DBS Group Research analyst Ling Lee Keng is keeping “buy” Nanofilm Technologies even if she sees the end market demand for electronic devices to be dampened in the near term.

“Nanofilm was affected by the supply chain disruptions last year while demand was strong. With the worst in supply chain disruptions likely behind us, the group is expected to rebound strongly,” she writes in her June 29 report.

However, the analyst adds that she has lowered her target price estimate on the counter to $3.70 from $4.12 due to the recent weakness in the end market demand.

“We have switched the valuation methodology from a P/E growth (PEG) basis to a P/E basis, to be in line with other technology stocks in our coverage,” she says.

“Our new target price of $3.70 is pegged to 32x P/E on [Nanofilm’s] FY2022 earnings. This level is -0.5 standard deviation from the average since listing and also coincides with the P/E upon listing in October 2020,” she adds.

See also: <a class='gtm_see_also_1_inread' style='text-decoration: underline;' href='/capital/brokers-calls/analysts-raise-target-prices-venture-corp-following-1hfy2022-earnings-beat?utm_source=website&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=ONPAGESEO'>Analysts raise target prices for Venture Corp following 1HFY2022 earnings beat</a>

Ling has also lowered her earnings projections for the FY2022 and FY2023 by 5% each.

Despite the cut in earnings estimates, Ling sees Nanofilm’s earnings growth of 22% and 17% for the FY2022 and FY2023 respectively as “still decent”. The current estimate is down from the previous growth estimate of 29% and 17% for FY2022 and FY2023 respectively.

“With investments made in the new Shanghai Plant 2, which is about double the size of Plant 1, and additional equipment to significantly boost the group’s long-term production capacity, Nanofilm is well-positioned for growth,” Ling says.

“Growth is supported by a strong balance sheet with net cash of $146 million as at end-December 2021 and the new Shanghai Plant 2, which still has ample room for expansion,” she adds.

See also: <a class='gtm_see_also_2_inread' style='text-decoration: underline;' href='/capital/brokers-calls/analysts-mixed-starhub-after-1h-results-all-maintain-hold-calls?utm_source=website&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=ONPAGESEO'>Analysts mixed on Starhub after 1H results, but all maintain 'hold' calls</a>

To this end, the analyst remains “optimistic” that the group is “well-positioned for growth” with the multiple growth engines in place.

To Ling, Nanofilm’s ability to “establish, maintain, and protect its proprietary intellectual property rights” is a key risk.

The resurgence of the Covid-19 pandemic, which may further aggravate the supply chain, is another such risk.

As at 4.06pm, shares in Nanofilm are trading 1 cent lower or 0.42% down at $2.38.

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