Our opinion on the current state of HCI(HCI)

40
Hosken Consolidated Investments (HCI) is a BEE investment holding company owned by the South African Clothing and Textile Workers' Union. HCI has a diverse portfolio that spans across various sectors including gaming, hotels, media, transport, mining, and property. Notably, it owns 47% of a suite of gaming companies including JSE-listed Tsogo Sun, which operates casinos and hotels, as well as Galaxy Bingo and Vukani Gaming, which operates gaming machines. Additionally, HCI owns the JSE-listed E-Media group, which encompasses ENCA, Openview HD, and E-Sat TV.

In the transport sector, HCI holds a 74% stake in Hosken Passenger and Logistics, which owns Golden Arrow Bus Services. It also owns 52% of Niveus Investments and 84% of Deneb, alongside 100% of HCI Coal—a junior coal mining operation with two operational mines. In the property segment, HCI Properties manages a portfolio that includes conference and exhibition properties like the Gallagher Convention Centre. Moreover, HCI owns a 40% stake in a technology company called BSG.

On 26th April 2022, HCI announced that a prospecting company, in which it has an effective 10% share, made a significant light oil discovery, leading to an initial surge in its share price. For the six months ending on 30th September 2023, HCI reported a 6% increase in revenue but a 13% decline in headline earnings per share (HEPS). The company's net asset value (NAV) saw a substantial increase of 21%, reaching 23990c per share. HCI noted, "The Group’s television and radio advertising revenue increased by 1%, while its market share decreased slightly from 36% to 35% during the current period. Casino revenue and net gaming win combined increased by 9%, assisted by strong growth in food and beverage, and rooms revenue. Normalized revenue, adjusted for the prior comparative period receipt of the hotel management agreement cancellation fee of R399 million from Tsogo Sun (TSG), increased by 34% to R2 790 million, following significant increases in rooms (41%) and food and beverage (29%) revenue and rental income (38%)."

In a trading statement for the year ending on 31st March 2024, HCI estimated that HEPS would fall by between 24.1% and 34.1%. The company explained, "Headline earnings per share has been negatively impacted by equity losses of R528 million in respect of Impact Oil and Gas, which included an effective R483 million in equity losses in respect of its investment in Africa Energy Corp."

HCI's investment portfolio is diverse and somewhat unfocused, currently trading on a P/E of 9.34. We previously suggested that this share was cheap at R80 in February 2022, and it has since risen to R178 and may climb further.

Disclaimer

The information and publications are not meant to be, and do not constitute, financial, investment, trading, or other types of advice or recommendations supplied or endorsed by TradingView. Read more in the Terms of Use.