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Dialight's bright future

RESULTS: Dialight has produced another record-breaking set of full-year results, but increased competition is starting to take the shine off a few key business segments
February 25, 2013

These impressive full-year results from Dialight (DIA) demonstrate just how successful the specialist LED light maker has been at growing sales, profits and margins by providing industrial consumers with more energy-efficient and durable lighting.

IC TIP: Hold at 1195p

But a closer look at the different business divisions reveals this wide disparity in growth rates. While group-wide revenues rose 12 per cent last year, Dialight saw sales flatline or decline in three out of its four principal markets for lights, including traffic signals, obstruction signals and components divisions. Worse, 2013 isn't expected to get better for those segments. However, weakness here is not a problem as along as Dialight's key industrial lighting division continues to make up for faltering markets elsewhere.

Dialight first entered the hazardous and industrial light market in 2009 and the barriers to entry are relatively limited, but given these applications offer energy costs savings of more than 50 per cent to customers, and guarantee uninterrupted lighting for upto 10 years, robust demand here is unlikely to dim for many years yet. In fact, last year revenues in industrial lighting surged 72 per cent to £45.6m and operating profits more than quadrupled to £8.6m.

Broker Peel Hunt forecasts adjusted EPS of 52.3p in 2013 (from 41.2p in 2012), rising to 63.6p in 2014.

DIALIGHT (DIA)

ORD PRICE:1,195pMARKET VALUE:£385m
TOUCH:1193-1197p12-MONTH HIGH:1,249pLOW: 831p
DIVIDEND YIELD:1.1%PE RATIO:28
NET ASSET VALUE:196p*NET CASH:£15.0m

Year to 31 DecTurnover (£m)Pre-tax profit (£m)Earnings per share (p)Dividend per share (p)
2008785.611.26.0
2009775.317.56.6
20109911.323.88.0
201110314.830.310.0
201211519.842.013.5
% change+12+34+39+35

Ex-div: 10 Apr

Payment: 08 May

*Includes intangible assets of £18.2m, or 57p a share