Construction giant Fletcher Building (FBU) has had a terrific, turnaround year, helped enormously by a whopping 141% rise in profits in its NZ residential construction activities and an even bigger rise in building products profits.
The NZ residential business saw operating (pre-tax) earnings rise to $154 million for the year to June 30, 2021, compared with $64 million a year ago. Fletcher's building products division fared even better, rising to $188 million from $68 million.
The company overall saw a big swing back into profit, with after tax earnings for the whole group coming in at $305 million, compared with a $196 million loss a year ago.
Fletcher Building said the "macro backdrop and activity pipeline" remain supportive for growth in both New Zealand and Australia.
"This is driven in particular by strong demand in the Residential sector, while activity in the Commercial and Infrastructure sectors remains stable," the company said.
"Supply chain and labour constraints mean the New Zealand Residential sector is currently at or near capacity, and is likely to mean an extended period of building activity in FY22 and beyond. Input cost inflation and supply chain disruption remain key features of the operating environment in both geographies [including Australia], with businesses focused on managing continuity of supply for customers and ensuring cost recovery through price."
This is the statement Fletcher released through the NZX:
Fletcher Building today announced its audited financial results for the year ended 30 June 2021 (FY21).
Summary:
- Revenue of $8,120 million, up from $7,309 million in FY20
- Net Profit After Tax of $305 million, compared to a loss of $196 million in FY20
- EBIT before significant items of $669 million
- Return on Funds Employed before significant items of 18.6%
- Cash flows from operations of $889 million
- Strong balance sheet with net debt of $173 million and liquidity of $1.6 billion
- Final dividend 18 cents per share, bringing full-year FY21 dividend to 30 cps
- On-market share buyback programme of up to NZ$300 million through to Jun-22Chief executive Ross Taylor said: “Fletcher Building’s strong FY21 financial result reflects the significant work carried out over the past three years to reset and simplify the business. We are confident we have a sustainable base from which we can drive further performance improvements and growth.
“FY21 saw increases across all our key financial metrics. EBIT before significant items of $669 million was ahead of our full-year guidance. EBIT margin of 8.2% and Return on Funds Employed of 18.6% were both materially higher than FY19 (our most recent comparable year). Cash flows from operating activities were very strong at $889 million, partially benefitting from low stock levels in our manufacturing and housing businesses, which we expect to rebuild through FY22. Our balance sheet finished the year in a strong position, with net debt of $173 million and $1.6 billion liquidity at 30 June 2021. Just after year end, we were pleased to reach an agreement to sell Rocla for AU$55 million.
“Having delivered a strong earnings and cash flow result, the Board has approved a final dividend for the year ended 30 June 2021 of 18 cents per share (unimputed and unfranked) to be paid on 17 September 2021. Combined with the 12.0 cents per share interim dividend, this brings the total dividend to 30 cents per share for the FY21 year. Our share buyback programme of up to $300 million started in June and will continue through FY22.
“We continue to make targeted investments to deliver on our strategy. This includes a mix of capital and operating spend, and remains focused in three areas: key maintenance investments, such as the new Winstone Wallboards plasterboard facility; initiatives which support our sustainability ambition, such as the waste tyre recycling facility at our cement plant; and growth investments in product adjacencies and digital capabilities. Our focus on digital includes an acceleration of our programme to create a backbone system environment that is fit-for-purpose.
“As we look ahead, we believe that the economic trends in our key markets remain supportive for further growth. In New Zealand, the activity pipeline continues to look ‘stronger for longer,’ especially in the residential sector. With ongoing supply chain and labour constraints having the effect of smoothing the recent sharp rises in building consents over a longer period, this is likely to mean an extended period of solid building activity through FY22 and beyond. In Australia, the residential outlook also remains resilient, particularly across detached housing and renovations, while the apartments, commercial and key civil sectors are likely to stabilise at current levels.
“There does remain some uncertainty around the impact of COVID-19 on activity in our markets. We will continue to monitor and manage this closely.
“Overall, the combination of a clear strategy, a favourable market outlook and a strong balance sheet means Fletcher Building is well-positioned to deliver future performance and growth.
“Finally, there’s no doubt that the past year has seen many challenges and disruptions resulting from the global pandemic. Against this backdrop, I would like to thank our more than 14,500 people who have delivered this performance while remaining focused on supporting our customers and each other.”
20 Comments
For context, Fletcher's profit was ~300 million for the year vs ~6 billion for the year from the big 4 banks. If you're looking for profiteering, look elsewhere.
https://www.interest.co.nz/banking/111659/bank-profits-and-house-prices
apologies but you need to look more closely at the details....Residential margins in NZ the HIGHEST across their business units not to mention the $$$s made from related activities to that, ie distribution etc pages 33 and 43 of their presentation https://fletcherbuilding.com/assets/4-investor-centre/other-documents/2… and if you took the raw numbers of 836 units circa $877,990/unit and the EBIT per unit $184,211/unit then you get a sense of why house prices are so large...if it were because of costs going up their margins would not have ballooned the way they have
At first glace is this really that high? Concrete looks pretty high but some of the others are unbelievably unimpressive for the size of the business. Is all that fletchers can manage in the middle of a massive housing boom, selling massively overpriced products, in a monopoly position? I don't know if you could look at these numbers and call for any kind of regulation.
Has anyone done any research on fletchers verse competitors in Australia and the USA? Average product price, cost, overhead, profitability? Would its building products, concrete?
Compare distribution to bunnings.
Distribution: 1714 REV, 127 EBIT (NZD) (7%)
Bunnings: 14,999 REV; 1,826 EBT (AUD) (12%)
The fact that in the past they have made a loss despite the fact that they enjoy near monopoly positions with many products illustrates how poorly they are managed. The market power that they have held has lead to an attitude of smug arrogance and the lassitude that not having to compete brings. They do not deserve to be in business and it would be in the best interests of the country if they went broke and were broken up into smaller more manageable and competitive units.
The thing is they are winning on the house/homes segment. Commercial building construction is not profitable and they have many pitfalls there (pun not intended). It goes to show that they have not yet mastered the tricky commercial building business, like tendering, estimating, recruiting the right workers, project management to curtail over runs, and also may be safety (The Skycity Convention Centre fire).
Time to hive off the House business separately and make more happy shareholders ?
I told you so!
It's seriously not hard to make money in this country. All you need is a sound mind and an optimistic approach in life.
Returns since (excl. div): 17.85%
Never mind allegations of a price gouging duopoly, this is good news, ensures jobs are more secure, thus PAYE tax off wages for govt. Moreover it results in bucket fulls of profit tax for the govt (you) and profits that provide dividends to Kiwisaver (you) and other super funds including govt.
This is a highly cyclical industry in which lean profits or major losses routinely occur for a few years, and the 18.6% return on invested funds/shareholders funds is around the minimum acceptable for a cyclical business.
If they were inefficient or price gouging new competitors would enter, eg one of the Australian building suppliers. None trying to any large degree rubbishes the suggestions of any significant or widespread price gouging. Gibboard and cement for example face price constraints from Asian imports. All good.
Risk manager qs.....you obviously haven't been a supplier to the industry.If you had then you might have a different view.
Its an industry that has learned to survive whilst not being efficient, by charging very high margins on low volumes and by using specification and standards to protect its patch.
Hence why house prices are so high for the next generation.
Fletchers will only survive in its current form whilst the banks provide the unlimited flow of low cost funds to fuel it.Turn those off and its business models won't stack up.Unless you think New Zealanders are going to pay the highest of prices for houses for the next thirty years...good luck with that
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