Clicks Jumps to Record After Defying Tough South African Market

(Bloomberg) -- Clicks Group Ltd. surged the most in 11 years in Johannesburg trading after the retailer said its full-year earnings would rise as much as 18%, despite the tough conditions confronting South African consumers.

Clicks rose as much as 13%, the most since October 2008 to the highest since the shares started trading in March 1996. Profits have been boosted by a stronger performance in the second-half of the year, the Cape Town-based company said Monday. It is due to announce full results on Oct. 24.

South Africa’s economy is stuck in its longest downward cycle since 1945, with business confidence at its lowest in more than three decades. Unemployment is running at 29% and Mr Price Group Ltd. is among local retailers to have noted in recent months that spending by consumers remains constrained.

“The Clicks earnings were ahead of market consensus and are certainly much better than the results we have seen from other South African retailers,” said Michele Santangelo, a money manager at Independent Securities.

Both Santangelo and Unum Capital’s Lester Davids noted that investors who had bet on declines in Clicks stock may be covering their short positions, adding momentum to the gains. Volume traded was 2.6 times the daily average for the past three months.

An index of South African food and drug retailers gained 4.4% in Johannesburg, the most since February 2017, with Clicks competitor Dis-Chem Pharmacies Ltd. up 2.5%. Peers Pick n Pay Stores Ltd. jumps 4.8%, Bid Corp Ltd. rises 2.9%, while Shoprite Holdings Ltd. gains 1.4%. Meanwhile SPAR Group Ltd. rises 1.3%. The benchmark South African index was 1.3% higher as of 4:37 p.m.

Clicks Group Sees Full-Year Earnings Ex-Items 15%-18% Higher y/y

Here’s more of the analysts’ comments:

Davids of Unum Capital

• In a growth-starved domestic market, Clicks remains one of the few shares that is continuing to show operational strength despite the tough retail backdrop.
• The defensive nature of the business is once again being proven with above-inflationary earnings growth as the business benefits from new distribution contracts gained and improvements in working capital.
• The market has rewarded the group with a higher share price on the back of the trading statement.

Santangelo of Independent

• There does not seem to be a broad uplift in the retailers today, but looking at Dis-Chem, which is has the most similarities to Clicks, it has moved higher in anticipation that it too could produce a stronger set of results in the future

To contact the reporter on this story: Adelaide Changole in Nairobi at achangole2@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Blaise Robinson at brobinson58@bloomberg.net, John Viljoen, Paul Jarvis

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