Online money transfer company, Optimal Payments (LSE: OPAY) reported an impressive set of first-half results today, sending the company’s shares up by as much as 7% in early trade.
The company reported a 78% jump in pre-tax profit for the period, with pre-tax profit rising to $27.5m for the six months ended 30th June, compared to $15.5m a year earlier. Revenue jumped 34% to $159m.
These impressive results were driven by the success of the company’s high-margin Neteller e-wallet business. Management now expects Optimal’s full-year results to beat expectations.
Cash generation
Today’s results really highlight Optimal’s potential. The company has built itself up to become a well-respected international payments processor over the past few years and today’s results reflect that.
One of Optimal’s most attractive qualities is its profit margins. Indeed, for the six months to 30th June, Optimal reported a gross profit margin of 55%, up from 53% as reported during the first half of 2013.
As a result, Optimal is a highly cash-generative business. The company’s cash conversion ratio, the proportion of profits that are converted to cash flow, sits above 100%. What’s more, Optimal’s capital spending requirements are low, which allowed the company to report a strong free cash flow of $29m for the first half of this year.
Growth through acquisitions
Optimal’s impressive free cash flow has given the company the ability to grow through acquisitions without having to build up large amounts of debt. For example, to boost growth Optimal acquired US online payment processing companies Meritus and GMA for $225m during July.
Part of this acquisition ($150m) was funded with debt, the rest with cash, although even after this deal, Optimal still has a sizable cash balance. Further, with a free cash flow of around $30m every six months, the group should be able to pay off the above debt within a few years.
A reasonable price
Optimal is growing rapidly and for this reason, investors are prepared to pay a premium for the company’s shares. Indeed, at present levels Optimal trades at a forward P/E of 24.2, although with management expecting to beat forecasts for this year, I wouldn’t be surprised if City forecasts are adjusted later this week.
Nevertheless, even without the City adjusting forecasts higher, Optimal is expecting to report earnings per share growth of 44% this year, followed by growth of 26% next year. With growth surging, Optimal is trading at a PEG ratio of 0.6 for 2014, indicating that the shares offer growth at a reasonable price.
Still, Optimal’s lofty valuation may put some investors off, even after considering the company’s rapid growth rate. That’s not a problem, every investor has their own way of doing things and there are plenty of other opportunities out there.
You see, the key when searching for potential, undervalued multi-baggers is to look under radar. You want to get on board while the company is still an unknown quantity, that way you won’t need to pay a premium in order to benefit from the company’s growth.
