Prosegur Compania de Seguridad SA
Prosegur maintains a capital structure with a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.74, indicating a high reliance on debt financing. The company holds EUR 595.8 million in cash and equivalents, but this is offset by EUR 2.7 billion in long-term debt, resulting in a net cash position that is negative after subtracting total debt. Free cash flow for the period was EUR 83.6 million, a modest amount relative to operating cash flow of EUR 351.9 million, suggesting capital expenditures are consuming a significant portion of operating cash. Profitability metrics show a return on equity (ROE) of 16.56%, which is strong, but return on assets (ROA) of 2.43% is below the typical range for asset-light service businesses, indicating underutilization of total assets. Operating income of EUR 326.7 million and a gross profit of EUR 976.9 million suggest a relatively narrow margin structure, with operating income representing 6.6% of revenue. Geographically, Prosegur is heavily concentrated in Spain and Latin America, with no disclosed breakdown of revenue by region. This concentration exposes the company to regional economic and regulatory risks, particularly in Latin America, where political instability and currency volatility are common. The company’s growth trajectory is modest, with no specific revenue growth rates provided in the latest financials. However, the operating cash flow of EUR 351.9 million and free cash flow of EUR 83.6 million suggest some capacity for reinvestment or shareholder returns, though capital expenditures of EUR 197.6 million are reducing available liquidity. Risk factors include a high debt-to-equity ratio and a current ratio of 1.0, indicating limited short-term liquidity cushion. Analysts have assigned a medium liquidity risk rating, and the company’s net cash position is negative after subtracting total debt, which could limit flexibility in capital allocation. Dilution risk is assessed as low, with no near-term pressure from share issuance or convertible debt. Recent events include analyst price targets ranging from EUR 2.90 to EUR 3.80, with a mean of EUR 3.32 and a median of EUR 3.27. Analyst recommendations are mixed, with five "buy" ratings, three "hold" ratings, and one "strong buy," suggesting a generally positive but cautious outlook.
Business. Prosegur Compania de Seguridad SA provides security services, including cash management, guarding, and alarm monitoring, primarily in Spain and Latin America.
Classification. Prosegur is classified under the industry "Business Support Services" within the "Industrial & Commercial Services" business sector, with a confidence level of 0.92.
- Prosegur has a strong ROE of 16.56% but a weak ROA of 2.43%, indicating underutilized assets.
- The company is highly leveraged, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.74 and a negative net cash position.
- Free cash flow is limited at EUR 83.6 million, with capital expenditures consuming a significant portion of operating cash.
- Analysts are cautiously optimistic, with a mean price target of EUR 3.32 and a median of EUR 3.27.
- Revenue concentration in Spain and Latin America exposes the company to regional economic and regulatory risks.
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- # RATIONALES
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- Net cash is negative after subtracting total debt.