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Post Market Wrap | Property assets deliver Brickworks record half-year result

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This Post Market Wrap is presented by KOSEC – Kodari Securities

  • $330m Underlying Net Profit After Tax, up 269 percent on prior corresponding period 
  • Property Trust Revaluations $228m, Development Profits $115m 
  • Underlying EPS $2.18, interim dividend 22 cents fully franked
  • Conservative gearing ratio of 21 percent; interest cover 9.6 times  
  • Sale and leaseback of manufacturing sites planned for current half-year
  • Trend to lower density living supports brick and roof tile sales
  • Exposure to distribution hubs and supply chain logistics supports strong property performance

Brickworks Limited (‘BKW’ or the ‘Group‘) is not just Australia’s largest brick manufacturer; it is also a large scale owner and developer of industrial property. Brickworks comprises four divisions – Building Products Australia, Building Products North America, Industrial Property, and Investments. This diversification underwrites the Group’s consistent earnings growth that has enabled it to pay a dividend every year since listing on the ASX in 1962.

The Group owns Austral Bricks and Bristile Roofing. In North America it owns the largest independently owned and operated brick distributor in the US, as well as the flagship brand Glen-Gery, the leading brick producer in the North-east of the US. BKW is also a successful developer of industrial property assets that service the supply chain needs of the rapidly expanding digital economy. BKW undertakes these development activities using its surplus land assets, in conjunction with the Goodman Group

Record Half-year Earnings

Brickworks has reported record earnings for the half-year to 31 January on the back of another stellar result from the Group’s property assets. Underlying Net Profit After Tax (NPAT) of $330 million was achieved, up 269 percent on the previous corresponding period. This amount excludes a one-off profit generated from the deemed deposal of Washington H Soul Pattison shares upon its merger with Milton during the reporting period. Including this amount, the Statutory NPAT was $581 million. The result is equivalent to Underlying Earnings per Share of $2.18, while Statutory EPS was $3.83. In line with the Group’s conservative dividend pay-out ratio policy, an interim fully franked dividend of 22 cents will be paid on May 3. This compares to a 21 cent fully franked dividend paid for the 6 months to January 2021.

The Building Products business segment contributed to the record result, as the backlog of detached housing projects moves through the construction pipeline. Property Trust revaluations contributed $228 million and property development profits of $115 million were recorded during the reporting period. Rental income from property assets contributed $17 million over the 6-month period. This was a 7 percent increase on the previous corresponding half-year.

Building Products Australia performed strongly, with Earrings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) up 66 percent to $24 million while Building Products North America turned in an underwhelming $1 million EBIT, down 70 percent. The North American business was severely impacted by pandemic related challenges with interruptions to manufacturing operations affected by workforce availability, resulting in higher wages to retain and attract staff. Margins were impacted by supply chain cost pressures, exacerbated by increased transportation costs, brought on by driver shortages and truck availability issues.   

Although net debt increased by $108 million to $626 million, gearing remains conservative at 21 percent of net debt to equity, implying interest cover at 9.6 times. These numbers are well within bank covenant limits, providing the Group with $1.01 billion in committed bank debt facilities. 

Operational Property Trust 

The Group has announced its intention to launch a new Operational Property Trust in partnership with Goodman that will house the Building Products manufacturing sites. The intention is to enter a sale and leaseback arrangement with the Trust, comprising Brickworks’ manufacturing sites.  An initial portfolio of 15 Building Products sites, with an estimated value of $415 million, has been identified for the first stage of the Operational Property Trust.  A definitive agreement with Goodman is expected to be signed during the second half of financial year 2022.   

The sale and leaseback of these manufacturing sites is likely to deliver gross cash proceeds of $200 million, and an estimated pre-tax profit of $260-280 million, following the valuation uplift on transfer of properties across to the Operational Property Trust.

Looking Ahead

Inflationary pressures related to rising fuel costs and labour shortages, together with supply chain bottlenecks resulting in shipping rates increasing back to levels not seen since the worst period of the pandemic, have created some short-term uncertainty for the Group.

On the other hand, the pandemic has boosted consumer demand for lower density living, resulting in a shift toward detached housing building activity. This is a positive trend for 2 key Brickworks’ products in bricks and roof tiles for detached houses. 

Brickworks’ 46-year history of maintaining or increasing shareholder dividends looks set to be maintained over the long-term. This track record is attributable to the Group’s conservative debt level and its exposure to property assets in strategically located distribution hubs that support sophisticated supply-chain solutions, servicing the burgeoning demand created by online shoppers.

