Saga shares crashed on Thursday! Here’s what you need to know

Saga shares have been under pressure for a while. Anna Sokolidou tries to find out if they are worth buying.

| More on:

The content of this article was relevant at the time of publishing. Circumstances change continuously and caution should therefore be exercised when relying upon any content contained within this article.

When investing, your capital is at risk. The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you put in.

Read More

The content of this article is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, any form of personal advice. Investments in a currency other than sterling are exposed to currency exchange risk. Currency exchange rates are constantly changing, which may affect the value of the investment in sterling terms. You could lose money in sterling even if the stock price rises in the currency of origin. Stocks listed on overseas exchanges may be subject to additional dealing and exchange rate charges, and may have other tax implications, and may not provide the same, or any, regulatory protection as in the UK.

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More.

On 10 September Saga (LSE:SAGA) reported its earnings. As a result the shares crashed about 10%. Are they now a bargain or a value trap?

What’s happened?

The insurance company reported an underlying profit before tax of £15.9m for its first half on Thursday, down 69.9% year on year. That sounds horrible but the results were in line with expectations.

My colleague Alan wrote a wonderful article about Saga’s results. Obviously, the company’s earnings declined significantly, while its debt level soared. So, the whole situation looks worrying. But I also agree with the management’s optimism about raising £150m in new equity. It surely improves the company’s cash position, which is experiencing big challenges right now. At the same time, I’d say it’s also a blow for the existing shareholders. Why? Well, as of the time of writing, the company’s market cap is £179.52m. It’s just slightly above the new equity issued. This means Saga shares will plunge in value straight after the new issue because of the dilution effect. Not good. But, unfortunately, the company has little or no choice.  

Why is that? Well, that’s because Saga has been hit really hard by the Covid-19 crisis. The insurance (motors and homes) divisions held up relatively well at the time. But Saga also has a strong focus on the travel sector, which isn’t generating positive cash inflows right now. What’s more, management estimates that the cash ‘burn’ for the travel business will be about £6m to £8m per month in the second half of this year. But management also admits the business can only recommence cruises in April 2021. Looks like the cash ‘burn’ will continue in the first half of next year. Not very inspiring! But due to the equity raise, the company still has a cash pile to survive this time period and beyond. 

Are Saga shares worth buying?

Saga’s credit rating is B1, junk. Moody’s considers the company to be well-diversified. What’s more, according to the agency, Saga enjoys consumer brand loyalty. But the debt level is high and will stay so due to the travel division. Although the company has always enjoyed high profit margins, they won’t be high again until the coronavirus crisis is over.  

At the same time, I am sure ‘this too shall pass‘. The pandemic will end. But the question of timing is crucial here.

A £100m investment by Sir Roger De Haan makes me feel more optimistic. He is the former chair of the company, so the move is quite symbolic. As an insider he should know how likely or unlikely the company is to survive. If he bought such a large stake, then he must be certain the company will overcome the current crisis. 

It’s important to realise that Saga is a small-cap company. What’s more, it is operating in a sector that has to go through a challenging period. But if you are a contrarian investor, you might like to follow Sir Roger and buy Saga shares. If the pandemic ends soon, you will get really good returns. But The Motley Fool offers lots of exclusive catalogues where you can find even better investment ideas.  

Should you invest, the value of your investment may rise or fall and your capital is at risk. Before investing, your individual circumstances should be assessed. Consider taking independent financial advice.

Anna Sokolidou has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

More on Investing Articles

Investing Articles

Here’s the best-performing FTSE 100 stock of the last 10 years

Private equity firm 3i has outperformed the rest of the FTSE 100 over the last 10 years. And its big…

Read more »

Fans of Warren Buffett taking his photo
Investing Articles

Here’s why Warren Buffett is selling shares (and why I’m not)

Warren Buffett cited tax considerations as his reason for selling shares in Apple. But this isn’t something most UK investors…

Read more »

Investing Articles

What on earth is going on with the AstraZeneca share price?

The AstraZeneca share price has fallen 30% from its peak in August. Dr James Fox explains what’s going on with…

Read more »

Investing Articles

2 high-yield FTSE 100 shares I’d consider buying for passive income…and one I’d avoid

Some FTSE 100 stocks have eye-popping dividend yields. But will the passive income actually be dished out? Paul Summers takes…

Read more »

Smart young brown businesswoman working from home on a laptop
Investing Articles

These 2 former stock market darlings are trying my patience! Time to sell?

Harvey Jones thought he was getting a bargain when he snapped up these too much-loved FTSE 100 dividend growth stocks.…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Here’s how I’d use £3,000 to target a second income that grows each year

Our writer explains the approach he'd take to trying to build a second income that gets bigger over time, by…

Read more »

Elevated view over city of London skyline
Investing Articles

Is it time to buy this incredible FTSE dividend share?

Christopher Ruane examines one FTSE 100 share with a phenomenal dividend history. Does a steep share price fall this year…

Read more »

Concept of two young professional men looking at a screen in a technological data centre
Investing Articles

This FTSE 100 share has just crashed another 20%. Its P/E is now just 9.9 so should I buy?

Harvey Jones was tempted to buy this FTSE 100 share after it crashed in October. Now it's crashed again, it…

Read more »