Q: What do you make of the trading pattern in SYZ? It is well off its lows and seems to be holding up well in a $7.7-7.9 trading range for the past month. It consistently traded above $10 for many years prior to 2021 and, as far as I can tell, its business prospects in the enterprise software space are the same or better. Can you comment on its future growth and likelihood of getting back to its old highs? I know the dividend cut disappointed the market, but should not the former dividend payment now be reflected in better future growth in the stock price? If the stock price doesn't get back to old highs, what are the prospects of a software consolidator like CSU, OTEX or ENGH taking them out?
5i Research Answer:
We would view SYZ as a possible take out, if the stock cannot regain some of its former valuation mutliples. Its transition from 'income' to 'growth' was not easy, but investors are supporting it now. It is trading very close to recent highs and is up 26% YTD so short term momentum is good. But it may still take awhile to get to the old highs. Even not considering its high dividend from before, earnings per share, even with high growth, is expected at 26c next year. That is still well below its range of 45c to 50c in the 2018 to 2020 period. But if SYZ can string together a few years of strong growth it will have a chance to get north of $10 or $11 down the road.