock at SEK 12.8. The market value was SEK 38. Or, applying the PVDG model:
  • 20. 20 1. The present value of the non-earning stream: VE,NG = EPS1 RE = 0.84 / 0.1 = SEK 8.4 2. Value of the future growth opportunities coming from retained earnings: PVDG = NPV1 RE - g = NPV1 0.1 – 0.061 = 0.039 NPV1 = r * EPS1 * ROE RE – r * EPS1 So NPV1 = 0.405 * 0.84 * 0.151 0.1 - 0.405*0.84 Therefore NPV1 = 0.513702 – 0.3402 = 0.173502 So PVDG = SEK 4.45 3. The value of the combined streams: VE = SEK 8.4 + SEK 4.4 = SEK 12.8 c) 2016 TTM: 12.1% dividend growth rate Earnings per share (EPS) = 2.26 Retained earnings (r) = 0.915 (40.5%) Dividends (D1) = 1.345 (59.5%) Required rate of return (RE)= 0.15 (15%) Return on equity (ROE) = 0.299 (29.9%) Growth rate (g) = 0.405 (r) * ROE (0.299) Growth rate (g) = 0.121
  • 21. 21 Ordinary share price = dividend in year 1 (D1) Required rate of return (RE) – growth rate (g) = 1.345 / (0.15 – 0.121) = 46.3 So, applying the company’s 2010 rate of dividends with a 12.1% dividend growth rate (based on current ROE) with a required rate of return of 15%, would value the 2016 stock at SEK 46.3. The market value was SEK 104 (13 January 2016) NB: Valuing the current stock with a 10% required rate of return is not possible due to the limitation of the models (Petty et al. 2012, p. 343) Appendix 13 Enhanced dividend discount model Simplifies to: Where: EPS1 = expected annual earnings per share one year in the future at the firm’s normal growth rate; p = the normal retention rate; (1 – p) = the normal dividend payout rate; pg = the temporary increase in the retention rate (during the growth phase); r = the required rate of return; g = the normal growth rate; gn = the increase in the dividend growth rate, attributable to the increased retention rate (gn = ROE * pg); DR = the reduction in the dividend attributable to the increased retention rate (DR = EPS1 * pg).
  • 22. 22 Assuming: Dividends (D1) = 1.345 (from appendix 12c) EPS0 = 3.00 ROE = 0.165 g = 0.05 Accelerated growth rate = 0.20 Accelerated growth period = 3 years r = 0.10 pg = 0.2 (Normal retention rate (p) = 0.55; accelerated growth period retention rate = 0.75) Then: So, applying the company’s 2010 rate of dividends with a 3 year period of 20% accelerated dividend growth followed by a return to a 5% dividend growth rate with a required rate of return of 10%, would value the 2016 stock at SEK 41.5, assuming a ROE of 16.5%. The market value was SEK 104 (13 January 2016)