The firms that beat expectations this reporting season – and those that missed

The firms that beat expectations this reporting season – and those that missed

The majority of companies on the ASX100 and ASX200 have now reported. Many have beaten estimates. And, reassuringly, guidance is less negative than most market watchers had expected. This brings hope that FY21 may not be so bad for equity investors after all.

One pattern has emerged from this reporting season and we may have run theory to thank.  The winners have kept winning and their PE’s have continued to expand. Perhaps even more interesting is that companies that have beaten earnings estimates have generally been rewarded, while those companies that have missed estimates or guidance have not been the subject of a commensurate de-rating.

Figure 1.  Highest PE stocks keep expanding their PEs. (winner beget winners)

Investors are looking beyond COVID-19-impacted earnings. According to our brokers UBS, FY20 earnings per share ‘beats’ have been rewarded with positive share price reactions (+1.8 per cent on average), but earnings per share (EPS) ‘misses’ have not being punished (share prices have risen +0.4 per cent on average).

In terms of earnings outlook statements made by Industrials excluding financial companies, FY21 guidance downgrades are being punished by an average of 5.1 per cent, while share prices of those upgrading their outlook for FY21 are rising an average of five per cent. And even companies that provided no guidance have seen an average share price gain of two per cent.

Keep in mind of course that, for many domestic companies, life support has been provided by government funding packages such as JobKeeper and the Coronavirus supplement to JobSeeker.

Many domestic businesses are also currently benefitting from a redirection internally of A$42 billion annually that would normally be spent overseas by Australian travelers as well as a redirection of spending that would typically be allocated to dining out and other entertainment, either because of fears of infection or mandated restrictions. One should presume this will change in the event of a vaccine.

The 2020 reporting season has also delivered a net revenue surprise and stronger than anticipated cash flows. But according to UBS, ASX 100 consensus FY21 EPS has been revised down by 1.7 per cent since the start of reporting season, with Industrials ex-Financials down 7.1 per cent, and Financials down 2.6 per cent. Resources have bucked the trend with EPS for FY21 revised up 5.5 per cent.

FY21 consensus EPS is now expected to grow by 7.4 per cent and dividends are expected to grow by 6.7 per cent after falling 38 per cent in FY20. In other words, 2021 dividends are still expected to be 33.8 per cent lower than 2019.

Table 1 offers investors a good summary of which firms are beating and missing and on which metrics.

Table 1.  UBS results season quality matrix

FY20 earnings per share ‘beats’ have been rewarded with positive share price reactions, but EPS ‘misses’ have not being punished. Is there too much optimism? Click To Tweet

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Roger Montgomery is the Founder and Chairman of Montgomery Investment Management. Roger has over three decades of experience in funds management and related activities, including equities analysis, equity and derivatives strategy, trading and stockbroking. Prior to establishing Montgomery, Roger held positions at Ord Minnett Jardine Fleming, BT (Australia) Limited and Merrill Lynch.

This post was contributed by a representative of Montgomery Investment Management Pty Limited (AFSL No. 354564). The principal purpose of this post is to provide factual information and not provide financial product advice. Additionally, the information provided is not intended to provide any recommendation or opinion about any financial product. Any commentary and statements of opinion however may contain general advice only that is prepared without taking into account your personal objectives, financial circumstances or needs. Because of this, before acting on any of the information provided, you should always consider its appropriateness in light of your personal objectives, financial circumstances and needs and should consider seeking independent advice from a financial advisor if necessary before making any decisions. This post specifically excludes personal advice.