With roots back to 1851, Gabriel is today a niche company within the global furniture industry, which throughout the value chain, from idea to furniture user, develops, manufactures and sells furniture fabrics, components, upholstered surfaces and related products and services, through its business areas Fabrics, FurnMaster, SampleMaster and Screen Solutions. Gabriel sells B2B, and is growing with the largest market participants, working closely with leading international manufacturers and major users of upholstered furniture, seats and upholstered surfaces.
Gabriel delivered better-than-expected Q2 2024/25 results, with growth in continuing operations accelerating to 10.5% y/y, slightly above the top-end of the guidance range. Margins also developed positively, with continuing operations EBIT of MDKK 20.9 H1’24/25, at the lower-end of guidance. Revenue from discontinuing operations declined as unprofitable contracts were terminated, but with a positive EBITDA in Q2’24/25 and growth in Europe. Despite the stronger Q2’24/25 results, risks remain elevated, as we await the conclusions from the forensic investigation into Mexican subsidiary’s accounts, updates from the ongoing carve-out process, and heightened tariff-related uncertainty. The lack of a guidance upgrade also suggests a weaker H2’24/25 is projected, and while the larger European activities should be relatively insulated from tariffs, economic growth risks are elevated. While the Q2’24/25 results support our long-term view that Gabriel is well-positioned to benefit from a broader market rebound given its operating leverage and outperformance in weak markets, we see significant hurdles to overcome in order to de-risk the case. We therefore reiterate our “Reduce” recommendation with a revised price target of DKK 150 per share, raised from DKK 130 previously.
The sweeping tariffs announced by President Donald Trump on 02 April 2025 are reshaping global trade, introducing uncertainty, and with trade barriers likely to drive a negative global growth shock. While tariff negotiations are ongoing and subject to significant change in both directions, Gabriel’s production, particularly in Mexico, could be directly affected, with indirect impacts likely to drive a weaker outlook in H2’2024/25 and into 2025/26. The European market, also the largest market, may be somewhat more insulated against tariff impacts, however, we expect the indirect effects, such as higher lending/mortgage rates, can delay the rebound in the real estate and furniture fabrics market conditions, resulting in greater short-term challenges. The increased macro and policy uncertainty may also present an obstacle in the ongoing carve-out process of FurnMaster, a key driver of near-term uncertainty. Despite the long-term outlook remaining solid, with operating leverage to benefit from an eventual market rebound, the tariff-driven uncertainty lead us to reiterate our Reduce recommendation with a revised price target of DKK 130 per share.
Join Inderes community
Don't miss out - create an account and get all the possible benefits
Inderes account
Followings and notifications on followed companies
Gabriel’s Q1’24-25 results reflected relative stability during a moment of heightened uncertainty. A stable revenue of MDKK 228.1 (MDKK 227.7 Q1’23-24) was slightly below our expectations of +1% growth y/y as positive development in continuing operations was offset by a decline in FurnMaster driven by the restructuring of its Mexican subsidiary. Q1 was the first step towards greater stability, however, uncertainty relating to the carve-out process of FurnMaster remains high, and the range of outcomes is broader than normal. Group EBIT of MDKK 0.3 in Q1’24-25 was below our estimate of MDKK 4.6, impacted by elevated costs relating to restructuring, accounts verification, and carve-out advisory fees. The Q1 results support our view of long-term potential in the company, however, also reinforce our view of greater short-term risk due to the FurnMaster carve-out process. We reiterate our Reduce recommendation with a slightly revised price target of DKK 180 per share from DKK 195 previously.
We estimate a small positive topline growth year-on-year in Q1’24-25 as the stable to slightly improving market backdrop with lower interest rates and inflation, can support a slight positive development in the group despite challenges.
Gabriel delivered its annual report FY’2023/24 following a delay to the report in November due to accounting irregularities in a Mexican subsidiary of the discontinuing FurnMaster business unit. Despite topline growth of 6.4% y/y and EBIT margin improvement in the continuing operations, ongoing challenging market conditions and short-term uncertainty relating to the discontinuing operations and carve-out process lead to near-term elevated risk in the case. See HCA’s analyst Philip Coombes’ thoughts on the results.
Report: https://www.inderes.dk/research/gabriel-holding-fy202324-waiting-for-the-carve-out-to-unlock-value
Disclaimer: HC Andersen Capital receives payment from Gabriel for a Digital IR agreement and research services. / Philip Coombes 14:35, 13/01/2025.
Following a delay in the publication of its 2023/24 annual report due to financial reporting challenges at its Mexican subsidiary, Gabriel’s FY’2023/24 results have been published. Group revenue was MDKK 912, within the guidance range of MDKK 880-930 and slightly below our estimate of DKKM 915. Operating profit (EBIT) was MDKK 10.9, also within the guidance range of DKK 8-15m and slightly below our estimate of DKK 12m. Despite solid topline growth in the continuing operations of 6.4% y/y, ongoing challenging market conditions and short-term uncertainty relating to the sale of its FurnMaster unit, lead us to reiterate our Reduce recommendation with a lower target price of DKK 195 (prev. DKK 225) per share following the restated numbers and updated FY’2024/25 estimates. Long-term potential remains, particularly as markets normalize, and as the carve-out of the FurnMaster business returns Gabriel’s focus back to its continued operations with a stronger balance sheet.
On Thursday, Gabriel announced that it is postponing its FY’23/24 financial reporting from 20 November 2024 to a date in 2025 (TBC by 8 January 2025 at the latest) due to financial reporting challenges in the Group’s Mexican subsidiary, including a key employee resignation and uncertainty surrounding the subsidiary’s inventories. Gabriel’s annual general meeting will be held on 29 January 2025.
Gabriel also maintained its full-year expectations for the 23/24 financial year, against our expectations of an upgrade. The company also announced its new guidance for 24/25 on its ongoing operations, with the management still expecting challenging market conditions. We see a high degree of short-term uncertainty before the FY’23/24 report and more news about the FurnMaster business unit is announced. Based on the news, there is some downward pressure on our previous estimates and valuation, and we will update our estimates, target price, and recommendation for Gabriel in the coming days.
Gabriel Holding (Gabriel) will report its Q3 2023/24 report on Thursday, 29th August. The company has faced challenging markets in recent years as higher interest rates have reduced real estate activity in both commercial and residential sectors. However, in recent quarters, we have seen an improving rate of change in Gabriel’s revenue development - we expect to see this continue.
Gabriel announced this morning that the company is initiating a carve-out of its FurnMaster business area, which holds a strong position in the furniture production market in Europe and the US. Gabriel no longer considers this business area to be within the company's growth strategic definition.
We are pleased to share our extensive research report on Gabriel, a prominent player in the global furniture fabrics industry. Watch our detailed video to gain insights into the current market dynamics, competitive landscape, risks, and valuation of Gabriel.
