In this week’s Equities Spotlight, we shine the torch on well-known online employment business SEEK Limited.The Business
Seek (SEK) is Australia’s number one job advertising website, controlling almost 60% of the Australian and New Zeland online job-seeking market. Founded in Melbourne in 1997, Seek now employs around 400 people and has commercial stakes in the online job markets of China, South East Asia, Brazil, Mexico, New Zealand and the UK.
Seek’s dominance in the Australian online job market is substantial, with a February 2010 study showing it had 126% more unique visitors to its website than the next competitor. According to Seek, the total time spent on its websites is more than 7 times its nearest competitor – an enviable statistic.
Seek has two non-employment segments: Seek Commercial and Seek Learning. The Commercial segment allows users to browse for businesses and franchises for sale. The Learning segment markets, sells and distributes (predominately via online channels) vocational training and education training courses in Australia. Complimenting the Learning division is Think Group – a Seek-owned collection of Australian colleges providing vocational training and higher education courses.
In terms of global ventures, Seek has interests in the following online job advertising companies:
- Zhaopin Ltd (China, 56.1% ownership but no controlling interest, first purchases in 2007)
- Jobstreet Corporation Berhad (Malaysia, 22.4% ownership, first purchases in 2008)
- Brasil Online Holdings (Brazil, 30% ownership, purchased in 2009)
- Online Career Centre (Mexico, 40% interest, purchased in 2011)
- JobsDB Inc (S.E. Asian online employment websites, 40% ownership by Seek Asia Ltd JV, purchased in 2011)
The Financials
Seek’s return on equity (ROE) ranged between 50% and 70% leading up to 2008 – an impressive result, albeit an expected one for an online business that held relatively few physical assets. Since 2009, ROE has dropped to around 30%. This is due to a large capital raising in 2009, undertaken during the depths of the GFC in order to purchase the remaining 50% stake of Think Group as well as pay down debt. The days of +50% ROE appear to be behind Seek as it matures and grows its asset base through acquisitions and development of its Learning segment.
Earnings took a big hit in FY09 with NPAT dropping from $76m to $55m. This was due to a 10% drop in employment advertising revenues during the GFC. However, NPAT in FY10 bounced back to $90m and is forecasted to hit $110m for FY11.
Once a debt-free company, Seek now has $0.68 borrowings per share. Debt more than doubled in FY11 to pay for the Seek Asia Ltd JV and a stake in Online Career Centre (Mexico). Despite this increase, debt is still relatively modest and can be covered by just over 2 years worth of NPAT.
Equity per share has continually increased from $0.20 in 2005 to $1.25 in 2011 (forecasted). Earnings per share have increased from $0.08 to $0.33 over the same time frame, with the only decrease occurring during the GFC in 2009.
Management
Seek’s joint CEOs Paul and Andrew Bassat were both cofounders of the company and together own just over 5% of issued capital. They have steered Seek from a start-up online jobs business to a segment-dominating giant that is expanding its reach into foreign markets. Three of the four remaining directors have been with SEK for 6 years or more and have experience in education or the human resources industry. Of the six members, only two hold directorships outside of Seek – something we consider a positive as it encourages focus on Seek’s business.
Board remuneration is mostly salary-based, with only the joint CEOs taking large share-based payments as part of their salary. This is not unexpected given the CEOs are also founders of Seek. Key management personnel have a mix of salary and cash bonus, with the cash typically making up less than one third of total remuneration. Interestingly, Seek will adopt a policy as of 1 July 2011 that requires all non-executive directors to acquire (over time) the equivalent of one year’s full pay in SEK shares. Presumably this is to encourage alignment of interests between Seek and all board members.
Overall, Seek’s remuneration policies seem equitable and not overly-generous to upper management.
Opportunities
- Seek is extremely dominant in the Australian and NZ markets, where approximately 84% of revenue is earned
- Seek’s non-employment segments area natural compliment to its core business of job advertising
- Expansions into emerging markets provide plenty of opportunity for growth given the near-saturation of its home market
Risks
- Web-based businesses have low barriers to entry, although this is somewhat mitigated in the Australian market by Seek’s large market footprint
- Seek’s revenues are inexorably tied to the Australian economy, meaning unemployment increases will result in lower revenues
- The latest half-year update mentioned “challenges” in the Learning segment and Think Group division – this will need to be watched closely as more details emerge, particularly the impact of the high AUD on the 2,000 foreign students serviced by Think Group
- Future overseas expansions/acquisitions will increase foreign exchange risk
Summary
Seek is an excellent Australian business that is dominating its home market and is now looking to expand into high-growth markets overseas. ROE has dropped in recent years to a very respectable 30% as the business matures and its home markets are saturated. Management have shown a knack for purchasing complimentary businesses that either add to Seek’s service profile or increase its geographic revenue base.
Debt has increased in recent years to fund further acquisitions, however leverage is not excessive and the purchased businesses appear to be performing well. However, recent troubles with the foreign student industry in Australia and the high AUD may impact future earnings in the Learning segment.
Seek has excellent ROE and an enviable financial position, but due to the low barriers to entry in online advertising we consider Seek a Very Good company. Should its market presence reach monopoly status in Australia, then it would be a serious contender for the “Wonderful” rating.
Valuation
Using an equity per share base of $1.25, an average normalised ROE of 35% over the next 5 years and an average reinvestment ratio of 38%, Empire values Seek at $7.70.
Using a 20% discount to value, our maximum buy price for Seek is $6.40.
Disclosure: The author is a Director of a private investment company (Empire Investing Pty Ltd), which has no current interest in the business mentioned in this article. The article is not to be taken as investment advice and the views expressed are opinions only. Readers should seek advice from someone who claims to be qualified before considering allocating capital in any investment.