This article is authored by MOI Global instructor John Barr, portfolio manager at Needham Funds, based in New York.
John is a featured instructor at Best Ideas 2021.
At Best Ideas 2020, I presented the investment case for a portfolio holding in the Needham Funds, KVH Industries, Inc. (KVHI). KVH made strategic progress in 2020, but results suffered in non-strategic areas and the stock’s performance was flat. I believe that KVH again represents good value and I herewith provide an update for MOI Global 2021.
The Needham Funds’ mission is to create wealth for long-term investors. Through December 18, 2020, the Needham Aggressive Growth Fund returned 51.98% for the institutional class (NEAIX) and 51.05% for the retail class (NEAGX) compared to 18.07% for the Russell 2000 Growth Index.
I believe that the market inefficiently values the prospects of some companies beyond a 1-2-year time frame. A new product or distribution strategy may have a significant impact on a small company and it may require patience for the desired results to show in a company’s financials. I call these companies “Hidden Compounders.”
There are three parts to my investment process:
1) Finding Hidden Compounders.
2) Holding the Hidden Compounders through their transition to Quality Compounders.
3) Holding Quality Compounders. As Quality Compounders, these companies exhibit quality factors such as above-average return-on-capital and profitability. As these factors are recognized by the market, the companies tend to re-rate at higher multiples. Often, the hardest part of investing is having the patience to hold on. With a trailing 12-month turnover of 12%, the Fund’s average holding period is 8 years. We hold until something fundamental has changed with our view of the business.
Investment Criteria
I look to make investments in companies with great management teams, which to me, includes founders, family, or long-tenured managers. I also look for high return-on-capital, or the potential for a high return, and the opportunity for the company to grow 5-10 times larger.
I look for companies available at an attractive valuation that may be in an investment stage, operating near break-even, and below potential operating margin. The company’s investments may be in operating expenses or capital equipment to open a new office, expand capacity or bring a new product to market. When I purchase a new investment, I believe that financial results could come as soon as 6-12 months. However, investment periods may last longer than expected while the companies are making progress.
KVH Industries, Inc. (KVHI)
KVH strives to improve the life of the seafarer and improve vessel operations. KVH’s Connectivity-as-a-Service Agile Plans connects seafarers to their families and lives on shore. The new KVH Watch IoT offering enables remote monitoring and maintenance for the many critical and complex systems on ships. KVH also supplies assured navigation products for military and commercial customers on land and sea. Military vehicles and autonomous vehicles need to know where they are when GPS is not available or accurate.
KVH has a stock price near $10 per share, a market capitalization of approximately $200 million, $41 million of cash, $7 million of PPP debt that is likely to be forgiven and annual revenue of $160 million. KVH went public in 1996.
The Upside Opportunity
I believe KVH could earn $1.50 to $2 or more based on $250 million of revenue, 45-50% gross margins and 15-20% operating margins. There could also be $3-5 per share of cash. With a 15-20 multiple I can see a $25 to $45 stock price. The stock closed on December 18 at $10.49.
KVH’s AgilePlans and Watch Connectivity-as-a-Service could each contribute $100 to $200 million or more of revenue. Its photonic-integrated chip, fiber-optic gyroscope (FOG), tactical navigation system (TACNAV), and other products and services could contribute an additional $50 to $200 million of revenue.
As KVH addresses a number of large markets, it’s possible that KVH could become an even larger company with even higher earnings per share. Of course, there is risk that these new products and services might not be adopted in scale and competitors could develop superior solutions. Revenue, earnings and stock price appreciation may not happen.
The Downside Risk
Using sum of the parts, I believe KVH’s downside could be $11-12 per share.
KVH’s inertial navigation business, including fiber-optic gyroscopes and TACNAV tactical navigation units has annual revenue of $35-40 million and might attract a low-end defense industry multiple of 1.5x revenue, or $50-60 million. Mobile connectivity service revenue of $80-85 million could attract a low-end 1.0x multiple or $80-85 million. KVH has another $40-50 million of VSAT (very-small aperture antennae), TracVision TV antennae, video services, news service and digital compass revenue which could be worth another $40-50 million. These elements total $9-10 per share plus $2.20 per share of net cash.
