SP Ausnet (SPN) is an energy infrastructure company, operating mainly in Victoria. It also operates a gas distribution network in WA. The group has three energy networks, electricity transmission, electricity and gas distribution.

All networks are 100%-owned and located in Victoria, operating as regulated natural monopolies given the high barriers of entry.

• The Electricity Transmission Network carries electricity from power stations to electricity distributors around Victoria
• The Electricity Distribution Network carries electricity from the transmission grid to customers throughout eastern Victoria
• The Gas Distribution Network carries gas from the transmission grid to customers mainly located in western Victoria

1H13 results

SPN’s 1H13 results were a significant improvement on 1H12, mainly driven by an increase in regulated tariffs.

Net profit climbed 15.6% on-year to $169.0 million, which came on the back of a 6.5% increase in revenue.  EBITDA over the half grew an impressive 6.5% to $525 million.

SPN’s balance sheet also improved in the half, with net gearing ratio dropping from 60% to 56% and interest cover increasing form 2.6x to 2.7x. On the funding front, the group has $775 million debt maturing in March 2013.

While the company does have the ability to pay this from current cash (approx. $427 million) and $625 million in undrawn committed bank debt facilities, we wouldn’t be surprised given the current low interest rate environment if SPN refinanced the loan at a significantly lower rate.

Distributions

SGN’s monopoly-like business gives it a stable and predictable income stream in which to pay distributions. This saw the company pay a 4.1 cent distribution in 1H13, a 2.5% increase on the prior corresponding half.

The groups also reaffirmed its full-year guidance of 8.2 cents a security.

Based on a closing share price of $1.045, this represents an attractive yield of approximately 7.5%, or a gross yield of 8.5% if franking stays consistent at 33.3%. In the 1H13, 89% of SPN’s revenue was regulated and essentially inflation protected.

SPN’s yield makes it extremely attractive to income-seeking investors, especially given the recent RBA rate cut and the fact that interest rates are at their lowest since the GFC.

Outlook

SPN is forecasting capital expenditure for 2013 to be around 24% higher than 2012. This investment should help the company continue to grow its earnings and distribution. SPN has not only forecasted for FY13 distribution growth of 2.5%, but also for FY14 growth of 2%.

SPN will continue to deliver stable and predictable revenue growth over the coming years and we think investors chasing yield will continue to drive the share price higher.

This article was distributed to our members on December 14th, if you would like further information you can sign up for FREE 7day recommendations and access all our research files on not only SP Ausnet but all our current trading ideas. Simply click here and starting trading today.

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Boral Limited is a manufacturer and supplier of building and construction materials in Australia and internationally.  Boral supplies building products to the residential and commercial building markets, operates clay brick business in the U.S. (for clay roof tiles and fly ash) along with the production of plasterboard, timber products and concrete products. The group is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and is a member of the S&P/ASX 200.

Boral has downgraded its profit guidance for the second time in a little over two months.

It now expects net profit to be between $100 million and $110 million, down from the previously downgraded guidance of $128 million to $153 million.

Interim CEO Ross Batstone said in a statement “a number of recent events have come together to weaken Boral’s trading performance in the fourth quarter which add to the impact of ongoing weakness in the Australian new housing construction market.”

Boral also noted that the business continues to operate comfortably within its Banking covenants.

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Leighton Holdings Limited offers a variety of project development and contracting services to public and private sector clients in the Asia-Pacific region.

 

Leighton provides design management, civil engineering construction, building, mining, process engineering, telecommunications, waste management and infrastructure operation and maintenance and property development and management. Leighton is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and is a member of the S&P/ASX 200.

Leighton reaffirmed its guidance of $100- $150 million in underlying net profit for the six months to 30 June 2012. The group also confirmed its full year profit of $400-$450 million.

The company noted that for the March quarter it expects a loss of $80 million due the performance of Airport Link and the Victorian Desalination Project.

CEO Hamish Tywhitt said that “the Leighton Group’s diversification strategy, underlying strength and positive outlook is reflected in our work in hand which remains around $45 billion with a further $11.5 billion that runs out beyond five years”

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BlueScope Steel Ltd (ASX:BSL) is a major steel company in Australia and New Zealand, supplying flat steel products to the building, construction, manufacturing, automotive and packaging industries.

ASX 200 listed stock BlueScope has today launched a $600 million share issue.

The new shares will be offered at $0.40, which represents a 34% discount to the most recent close.

The money will be used to repay existing debt.

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News Corporation (ASX:NWS) is a diversified media conglomerate with interests in all geographic locations around the world, and in all facets of the media. The principle activities of the company include printing and publishing, books and magazines, television broadcasting and production including both free to air and pay television, and film production and distributions.

Today, ASX 200 listed News Corp reported 1Q12 revenue of US$7.96 billion, up  7% from  a year ago. However net profit for the quarter came in at US$738 million, down from US$775 in the previous quarter.

The fall in earnings was partially due to the $68 million, or 38%, decrease of operating income in the publishing segment. This reflected the impact from the closure of The News of World in the U.K.

The Cable Network Programming, Filmed Entertainment and Direct Broadcast Satellite Television segments all recorded double digit revenue increases compared to the prior corresponding quarter.

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Tabcorp Holding’s (TAH) core business is wagering and gaming in Australia. Tabcorp has the exclusive license in Victoria to sell totalizer bets through the brands TAB, Footybet and National Sportsbet. The gaming division owns and operates gaming machines in hotels and licensed clubs.

Tabcorp also owns and operates New South Wales only casino, Star City, plus Queensland casinos. After the Jupiters and TAB acquisitions, Tabcorp is the fourth largest global entertainment and gaming group.

Tabcorp has finally received approval from the Supreme Court of Victoria to split its business in two.

The company’s casino assets will be spun off into the separately listed company Echo Entertainment Group. Echo is expected to commence trading on Monday 6 June 2011 under the stock code EGP.

Tabcorp shares will continue to trade under the code TAH and will include the company’s wagering, gaming and keno business. Both companies are seen as takeover targets following the demeger, with Echo rumoured to be in the sights of casino business Crown Limited (CWN).

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