Cosco's 4Q13 profit sank a depressing 80.6% to $4.6m

Outlook is downright gloomy.

According to Maybank Kim Eng, Cosco’s 4Q13 PATMI of SGD4.6m (-80.6% YoY, +9.0% QoQ) came in lower than our forecast, which was already substantially below the consensus (SGD8.9m vs SGD20.8m).

The bottom line was weighed down by an additional SGD58.5m inventory write-down and loss provisions taken in the quarter. Consequently, EBIT margin shrank to a slim 1.0% (3Q13: 4.0%, 4Q12: 7.9%).

Here's more from Maybank Kim Eng:

Cosco declared a first and final dividend of SGD 1.0 cts/share.

Despite a burgeoning net orderbook which has reached USD7.8b, Cosco’s execution continued to disappoint.

In our view, the outlook is depressing, with management flagging sustained margin pressures and operating challenges ahead due to (1) lower-value shipbuilding orders being executed, (2) higher execution costs in offshore projects, (3) intensifying competition in offshore space, (4) technical challenges as it moves up the value chain, (5) possibility of declining shipbuilding orders due to excess industry capacity, (6) the CNY strengthening against the USD, and (7) higher financing costs.

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