Brokers' take: DBS initiates Micro-Mechanics with 'buy' on semiconductor growth

MICRO-MECHANICS Holdings 5DD : 5DD 0% is a good proxy to the semiconductor revenue cycle, which will likely continue to see growth in 2022, DBS Group Research said in a research note on Tuesday (Dec 7).

The research team initiated coverage on the company with a "buy" call and target price of S$4.05, which is based on its estimated FY2022 earnings per share of S$0.1446, and its estimated FY2022 price-to-earnings ratio of 28 times.

Shares of Micro-Mechanics, a manufacturer of high-precision tools and parts used in the semiconductor industry, closed at S$3.24 on Tuesday, up by S$0.07 or 2.21 per cent.

Analyst Ling Lee Keng said the semiconductor supercycle has not peaked yet, and expects global chip sales will grow around 9 per cent in 2022, while the industry will likely post a compound annual growth rate of 5 per cent from 2023 to 2025.

This should continue to drive Micro-Mechanics' share price and revenue, which are positively correlated with the semiconductor industry, Ling said.

Given the company's range of product offerings across front and back-end processes, it is also well-positioned to gain from growth trends across the wafer fab, assembly and packaging, and semiconductor test equipment segments.

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Furthermore, Micro-Mechanics may be less susceptible to industry swings, since the consumable nature of its back-end tools and front-end equipment parts can support regular demand during most downturn periods.

The company also has zero debt and sustainability dividend yields, which helps it to weather cyclical downturns more effectively. Ling expects the company can generate steady dividend payouts given its strong cash flows and balance sheets, with an estimated yield of 4.1 per cent for FY2022 and FY2023.

Additionally, although Micro-Mechanics typically trades at a premium above its local peers, it has little to no peers that are directly comparable in terms of product range, scale and geographical coverage, and its share price is also largely aligned with the global average.

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