Sheng Siong Group Ltd – New stores start to accelerate

• 1H24 revenue and PATMI were within expectations at 49%/50% of our FY24e forecast. Revenue only grew 1.2% YoY in 2Q24. We estimate same-store sales sales contracted in 2Q24 by around 2% points. Gross margins at a new record of 30.9%.
  
• In 1H24, there were two new HDB stores opened. Another three new stores will be opening in 2H24 with three more pending results of the tender. In addition, seven more tenders are expected to be opened in 2H24. Some of the tenders included several competitor supermarkets closing down stores.
  
• We maintain our FY24e forecast and target price of S$1.66.  Our valuations are based on historical PE of 18x. We forecasted a total of eight new stores in FY24e and FY25e. There is upside to our forecast as more tenders open up. Sheng Siong will face slower growth this year due to a lack of new stores of only three over the past twelve months. Gross margins continue rising to new record levels.