Pacer is in the right space; the intermodal space that is. However it might not be the right investment. There is good likelihood of business failure and permanent loss of capital. I have sold out of it earlier and took a 3% gain from my cost basis.
Why I do not think it is suitable for an investment because of several factors:
- The company lost its wholesale business to HUB Group, as Union Pacific (UNP) renegotiated their long term contract, which gave Pacer a competitive advantage for a long time.
- Now Pacer does not have any pricing power or unique access to the UNP network so its advantage have disappeared.
- Pacer will try to establish it new business going to shippers rather than selling to other logistics businesses, which is unproven field for it. If management had showed better skills and better Return on Capital over the last 5 years, even with unique advantage it failed, I may have given it the benefit of the doubt. But there are no indications of superior skill.
- Management have to win business and that will be a tall order its revenue growth over the last 7 years, the go go years of global trade, have been -5%.
- Pacer with no trucking assets can get its margin really squeezed by truckers to complete the various legs of the intermodal trip. However most of its competitors either have their own trucking or have a larger under contract owner operator. This will decrease Pacer flexibility and attractiveness for customer needs.
- Recent liquidity issues and reduced credit facilities can turn off customers from giving their business. Supply chain managers and shippers priority will always be reliability rather than price.
- Pacer would not see any positive cash flow from operations for next year according to my model which will continue to raise solvency issues as it did this year.
- CEO abruptly retired. The company felt the need to issue a press release to recently to emphasize that all was preplanned. That was very defensive move that leads to believe that there are something more o this issue.
- A lot of insider selling. Not a good sign.
- the new credit facilities the company negotiated limits capex at $6.5 million per year going forward. The company used to average $9.5 million per year and most of it is maintenance capex. Without investment in the business it could lead to deterioration in operations.
- Also the credit facility is very strict and keeps Pacer on a tight leach.
- If I assume mid cycle revenue level of $1680 and loss of $550 due to the new agreement with UP that will leave Pacer with revenue level of $1130. Further if I assume the average EBIT margin over the last 4 years that will give me an EBIT level of $19 million. However the new cost structure of Pacer due to its agreement with UP and loss of business will be higher so lets assume 1% margin, which will leave us with EBIT of $11.3 million. This translate Pacer Earning Power Value is $113 to $160. This does not factor capex, taxes or interest, so very much where the market is trading right now. Not an appealing valuation.
The shorts are having a big field day with this; it is been shorted heavily with a good reason. Management need big effort to turn around, cost cutting can do only so much.
2 comments:
Sami, so how do you invest in this area and in Canada? I think it is safe to assume that over the next number of years oil and natural gas prices will move-up. Well, my assumption anyways.
Is there any other play you can think of that will benefit from the increase in oil/gas prices, without investing specifically in these assets. A similar play as BNI, or a better alternative than PACR.
Anon,
I am working on it but no idea so far. I am looking for the exact thesis. I want to invest in businesses that have some pricing power in the back drop of rising commodities and can benefit of it but can do well event if there is not run up.
I will always post so stay tuned.
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