Cliq Digital — Muted H1, marketing spend to drive H2 uptick

CLIQ Digital (SCALE: CLIQ)

Last close As at 28/03/2024

EUR16.12

−0.14 (−0.86%)

Market capitalisation

EUR106m

More on this equity

Research: TMT

Cliq Digital — Muted H1, marketing spend to drive H2 uptick

Due to product launch delays at the end of FY17, Cliq Digital (CLIQ) saw H1 revenues and operating profits fall by 12% and 38% y-o-y. However, net income benefited from a non-recurring credit of €0.8m due to reductions in estimated contingent consideration. Nevertheless, we are encouraged by the growing marketing expenditure, which should drive improved performance in H2. The shares trade at a substantial discount to peers.

Fiona Orford-Williams

Written by

Fiona Orford-Williams

Director, TMT

TMT

Cliq Digital

Media

Price

€3.50

Market cap

€22m

Share price graph

Share details

Code

CLIQ

Listing

Deutsche Börse Scale

Shares in issue

6.2m

Business description

Cliq Digital is a sales and marketing group for digital products and services. It also operates a proprietary payments platform. It is headquartered in Dusseldorf and has offices in Amsterdam, London and Paris. Via its network of affiliate partners and its own direct media buying platform, it has customers across the globe. In 2017 76% of sales were generated in Europe, 13% in the Asia Pacific region and 8% in Africa.

Bull

Exposure to the fast-growth mobile marketing sector.

Experienced management.

Strong revenue momentum over the last few years.

Bear

As the group scales it may become harder to maintain the same rate of marketing efficiency.

Dependent on major mobile carriers and gateways for customer access and invoicing.

Limited exposure to the potentially faster growth developing markets.

Analysts

Fiona Orford-Williams

+44 (0)20 3077 5700

Neil Shah

+44 (0)20 3077 5700

Muted H1, marketing spend to drive H2 uptick

Due to product launch delays at the end of FY17, Cliq Digital (CLIQ) saw H1 revenues and operating profits fall by 12% and 38% y-o-y. However, net income benefited from a non-recurring credit of €0.8m due to reductions in estimated contingent consideration. Nevertheless, we are encouraged by the growing marketing expenditure, which should drive improved performance in H2. The shares trade at a substantial discount to peers.

H118 results: Flat income supported by one-off items

CLIQ reported muted interim numbers. Revenues declined 12.5% on the back of delayed product launches due to contract slippage and longer than anticipated integration times in Q417, which hampered investment into customer acquisition over this period. Despite lower amortisation of capitalised marketing spend, EBIT fell 38% y-o-y to €1.5m. However, net income of €1.4m was broadly unchanged due to €0.8m in one-off gains due to changes in estimates of the fair value of contingent liabilities. We estimate that net income declined 12% on an organic basis.

Marketing expenditure returns to growth

On a positive note, the company returned to growth in marketing spend (+10% year-on-year). This is a crucial indicator of the health of the business, suggesting that management sees attractive investment opportunities. After a period of consolidating expenditure in 2017, we are encouraged to see this KPI trend back in the right direction. As a result of this spend, the ‘CLIQ factor’ (a measure of return of marketing spend per €) came down from the historic highs seen last year (1.48) closer to CLIQ’s long-term average of 1.39. On an operational level, we note that completion of the acquisitions of CMind (67% to 80% share) and AffiMobiz in the first half should help drive increasing efficiency of marketing expenditure, potentially underpinning future improvements in the CLIQ factor.

Valuation: Discount to peers

At 0.5x FY18e consensus sales and 7.3x FY18e earnings, CLIQ trades at a substantial discount to the wider peer group of user acquisition groups. Investors are likely cautious about the slowdown in H1 performance and required ramp in H2 to meet both consensus estimates and management guidance for the full year. Delivery on these measures could see the discount to peers narrowing.

Consensus estimates

Year
end

Revenue
(€m)

PBT
(€m)

EPS
(€)

DPS
(€)

P/E
(x)

Yield
(%)

12/16

65.3

3.6

0.43

0.0

8.1

N/A

12/17

70.5

4.5

0.55

0.0

6.4

N/A

12/18e

65.0

4.4

0.48

0.0

7.3

N/A

12/19e

71.5

4.5

0.49

0.0

7.1

N/A

Source: Bloomberg, Edison Investment Research

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Frankfurt +49 (0)69 78 8076 960

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Germany

London +44 (0)20 3077 5700

280 High Holborn

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United Kingdom

New York +1 646 653 7026

295 Madison Avenue, 18th Floor

10017, New York

US

Sydney +61 (0)2 8249 8342

Level 12, Office 1205

95 Pitt Street, Sydney

NSW 2000, Australia

Frankfurt +49 (0)69 78 8076 960

Schumannstrasse 34b

60325 Frankfurt

Germany

London +44 (0)20 3077 5700

280 High Holborn

London, WC1V 7EE

United Kingdom

New York +1 646 653 7026

295 Madison Avenue, 18th Floor

10017, New York

US

Sydney +61 (0)2 8249 8342

Level 12, Office 1205

95 Pitt Street, Sydney

NSW 2000, Australia

Edison is an investment research and advisory company, with offices in North America, Europe, the Middle East and AsiaPac. The heart of Edison is our world-renowned equity research platform and deep multi-sector expertise. At Edison Investment Research, our research is widely read by international investors, advisers and stakeholders. Edison Advisors leverages our core research platform to provide differentiated services including investor relations and strategic consulting. Edison is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Edison Investment Research (NZ) Limited (Edison NZ) is the New Zealand subsidiary of Edison. Edison NZ is registered on the New Zealand Financial Service Providers Register (FSP number 247505) and is registered to provide wholesale and/or generic financial adviser services only. Edison Investment Research Inc (Edison US) is the US subsidiary of Edison and is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Edison Investment Research Limited (Edison Aus) [46085869] is the Australian subsidiary of Edison. Edison Germany is a branch entity of Edison Investment Research Limited [4794244]. www.edisongroup.com

