Hot stock: Valuetronics down 11.5%; brokers maintain 'buy'

SHARES in Valuetronics fell 11.5 per cent to S$0.655 as at 1.47pm on Friday with 16.4 million shares traded, making it one of the most actively traded stocks on the Singapore bourse for the day.

Citing unusual price movement in its shares, the Singapore Exchange (SGX) issued a query to the electronics manufacturing services provider at around 1pm.

In response to this query, Valuetronics confirmed that it is in compliance with the mainboard listing rules, and that it is unaware of any information concerning the firm not previously announced, which might explain the unusual trading activity.

The company also noted that while CGS-CIMB Securities International and Maybank Kim Eng have issued research reports on the firm's shares, it is not the company's policy to comment on such reports, but instead the shareholders' prerogative to read them, and form their own assessment of the company's future prospects and direction.

Interestingly, brokers CIMB and Maybank noted in separate research reports on Friday that it is was "too early to dim the lights", and that there might be "light at the end of the tunnel" for the counter yet.

CIMB is maintaining its "add" rating on the stock with a target price of S$1.10, while Maybank has a "buy" call on the stock with a target price of S$1.25.

CIMB analyst Ngoh Yi Sin noted that Valuetronics' share price decline of 18 per cent on April 26 was a kneejerk reaction to its major customer, a Dutch MNC, reporting sub-par sales performance from its smart home lighting division, mainly in the US.

Nonetheless, such sales should normalise in the second half of the year upon inventory destocking, and Valuetronics remains a beneficiary of the Internet of Things (IoT) trends, CIMB maintained.

"We think it is now an attractive entry price, supported by FY18-20F dividend yield of 5 per cent, and multi-year earnings growth."

Potential catalysts include stronger earnings delivery and new customer wins, whereas downside risks could stem from order delays or cancellations, CIMB added.

Similarly, Maybank analyst Lai Gene Lih noted that Valuetronics' Dutch lightning customer is facing inventory gestation issues, with an inventory build-up during the fourth quarter last year as sales were lower than expected. This had a knock-on effect on the customer's sales for the first quarter this year. The customer expects this issue to linger until Q2 2018, before a strong recovery commences in the H2 2018, Mr Lai said.

Taken together, Maybank maintains the view that Valuetronics could stand to gain from the emerging demand for home IoT and car connectivity from its smart-lighting and automotive customers.

"These customers are leaders in markets that are on the cusp of a take-off, and Valuetronics could be a beneficiary," Maybank said.