KUALA LUMPUR: Public Investment Research (PIV) has initiated coverage on Telekom Malaysia Bhd with a "neutral" call and target price of RM6.55.Read more: PIV: TM's earnings prospects appealing
Despite the modest call, the firm said the fixed-line operator's earnings prospects look appealing over the next few years.
"Though its earnings prospects look appealing for the 2012-2014 period, we opine that current valuations have fully factored in the positive growth.
"Projected dividend yield is also no longer attractive, yielding only 3.4 per cent which is the lowest among the local telecommunication players," PIV analyst Chong Hoe Leong noted in a report.
Chong highlighted that TM is not likely to be burdened with its commitment to pay out at least RM700 million in dividends annually.
"Though in a net debt position of RM2.2 billion, we opine that the dividend payout is unlikely to be an issue given its RM3 billion operating cashflow a year.
"Despite the hefty capital expenditure budget of about RM2.3 billion a year, we do not see the need for the group to leverage its assets nor eat into its cash reserves for dividend payments," he explained.
TM's current valuation is not cheap, Chong said.
"On a regional comparison, TM's valuation is not cheap. Its forward 2013 PE (price earnings) is at a steep 68.5 per cent premium to the average regional telco players while its 6.4 times FY13 EV/Ebitda is at a 10.1 per cent premium, despite lower-than-average dividend declared," it said.
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