For QE31/3/2013, NCB's net profit increased 49% q-o-q but dropped 29% y-o-y to RM35 million while revenue declined by 2% q-o-q or 5% y-o-y to RM231 million. Lower revenue is attributable to lower container throughput handled by Northport. The bottom-line rebounded q-o-q due to increase in certain expenses incurred in QE31/12/2012. When compared to the same quarter last year, bottom-line dropped due to increase in the cost of servicing new businesses in the logistics division.
Table: NCB's last 8 quarterly results
Chart 1: NCBs last 20 quarterly results
Dividend Payout
Investors have been rewarded by bumper dividend over the past 5 years. The last two big payouts were:
- 56 sen in QE31/3/2012 when its bank balances stood at RM674 million; and
- 59 sen in QE31/3/2011 when its bank balances stood at RM896 million
Chart 2: NCB's Dividend Payout over past 5 years
Valuation
NCB (at RM4.60 as at 11.00am) is now trading at a PE of 14.6 times (based on last 4 quarters' EPS of 31.5 sen). At this PE, NCB is still reasonably valued, though the upside is limited.
Technical Outlook
NCB is still in an uptrend. If we use the 100-day SMA line as the proxy for the uptrend line, then the support for the stock is at RM4.48-4.50.
Chart 3: NCB's daily chart as at Apr 25, 2013_11.00am (Source: quickcharts)
Conclusion
Despite the decline in its financial performance over the past few quarters and the low prospect of big dividend payout, NCB is still a reasonably valued stock involved in a stable industry. Its technical outlook is still positive and on that basis, I would rate the stock a HOLD.
Note:
In addition to the disclaimer in the preamble to my blog, I hereby confirm that I do not have any relevant interest in, or any interest in the acquisition or disposal of, NCB.
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