Stock price when the opinion was issued
A real turnaround story. They are making a transition to digital and have brought about 50% of their business over. Did a great job in stabilizing the business, and now are really working on trying to increase the business. They have a “return to growth” plan to make their revenue, earnings and cash flow growth by 2018, and they seem to be on track.
This has evolved from a Yellow Pages directory into a media company. 62% of their revenues come from their media assets. They are repaying their debt very aggressively and improving their capital structure. They’ve done this in France, and are now doing it in Canada. Trading at very attractive EBITDA multiples.
(A Top Pick Nov 22/18, Up 12%)Convertible 8% 2022 bonds He owned the Yellow senior bonds, but then moved into these convertibles. Most of their revenues are in digital, but that has struggled. New management has cut costs a lot until free cash flow now stands around $100 million this year. Their EBITDA margins are now 40% which nobody expected. With that cash, they are paying down a lot of debt.
This is one of those stocks that nobody wanted to hear about. It has now bounced back because they do have pretty prodigious cash flows. The problem is, can they take that dwindling stream of cash and reinvest in something that is more sustainable. The directory business is not sustainable. If you own and have done well, ask yourself if you think they can turn things around by taking the cash, invested in new businesses and new lines of digital income and keep the value.