First Berlin Equity Research has published a research update on Knaus Tabbert AG (ISIN: DE000A2YN504). Analyst Ellis Acklin reiterated his BUY rating and decreased the price target from EUR 50.00 to EUR 32.00. AbstractKnaus Tabbert announced its third profit warning since 17 July saying it will shutter production at its factories in Jandelsbrunn and Nagyoroszi, Hungary, from 18 November 2024 until YE24. The RV maker again cited the need to help dealers cull their inventories and reduce its own stocks. Revenue is now expected to land "significantly lower than the €1.3bn communicated on 22 October 2024." Not much has gone [...]

First Berlin Equity Research has published a research update on Energiekontor AG (ISIN: DE0005313506). Analyst Dr. Karsten von Blumenthal reiterated his BUY rating and decreased the price target from EUR 126.00 to EUR 120.00. AbstractEnergiekontor (EKT) has published its interim status report for 9M/24, which gives a qualitative update on business development. Sentiment for renewable energy stocks took a hit following the US presidential elections which Donald Trump won. Following the end of the German traffic light coalition, a snap election in February will likely result in a conservative-led new government. We expect a less ambitious policy regarding renewable energy. [...]

First Berlin Equity Research has published a research update on Grand City Properties S.A. (ISIN: LU0775917882). Analyst Ellis Acklin reiterated his BUY rating and increased the price target from EUR 15.10 to EUR 15.40. AbstractQ3 reporting again featured a good operating performance. Management's tenor has brightened significantly since YE23. Analyst calls are now more focused on how to capture operating upside fuelled by supportive market dynamics rather than prior deleveraging and balance sheet topics. The September quarter performance was led by 3.5% LFL rental growth and operational positives. The combo helped offset the rise in perpetual note costs allowing FFO [...]

First Berlin Equity Research has published a research update on PSI SE (ISIN: DE000A0Z1JH9). Analyst Simon Scholes reiterated his ADD rating and decreased the price target from EUR 26.00 to EUR 25.00. AbstractPSI's Q3 report showed results continuing to rebound from the impact of the mid-February cyberattack. Q3/24 sales were flat at €65.1m (Q3/23: €65.2m; FBe: €62.0m), but EBIT came in at breakeven (Q3/23: €2.6m; FBe: €1.6m) after losses of €-14.8m and €-4.6m in Q1/24 and Q2/24 respectively. The order intake was down 36.2% at €44m (Q3/23: €69m) in Q3/24 after falling 8.9% at the H1/24 stage. The increase in [...]

First Berlin Equity Research has published a research update on Telefonica Deutschland Holding AG (ISIN: DE000A1J5RX9). Analyst Kevin Sheil reiterated his BUY rating and maintained his EUR 3.00 price target. AbstractTelefonica SA, the parent of Telefonica Deutschland Holding AG, published Q3/24 results last week. Headline numbers for the Germany business continued to show robust operating performance with a solid 33% AEBITDA margin. Driven by solid own brand performance, German revenue of €2.10bn (-1.6% Y/Y) was in-line with FBe (€2.13bn; -1.5%). However, the topline figure was offset by headwinds, due to the halving of mobile termination rates (MTR) from January 2024 [...]

First Berlin Equity Research has published a research update on Schloss Wachenheim AG (ISIN: DE0007229007). Analyst Simon Scholes reiterated his BUY rating and maintained his EUR 22.00 price target. AbstractVolume fell 2.8% in Q1 24/25, driven mainly by a decline in exports from France. Sales outperformed volume, declining 0.3% to €102.4m (Q1 23/24: €102.7m; FBe: €105.3m) due to price rises implemented by SWA to cover higher raw material costs, as well as product mix and foreign currency effects. EBIT came in at €4.2m (Q1 23/24: €6.5m; FBe: €5.5m). Exports from France have been falling for a year and we see [...]

First Berlin Equity Research has published a research update on PNE AG (ISIN: DE000A0JBPG2). Analyst Dr. Karsten von Blumenthal reiterated his BUY rating and decreased the price target from EUR 21.00 to EUR 20.00. AbstractPNE reported 9M figures and held a conference call. Although 9M EBITDA amounted to only €6.2m versus FBe of €9.6m and €16.5m in 9M/23, we are confident that PNE will reach 2024 guidance (€40m - €50m) and our forecast (€43m) due mainly to the recent sale of the large German repowering project Papenrode (59 MW). Furthermore, PNE expects milestone payments from earlier project sales. Management announced [...]

