Yesterday, we initiated coverage on ELABS with a Buy rec. and NOK350 target price. The speakers on a device, transmits an ultrasound wave out and onto a person in front of the device. The microphone on the device receives the echo from the person/surrounding. With this info, ELABS AI-based software-sensors translates the ultrasound into experiences (proximity, gesture, presence etc.).
ELABS has been included in +100m Xiaomi smartphones (world 2rd largest smartphone OEM). Value proposition: i) most devices have what is needed to run ELBAS virtual smart sensor (standard off-she-shelf microphone and speaker), ii) it eliminate the need for dedicated optical hardware sensors (no supply chain/component shortage issues) and iii) comes at lower cost per unit vs. hardware (<50%).
Year to date, ELBAS can point to significant operational momentum and contract wins, including; 1) its first proof-of-concept (PoC) agreement for Smart TV with a leading global smart TV manufacturer and ii) first enterprise software license contract with leading Laptop OEM (HP, Intel or Lenovo). Hence, in 2021e, ELABS guide higher revenues vs. 2020 (2020A: 44.7m) and positive EBITDA (2020A: -NOK4.8m). On the back of a highly scalable business model with either volume-based license fee per unit/device, subscription fee or enterprise license fee, ELABS demonstrated 68% EBITDA and 63% EBIT margin in 4Q20. The company further guides NOK500m revenues and 50% EBITDA margin within 3y in a NOK35-40bn total addressable market (incl. smartphone, pc/tablet, smart tv, IoT and automotive).
If, the company reach NOK500m in revenues, our take is that the 50% EBITDA margin is too low, evidenced by i) 4Q20, 2) hardware peers with 50% gross margin and 3) ContextVision on its Medical Imaging segment. T12m cash burn stand at NOK21.6m and equal ~2.7y run-way for (assuming zero operational improvements). Post equity issue, this increases to 9.3y and we argue one of the largest laptop manufactures has required ELABS to strengthen the balance sheet to be a meet requirements as a preferred supplier (like we have seen with NOD). Even though timing and inflection point on laptop is difficult to say exactly, we model with NOK415m in revenues in 2024 and 40% EBIT margin (NOK166m).
We would also like to emphasize the spread in potential outcome on target price. Nevertheless, using 25x EV/EBIT, below 5y median Nordic SaaS peers at around 30x and discount back to today at 10%, we arrive at NOK350 per share, which also is our target price.
That is 25x our 2024 P/E.