Summary

• Optimax Holdings Bhd’s (OPTIMAX) 4Q22 core net profit improved 7.5% YoY to RM3.8m, bringing a 20.0% YoY increase on its FY22 core net profit to RM14.7m. The results came in within expectation, amounting to 102.1% of our full year forecast of RM14.4m. Meanwhile, an interim dividend of 1.2 sen per share, payable on 30th March 2023 was declared.

• QoQ, core net profit showed an improvement of 4.1% to RM3.8m, despite a drop of 1.1% QoQ decline in its revenue to RM28.4m and this was mainly due to the lower minority interest of –RM0.2m registered for 4Q22 vs RM1.1m in 3Q22.

• FY22 core net profit climbed 20.0% YoY, mainly attributed from (i) the increase in revenue arising from higher number of surgeries conducted amid economy reopening, (ii) effective marketing effort from ongoing promotions via online platforms, and (iii) better control over operating costs by leveraging on the experience gained from multiple lockdowns since March 2020.

• Moving forward, OPTIMAX will continue to boost the capacity of its Ambulatory Care Centre (ACC) in regions other than central Malaysia by hiring more surgeons. Meanwhile, the group continued to seek strategic locations to set up more satellite clinics to support its growth, targeting 5 satellite clinics in FY23.

• We expect its new ACC in Bahau, Negeri Sembilan and satellite clinic in Taman Sutera, Johor which were both established in FY22, would secure more patients and operate above break-even in the following 6-12 months, resulting in a higher margin for the group.

• There is no material development pertaining to both MoU entered into with Selgate Healthcare Sdn. Bhd., as well as with Sena Resources Sdn. Bhd. and Kempas Eye Specialist Hospital Sdn. Bhd.

Valuation & Recommendation

• Although the reported earnings came in within our expectations, we upgrade our FY23f earnings forecast by 6.9% to RM15.5m, taking into account the higher expectation on number of surgeries to be conducted amid economic reopening. Meanwhile, the core net profit forecast for FY24f is introduced at RM17.6m.

• We maintained our BUY recommendation on OPTIMAX with a revised target price of RM1.15 (from RM1.07). The target price is based on the assigned target PER of 40.0x to our revised FY23f EPS of 2.9 sen.

• Risks to our recommendation include the possible resurgence of Covid-19 infections which may result in postponement of surgeries. Besides, the inflationary pressure amid rising food and energy prices remains as threat to local economy.

Source: Mplus Research - 1 Mar 2023