First Berlin Equity Research has published a research update on Knaus Tabbert AG (ISIN: DE000A2YN504). Analyst Ellis Acklin reiterated his BUY rating and decreased the price target from EUR 54.00 to EUR 50.00. AbstractNine-month reporting was close to recently reduced FBe on the back of the October profit warning. Both the topline and earnings took a sizable Y/Y hit owing to a production slowdown aimed to help dealers manage expensive inventories and also to reduce KTA's own working capital. These measures, including discounts on older models, may now spill into early 2025. Lagging market indicators, such as RV registrations, have [...]

First Berlin Equity Research on 05.11.2024 initiated coverage on The Platform Group AG (ISIN: DE000A2QEFA1). Analyst Alexander Rihane placed a BUY rating on the stock, with a EUR 16.00 price target. AbstractThe Platform Group (TPG) owns and operates over 25 e-commerce platforms. The company has a proven track record of developing its own platforms as well as acquiring existing platforms, which it successfully integrates into its platform model. Acquisitions are streamlined and repositioned to achieve stronger growth and higher margins. Based on proprietary e-commerce software, which builds on TPG's own retail DNA, TPG commands the complete e-commerce value chain, making [...]

First Berlin Equity Research has published a correction of the research update on Telefonica Deutschland (ISIN: DE000A1J5RX9) originally published on 23 October. Analyst Kevin Sheil maintained his EUR 3.00 price target. AbstractWe view the valuation impact on Telefonica Deutschland from the 1&1 contract loss as a temporary set-back. We expect it will gradually be offset by a stabilising German Telecoms market, improving industry capital productivity, and the completion of the last vestiges of rate of return-influenced segmental regulation. Based on a two-pronged valuation approach using DCF valuation and peer group comparison for 2026E, when we see the likely point of [...]

First Berlin Equity Research has published a research update on Verve Group SE (ISIN: SE0018538068). Analyst Ellis Acklin reiterated his BUY rating and maintained his EUR 5.40 price target. AbstractVerve published a handful of preliminary Q3 KPIs, which showed a continuation of growth trends evident in the prior three quarters. OSG (organic sales growth) was up 31% Y/Y underpinned by customer onboardings, scaling up existing customers, greater demand for ID-less targeting solutions as well as full-screen and video ads. Verve operations have been on a heater this year?this appears to have extended in the September quarter. We expect earnings to [...]

First Berlin Equity Research has published a research update on Pharming Group NV (ISIN: NL0010391025). Analyst Simon Scholes reiterated his BUY rating and increased the price target from EUR 1.60 to EUR 1.70. AbstractQ3/24 sales were close to our expectations, showing a 12.3% increase in sales to USD74.8m (Q3/23: USD66.7m; FBe: USD 76.4m), while EBIT, which jumped to USD4.1m (Q3/23: USD1.9m; FBe:USD-1.4m), was €5.5m above our forecast. CEO Sijmen de Vries anounced that he will not be standing for reappointment at the next AGM in May. However, we think this decision has been prompted by his 65th birthday this week [...]

First Berlin Equity Research has published a research update on Knaus Tabbert AG (ISIN: DE000A2YN504). Analyst Ellis Acklin reiterated his BUY rating and decreased the price target from EUR 69.00 to EUR 54.00. AbstractAn eventful week continued at Knaus Tabbert yesterday with news that CEO, Mr Wolfgang Speck, is stepping down from the management board on 31 October for "personal reasons". This comes on the heels of the latest profit warning - the second downward adjustment in H2/24. KTA will continue to throttle down production to help its dealer network that is still struggling to finance its inventories. Sales are [...]

First Berlin Equity Research has published a research update on Cardiol Therapeutics Inc. (ISIN: CA14161Y2006). Analyst Christian Orquera reiterated his BUY rating and maintained his USD 8.50 price target. AbstractCardiol Therapeutics (Cardiol) has announced the initiation of a phase II/III clinical trial within its development programme CardiolRx for the treatment of recurrent pericarditis (RP). The new pivotal study, MAVERIC-2, will target a subset of RP patients, those who discontinue interleukin-1 (IL-1) blocker therapy (i.e. third-line therapy with ARCALYST/rilonacept or KINERET/anakinra). MAVERIC-2 will target the growing proportion of patients who experience a recurrence of pericarditis after discontinuation of IL-1 blockers (up [...]

