There’s no denying the quality of the underlying business of Rotork (LSE: ROR). The FTSE 250 company makes industrial actuators and flow control devices. And it serves sectors such as oil & gas production, water supply, wastewater management, power, chemical, mining, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and others.
I reckon the business is well-placed to thrive as the world builds back from the coronavirus pandemic. And today’s full-year results report demonstrates the business navigated the difficulties of 2020 well.
Why I think Rotork is a UK share to buy now
One of the key indicators, for me, is what the directors did about shareholder dividends. And the news is good. After first postponing payments when the pandemic first hit, they declared today the total payment for the year will go ahead. And it’s 1.6% is higher than the prior year.
Although revenue in 2020 came in down 7.4% and adjusted earnings per share slipped by 3.1%, Rotork has a “highly cash generative business.” There’s a multi-year record of generally rising free cash flow. And the balance sheet looks robust with its modest net cash position.
And I like the firm’s other quality indicators, such as the return on capital and the operating margin, both running just below 20%. However, the company’s attractions have been acknowledged by the market and the shares come with a full-looking price tag.
The stock looks buoyant today on the news of these results. And with the share price near 372p, the forward-looking earnings multiple for 2021 is a little under 30. However, City analysts expect a modest advance in earnings just above 5% for that year.
Chairman Martin Lamb explained in the report the outlook for the company’s end markets is improving. Although there’s still uncertainty regarding the future course of the pandemic, Rotork’s production facilities are operating “largely” as normal. And I reckon the relative strength of today’s figures shows the firm traded well last year through the lockdowns.
A solid order book
Looking ahead, Lamb also said the order book is “solid”. As reasons to be optimistic about the outlook, he pointed to the “considerable flexibility” provided by the strong balance sheet. He thinks the recent reinvestments into the business have strengthened it and placed it well to benefit from recovering demand.
The company’s goal, he said, is to deliver “sustainable” mid-to-high single-digit percentage revenue growth over time. On top of that, the firm is targeting an adjusted operating margin in the “mid-20s”.
I see Rotork as a potential long-term quality investment that I’d aim to hold for at least 10 years. But it’s worth noting the business has endured volatile periods in the past. For example, around 2014/15 earnings and the share price dipped. And the stock has only just risen above a trading range and consolidation of some eight years in duration.
Nevertheless, I’m tempted by the resilience of the underlying business. And I’d aim to buy some shares on dips and down-days to hold for the long-haul. However, I’m not expecting fireworks ahead. And the high valuation could bite me if earnings fail to grow as expected.
