As previously guided, Imperial Brands expects first-half operating profit to be broadly flat, ignoring exchange rate movements, reflecting last year's Russian exit and investment in next-generation products.
Pricing remains robust, and last year's market share gain in its main combustible markets has been retained, although not improved, with declines in Germany and the UK offset elsewhere.
Second-half performance is expected to be stronger, with COVID-19 comparisons becoming less relevant and the first-half price hikes hitting the top line.
Imperial says it's on track to deliver full-year results in line with expectations and prior guidance of low single-digit revenue growth before currency movements, which at current rates are providing a tailwind to earnings.
The shares were down 1.6% in early trading.
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Our view
Imperial Brands is flexing its pricing power further this year, which it believes will help it eke out modest revenue and profit growth. But with profits flat in the first half, even modest full-year growth expectations mean there's a lot to deliver in the second half.
Imperial's narrowed focus on core markets has made some inroads into market share of late. But, weakness in the UK and Germany is something to watch.
We're encouraged that net debt remains comfortably within the group's target of 2-2.5 times earnings which means that the remaining £0.5m of the 2023 buyback programme should be achievable. That's in addition to the prospective yield of 8%. Analysts forecast that dividends are 2.6 times covered by free cash flow, but no returns are guaranteed.
Profit growth has been hard to come by. Price increases in traditional tobacco products have propped up sales despite declining volumes. For now, that's enough to give management confidence they can grow underlying operating profit in the mid-single single range over the next few years.
However, the cigarette market's growth is unlikely to get much more exciting. Imperial isn't alone in that. The entire industry's jostling for position in the up-and-coming Next Generation Products (NGPs) market, including products like heated tobacco and vape.
It's not been an easy start for Imperial. Management responded to its NGPs' lukewarm reception by exiting unprofitable markets, homing in on those it felt had more potential. It's early doors, but the initial reaction to recent product launches has been promising. Investment in these new products weighs on profits, and the division is loss-making. There's a long way to go before these products impact performance positively.
As the smallest of the four tobacco giants, rumours often swirl that Imperial will get bought out by one of the bigger players. This isn't imminent though - and we think competition regulators would prove a major hurdle given the already high degree of market concentration.
The other important thing to consider with tobacco stocks is that many institutional investors can't, or won't, invest in the sector. This may mean that the shares are rated lower than the outlook for the industry warrants, but it's hard to see attitudes changing and valuations recovering. An investment case should therefore be generally built around the dividend yield, which is currently substantial, and the NGP prospects.
It's promising to see some tangible results from the revitalised business plan, and investors are being rewarded for sticking with it. But Imperial still has plenty of work to catch up with rivals with much more evolved next-generation product ranges. That's reflected in a valuation sitting towards the bottom of the peer group.
Imperial Brands key facts
All ratios are sourced from Refinitiv. Please remember yields are variable and not a reliable indicator of future income. Keep in mind key figures shouldn't be looked at on their own - it's important to understand the big picture.
This article is original Hargreaves Lansdown content, published by Hargreaves Lansdown. It was correct as at the date of publication, and our views may have changed since then. Unless otherwise stated estimates, including prospective yields, are a consensus of analyst forecasts provided by Refinitiv. These estimates are not a reliable indicator of future performance. Yields are variable and not guaranteed. Investments rise and fall in value so investors could make a loss.
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