ACES recorded revenue of IDR6.23 trillion in 9M24, growing 13.37% YoY. The revenue growth was driven by the Lifestyle Products segment, which grew 20.55% YoY to IDR2.7 trillion in 9M24, and the Home Improvement Products segment, which grew 9.10% YoY to IDR3.18 trillion in 9M24.

ACES recorded higher operating profit amid higher operating expenses in 9M24. ACES’s operating profit grew 20.27% YoY to IDR748 billion in 9M24 (vs. IDR622 billion in 9M23) amid a 14.2% YoY increase in operating expenses to IDR1.9 trillion in 9M24 (vs. IDR1.67 trillion in 9M23).

ACES officially released the ACE Hardware license by introducing a new brand called AZ-KO. In the long term, we assess that the license termination with ACE Hardware will reduce ACES’s operating expenses and potentially improve profitability. However, in the short term, ACES’s advertising and promotion expenses could potentially increase along with introducing the new brand.

ACES plans to continue expanding to reach more customers. As of October 2024, ACES has opened 15 new stores in various cities in Indonesia with Same-Store Sales Growth (SSSG) of 9.3% YTD in 10M24 (vs. 8% Guidance 2024). We assess that ACES’s expansion plans amidst the transition to a new brand can strengthen ACES’s presence in the market and potentially drive future financial performance.

Using the Discounted Cash Flow method with a Required Return of 7.81% and Terminal Growth of 3.06%, we estimate ACES’s fair value at IDR955 per share (Expected PE at 17.29x and EV/EBITDA at 8.93x in FY24). We give ACES a Buy rating with a potential upside 35.46%.

By PHINTRACO SEKURITAS | Research
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