Jumbo kept at 'add' by CGS-CIMB on new ION outlet

SINGAPORE (Dec 14): CGS-CIMB is maintaining its “add” call on Jumbo Group with a target price of 54 cents, in view of robust earnings growth in FY19 and possible margin uplift on tighter cost control.

The group announced on Tuesday that it has opened a new Jumbo Seafood outlet at ION Orchard. This will be the group’s first outlet opening in Singapore in 10 years.

See: Jumbo opens first Singapore mall-based restaurant outlet at ION Orchard

The opening of Jumbo in ION comes before its seasonally strong Jan-Mar quarter, which historically fetches about 27-29% of full-year sales for the group.

Currently, the Jumbo outlet occupies ober 5,400 sq ft in ION Orchard, with a seating capacity of 160, including four VIP rooms.

Including this new outlet, there would be a total of 17 Jumbo Seafood outlets across Asia, with six in Singapore.

In a Thursday report, analyst Colin Tan says, “Despite the store’s location at a prime shopping mall, we understand from management that Jumbo has secured the retail space at a favourable rental cost and it could see profit margins similar to other Singapore JUMBO Seafood outlets apart from the one at the National Service Resort & Country Club.”

Jumbo’s overall rental costs accounted for approximately 10% of its total operating costs in FY18, lower than the national average of 17.9% in 2016.

As at 11.30am, shares in Jumbo are trading at 39 cents or 3.6 times FY19 book with a dividend yield of 3.5%.