HLIB starts coverage on Southern Cable with positive outlook
The firm raised the earnings estimates for Southern Cable for financial years 2025, 2026 and 2027 (FY25/FY26/FY27) by 8.0 per cent, 7.0 per cent and 17 per cent, respectively.
It stated that the notable increase in the FY27 sales forecast primarily reflects the anticipated contribution from the company's Lot 21 and Lot 22 production facilities.
Concurrently, HLIB Research initiated a "buy" call and a higher target price of RM1.69 per share from RM1.55 previously, based on a multiple of 18 times fully diluted FY25 earnings per share (EPS) of 9.4 sen.
The firm said Southern Cable's current order book stands at RM1.32 billion, equivalent to 0.98 times FY24 revenue coverage.
This includes RM792 million in long-term contracts with utility companies, with the rest made up of purchase orders.
"Demand for cables remains robust, with the expanded 3,000 km per year production capacity now largely taken up, as reflected by the strong 90 per cent utilisation rate in the first quarter of the financial year 2025 (1QFY25).
"Supported by a robust RM1.32 billion order book and over RM1 billion in tenders, management expects this buoyant utilisation to persist," the firm said.
HLIB Research added that the company expects strong utilisation to continue, backed by its RM1.32 billion order book and over RM1 billion in tenders.
For Tenaga Nasional Bhd sales, management anticipates maintaining a similar run rate in the next quarter.
This period will also see a key transition from the old 1+1 long-term contract to a new one, expected to support slight margin improvements from better pricing.
In the private sector, order enquiries for medium-voltage and high-voltage cables remain strong, driven by demand from data centre and East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) projects.
In the solar segment, the group is currently fulfilling projects under the Corporate Green Power Programme (CGPP), with fifth large-scale solar (LSS5)-related demand expected to pick up in the second half of this year.
HLIB Research also said that Southern Cable's sales in the United States continue as usual, with no disruptions expected despite the recent announcement of reciprocal tariffs.
As one of the customer's top three suppliers, early discussions have indicated that the US customer is prepared to absorb the additional tariffs — reportedly as high as 24 per cent — without impacting Southern Cable's margins.
Meanwhile, the remaining 2,000 km a year capacity expansion planned for FY25 will come online by end-FY25, following the installation of new lines.
With regards to the new polyvinyl chloride plant, installation is currently underway, with commissioning scheduled for 2HFY25.
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4 hours ago
- Daily Express
All spending transparent and subject to audit, says Masidi
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4 hours ago
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Shafie raises alarm over ballooning expenditure
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Borneo Post
14 hours ago
- Borneo Post
RM1.187 bln Supplementary Supply Bill passed
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Masidi added that the additional allocation for the year 2025 is required to finance six categories of expenditure, namely, the first category: Contributions to Statutory Funds, proposed at RM600 million or 51 per cent; second category: Administrative Expenditure, proposed at RM204 million or 17 per cent; third category: Operational Expenditure, proposed at RM195 million or 16 per cent; fourth category: Domestic Grants, proposed at RM84 million or 7 per cent; fifth category: Investment Expenditure, amounting to RM54.4 million or 5 per cent; and sixth category: Special Allocations totalling RM50.7 million or 4 per cent. He proposed that a total of RM789.1 million be allocated under the purview of the Finance Ministry, comprising RM600 million for Contributions to Statutory Funds, RM185.5 million for Treasury General Services expenditure, and RM3.6 million for the operating expenses of the Finance Ministry. Masidi also said that the proposed amount for Contributions to Statutory Funds, RM250 million or 41.7 per cent is intended as an addition to the Development Fund to reduce the deficit in the Development Account, which does not involve cash flow. At the same time, RM150 million or 25 per cent is a contribution to the Statutory Trust Fund for Road Maintenance to implement road maintenance projects across Sabah, he said. In addition, RM200 million or 33.3 per cent is proposed for the Special State Government Trust Fund to implement the People's Caring Touch Programme (SYUKUR); student assistance schemes such as the Higher Education Entry Cash Aid (BUDI), Sabah Tertiary Education Student Contribution (SENTOSA), Sabah Student Flight Subsidy (SUBFLY) and Sabah School Activities Contribution (SUKSES), as well as construction and repair of infrastructure such as water, roads and utilities, he added. Masidi also said that a total of RM185.5 million is also proposed under Treasury General Services, comprising RM54.4 million for Equity Investments; RM89.1 million for infrastructure projects, including upgrades to water treatment plants, new water pipe installations, minor infrastructure and other public facilities; and RM30 million in Domestic Grants allocated to Kota Kinabalu City Hall for waste cleaning in Kota Kinabalu waters including island areas, and contributions to non-governmental organisations. The remaining RM12 million is proposed for other public facility projects, including mosque upgrades and the construction of the Tawau International Cultural Centre, he said. Meanwhile, RM147.6 million is proposed for the Works Ministry and its departments to fund maintenance and repair of drainage systems, plant buildings and water pump houses, disaster recovery works, building maintenance, electrical wiring works, enforcement activities, and other administrative and operational expenses. He said that a sum of RM94.4 million is proposed for the Chief Minister's Department and its agencies to fund State Government scholarship sponsorships; maintenance and operation of mosques and suraus, Raudah parks, and other administrative and operational expenses. Meanwhile, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Ministry and its departments are proposed an additional allocation of RM55.7 million for the maintenance of drainage systems, river cleaning, flood mitigation, and other administrative and operational expenses, he said. As for the Local Government and Housing Ministry and its departments are proposed an additional RM25.9 million, among others, to settle Advance Accounts for Special Financial Aid to Community Chiefs, Grant-In-Aid, Replacement Rate Contributions and Maintenance to Local Authorities, as well as other administrative and operational expenses, he said. As for the Community Development and People's Wellbeing Ministry and its department, an additional RM16.2 million is proposed, he said. Out of this, RM4.5 million is to support the implementation of the State Government's initiative to provide 100 haemodialysis machines to selected healthcare facilities across Sabah, he said. 