First Berlin Equity Research on 23.10.2024 initiated coverage on Telefonica Deutschland Holding AG (ISIN: DE000A1J5RX9/Bloomberg: O2D GR). Analyst Kevin Sheil placed a BUY rating on the stock, with a EUR 3.00 price target. AbstractWe view the valuation impact on Telef?nica Deutschland from the 1&1 contract loss as a temporary set-back. We expect it will gradually be offset by a stabilising German Telecoms market, improving industry capital productivity, and the completion of the last vestiges of rate of return-influenced segmental regulation. Based on a two-pronged valuation approach using DCF valuation and peer group comparison for 2026E, when we see the likely [...]

First Berlin Equity Research has published a research update on beaconsmind AG (ISIN: CH0451123589). Analyst Christian Orquera reiterated his BUY rating and increased the price target from EUR 14.00 to EUR 14.50. Abstractbeaconsmind has published its financial results for H1 2024, which were in line with our projections after adjusting for exceptional costs. The company reported revenues of CHF5.9m (FBe: CHF6.1m) and adjusted EBITDA of CHF1.1m (FBe: CHF1.1m). These figures were adjusted by €550k in one-off costs in connection with M&A, restructuring and change of strategy. Importantly, on the back of these good results, beaconsmind is on track to achieve [...]

First Berlin Equity Research has published a research update on Deutsche Effecten- und Wechsel- Beteiligungsgesellschaft AG (ISIN: DE0008041005). Analyst Christian Orquera reiterated his BUY rating and decreased the price target from EUR 1.80 to EUR 1.50. AbstractDeutsche Effecten- und Wechsel- Beteiligungsgesellschaft (DEWB) has published its financial statements for H1/24. Adjusted for non-cash income, the results were as expected. The company reported operating income from exits of €0.4m (FBe: €0.4m; H1/23: €0.2m). The current difficult capital market environment was the main obstacle for the completion of a major exit transaction at an appropriate valuation. Management is continuing to work on potential [...]

First Berlin Equity Research has published a research update on ad pepper media International N.V. (ISIN: NL0000238145). Analyst Dr. Karsten von Blumenthal reiterated his BUY rating and maintained his EUR 2.90 price target. Abstractad pepper media has reported preliminary Q3 revenue and EBITDA. While revenue declined 3% y/y to €5.2m, EBITDA almost quintupled to €485k, and the EBITDA margin widened from 1.9% to 9.3%. The main reason for the strong EBITDA improvement was cost optimisation. In an eye-catching earnings turnaround, 9M EBITDA rose to €1,192k from €-345k in 9M/23. As Q3 EBITDA was better than expected, and Q4 is the [...]

First Berlin Equity Research has published a research update on Enapter AG (ISIN: DE000A255G02). Analyst Dr. Karsten von Blumenthal reiterated his BUY rating and maintained his EUR 11.00 price target. AbstractEnapter has successfully completed its capital increase against cash contributions. The issue of almost 1.9m shares at a price of €4.26 per share generated gross proceeds of around €8m. The funds will be used to finance ongoing business activities. This means that Enapter will have sufficient liquid funds to finance its planned growth in the coming months. The strategic pivot announced in the spring is beginning to bear fruit. Enapter [...]

First Berlin Equity Research has published a research update on 2G Energy AG (ISIN: DE000A0HL8N9). Analyst Dr. Karsten von Blumenthal reiterated his BUY rating and maintained his EUR 34.00 price target. Abstract2G Energy's order intake almost doubled to €80m in Q3 compared to the prior year quarter. The order backlog thus reached a record level of well over €230m (>+18% y/y), which will ensure full capacity utilisation far into the second half of 2025. This has prompted 2G to increase 2025 revenue guidance. Instead of at least €410m, management now expects at least €430m. This means that 2025 is likely [...]

First Berlin Equity Research has published a research update on MPH Health Care AG (ISIN: DE000A289V03). Analyst Ellis Acklin reiterated his BUY rating and decreased the price target from EUR 113.00 to EUR 108.00. AbstractAs expected, MPH reported sizable NAV uplift with six month reporting. NAV was up some 30% at the end of the June period and 58% Y/Y to €326m, while NAVPS moved in lockstep landing at €76. M1 Kliniken shares were up 63% at the end of June spurred by publication of a bullish mid-term outlook, and now the beauty specialist is drawing significant private equity interest. [...]

