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Gain insights on the UK motor retail sector at the ASE & Motor Trader Financial Conference 2013 with expert analysis on economic recovery, market trends, and key factors impacting the industry. Explore reasons for optimism and caution, stock market dynamics, and future outlook.
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ASE & Motor Trader Financial Conference 2013 Mike Allen Executive Director – Panmure Gordon & Co 0151 243 0966 michael.allen@panmure.com
Overview • Introduction • UK economic environment • Reasons to be optimistic about UK Motor Retail • Reasons to remain cautious about UK Motor Retail • A look across the pond in the US • Stock market environment • Concluding thoughts • Q&A
UK Economic Environment Overview • UK economy recovery is underway but will be a long and slow process • Most economic projections suggest UK GDP growth will exceed 2% by 2015 at the earliest... • Austerity measures gathering pace, but likely to ease ahead of next election in 2015 • Unemployment structurally high, wage inflation modest and below inflation • Fuel costs impacting buying behaviour • Consumer confidence remains fragile, buying incentives remain key
Reasons to be optimistic on UK Motor Retail • New car data continues to improve and remains below historic peak levels • Euro Zone markets remain under pressure • Pent up demand building through ageing UK car parc • Used car market remains stable • Consolidation dynamics remain attractive • Valuations remain below peak levels
Clear evidence of pent up demand in UK market UK car parc/average age Source BCA
Reasons to be cautious about UK Motor Retail • UK consumer still faces significant pressures on household income • Fuel price inflation • Structurally high levels of unemployment • On-going squeeze on family income • Fragile confidence • Significant incentives to purchase still needed • Historical trends important – remember the 2% rule • OEM behaviour likely to remain erratic given Eurozone pressures – close eye needs to be kept on dealer targets • Used car values appear to have fallen in March – seasonal adjustment as opposed to real market income • Cyclical industry on wafer thin margins = rocky road at all times
Concluding Thoughts • UK economic recovery will be long and slow • PLC dealer groups expected to make progress in 2013 vs. a decent year that was 2012 – H1 2013 should be good • Dynamic sector with improving performance standards – online presence, stock control, cost base optimisation and consolidation • Stock market valuations undemanding at this stage of the cycle • Beware of fickle stock markets as well as consumers and on-going macro economic concerns • Rocky road always the case in this sector but through the worst • Q&A