'This is a caring effort to help kidney patients receive free treatment near their homes. Another RM11.1 million is to provide aid to victims of fires and floods, support for senior citizens, orphans and the poor, as well as the operation of Disabled Children's Educational Parks. The remaining allocation is proposed for other administrative and operational expenses of the ministry's departments and agencies,' he said. As for other ministries and state departments, an additional RM58 million is proposed to cover, among others, allowances for chairpersons of Village Development and Security Committees (JKKK), amounting to RM15.6 million; the organisation of the 11th SAGA Games in Tawau, amounting to RM8 million; and the remaining RM34.3 million for various administrative, operational and other service-related expenses, said Masidi. As for the additional development estimates 2025, Masidi informed the August House that the Supplementary Statement to the 2025 Development Estimates under Command Paper CMD.2 of 2025 requires an additional provision amounting to RM416,541,291.00, involving 83 expenditure heads under 10 ministries. 'Of this amount, RM224.5 million or 53.9 per cent is proposed under the State Fund, while RM188.5 million or 45.3 per cent will be financed via Federal loans. The remaining RM3.5 million or 0.8 per cent is financing under Federal Reimbursement,' he said. He also informed that the largest allocation under the Supplementary Development Estimates totalling RM254.9 million or 61.2 per cent is proposed for the Sabah Works Ministry to fund projects under the Public Works Department, State Water Department, Sabah Sewerage Services Department and Sabah State Railway Department. 'These include road projects for towns and small municipalities, the Special Water Supply Programme, Sewerage Schemes under local authorities, and railway track repairs. Of this total, RM187.5 million is for projects under Federal loans,' he said. He also mentioned that the second largest allocation totalling RM82.5 million is proposed for the Rural Development Ministry to fund Minor Rural Projects, Rural Poverty Eradication Projects, the Sabah People's Prosperity Housing Programme (RSRS), the Alternative Rural Electricity Supply Programme (BELBA – Solar Street Lighting and Generator Sets), and the Alternative Rural Water Supply Programme (BALBA – Clean Water Supply via Gravity Feed and Tube Wells). An allocation of RM38.5 million is also proposed for the Chief Minister's Department to fund Special Development Projects, Native Customary Rights (NCR) Land Measurement and the Sabah Satellite Positioning Reference Network under the Lands and Surveys Department, as well as upgrades to the Solid Waste Disposal System in Kota Kinabalu, construction of new mosques and religious schools under the Sabah Islamic Affairs Department, he said. Aside from that, an additional RM1 million is allocated to the Sabah Land Development Board to cover Federal loan financing, he said. Also proposed is an allocation of RM17.4 million proposed for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Ministry, he said. 'Of this, RM13.9 million is proposed under the State Fund for projects under the Fisheries Department and the Irrigation and Drainage Department. The remaining RM3.5 million is under Federal Reimbursement to finance the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Construction Project in Kinarut under the Veterinary Services and Livestock Industry Department,' Masidi said. An allocation of RM7.7 million is proposed for the Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Ministry. 'Of this, RM5.7 million is for Site Preparation Projects for Local Vendor Facilities in Salut and Infrastructure Construction in Industrial Zone 7 (IZ7) Phase 3. The remaining RM2 million is for infrastructure development projects in the Sipitang Oil and Gas Industrial Park (SOGIP), including the Extension of Electricity Supply for Street Lighting in Phases 1 and 2,' he said. Additionally, the Youth and Sports Ministry Sabah is proposed RM4.84 million to fund the construction and maintenance of Sabah Sports Complexes, he said. The Ministry of Community Development and People's Wellbeing is proposed RM4.6 million. Projects include the construction of buildings for disabled children education parks, integrated complexes for persons with disabilities and the elderly, and old folks' homes, said Masidi. 'An additional RM2.9 million is proposed for the Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry to finance the development of Sabah Parks, Tourism Asset Development and upgrades to heritage site facilities under the Sabah Museum Department,' he said. Finally, an allocation of RM2.3 million is proposed for the Local Government and Housing Ministry for landscaping projects and construction of office buildings for local authorities, and for the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation for the final payment of the E-Desa Kg Pelakat, Sipitang Project, said Masidi. 'For the information of this August House, the additional provision proposed this year is largely for expenditure to address two key issues – water supply and roads. Of the total Supplementary Estimates proposed in this presentation, RM523.5 million is intended for this purpose. This demonstrates the commitment and seriousness of the State Government in resolving issues constantly raised by the public and politicised by parties with vested interests. (The actual requirement to address water and road issues exceeds RM2 billion annually),' said Masidi. The Bill was passed unanimously after debates.
