Expectations of 2Q21 core earnings growth and a YoY bottom-line turnaround for 2021 should prompt the market to bid up TOP’s stock price going forward. Its current valuation is undemanding—a YE21 PBV of 1.0x (1SD below its long-term mean of 1.5x). Our BUY rating stands.
Above estimate
TOP reported a 1Q21 net profit of Bt3,360m, a YoY turnaround but down 54% QoQ. Stripping out extra items, the core profit would be Bt1,553m, a YoY and QoQ turnaround. NPAT was 19% above our estimate (and 30% ahead of the consensus), due to lower SG&A expenses and financial costs than modeled.