Ingram Micro Inc. (IM) is Cheap…But for a Reason

Ingram Micro Inc. (NYSE:IM) description

Ingram Micro is a wholesale distributor of information technology across the world.  It also provides sales, marketing and logistics services globally.  IM distributes equipment from network, hardware, computer peripherals, point of sale (POS), mobile, and consumer electronics manufacturers.

The company made three acquisitions in 2H12, BrightPoint, Aptec and Promark Technology.  BrightPoint further expands IM’s exposure to mobile technology and accounts for around 95% of the incremental revenue from acquisitions.  The other two bolt-on acquisitions also improve the revenue profile of Ingram Micro.  Aptec expands the geographic footprint in Africa and the Middle East and Promark increases IM’s government exposure.

Improved profile…

IM’s growth outlook has improved over the past six months and shareholders could benefit from the acquisitions and other changes.  First, Paul Bay has taken over as President of North American Operations and is charged with growing the higher margins services business.  While this will take time, it should contribute positively to margins over the coming years.  Second, the acquisitions mentioned above combined are expected to result in at least a 15% increase in sales.  The Brightpoint acquisition is the most influential due to its size and different markets.  It increases exposure to mobile technology and smart phones. This improves top line growth since this end market has an above average growth forecast.  Specifically, exposure to Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) increased from 6% of sales prior to the acquisitions to 11% after.  This is major since Apple sold over 130 million iPhones in 2012.  On top of this Apple is rumored to be launching a lower cost iPhone in 2013, which could put IM technology into the hands of many more users around the world.  Also, margins should improve since Brightpoint is a more profitable business.  There is also an opportunity for cost synergies that would be realized over the next few years.  Synergies can help offset margin pressure from an increasingly competitive environment.

…and IM’s cheaper than competitors…

IM trades at 0.84x book value, up from 0.74x earlier this month, but below the 1.0x multiple of competitors. IM’s TTM P/E is 9.1x, slightly below competitor SYNNEX Corporation (NYSE:SNX), trades at 9.17x, and Tech Data Corp (NASDAQ:TECD), trades at 10.8x earnings.  SYNNEX, Tech Data, and IM all have debt to equity ratios that are quite similar so it is not a discount due to higher debt ratios.  On top of this SYNNEX and Tech Data have negative earnings growth while IM doubled its income in the last year.