Desjardins Research ReportFrom David Newman and Chi Le,
Rating: Buy
Risk: Above-average
Target: C$9.00
CHE.UN C$7.19, TSX
4Q first look—a beat on core operations, with chemical upside in 2021
The Desjardins Takeaway: Neutral
4Q adjusted EBITDA of C$44m was lower than our C$47m (consensus C$49m). The small miss was mostly driven by corporate costs of C$26m (vs our C$19m) due to increases of C$7.3m in LTIP (higher share price) and C$2.6m in other incentive compensation, and C$3m related to the retirement of former CEO Mark Davis (new CEO Scott Rook takes over on March 1), partially offset by C$2.6m in CEWS. Excluding corporate, CHE’s core operations generated EBITDA of C$70m, a beat vs our C$66m. See our preview.
In 2021, CHE anticipates higher sales volumes vs a year ago. With emerging green shoots in merchant acid, caustic soda, HCl and regen acid, stable water demand, easy comps starting in 2Q21 and a potential recovery post-pandemic, we are constructive on the outlook. At the end of 2020, CHE had ~C$300m undrawn on its credit facility and cash of C$12.5m.