First Berlin Equity Research has published a research update on H2 Core AG (ISIN: DE000A0H1GY2). Analyst Dr. Karsten von Blumenthal reiterated his BUY rating and decreased the price target from EUR 4.10 to EUR 2.20. AbstractH2 Core has published half-year figures that fell short of our expectations. The company has significantly reduced guidance for the current year. The reason for the lower guidance is both shifts on the supplier side and weak demand. Although H2 Core has a very well-filled sales pipeline, there are still delays in receiving firm orders. Overall, the ramp-up of the green hydrogen market is progressing [...]

First Berlin Equity Research has published a research update on urban-gro, Inc. (ISIN: US91704K2024). Analyst Ellis Acklin reiterated his BUY rating and increased the price target from USD 4.30 to USD 4.70. AbstractRecent newsflow from urban-gro has been encouraging. The company inked several commercial construction deals in September and kicked off October with a slew of contract wins totalling some $12m with over 15 cannabis clients. UG also secured a $2m loan with Grow Hill, LLC. This should cheer investors concerned about the low cash position (Q1: $0.7m). The loan will help cover working capital needs associated with the new [...]

First Berlin Equity Research has published a research update on Formycon AG (ISIN: DE000A1EWVY8). Analyst Simon Scholes reiterated his BUY rating and increased the price target from EUR 80.00 to EUR 82.00. AbstractFormycon and its commercialisation partner, Fresenius Kabi, announced the approval of the Stelara biosimilar FYB202 in both the EU and the US on 27 September. In its most recent corporate presentation, Formycon flagged decisions by the EU and US regulatory authorities on whether to approve FYB202 for early Q4/24 and September 2024 respectively. The timing of the announcements was thus widely anticipated in the market. The unexpected element [...]

First Berlin Equity Research has published a research update on Schloss Wachenheim AG (ISIN: DE0007229007). Analyst Simon Scholes reiterated his BUY rating and maintained his EUR 22.00 price target. AbstractFinal results for the financial year ending 30 June were close to our forecasts, showing a 3.7% rise in sales to €441.5m (FBe: €447.2m; 2022/23: €425.8m) and a 3.0% rise in EBIT to €28.2m (FBe: €28.0m; 2022/23: €27.4m). In 2023/24 sales and EBIT growth were constrained by inflation which both reduced SWA's customers' disposable income and made price rises by SWA unavoidable. Volume fell by 5.2% in 2023/24 but for 2024/25 [...]

First Berlin Equity Research has published a research update on Sernova Corp. (ISIN: CA81732W1041). Analyst Christian Orquera reiterated his BUY rating and decreased the price target from CAD 3.80 to CAD 1.90. AbstractSernova has presented interim data from the phase 1/2 clinical trial of its Cell Pouch for treating type 1 diabetes (T1D) at the 2024 European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) Annual Meeting in Madrid, Spain. All six patients in Cohort A achieved sustained insulin independence following islet transplantation, with the first patient maintaining insulin independence for over four years before the Cell Pouch was removed due [...]

First Berlin Equity Research has published a research update on Grand City Properties S.A. (ISIN: LU0775917882). Analyst Ellis Acklin reiterated his BUY rating and increased the price target from EUR 14.40 to EUR 15.10. AbstractWe attended the EPRA 2024 Conference in Berlin to take the pulse of the property sector. Attendance was good, and surprisingly included several stakeholders from far flung corners of the globe. Compared to last year, the mood was much more upbeat with most participants optimistic that the worst of the downcycle is over. During the event we had a chance to meet with GCP brass and [...]

First Berlin Equity Research has published a research update on Aroundtown SA (ISIN: LU1673108939). Analyst Ellis Acklin reiterated his BUY rating and increased the price target from EUR 3.60 to EUR 4.00. AbstractWe attended the EPRA 2024 Conference in Berlin to take the pulse of the property sector, get a first-hand look at some of Aroundtown's local assets, and meet with company brass. Attendance was good, and the general mood was optimistic that the worst of the downcycle is over. A tour bus full of various real estate stakeholders had a chance to see a mixed sample of Aroundtown's commercial [...]

