Market Analysis: Persimmon, AstraZeneca, GSK, Airbus, Kering And The White Company

Ben Nuttall, Senior Analyst at Third Bridge looks at Yorkshire-based housebuilder Persimmon: "Sales for the year so far came not only 23% above 2020 levels but also 11% above pre-pandemic 2019 levels too. Build rates have remained at pre-pandemic levels despite socially distanced work environment, and they remain on track to deliver first half volume approaching that of first half of 2019. Outlet levels remain 15% lower than 2019, which specialists we speak with indicate could be a risk moving forward.”

"UK housebuilders have benefitted from a string of demand-side policies. Stamp duty holidays have been extended, Help-To-Buy has been prolonged, and most recently 5% deposits have been introduced to further stimulate the market."

"Pent-up demand for housing is also coming through on the back of consumers accumulating lockdown savings and being subject to fewer outgoings."

"The UK's demand-side policies are great for helping individuals, couples, and families get on the housing ladder. However, according to our experts, whilst a chronic undersupply of UK housing persists, demand-side policies mostly serve to drive up prices, benefitting house builders like Persimmon."

Third Bridge Senior Analyst Sebastian Skeet comments on AstraZeneca & GSK
"Against the backdrop of a global pandemic and GSK’s recent lacklustre earnings, AstraZeneca appears to be setting the benchmark for success amongst the world's big pharma' players."

"AstraZeneca's oncology franchise continues to deliver higher sales, growing at 16% CER over the previous year. Our experts say recent trial data supports the blockbuster potential of a number of on-market and pipeline assets across a range of indications including immunology, oncology, infectious disease, and more."

“Whilst some questions remain around the mid-term competitive threats to key Alexion and oncology assets, the proposed acquisition brings in deep scientific expertise and pipeline candidates. Both of which could could be applied to far more prevalent disease and there is a near term opportunity to cross-sell Alexion products into China, a key and rapidly growing market for AstraZeneca”

"The public story for AstraZeneca is less impressive with negative sentiment around its vaccine persisting. Rollout efforts have been impacted by extremely rare blood clotting events, the EU's lawsuit, and questions around the path forward in the U.S."

"There is an urgent demand for vaccines in emerging economies which AstraZeneca’s candidate could cater for, especially given its favourable storage temperature requirements and the fact this remains a safe an effective vaccine option."

Turning to GSK Sebastian Skeet says: "GSK endured a pretty lacklustre 2020 following a number of pipeline setbacks and Covid-19 disruption. Worryingly, their 2021 performance looks all too familiar”

"With pandemic-driven stocking in early 2020 serving as a tough year on year comparator, at constant exchange rates and on a pro-forma basis, topline sales for the pharmaceuticals, vaccines and consumer health division dropped by -8%, -30% and -16% respectively. Adjusted EPS is down 33%"

"Not only have existing challenges such as a muted shingrix recovery, late-stage pipeline setbacks, and increased competition around key on-market assets persisted at GSK, but we have seen additional pressures in the form of currency and shareholder activism."

"The outcome of Elliot's multibillion-dollar stake in the company is currently unclear given GSK's planned 2022 consumer health split."

"Whilst GSK will point to positives such as their Benlysta trials and RSV vaccine candidate, our experts are concerned that the healthcare giant's may be unable to plug the gap when key HIV assets go off-patent."

"The market will be watching closely when GSK announces its new Biopharma company strategy and dividend structure in June."

Meanwhile, analyst Jack Winchester, says of Airbus: "While quarterly revenues were basically unchanged from the same period last year, Airbus has had a profitable first three months of the year. With the uncertainty and depressed demand due to the pandemic, that in itself is worth noting.

Cash flow improved to 1.2 billion Euros but against a weak benchmark where the company lost over 8 billion Euros in the same period in 2020.

Airbus delivered 125 planes in the first quarter of the year, a slight improvement on Q1 of last year, but fundamental questions persist around when demand will return for the airframer.

Our experts say two conditions are necessary for a strong Airbus recovery. First, we need to see more people taking flights, and then we need to see how airlines will think about replacing old aircraft, many of which haven’t seen many flight hours since March 2020.

Management’s plan to simplify the production set-up for Airbus’ aerostructures look logical. But such a large scale business and production integration will be extremely challenging to realise in the short term.

And to conclude, Harry Barnick, Senior Analyst, said last week on Kering, that the company "reported a 26% growth in comparables sales, with Gucci outperforming estimates by growing +25% year-on-year in Q1 2021."

"These results will allay some concerns regarding the slow down in momentum at Gucci, which underperformed vs peers in 2020 and makes up roughly 60% of Kering's total revenue"

"However, LVMH's leather goods category grew 45% over the same period, which indicates that Kering is still lagging behind its biggest competitor."

"Gucci's collaboration with Balenciaga is a smart way to drive sales growth by combining two iconic brands on one item. This is likely to be particularly successful in China, generating significant brand heat."

"Bottega Veneta continues to be a shining light in the Kering portfolio, solidifying the brand's place as a dominant player in the personal luxury goods market."

"Kering is on the hunt for additional luxury houses to bolster its current portfolio. With Richemont and Prada both out of the picture, rumours are circling around the possibility of a Farfetch takeover."

Third Bridge is a global primary research firm that interviews more than 6,000 internationally recognised industry experts and business leaders a year to compile 360-degree market intelligence for institutional investors. www.thirdbridge.com

The White Company published its result for the 52 weeks up to 1st August 2020.

CEO Mary Homer said: “The year has, without doubt, been extremely challenging, with a global pandemic that created many business situations that none of us have ever experienced before. In light of this, I am very pleased with our results, both from a turnover and profit perspective.

I am extremely proud of the whole team, who have risen to all these challenges, working in an extremely
agile way, and at pace, making very sound business decisions. Most importantly, these decisions have
all been made keeping the customer at the heart of everything we do.

Our strategy to make further strides with our international growth, digital transformation and IT infrastructure remains the same, and this is instrumental in ensuring we achieve future growth.

Overall, as a business, we are in a strong position – trade during this current year has been positive, and we are cautiously optimistic, albeit we know there are many challenges ahead for the economy, and therefore the retail sector.”