Stock Picks
In the semiconductor space, our pick are UMS and Grand
Venture. Downstream, we prefer Venture. For Thailand, we
like SVI PCL.
Singapore
UMS (BUY, TP: S$1.53, 47% upside)
Riding on longer term growth trend for the semiconductor
industry. An integrated original equipment manufacturer
(OEM) for front-end semiconductor equipment, providing
both component manufacturing and sub-assembly
services, primarily servicing key clients such as Applied
Materials (AMAT). UMS is riding on the long-term growth
trend for the semiconductor industry, driven by the
structural change in the industry.
New customer to fill the gap of the near-term weakness in
semiconductor industry. UMS’s customer diversification
strategy has finally borne fruit with the recent onboarding
of a new customer in the front-end semiconductor space.
We expect this muted growth phase that was a result of
the macro headwinds, to be partially offset by the
contribution from this new customer. Expected
contribution in 2H23 could still be low, but this should
gradually increase as the group goes into mass production.
We expect this customer to contribute significantly to the
group in three to four years’ time.
Beneficiary of trade diversification; new plant to ramp up
production in 2023. With its main production facilities in
Malaysia, UMS is a key beneficiary of trade diversification.
On the back of the China-US trade tensions, which were
worsened by the recent export ban by the US for exports
to China, more companies are looking to diversify their
manufacturing footprints. The group has constructed a
new plant in Penang and production is expected to ramp
up this year.
BUY, TP S$1.53. We have also rolled forward to
FY23F/FY24F earnings and pegged our valuation to the 4-
year average PE of 10x (previously 11x). Upside could come
from:- 1) Stronger recovery in semiconductor equipment
sales; 2) Client diversification. UMS is currently in
discussions with other potential customers. Prospects are
good as more players intend to diversify and move more
operations to Penang, and 3) Earnings-accretive M&As.
Key Risks to Our View: Key client risk. Historically, c.90% of
UMS’s revenues on average was attributed to Applied
Materials (AMAT). Disruptions to the relationship or
weakness in AMAT’s end-demand could significantly weigh
on UMS’s performance.
Grand Venture (BUY, TP: S$0.60, 20% upside)
High-growth company with a strong blue-chip customer
base. Over the past five years, GVT has delivered strong
revenue and earnings growth with a CAGR of 34% and
30%, respectively. GVT also serves a blue-chip customer
base – in the semiconductor back-end space, they serve
four of the top six; in the analytical life sciences segment,
they serve three of the top 10. The products that GVT
supplies are made according to certain product
specifications, thus its customer base tends to be sticky in
nature.
Significant contributions from the front-end semiconductor
space remain a crucial catalyst. GVT has successfully
onboarded two new semiconductor front-end customers
and is currently working on the first article inspection
process. Contributions from front-end customers are likely
to be meaningful in FY24 after the production ramp-up in
2H23. In addition, GVT is also in talks with two additional
front-end semiconductor customers, as it seeks to
penetrate further into the front end.
Still a promising, grand venture as the long-term
semiconductor uptrend remains intact. Notwithstanding
near-term volatility, the semiconductor industry is well
poised for growth owing to the push towards digitalisation.
McKinsey projects that the semiconductor industry will
become a trillion-dollar industry by 2030. The long-term
semiconductor outlook looks bright, which should benefit
GVT, as more than half of its revenue comes from the
semiconductor segment. The other segments that GVT has
diversified into should remain resilient, which should help it
cushion semiconductor weaknesses in the near term
Maintain BUY; TP S$0.60. Our target price is based on
12.0x FY23-24F earnings, which is slightly below the
historical mean. Our target price is based on 12.0x FY23-
24F earnings, which is slightly below the historical mean.
We roll over our valuations to FY23-24F earnings to better
reflect GVT’s earnings potential from its front-end
expansion.
Key risks to our view: Delay in front-end expansion,
prolonged chip glut, and macro weakness
Venture (BUY, TP: S$20.10, 21% upside)
Differentiating technology capabilities set it apart from
peers. As a leading global provider of technology services,
products, and solutions, Venture is best known for its
superior and differentiating capabilities in engineering,