KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 16): Analysts lifted Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd’s target price (TP) after it beat expectations to swing to profit in the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2023 (3QFY2023), on better sales volume expected amid customers' inventory replenishment activities.

However, persistent pricing competition due to an oversupply in the industry will keep average selling prices (ASP) flattish in the near term, the analysts said.

Shares of Kossan opened higher and rose as much as 16 sen or 10.8% to an 18-month high of RM1.64 in the morning session as net profit rebounded to RM40.97 million in 3QFY2023, after two consecutive quarters in the red.

The counter retreated to close at RM1.58, its highest in 17 months. It was 10 sen or 6.76% higher than its last closing price on Wednesday, and gave it a market capitalisation of RM4.04 billion.

Revenue came in at RM403.48 million, up 4.11% quarter-on-quarter (q-o-q) but down 28% year-on-year (y-o-y).

In a note on Thursday, Kenanga Research raised Kossan’s TP to RM1.34, from RM1.28, as it now projects the group to post a net profit of RM44 million in FY2023, from an earlier forecast of losses amounting to RM76 million.

However, it downgraded the counter to “underperform”, citing lofty valuations based on 42-87 times forward price-to-earnings ratio and forward return on equity of 1-2%.

The research house expects the over  supply situation to persist “at least over the next 12 months”, and excess capacity of 112 billion pieces in 2023 “which is similar to 2022”, despite a 15% increase in demand this year.

Separately, Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB) pointed out that Kossan’s core profit after tax and minority interest (Patami) of RM32.1 million surpassed both its expectations of RM67.7 million in losses and consensus estimates of RM66.5 million in losses.

"The key deviation from our forecast was due to lower-than-expected costs on the back of better cost control management,” said HLIB, which upgraded the counter to “hold” with a higher target price (TP) of RM1.35, from RM1.

TA Securities, which has a “buy” call with higher TP of RM1.75 (from RM1.60) also pointed to improved q-o-q performance by Kossan’s technical rubber products and clean room divisions’ performance.

However, it highlighted Kossan’s 9MFY2023 profit before tax (PBT) of RM32.4 million reflected a weaker y-o-y performance, mainly due to a 22% decline in ASP, a 25% decline in volume, and increased energy and labour costs.

MIDF Research sees ASP for Kossan’s gloves division remaining “flattish in the near term”, it said in a separate note. It pointed to the oversupply amid intense competition from Chinese players.

That said, buyers are replenishing their glove inventory following the expiration of pandemic-related stockpiles, it said, which would in turn support utilisation rate, resulting in production costs per unit and improved margins.

MIDF upgraded Kossan to “neutral” with a much higher revised TP of RM1.38 from 88 sen.

Meanwhile, PublicInvest Research upgraded its call to “neutral” at a higher TP of RM1.38, from RM1.08.

It sees lower raw material prices and the strengthening US dollar working in the company’s favour, and increased demand for the technical rubber products segment which could push revenue higher “in tandem with improved infrastructure spending”.

At the time of writing, Kossan shares traded up 11 sen or 7.43% at RM1.59, giving it a market capitalisation of RM4.07 billion. The counter is up more than 42.7% this year, Bloomberg data showed.

Kossan's better-than-expected performance spurred some trading activity among glove counters. Others who are yet to announce their results for the quarter ended September include Supermax Corp Bhd, as well as lower-liners Comfort Gloves Bhd, Careplus Group Bhd and Hextar Healthcare Bhd.

At the time of writing, shares of Supermax rose two sen or 2.32% to 88 sen, alongside Comfort (up two sen or 5.55% to 38 sen), Careplus (up one sen or 3.63% to 28.5 sen), and Hextar Healthcare (up 2.5 sen or 12.19% to 23 sen).

Shares of Top Glove Corp Bhd also rose three sen or 4% to 78 sen, while Hartalega Holdings Bhd shares traded unchanged at RM2.35.

Kossan's improvement was in line with its peer Hartalega Holdings Bhd, which earlier this month also posted a profit after three consecutive quarters in the red.

Meanwhile, Top Glove Corp Bhd recorded its worst quarterly performance in the quarter ended Aug 31, 2023 (4QFY2023) with RM463.15 million in losses on revenue of RM475.87 million, due to wider operating losses and impairments recorded in the quarter.

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Kossan returns to black in 3Q with better cost controls, lower material costs