Equities | Vietnam | Materials - Chemicals

Duc Giang Chemicals Group (DGC - HSX)

Flashnote

31 March 2025

 

Source: Company, HSC Research estimates

 

Share price performance

Source: Company, FactSet

 

Summary financials and valuation

Year end: Dec
12-23A
12-24F
12-25F
Net sales (VNDbn) 9,748 10,098 13,012
EBITDA adj. (VNDbn) 3,204 3,301 3,833
Pre-tax profit (VNDbn) 3,485 3,409 4,053
Net profit adj. (VNDbn) 2,770 2,852 3,334
FCF (VNDbn) 2,533 1,835 2,249
EPS adj. (VND) 7,294 7,511 8,778
DPS (VND) 3,000 3,000 3,000
BVPS (VND) 30,826 35,288 41,039
EBITDA adj. growth (%) (49.0) 3.05 16.1
EPS growth adj. (%) (44.3) (3.42) 16.8
DPS growth (%) (25.0) 0 0
EBITDA adj. margin (%) 32.9 32.7 29.5
Pre-tax margin (%) 35.8 33.8 31.2
Net margin adj. (%) 31.8 29.6 26.9
Div. payout ratio (%) 36.8 38.1 32.6
Net debt/equity (%) 2.81 4.82 5.27
ROAE (%) 28.0 23.8 24.1
Return on avg. CE (%) 24.8 21.4 21.9
EV/sales (x) 4.04 3.93 3.07
EV/EBITDA adj. (x) 12.3 12.0 10.4
P/E adj. (x) 14.1 13.7 11.7
P/B (x) 3.34 2.92 2.51
Dividend yield (%) 2.92 2.92 2.92

Source: Bloomberg, HSC Research estimates

 

Company description

DGC is Vietnam's premier producer and exporter of phosphate-based products, including yellow phosphorus, phosphoric acid, fertilizers, and feed additives. DGC is expanding its portfolio into basic chlorine-alkali chemicals, besides its long-established products such as detergents.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Event: AGM was successfully held today

This morning, DGC successfully held its AGM. Shareholders approved all proposals including the FY25 target, investment plans and dividend policy. DGC also announced its prelim. results for 1Q25. Details are as follows:

A cautious FY25 target is set

Shareholders approved a seemingly conservative target for FY25, projecting total sales of VND10.4tn, up 5.2% y/y, while net profit after tax (NPAT) is set to decrease by 3.5% to VND3tn.

In our view, this target is conservative as DGC's management appears to assume that top line growth will be driven primarily by increases in ASP, rather than sales volume growth. This assumption is likely based on the anticipated shortage of apatite ore, a key input material.

Therefore, the FY25 business guidance is 20%/14% below our net sales/net profit forecasts of VND13tn (up 32% y/y) and VND3.5tn (+13% y/y) respectively. The main difference between DGC’s target and our forecasts is the sales volume assumptions (Figure 2).

During the AGM, DGC management also announced its solid prelim. 1Q25 results, calling for NPAT of VND800bn, up 13.7% y/y and 1.6% q/q on net sales of VND2.7tn (up 13.2% y/y and 11.7% q/q respectively). With these results, DGC completed 21%/23% of our FY25 sales and profit forecasts respectively.

Key focus this year

Phase 1’s Duc Giang Nghi Son with capex of VND1.2tn. As a reminder, this project construction was kicked off on 17 Feb. Capacity of Phase 1 would be around 151,000 tonnes/annum, including 50,000 tpa of caustic soda. The construction period from 1Q25 to 1Q26, and commercial operations would come from 2Q26. During the ceremony, DGC and PVChem also signed the strategic partnership agreement in cooperation for this project. Accordingly, PVChem would consume 40% of this project output while the rest would be sold to other manufacturers such as Formosa.

Further investments: Dak Nong Ethanol project at VND50bn, upgrade and expansion plan for Tia Sang Battery – TSB (Non-rated) with VND40bn, license extension for Mining No.25 and getting investment approval on Duc Giang's real estate project, etc.