First Berlin Equity Research has published a research update on PSI SE (ISIN: DE000A0Z1JH9). Analyst Simon Scholes downgraded the stock to ADD and decreased the price target from EUR 28.00 to EUR 26.00. AbstractLast week PSI held a capital markets day in Frankfurt. The meeting centred on the plans of the new CEO, Robert Klaffus (joined PSI on 1 November last year), to boost sales growth and profitability following three tumultuous years scarred by the Ukraine war (2022), cost overruns on Redispatch projects (2022 and 2023) and a cyberattack on the company's operations (February 2024). Mr Klaffus announced 2028 targets [...]

First Berlin Equity Research has published a research update on Valneva SE (ISIN: FR0004056851). Analyst Simon Scholes reiterated his BUY rating and decreased the price target from EUR 8.60 to EUR 7.70. AbstractValneva had cash and cash equivalents of €131m at the end of June. Cashburn will be lower in H2/24 compared with the first six months due to the completion in the spring of Valneva's contributions to the VLA15 Lyme vaccine development cooperation with Pfizer. However, sustainable free cashflow is unlikely until revenues, milestones and royalties are forthcoming from the launch (subject to approval) of VLA15 in 2027. Our [...]

First Berlin Equity Research has published a research update on LAIQON AG (ISIN: DE000A12UP29). Analyst Christian Orquera reiterated his BUY rating and maintained his EUR 9.80 price target. AbstractLAIQON has published its H1 2024 financial results, which adjusted for exceptional items affecting the top line, were close to our expectations. In H1/24, AuM increased to €6.5bn compared to €6.0bn in H1/23. This corresponds to a growth rate of >8%. Adjusted group revenues rose by 17% to €16.3m (FBe: €16.4m; H1/23: €13.9m). Importantly, LAIQON generated performance fees totalling ~€1m in H1/24, a significant increase compared to H1/23 (H1/23: €0; FY/23: €0.8m). [...]

First Berlin Equity Research has published a research update on Enapter AG (ISIN: DE000A255G02). Analyst Dr. Karsten von Blumenthal reiterated his BUY rating and maintained his EUR 11.00 price target. AbstractIn H1, Enapter increased sales by 73% y/y to €8.3m and improved EBITDA from €-7.0m to €-3.0m, thus exceeding our forecasts. The main reason for this is the very positive gross margin development. While the gross margin was a meagre 11% in the same period of the previous year, it amounted to 32% in the first half of 2024. We see the high gross margin as clear evidence of the [...]

First Berlin Equity Research has published a research update on 2G Energy AG (ISIN: DE000A0HL8N9). Analyst Dr. Karsten von Blumenthal reiterated his BUY rating and maintained his EUR 34.00 price target. Abstract2G Energy confirmed preliminary H1 sales. EBIT (€4.1m) was at the previous year's level and close to our forecast. Despite a 10% decline in total output, the company widened its EBIT margin slightly to 3.1%. This shows how well the industrial production process is now functioning. 2G can adjust costs quickly and flexibly to the level of capacity utilisation. Management assumes that the dip in production will be overcome [...]

First Berlin Equity Research has published a research update on PSI SE (ISIN: DE000A0Z1JH9). Analyst Simon Scholes reiterated his BUY rating and maintained his EUR 28.00 price target. AbstractPSI's Q2 report showed results starting to rebound from the impact of the mid-February cyberattack. Q2/24 sales were up 1.6% at €62.0m after a 13.7% y-o-y decline in Q1/24, while the EBIT loss narrowed to €-4.6m following €-14.8m in Q1/24. Management has maintained the guidance given in the annual report published in June for a €20m-€30m reduction in sales and a high single digit to low double-digit €m loss. Management say the [...]

First Berlin Equity Research has published a research update on H2APEX Group SCA (ISIN: LU0472835155). Analyst Dr. Karsten von Blumenthal reiterated his BUY rating and maintained his EUR 9.00 price target. AbstractH2APEX once again increased sales significantly in Q2 to €7.4m (Q2/23: €0.7m) but also widened its losses. Net income totalled €-9.1m after €-4.6m in the prior year quarter. The main reasons for the higher losses were a write-down on a plot of land amounting to €2.9m and significantly higher material costs. Due to the ongoing project realisation, the order backlog continued to decline and amounted to €22.9m at the [...]