Bunzl reported first-quarter revenue growth of 1.2%, ignoring the effect of exchange rates. Organic growth of 0.6% was driven by continued inflation, propping up the selling prices of Bunzl's products, offset by the expected decline in Covid-19-related sales. Acquisitions had a positive net impact of 0.6% on growth, as new acquisitions offset revenue losses from the disposal of the UK healthcare business.
The Group continues to expect revenue in 2023 to be slightly higher than in 2022, driven by both organic growth and acquisitions. Underling operating profit is expected to be ''resilient'', with operating margin slightly higher than historical levels.
The shares fell 2.3% in early trading.
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Our view
First-quarter performance was relatively robust. Currency headwinds inflated the reported top line, which was a slight increase on expectations. Ignoring the effects, there was still a small amount of growth left for investors to cling onto.
Bunzl's a mashup of around 150 distribution businesses, which source and deliver a range of essential products. There's nothing fancy about the products on offer, think food packaging and safety equipment. But that's what we like about the product range, these are things customers can't go without.
Growth won't shoot the lights out, but it's been consistent for a long time. Both revenue and underlying operating profit have grown at an annualised rate of 9-10% going back to 2004. Growth in 2023 will be harder to come by as we lap strong 2022 numbers, but robust performance during tough times has been particularly impressive. Something that has benefitted both investors and helped attract customers but there are no guarantees that will continue.
Recent organic growth has been largely driven by higher prices, which have been essential as a tool to keep inflated costs from eating into margins. We're expecting cost pressures to continue into 2023, and further price rises will likely follow. Whether margins can hold on remains to be seen. But a benefit of selling essential products and being deeply integrated into customers supply chains is a degree of stickiness that aids in pricing power.
Aside from organic growth, it's acquisitions that take centre stage. Two thirds of the revenue growth over the last 10 years has been a result of adding new businesses to the portfolio. A handful of acquisitions this year and a healthy pipeline support continued growth from this avenue.
Acquisition-led strategies have their drawbacks. If the pool of target companies dries up or a business needs to raise external cash to fund acquisitions, then it's not usually sustainable. Bunzl's got the latter covered though. Cash conversion (how much operating profit feeds through to cash flow) is a key strength, coming in at over 100% in each of the last 4 years and the balance sheets in a strong position, last we heard.
Overall, we think Bunzl has much to offer and can understand why the valuation is ahead of the wider industry. Sometimes great businesses deserve a premium valuation but that adds pressure to deliver. Of course, there are no guarantees.
Bunzl key facts
All ratios are sourced from Refinitiv. Please remember yields are variable and not a reliable indicator of future income. Keep in mind key figures shouldn't be looked at on their own - it's important to understand the big picture.
This article is original Hargreaves Lansdown content, published by Hargreaves Lansdown. It was correct as at the date of publication, and our views may have changed since then. Unless otherwise stated estimates, including prospective yields, are a consensus of analyst forecasts provided by Refinitiv. These estimates are not a reliable indicator of future performance. Yields are variable and not guaranteed. Investments rise and fall in value so investors could make a loss.
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