Summary · why it matters
KGI Securities (Thailand) said BEM reported average daily passenger volume and electric train ticket revenue for August 2569 at 444,000 people, up 1.0% YoY and 4.2% MoM, and 13.2 million baht, up 0.1% YoY and 3.8% MoM, respectively. Meanwhile, average daily vehicle volume for expressway users and revenue stood at 1.12 million vehicles, up 0.7% YoY and 1.4% MoM, and 25.6 million baht, up 0.6% YoY and 1.9% MoM, respectively. Over the first eight months of 2569, average daily passenger volume and revenue stood at 424,500 people, up 0.8% YoY, and 12.72 million baht, up 2.2% YoY, while average daily vehicle volume and revenue stood at 1.1 million vehicles, up 0.8% YoY, and 25.2 million baht, up 0.3% YoY, respectively. It expects average daily passenger volume and revenue in the third quarter of 2569 to rise about 1-1.3% YoY and 11-12% QoQ, while average daily vehicle volume and revenue may grow 0.6-0.7% YoY and 2.5-3.5% QoQ. Normally the third quarter tends to be the year's peak quarter for results, as revenue from the expressway and rail system businesses grows in the single digits. Good cost control plus an interim dividend from TTW. Fourth-quarter 2569 profit should be slightly stronger than previously expected YoY, driven by a cost adjustment of about 100 million baht. It maintains its 2569 profit estimate at 3.9 billion baht, up 4% YoY, and its 2570 estimate at 4.0 billion baht, up 3% YoY, without yet including the opportunity for passenger volume to increase from the trial run of the Orange Line (eastern side), which will feed more passengers into the Blue Line, and the new, cheaper fare rate of 17-45 baht, which should also help improve operating efficiency. The first Orange Line train sets will gradually arrive in late 2569, and all 17 trains should be ready in late 2570 for trial runs before officially opening for commercial service in early 2571. Meanwhile, additional Blue Line train sets will gradually arrive from mid-2570 through late 2571, and the end of the Blue Line project's compensation payments in 2572 will help BEM save about 5 billion baht per year in cash flow. The official opening of the Orange Line's western side and the Purple Line's southern section will support growth in 2573. For the expressway business, full-year positive effects should be seen from the increase in tolls on the urban FES and SES routes to 60 baht in 2572 from the current 50 baht. BEM also still hopes for the 35-billion-baht elevated expressway project and the 30-billion-baht M&E contract, with the Purple Line's southern section expected to receive government approval early next year. It maintains a buy recommendation with an SOTP target price of 8.40 baht, derived from the core business at 6.30 baht using a WACC of 5.3% and terminal growth of 0%, and investments in TTW and CKP at 0.75 baht, plus the Orange Line project at 1.35 baht. The target price reflects a 2570 PE of 32-33x, minus 0.5 S.D.
Bangkok Expressway and Metro Public Company Limited
TTW Public Company Limited
CK Power Public Company Limited