ocbc research on FCT
1QFY17 results in-line with our expectations
Frasers Centrepoint Trust (FCT) reported an in-line set of 1QFY17
results. Gross revenue and NPI fell 6.4% and 5.7% YoY to S$44.1m
and S$31.6m, and formed 24.0% and 24.5% of our full-year forecasts,
respectively. This was largely due to loss of income from planned
vacancies at Northpoint as a result of its ongoing AEI. However, DPU
inched up 0.7% YoY to 2.89 S cents and accounted for 24.6% of our
FY17 projection. This was because the REIT Manager elected to take a
larger proportion of management fees in units, while S$1.0m of income
available for distribution was retained, versus S$1.4m in 1QFY16.
Expect Northpoint’s occupancy to trough in coming months
Notwithstanding the headwinds facing Singapore’s retail sector, FCT
managed to register a robust rental reversion of 6.9% for its portfolio.
This was driven by Changi City Point (+12.2%) and Causeway Point
(+10.6%), but partially offset by weakness at Bedok Point (-10.1%)
and Anchorpoint (-3.2%). Occupancy improved 1.9% QoQ to 91.3% as
FCT completed phase 1 of its Northpoint AEI. Looking ahead, occupancy
of Northpoint is expected to reach a trough of ~57%-58% for the
months of Feb to Apr this year, before recovering as the AEI
approaches completion.
Reiterate BUY
We factor in FCT’s recent acquisition of the ten strata-titled ground floor
retails units at Yishun 10 Cinema Complex in our model, and
consequently raise our FY17 and FY18 DPU forecasts marginally by
0.3%. As a result of this acquisition, FCT’s gearing ratio increased
slightly from 28.3% (as at end-FY16) to 29.7%, but remains one of the
lowest amongst the S-REITs universe. Interest cover was also healthy
at 7.3x, although its proportion of borrowings which are hedged or on
fixed rates stood at 56%, as at 31 Dec 2016. Given a steeper yield
curve environment, we raise our risk-free rate assumption from 2.4%
to 2.7%, which consequently lowers our fair value estimate from
S$2.33 to S$2.28. However, we are keeping our BUY rating on FCT, as
we continue to like its resilient portfolio and attractive FY17F
distribution yield of 6.0%.