Tufan Erginbilgic will take Warren East's place as Rolls-Royce CEO. Erginbilgic, who spent over 20 years at BP, is due to start his new role on 1 January 2023.
Erginbilgic commented, "I am determined to deliver the full potential of the market positions which the company has built over many years, through its engineering excellence and innovative technology, and to build a platform for growth in order to create value for all stakeholders."
Rolls-Royce shares were broadly flat following the announcement.
View the latest Rolls-Royce share price and how to deal
Our view
Rolls-Royce's (Rolls) main business is producing and servicing aircraft engines, increasingly for bigger widebody planes (passenger planes with two aisles). That's been a terrible place to be over the past two years, but things are improving post-pandemic. Still, high fuel prices and a global slowdown have the potential to keep a lid on Rolls' budding recovery.
A massive restructuring effort should help. Three of four disposals have competed, with the final business to get the boot later this year. This was a necessary move, with the proceeds said to total around £2.0bn to be put toward restoring the balance sheet by paying down debt.
A CEO swap always adds some uncertainty to the mix. But we view this turning point as a good time for a handover. A fresh pair of eyes in Tufan Erginbilgic is no bad thing as Rolls moves forward.
The leaner organisation has shown signs of strength. Two years ago, the group saw £4bn of cash walk out the door, last year that fell to £1.5bn. Barring any significant disruptions, the group is on track to be free cash flow positive this year. This should help debt make its way lower and would go a long way in restoring our faith in Rolls' ability to stand on its own two feet.
Rolls' multi-billion pound order book gives the group a good deal of visibility over future revenue as well. And it's backed by reliable defence contracts. This is a small but mighty part of Rolls' portfolio, contributing less than a third to revenue but delivered higher operating profits than the business as a whole, including its loss making divisions. It's a diamond in the rough, and being that it supports defence departments around the world, some level of income for the company is basically guaranteed, particularly in the current climate.
Rolls' position in the defence and aerospace industry is enviable - high barriers to entry means there are very few smaller competitors sniffing around. However, valuing that long term opportunity is a challenge at the moment. Huge asset write-downs mean traditional valuation metrics - like Price/Book or Price/Earnings - don't tell the full story for Rolls-Royce stock. For that reason, we've used Rolls' Price/Sales ratio in the box below to offer a valuation touch point as it indicates how much the market is willing to pay for each pound of sales. But it's not a perfect indicator since it doesn't account for debt or profitability - both of which are troublesome for Rolls right now.
Rolls is also barred from paying dividends until at least 2023 as part of its loan terms. Even without that red tape, the group couldn't pay a dividend because it's sporting a negative equity position - meaning liabilities outweigh assets.
It appears the worst might be over for Rolls, and we're genuinely impressed by the group's about face. We're more positive than we have been on Rolls these days. But there's still work to be done. While aviation's made a comeback, it'll be the first to feel the sting of a prolonged economic downturn. With no dividend on offer to make the wait more palatable, shareholders should be prepared to stomach some turbulence.
Rolls-Royce 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.
Trading Update (12 May 2022)
A recovery in air travel in Europe and the Americas meant large engine flying hours in the four months to May were 42% higher than last year.
As expected, operating margins in Defence will be lower reflecting a changing mix of products and increased investment. Power Systems cash conversion is also expected to be weaker, as previously guided, due to changes in inventory management to cope with supply chain issues.
The sale of ITP Aero is expected to complete in the first half of this year, and should generate around £2bn which will be used to repay debt.
Trading so far this year has been in line with expectations and guidance remains unchanged.
Full Year Results (24 Feb 2022)
Underlying revenue declined 4% to £10.9bn, as an 11% decline in equipment revenue driven by fewer engine deliveries in Civil Aerospace offset a 7% rise in Services. However, cost saving together with the absence of Covid-related charges meant the group swung from a £2.0 bn underlying operating loss to profits of £414m.
CEO Warren East announced plans to step down at the end of the year and the group is currently looking for a successor.
For 2022, management forecast low-to-mid-single digit revenue growth with operating margins roughly flat. The group expects modestly positive free cash flow, with the bulk coming in the second half of the year.
Revenue in Civil Aerospace fell 10% to £4.5bn, as equipment revenue fell 29% due to fewer engine deliveries. Second half engine flying hours (EFH) rose 57% from 2020 as covid restrictions eased. Service revenue rose 6% as the group caught up on long term service agreements. Restructuring savings together with the increased service revenue helped operating losses narrow from £2.5bn to £172m.
Equipment and service revenue both rose within Defence, bringing the division's total 5% higher to £3.4bn. The group added £2.3bn to its order book, including a £0.5bn contract with the US Department of Defence that's expected to deliver a total of £2.6bn in equipment sales in the future. Operating profits rose 3% to £457m as a shift toward higher-margin spare part sales offset a 28% increase in research and development spend.
Easing covid restrictions helped the Power Systems order book grow £3.3bn as demand outstripped supply. Revenue rose 3% to £2.7bn, driven by a 10% rise in aftermarket services. Operating profits rose 37% to £242m, driven by manufacturing efficiency, higher-margin spare parts sales and increased volumes.
Revenue in New Markets was £2m, coming entirely from Rolls-Royce Electrical, which develops electric aircraft. Rising capital expenditure on product development meant the division posted a £70m operating loss.
The group's completed three of its four planned asset sales, with the final largest sale of ITP Aero expected to complete in the first half of 2022. Total proceeds are expected to be around £2bn and will be used to pay down debt.
Free cash outflow for continuing operations was £1.5bn, an improvement from £4.3bn last year. This was largely due to cost saving and higher profits. The outflow meant net debt rose from £3.6bn to £5.1bn.
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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