It has taken 4-5 years longer than I anticipated for KVH to develop a business model that combines its communications technology and content.
One of KVH’s satellite partners, SKY Perfect JSAT of Japan, invested $4.5 million at $11.95 per share, which was a 10% premium to the market price in February 2018. In November 2019, KVH’s Board of Directors authorized repurchase of up to 1 million shares of the 18 million outstanding. These suggest that a smart industry participant and the company’s board believe KVH represents value at $11-12 per share.
Additionally, there is an activist investor involved with KVH. Vintage Capital Management holds a 9.3% stake that was disclosed in 2017. Vintage is a “value-oriented, operations focused private equity and public equity investor specializing in the defense, manufacturing… sectors with an over 20-year track record… We seek to invest in companies in which the transaction or the resulting application of our broad expertise can unlock substantial value rapidly.”
In 2020, Bob Tavares joined KVH’s Board of Directors. Mr. Tavares previously was appointed by Vintage Capital to serve as CEO of API Technologies, where he created significant shareholder value that resulted in a sale to private equity holders. We are enthusiastic about KVH’s management team and strategy and believe Mr. Tavares brings a new perspective to the board room. Should KVH fail to execute on its business plan, we believe Vintage might push for sale of the company or structural changes to realize value.
When Might the Value in KVH Be Recognized?
The skeptic might say that in 38 years of business, KVH’s management has grown the business, but not created value for shareholders. Why should 2021 be any different?
In 2020, COVID-19 forced shutdowns that hurt several of KVH’s product lines. Leisure and land-based TV antenna sales suffered. The NEWSlink service for the cruise industry and high-end hotels was down 50-70%. These are not strategic areas for the company.
2021 could be a year of revenue growth from the AgilePlans subscription service and the new PIC-based inertial navigation products. Longer-term, KVH Watch and fiber-optic gyroscopes for the autonomous vehicle market could address significant market opportunities. These all address markets that might be much larger than KVH’s current market. We own the stock in anticipation of KVH addressing these markets and growing to be a much larger company over the years ahead. Investments like KVH take patience.
Portfolio holdings subject to change. Needham Funds’ ownership as percentage of net assets in KVHI as of 9/30/20: NEEGX: 4.30%; NEAGX: 5.47%; NESGX: 3.99%.
The information presented in this commentary is not intended as personalized investment advice and does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell a particular security or other investments. This commentary is not an offer of the Needham Growth Fund, the Needham Aggressive Growth Fund and the Needham Small Cap Growth Fund. Shares are sold only through the currently effective prospectus, which must precede or accompany this report.
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About The Author: John Barr
John Barr is a Co-Manager of the Needham Growth Fund (NEEGX). He has been its Co-Manager since January 2010. He also manages the Needham Aggressive Growth Fund (NEAGX). John started on Wall Street in 1995 with Needham as a sell-side analyst following technical software companies, including electronic design automation (EDA) companies. John rejoined Needham in 2009 because of the culture, which lives and breathes growth companies and long-term investing.
From 2000 – 2002, John was a managing director and senior analyst at Robertson Stephens, following semiconductor technology companies. He was an Institutional Investor All-Star and was ranked by Reuters as leader of one of the top software teams. In 2002 John moved to the buy-side and joined Buckingham Capital Management where he served as a portfolio manager and analyst for their diversified industry long/short domestic equity hedge fund.
John’s first career was outside of Wall Street, where he spent 14 years in sales, marketing and management, primarily in the EDA industry. Working in these small companies makes him think like an owner and to look for that trait in his investments. John loves the challenge of identifying businesses with compounding characteristics and getting to know the companies over the course of years. From his industry experience, he looks to invest in companies that he would have liked to have been part of.
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