Our opinion on the current state of LEWIS(LEW)Lewis (LEW) is a retailer specializing in furniture and electrical appliances, operating through 840 stores under the Lewis (498 stores), Beares (150 stores), Best Home (170 stores), Bedzone (12 stores), and United Furniture Outlets (39 stores) brands. Of these, 138 stores are located in neighboring countries. The company conducts 59.9% of its business on credit, offering customers credit insurance and other financial products. It plans to expand the number of UFO stores from 39 to 70 in the coming years.
At its current levels, Lewis is trading at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of just 7.95, with a share price significantly below its net asset value (NAV). Remarkably, the company remains debt-free, a rarity among listed retailers in the post-COVID-19 period. Lewis is currently executing a share buy-back program, aiming to repurchase 10% of its issued share capital. So far, it has bought back 29.9 million shares at an average price of R34.20 per share.
We have consistently noted that Lewis represents a bargain investment opportunity. It is poised to benefit directly from any increase in consumer spending. The company is tightly managed, operates a vast store footprint, and has grown both organically and through acquisitions. While its position as a furniture and white goods retailer makes it vulnerable to economic downturns, the current valuation makes it an attractive buy. Among South African retailers, Lewis stands out as one of the few performing well under challenging economic conditions.
In its results for the six months to 30th September 2024, Lewis reported revenue growth of 13.6% and a 49.1% increase in headline earnings per share (HEPS). The company highlighted, "The strong credit sales growth trend continued, with credit sales increasing by 16.9% and cash sales declining by 6.7%. Credit sales accounted for 69.4% of total merchandise sales (H1 2024: 64.4%)."
In a trading update for the nine months to 31st December 2024, the company reported total revenue up 13.6%, with credit sales increasing by 13.1% and cash sales rising by 14.4% in the final quarter. Black Friday sales were notably strong, reflecting robust consumer spending at the close of 2024.
This share remains one of the best-managed businesses on the JSE. The company believes its valuation on the JSE is underestimated by 30%, which we consider a conservative estimate. Lewis was added to the Winning Shares List (WSL) on 1st December 2023 at a price of 4150c and is now trading 86.9% higher at 7756c. Technically, the share is in a strong upward trend and continues to present a compelling investment opportunity for private investors seeking well-managed, undervalued stocks with solid growth potential.