This Post Market Wrap is presented by Kodari Securities, written by Michael Kodari, CEO at KOSEC.

"Michael Kodari is one of the world's most consistent, top performing investor. A philanthropist and one of the prominent experts of the financial markets, he has been referred to as ‘the brightest 21st century entrepreneur in wealth management' by CNBC Asia and featured on Forbes. Featured on TV as the "Money Expert", on the weekly Sunday program "Elevator Pitch", he is recognised internationally by governments as he was the guest of honour for the event "Inside China's Future", chosen by the Chinese government from the funds management industry, attended by industry leaders, when they arrived in Sydney Australia, on April 2014. Michael and George Soros were the only two financiers in the world invited and chosen by the Chinese government to provide advice, and their expertise on Chinese government asset allocation offshore. With a strong background in funds management and stockbroking, Michael has worked with some of the most successful investors and consulted to leading financial institutions. He was the youngest person ever to appear on the expert panel for Fox, Sky News Business Channel at the age of 25 where he demonstrated his skillset across a 3 year period forming the most consistent track record and getting all his predictions right over that period. Michael writes for key financial publications, is regularly interviewed by various media and conducts conferences around the world."

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Interest rates impact investments, housing, and economy

Interest Rate Cuts: Implications for Borrowing, Housing Prices, and Australia’s Economy Post-COVID

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“Interest Rate Cuts: Implications for Borrowing, Housing Prices, and Australia’s Economy Post-COVID”

In Short

Interest rates in the US and Australia are under scrutiny as the impact of COVID-19 fades, raising concerns about investments and borrowing capacity. Experts are debating the long-term effects of Australia’s recent rate cut on housing prices and the cost of living crisis.

This development raises questions about its implications for investments, repayments, and savings.

To discuss these issues, we have Andrew Woodward from the Investor’s Way.

The rate cut has raised concerns about its impact on Australians’ borrowing capacity and the potential for rising housing prices.

There is also speculation about how this rate cut could affect the ongoing cost of living crisis in Australia. Experts are considering the possible long-term consequences of this reduction on Australia’s economy.

Many are asking whether this signals the start of a series of rate cuts by the Reserve Bank of Australia.

It’s important to examine how this shift in Australia’s monetary policy aligns with broader global economic trends.

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Hainan’s hidden paradise is transforming the global economy

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Once a quiet island, now a booming gateway—how Hainan is becoming a powerhouse of trade, innovation, and opportunity

The Big Picture unveils the incredible story behind China’s newest economic powerhouse. Host Mark Llewellyn explores a tropical island that has been transformed into a thriving hub for Australian and international businesses. As part of the Fortune Bay economic zone, this region is poised to drive China’s economy—and global growth—over the next decade. With ambitious plans in place, the opportunities for innovative and successful Australian businesses could be immense.

In this episode, discover China’s best-kept secret, where the rapidly evolving, visa-free, and largely tax-free island of Hainan is unveiled to the world for the first time. With its booming economy and vast untapped potential, Hainan presents a golden opportunity for Australian businesses looking to break into the world’s largest market. Journey through breathtaking landscapes, meet visionary leaders, and explore bold innovations shaping this emerging economic powerhouse—one poised to drive global growth for the next decade.

 

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From fishing village to tech titan—Guangzhou and Shenzhen are shaping our future

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How two Chinese megacities became the beating heart of innovation, trade, and global ambition

The Big Picture unveils the incredible story behind China’s newest economic powerhouse. Host Mark Llewellyn explores a tropical island that has been transformed into a thriving hub for Australian and international businesses. As part of the Fortune Bay economic zone, this region is poised to drive China’s economy—and global growth—over the next decade. With ambitious plans in place, the opportunities for innovative and successful Australian businesses could be immense.

In this episode, Mark Llewellyn explores the economic dynamism of Guangzhou and Shenzhen—two of China’s most vibrant cities brimming with opportunity. From Guangzhou, home to 30,000 foreign-owned companies and a rich cultural tapestry, to Shenzhen, which has evolved from a fishing village into a high-tech ‘Silicon Valley’ powerhouse, this episode uncovers the forces driving their success. Get an exclusive look inside DJI, the world’s largest drone manufacturer, and meet the visionary minds shaping the future of technology.

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