DISCLAIMER
Copyright 2018 Edison Investment Research Limited. All rights reserved. This report has been prepared and issued by Edison for publication globally. All information used in the publication of this report has been compiled from publicly available sources that are believed to be reliable, however we do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this report. Opinions contained in this report represent those of the research department of Edison at the time of publication. The securities described in the Investment Research may not be eligible for sale in all jurisdictions or to certain categories of investors. This research is issued in Australia by Edison Investment Research Pty Ltd (Corporate Authorised Representative (1252501) of Myonlineadvisers Pty Ltd (AFSL: 427484)) and any access to it, is intended only for "wholesale clients" within the meaning of the Corporations Act 2001 of Australia. The Investment Research is distributed in the United States by Edison US to major US institutional investors only. Edison US is registered as an investment adviser with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Edison US relies upon the "publishers' exclusion" from the definition of investment adviser under Section 202(a)(11) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and corresponding state securities laws. As such, Edison does not offer or provide personalised advice. We publish information about companies in which we believe our readers may be interested and this information reflects our sincere opinions. The information that we provide or that is derived from our website is not intended to be, and should not be construed in any manner whatsoever as, personalised advice. Also, our website and the information provided by us should not be construed by any subscriber or prospective subscriber as Edison's solicitation to effect, or attempt to effect, any transaction in a security. The research in this document is intended for New Zealand resident professional financial advisers or brokers (for use in their roles as financial advisers or brokers) and habitual investors who are "wholesale clients" for the purpose of the Financial Advisers Act 2008 (FAA) (as described in sections 5(c) (1)(a), (b) and (c) of the FAA). This is not a solicitation or inducement to buy, sell, subscribe, or underwrite any securities mentioned or in the topic of this document. This document is provided for information purposes only and should not be construed as an offer or solicitation for investment in any securities mentioned or in the topic of this document.
A marketing communication under FCA rules, this document has not been prepared in accordance with the legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and is not subject to any prohibition on dealing ahead of the dissemination of investment research. Edison has a restrictive policy relating to personal dealing. Edison Group does not conduct any investment business and, accordingly, does not itself hold any positions in the securities mentioned in this report. However, the respective directors, officers, employees and contractors of Edison may have a position in any or related securities mentioned in this report. Edison or its affiliates may perform services or solicit business from any of the companies mentioned in this report. The value of securities mentioned in this report can fall as well as rise and are subject to large and sudden swings. In addition it may be difficult or not possible to buy, sell or obtain accurate information about the value of securities mentioned in this report. Past performance is not necessarily a guide to future performance. Forward-looking information or statements in this report contain information that is based on assumptions, forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable, and therefore involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of their subject matter to be materially different from current expectations. For the purpose of the FAA, the content of this report is of a general nature, is intended as a source of general information only and is not intended to constitute a recommendation or opinion in relation to acquiring or disposing (including refraining from acquiring or disposing) of securities. The distribution of this document is not a "personalised service" and, to the extent that it contains any financial advice, is intended only as a "class service" provided by Edison within the meaning of the FAA (ie without taking into account the particular financial situation or goals of any person). As such, it should not be relied upon in making an investment decision. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Edison, its affiliates and contractors, and their respective directors, officers and employees will not be liable for any loss or damage arising as a result of reliance being placed on any of the information contained in this report and do not guarantee the returns on investments in the products discussed in this publication. FTSE International Limited ("FTSE") (c) FTSE [2014]. "FTSE(r)" is a trade mark of the London Stock Exchange Group companies and is used by FTSE International Limited under license. All rights in the FTSE indices and/or FTSE ratings vest in FTSE and/or its licensors. Neither FTSE nor its licensors accept any liability for any errors or omissions in the FTSE indices and/or FTSE ratings or underlying data. No further distribution of FTSE Data is permitted without FTSE's express written consent.

Frankfurt +49 (0)69 78 8076 960

Schumannstrasse 34b

60325 Frankfurt

Germany

London +44 (0)20 3077 5700

280 High Holborn

London, WC1V 7EE

United Kingdom

New York +1 646 653 7026

295 Madison Avenue, 18th Floor

10017, New York

US

Sydney +61 (0)2 8249 8342

Level 12, Office 1205

95 Pitt Street, Sydney

NSW 2000, Australia

Frankfurt +49 (0)69 78 8076 960

Schumannstrasse 34b

60325 Frankfurt

Germany

London +44 (0)20 3077 5700

280 High Holborn

London, WC1V 7EE

United Kingdom

New York +1 646 653 7026

295 Madison Avenue, 18th Floor

10017, New York

US

Sydney +61 (0)2 8249 8342

Level 12, Office 1205

95 Pitt Street, Sydney

NSW 2000, Australia

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