(Continued on page 2)

 

 

Figure 1: 1Q25 prelim. results, DGC

A solid growth in both the top and bottom line, on improved demand and ASPs

VNDbn

1Q25

Growth y/y

Growth q/q

FY25F

Growth y/y

% completed FY25 HSCF

Sales

2,700

13.2%

11.7%

13,012

31.8%

20.8%

NPAT

800

13.7%

1.6%

3,498

12.6%

22.9%

Source: DGC, HSC Research

 

DGC is seeking a five-year extension for its apatite ore exploration license at Mining No. 25/19, which is expected to have approval in 2H25. Currently, internal ore meets 80-85% of demand, with the rest sourced externally, including Egyptian imports with competitive prices. However, Egyptian apatite's quality is more appropriate for fertilizers, not P4. Therefore, extending the exploration license is crucial for DGC's long-term access to suitable ore. Additionally, DGC aims to participate in auctions for other mining areas, like No. 23/22/20.

The company is also actively pursuing the development of its Bauxite mine in Dak Nong province, which is currently receiving robust support from the provincial authorities, although certain procedural requirements remain to be fulfilled prior to final approval. Regarding the real estate project, DGC management has set targets of VND5tn in revenue and VND1tn in net profit upon project completion. We haven’t incorporated the Bauxite and Real estate projects into our earnings model, leaving a potential upside to our earnings forecasts in the long run.

Maintain Buy, TP and estimates

DGC management indicated that they foresee no significant increase in export tariffs beyond the existing 5% on P4 products from Vietnam in the coming time. They are also aware of potential US tariffs on global and Vietnamese goods to be announced on 2 April, which could impact DGC. However, their minimal US market exposure mitigates direct risk.

At the AGM, shareholders also approved the FY25 dividend policy at 30% of par, either in stock or cash. At this stage, we assume FY25 dividend would be paid in cash at VND3,000/share, implying a 3% dividend yield.

We maintain our FY25 earnings forecast at this stage, calling for 13% y/y growth in net profit to VND3.5tn on net sales of VND13tn, up 32% y/y. DGC is trading on 1-yr rolling fwd P/E of 11.3x, vs. its 4Y of 9.0x. Meanwhile, compared to regional peers, DGC is trading on FY25 P/E of 11.7x, discount vs. a median of 14.0x. We maintain our Buy rating on DGC with an unchanged TP of VND133,000 (upside 29%).

 

 

Figure 2: Key assumptions on volume, DGC

DGC sets a cautious target for FY25

Sales volume (tonnes)

FY24

FY25 Target

Growth y/y

FY25 HSCF

% difference

Growth y/y

P4

44,654

46,000

3%

48,000

-4.2%

7%

TPA (H3PO4 85%)

59,134

50,000

-15%

62,091

-19.5%

5%

WPA 50%

24,619

0

-100%

20,879

-100.0%

-15%

MAP

82,859

83,000

0%

87,002

-4.6%

5%

DAP

43,837

44,000

0%

46,029

-4.4%

5%

Superphosphates

156,589

155,000

-1%

164,418

-5.7%

5%

DCP

84,338

84,000

0%

88,555

-5.1%

5%

MCP

4,204

4,000

-5%

4,414

-9.4%

5%

Source: DGC, HSC Research

 

 

Figure 3: FY25 guidance vs. forecast, DGC

We expect DGC would surpass their target this year

VNDbn

FY24

FY25 Target

Growth y/y

FY25 HSCF

% difference

Growth y/y

Total sales

9,871

10,385

5.2%

13,020

-20.2%

31.9%

Profit after tax

3,107

3,000

-3.5%

3,498

-14.2%

12.6%

Cash dividend (VND/share)

3,000

30% at either cash or stock

 

3,000

 

 

Source: DGC, HSC Research

Financial statements and key data

Note: *Excluding short-term investments.

Source: Company, HSC Research estimates

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Explanation of Institutional Equity Research Ratings

 

Buy: Expected to rise by more than 20% on an absolute basis in the next 12 months

Add: Expected to rise by between 5% and 20% on an absolute basis in the next 12 months

Hold: Expected to rise or decline by less than 5% on an absolute basis in the next 12 months

Reduce: Expected to decline by between 5% and 20% on an absolute basis in the next 12 months

Sell: Expected to decline by more than 20% on an absolute basis in the next 12 months

 

 

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