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One example of a successful turnaround in value is Sandon’s 2015 investment in steel-maker BlueScope.Since founding Sandon Capital in 2009, Gabriel Radzyminski has built the asset manager and its market-beating returns on a mix of value investing and shareholder activism.
“At the time BlueScope was described as a pariah in the market. I think they were losing something like $100 million a year just from the Port Kembla blast furnace,” Radzyminski says. “But we saw it as actually one of the cheapest and best steel companies in the world. Most Australian investors overlooked the fact they owned a 50 per cent stake in the North Star joint venture in the US with Cargill, which is arguably the single best North American steel asset that exists today.”
“And so the company eventually came out with a plan where they put the gauntlet down to the employees to say look, we need to save X-hundred million dollars a year out of Port Kembla or we’re going to shut it down,” he says. “It worked, and I think it’s one of the great unsung success stories of Australian industrial relations because the company, the unions, the employees and to a degree the state government all worked together to make those savings to keep the thing alive.”
...in the US, where BlueScope is enjoying the best conditions in generations, as demand from the automotive, manufacturing and non residential construction sectors propel prices of hot rolled coil (HRC) steel to levels not seen in decades. A year ago, HRC prices were sitting at $US428 per short ton; now, prices are about $US1800, and lead times to get steel delivered have blown out to 10 weeks.
Demand in Australia and New Zealand was strong, with growth in the construction, distribution and manufacturing sectors helping domestic steel mill sales rise above 1.3 million tonnes, the highest level since 2008. Local EBIT jumped 60 per cent in the second half compared with the first, suggesting a full-year result of about $673 million, compared with the year-earlier $305 million.
In one year BSL price is $15.81 aboutBSL now $24.50
QUOTE
Earnings before interest and tax would total $1.72 billion for the year ended 30 Jun, well past analyst forecasts for EBIT just below $1.6 billion.
EBIT in the June half to hit $1.19 billion, up from previous guidance of $1.08B.
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“Underlying EBIT for the year was $3.79 billion, a record performance in BlueScope’s 20-year history as a listed company. This was an outstanding result, with tremendous performances across our business portfolio.”
“BlueScope delivered an underlying EBIT of $1.58 billion in 2H FY2022, the second best half-year result on record – beaten only by the 1H FY2022 result of $2.20 billion.” “We saw continued strong demand for our steel products and solutions despite recent macroeconomic and geopolitical volatility. We worked hard to improve our service levels which have been impacted by supply chain and pandemic related disruptions. .... ” Mr Vassella said.
“Operating cash flow, after capital expenditure including on the North Star expansion, was $1.71 billion. From this, investments of $1 billion were made in the US acquiring the MetalX ferrous recycling business and the Coil Coatings business. These were well considered and well executed investments in our US growth plan.”
“I’m pleased to state the balance sheet still remains strong with $367 million net cash at 30 June 2022. Our working capital remains elevated in the context of strong demand and prices and ongoing supply chain disruptions,” Mr Vassella said. “BlueScope has delivered for shareholders in FY2022. The Company made nearly $1 billion in shareholder returns, with $344 million in dividends and $638 million in on-market buy-backs.”
Do Bluescope make zero carbon steel?
No, they don’t (atleast not yet), so they would be required to buy their raw material eg Iron or Steel, from a mill that makes zero carbon Iron or steel, they then could use their proprietary coatings and brand to turn that zero carbon steel into colour bond roofing sheets.
I'm a magician. I've learnt the disappear trick. Now you see it...What was your message ?
Good morning
Morgan Stanley slashes Bluescope Steel to Underweight from Overweight and cuts its price target 25 per cent to $18.00, a move that may trigger a selloff in Bluescope shares.
The broker sees "material" downside risk to consensus earnings estimates from decade-low Asian steel spreads and lower US spreads, and softer Australian residential construction to high-margin Colorbond volumes.
"We continue to view Bluescope as as a high-quality cyclical, with good management and a strong balance sheet," says Morgan Stanley analyst Andrew Scott.
"However, current spreads point to material risk to 2H consensus estimates."
"We would prefer to revisit when estimates are rebased and/or when commodity/end
market trends are more favourable."
Kind regards
rcw1
Yeah, it tanked yesterday after the Morgan Stanley report. I was talking about the days before the report though. There was a lot of selling pressure, even though the rest of the market was going up. Also, I wonder if the Morgan Stanley report has factored in the record net positive migration that has taken place and continues to take place for Australia under Labour, placing massive pressure on housing and the federal government's $12B housing plan to build record homes over the coming years..Good morning
Morgan Stanley slashes Bluescope Steel to Underweight from Overweight and cuts its price target 25 per cent to $18.00, a move that may trigger a selloff in Bluescope shares.
The broker sees "material" downside risk to consensus earnings estimates from decade-low Asian steel spreads and lower US spreads, and softer Australian residential construction to high-margin Colorbond volumes.
"We continue to view Bluescope as as a high-quality cyclical, with good management and a strong balance sheet," says Morgan Stanley analyst Andrew Scott.
"However, current spreads point to material risk to 2H consensus estimates."
"We would prefer to revisit when estimates are rebased and/or when commodity/end
market trends are more favourable."
Kind regards
rcw1
Be a tough gig to get into.BlueScope announced on Monday that a feasibility study for the US expansion was underway, as it said its first-half net profit fell 23 per cent to $439 million. Steel margins are falling in Australia and the United States, but have slumped the most in Asia.
BlueScope warned that profits in the June half would be lower again. The company kept the interim dividend steady at 25¢ per share.
Mr Vassella said there had been excess steel exported out of China as that country’s construction sector softened, which had sent steel spreads slumping to the lowest in two decades in Asian markets.
“It’s driven margins that are at 20-year lows,” Mr Vassella said.
He said China had exported 93 million tonnes of steel in calendar 2023. To put that in context, BlueScope’s plant at Port Kembla in NSW makes about 3 million tonnes of steel annually.
While there are other elements to the US expansion, the centrepiece is a proposed new plant, likely be built near the company’s North Star steel mill in Ohio.
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