Appen Limited (APX)

Stock: Appen Limited
Symbol: APX
Exchange: ASX

Appen was added to the ASX 200 in June 2018 and displays strong performance in both LT technical and revenue & earnings growth.

Appen Limited (APX)

Despite this, we have not added APX to our model portfolio, or issued a buy signal, because of its market position.

We are looking for companies with a competitive advantage that enables them to defend market share against competitors, without compromising profit margins.

APX competes in a crowded, technology-driven market against a vast number of competitors (over 17,500 Content Relevance and Language Resources providers, according to Jacob Simonsen at Lincoln) and is vulnerable to technology advances by competitors that could make it difficult for APX to defend its market share.

Pro Medicus (PME)

Stock: Pro Medicus
Symbol: PME
Exchange: ASX
Financial Year-end: 30 June 2018
Latest price: $8.07
Date: July 19, 2018

Company Profile

Pro Medicus Ltd provides radiology information systems (RIS), picture archiving and communication systems (PACS), and advanced visualization solutions to hospitals, imaging centres and health care groups worldwide.

Its Visage product line comprises solutions for RIS (Radiology Information Systems) /Practice Management, Healthcare Imaging and e-health. These systems can be used either individually or in combination by radiologists and other medical imaging professionals to interpret images created by medical imaging equipment such as X-Ray and Ultrasound machines and CT and MRI Scanners and communicate the results to their referring clinicians.

The company has offices in Melbourne, Berlin and San Diego.

Competitors

About 70% of sales are in the USA where the company competes with big names like Siemens, Fuji and Phillips.

Improving margins and big name contracts such as the Mayo Clinic in the US and Primary Health and I-Med in Australia suggest that the company is able to compete effectively.

Financial performance

Margins

Operating margins declined from 2011 to 2013, along with revenues but have steadily recovered to 49.04 for the 12 months to 31 December 2017 (TTM).

PME Operating & Net Income Margin % of Revenue

Net income margin has recovered to a healthy 29% of revenue.

Revenue Growth

Revenue growth recovered, after falling 2011 – 2013, to average 14.7% compound growth since 2018. Annual growth in the range of 15% to 20% is expected.

PME Revenue & Earnings per share

From 31 Dec 2017 Directors Report: “….the Company continued to make strong inroads into the North America market winning a key $18.0m contract with Yale New Haven Health, one of the most recognised health systems in North America.”

The vast majority of the company’s contracts are now transaction-based “pay per view” which increases the appeal to smaller practices and locks in future growth for the company as revenues grow in line with client revenues.

Earnings per share

Earnings per share is expected to grow faster than revenue due to improving margins and economies of scale.

Capital structure

Cash reserves were $22.80m at 31 December 2017 and the Company remains debt free.

Weaknesses

Future growth depends on the company’s ability to maintain its competitive position.

International profits are also vulnerable to foreign exchange fluctuations.

Valuation

Price/Earnings is high at 66.5 based on expected 2018 earnings of 12.1 cents. With a gross dividend yield of 0.62% that implies revenue growth at the top of the expected range (20%) while operating costs continue to grow at 8%.

 

Technical Analysis

Price peaked at $9.00 in January 2017 and has consolidated above support at $7.00. 50-Week Twiggs Momentum is again rising after a low of 67.3% in May 2018 backed up by 50-week Trend Index holding above zero since July 2012.

PME Twiggs Momentum & Trend Index

On the daily chart, Twiggs Trend Index (21-day) flags a fresh entry point with a 0.2% upward reversal.

PME Twiggs Trend Index (21-day)

Conclusion

BUY (July 23, 2018)

Disclosure

Staff of The Patient Investor may directly or indirectly own shares in the above company.

Time to sell Gold stocks

Stocks: Evolution Mining, Northern Star Resources, Regis Resources, St Barbara
Symbols: EVN, NST, RRL, SBM
Exchange: ASX
Date: July 19, 2018

The Dollar price of gold has broken support at $1240/ounce, signaling a primary down-trend.

Spot Gold in USD

The Dollar Index continues to test resistance, consolidating in a narrow band below 95, a bullish sign. Chinese selling of the Dollar, to support the Yuan, has not materialized in sufficient magnitude to reverse Dollar strength. Breakout above 95 would spur selling of gold.

Dollar Index

The Australian Dollar has not weakened sufficiently to protect local gold miners. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (XGD) is heading for a test of support at 4900/4950. Given the circumstances, support is unlikely to hold.

All Ordinaries Gold Index

Bearish divergence on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow warns of selling pressure across all four gold stocks in the Australian Growth portfolio.

Evolution (EVN) is the weakest, having broken primary support at $3.10.

Evolution (EVN)

Northern Star (NST) broke medium-term support at $7.00 but is still in an up-trend. LT bearish divergence on Money Flow warns of selling pressure.

Northern Star (NST)

Regis Resources (RRL) respected medium-term support at $4.90 but Money Flow peaks below zero warn of strong selling pressure.

Regis Resources (RRL)

St Barbara (SBM) respected its rising trendline but Money Flow also warns of selling pressure.

St Barbara (SBM)

Conclusion

I don’t like the idea of holding gold stocks long-term when the USD price of gold is in a primary down-trend. Now is a good time to lock in profits from the last 6 months.

SELL (July 19, 2018)

Disclosure

Staff of The Patient Investor may directly or indirectly own shares in the above companies.