The slide in the XP Power (LSE: XPP) share price began in July, along with weakness in the general stock market. Its almost as if investors saw the content of todays fourth-quarter and year-end trading statement coming.
In the outlook statement, management said:While we are not immune from macroeconomic conditions, we are encouraged by our ongoing new design wins and healthy order book. Back in July, with the half-year results, the directors said they were conscious of potential risks arising from component cost inflation and, macroeconomic challenges,but thought the strong order book and design wins would lead to a full-year outcome in line with existing expectations.Indeed today, the firm is reporting trading in line with the boards expectations.
Is caution warranted?
Yet I sense that investors and directors are waiting for and expecting a turndown in trade. My reading is that the directors are cautious with their wording in these announcements. The outlook statements seem muted, almost grudgingly expressing a positive outlook. Although I could be wrong about how the directors feel about the firms prospects.
XP Power designs and manufactures power controllers, which convert power from the electricity grid into the right form for electronic equipment. The firm designs its power solutions for the end-products of Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs)and then enjoys repeat sales as long as that end-product sells, which is typically for five to seven years.
Around 42% of XP Powers revenue comes from the industrial sector, 26% from semiconductor manufacturing, 22% from healthcare, and 10% from technology. And I think the business set-up is the source of the nervousness surrounding XP Power. Operations are cyclical. If sales contract in the OEM end-markets, XP Powers revenues will go down.
A strong finish and some negatives
There was a good finishto 2018 and all regions and sectors recorded revenue growth.However, there are a few negatives. Order intake and revenue from the semiconductor manufacturing equipment sector were both lower in the fourth quarter than achieved in the third quarter. Order intake can be a decent lead indicator of future business health. Overall, on a constant currency basis, the company took 6% fewer orders in Q4 than it did last year. However, for the full year, orders were still 12% up compared to 2017. But that does include the effect of acquisitions made during the year. On a like-for-like basis, XPP posted a 1% increase in orders for the year, which means the business remains in good health, at least for now.
For the whole year, currency-adjusted revenue came in a whopping 21% higher than last year, 7% up on a like-for-like basis. This isnt a business on its knees, but its also a share I wouldnt want to be holding if I believed there was a general economic slowdown on the way. The valuation has been falling and the dividend yield has been rising, which is a process could go a lot further yet. So Im watching from the side lines for the time being. Instead, Id rather invest in an index tracker fund right now, which would mitigate some of the single-company risk from my investment.
You Really Could Make A Million
Of course, picking the right shares and the strategy to be successful in the stock market isn’t easy. But you can get ahead of the herd by reading the Motley Fool’s FREE guide, “10 Steps To Making A Million In The Market”.
The Motley Fool’s experts show how a seven-figure-sum stock portfolio is within the reach of many ordinary investors in this straightforward step-by-step guide. Simply click here for your free copy.