MENA Construction Reinstatement of Coverage Equity | MENA | Construction 18 September 2013 Buy scope over scale, reinstating on GCC contractors Equity Research Faisal AlAzmeh, CFA >> +971 4 425 8217 Reinstating on GCC contractors; DSI stands out as a Buy Research Analyst Merrill Lynch (Dubai) Despite this year’s reacceleration of awards activity, we believe the market is (1)
[email protected] overly optimistic on peak-cycle earnings power, and (2) ignoring the risk posed by Ilze Roux >> +27 11 305 5195 stretched receivables. We have an Underperform rating on Arabtec (UAE) and Al- Research Analyst Merrill Lynch (South Africa) Khodari (KSA), but an out-of-consensus Buy on DSI. Perplexingly, the market is
[email protected] assuming a strong (and unrealistic) recovery in Arabtec and Al-Khodari’s earnings Macro Research growth while being overly cautious on DSI’s prospects. We believe this provides Jean-Michel Saliba +44 20 7995 8568 an opportunity as DSI’s higher-margin end-to-end solutions business model MENA Economist leaves it well positioned to surprise on the upside. MLI (UK)
[email protected] DSI – Buy (PO AED1.55): a premium player at a discount In our view, DSI offers the best exposure to the sector’s reaccelerating activity, which is mirrored in the 70% YTD backlog growth. The company’s experience in Table 1: Reinstated POs and Earnings high-margin end-to-end solutions is likely to allow DSI to increase its exposure to Al-Khodari DSI Arabtec power and rail projects, which have higher margins than civil contracts more U/P Buy U/P common at peers.