Original-Research: Marley Spoon Group - from NuWays AG Classification of NuWays AG to Marley Spoon Group Company Name: Marley Spoon Group ISIN: LU2380748603 Reason for the research: Update Recommendation: Kaufen Target price: EUR 7.00 Target price on sight of: 12 Monaten Last rating change: Analyst: Mark Schüssler Mixed 2024 guidance / / efficiency measures bearing fruit; chg.
04.04.2024 - 09:01:37Original-Research: Marley Spoon Group (von NuWays AG): Kaufen
Original-Research: Marley Spoon Group - from NuWays AG Classification of NuWays AG to Marley Spoon Group Company Name: Marley Spoon Group ISIN: LU2380748603 Reason for the research: Update Recommendation: Kaufen Target price: EUR 7.00 Target price on sight of: 12 Monaten Last rating change: Analyst: Mark Schüssler Mixed 2024 guidance // efficiency measures bearing fruit; chg. Last week, Marley Spoon Group ('MSG') released a mixed 2024 guidance. Sales are expected to grow by a single-digit percentage versus the prior year (eNuW new: +9% yoy; eNuW old: +17% yoy), largely driven by two separate developments owing to MSG's structure, which consists of the core mealkit business Marley Spoon SE (>95% ownership) and the newly acquired bistroMD, operating in the ready-to-eat business: 1) While consumer demand has stabilized throughout 2023, the company cited cautious consumer behavior in the meal-kit market as the main culprit for the muted outlook and now expects a single-digit percentage decline for FY24e (eNuW new: -3% yoy; eNuW old: +5% yoy). In our view, this should be explained by a continued normalization in the number of active subscribers from Covid highs (eNuW: -3% yoy), the effect of which is likely more pronounced for Europe and Australia than for the US. 2) The guidance implies, however, that on a group level its recent acquisition of bistroMD shows a noticable impact on the overall topline development (FY24e revenue of EUR 39m, +10% yoy; eNuW), demonstrating the attractiveness and resilience of the ready-to-eat market. Besides bistroMD's leading doctor-designed RTE meal plans playing on relevant consumer trends like health, convenience, and weight-loss, this acquisition likely offers MSG an opportunity to use its own data and technology platform to generate synergies over time. Though MSG expects its contribution margin to remain flat (FY23: ~31.7%), operating EBITDA is seen to grow to a positive mid-single-digit figure for the full year (eNuW: EUR 2m), despite the fact that bistroMD should operate on a lower contribution margin (eNuW: ~30%) and negative EBIT due to lack of scale. The positive margin outlook is seen to be carried by (1) a rectified voucher strategy, likely increasing marketing efficiency and early cohort retention rates in H2'23 and Q1'24 and (2) a more streamlined G&A setup (-11% yoy to c. EUR 69m, excluding one-off costs) as costreduction measures from automation, centralization, and the closure of underutilized operations begin to kick in. While it looks like 2024 will be another challenging year for the meal kit market, we like both the strategic outlook and the operational progress MSG has made over the past quarters towards group profitability, leading us to reiterate our BUY rating with a changed PT of EUR 7.00 (old: EUR 8.00) based on DCF. You can download the research here: http://www.more-ir.de/d/29307.pdf For additional information visit our website www.nuways-ag.com/research. Contact for questions Die Analyse oder weiterführende Informationen zu dieser können Sie hier downloaden: www.nuways-ag.com/research. NuWays AG - Equity Research Web: www.nuways-ag.com Email: research@nuways-ag.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nuwaysag Adresse: Mittelweg 16-17, 20148 Hamburg, Germany ++++++++++ Diese Meldung ist keine Anlageberatung oder Aufforderung zum Abschluss bestimmter Börsengeschäfte. Offenlegung möglicher Interessenskonflikte nach § 85 WpHG beim oben analysierten Unternehmen befinden sich in der vollständigen Analyse. ++++++++++ -------------------transmitted by EQS Group AG.------------------- The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this research. The result of this research does not constitute investment advice or an invitation to conclude certain stock exchange transactions.