ComArch’s CEO, Janusz Filipiak, stated in a PAP (Polish Press Agency) that in 2Q06 the company should record some 8% operating margin, which constitutes substantial improvement versus 2Q05 EBIT margin of 2.9% but slight deterioration to EBIT margin of 9.9% recorded in 1Q06. He also stated that revenue growth was sluggish, due to very high base (2Q05 consolidated revenues stood at PLN 101.9m) caused by hardware contracts that did not occur in 2Q06.
At the same time, the CEO stated that the guidance for adjusted net income at PLN 35.5 is unthreatened.
Our view:
We believe the news should have a neutral trading impact. We believe that CEO statements point to decent 2Q06 figures. The potential q/q fall in margins should be expected, as ComArch was signalizing that it has to take on many new employees and increase salaries of current employees. Furthermore, the company’s guidance for adjusted EBIT at PLN 37.1, implies EBIT margin at 7.0%. We believe that ComArch has chances of at least slightly beating the guidance. We reiterate our Buy rating for ComArch with a fair value estimate at PLN 145.2 per share.