Thursday, August 28th, 2025

Marco Polo Marine Stock: Dual-Growth Engines Fuel 31% Upside Potential, Target Price Raised to S$0.088 1

UOB Kay Hian Private Limited
Date of Report: Wednesday, 27 August 2025
Marco Polo Marine: Dual Engines Set to Power Exceptional Growth – Price Target Raised 16%

Overview: Marco Polo Marine Positioned for Multi-Year Upside

Marco Polo Marine Ltd (SGX: MPM), an integrated marine logistics group with a stronghold in regional waters, is embarking on a new era of growth. Backed by robust strategic moves and sector tailwinds, the company is leveraging both traditional oil & gas (O&G) and the rapidly expanding renewable energy market. UOB Kay Hian reaffirms its BUY rating, raising the target price by 16% to S\$0.088 per share, reflecting confidence in the company’s dual growth engines and strong financial health.

Company Snapshot

  • Share Price: S\$0.067
  • Target Price: S\$0.088 (+31.3% upside)
  • Market Capitalization: S\$251.6 million (US\$195.5 million)
  • GICS Sector: Industrials
  • FY25 NAV/Share: S\$0.05
  • FY25 Net Cash/Share: S\$0.02
  • Major Shareholders: Lee Family (22.6%), Apricot Capital (16.17%), Penguin International (8.09%)
  • 52-week High/Low: S\$0.071/S\$0.033

Strategic Developments Accelerate Growth Trajectory

1. Fourth Dry Dock Launch and First Major Contract

  • Marco Polo Marine’s new Dry Dock 4 has secured its maiden ship repair contract, valued at approximately S\$5 million. The vessel is set to arrive at the Batam shipyard by end-August 2025, with expected repairs spanning two months.
  • This swift post-launch contract underscores robust demand for shipyard repair and maintenance. With global fleet aging and ship recycling subdued, the long-term outlook for ship repair is highly favorable.
  • Dry Dock 4 is expected to significantly boost shipyard revenue and cash flows from 4QFY25 onwards.

2. Three-Year Master Service Agreement (MSA) with Cyan Renewables

  • MPM’s shipyard subsidiary inked a three-year MSA with Cyan Renewables to provide repair, maintenance, and conversion services for its offshore wind vessel fleet.
  • This partnership strengthens MPM’s position in Asia’s renewable energy transition and ensures recurring income, while expanding the shipyard’s technical capabilities.
  • The regional Offshore Support Vessel (OSV) market remains stable, with Southeast Asia’s AHTS term charter rates around US\$8,498/day.

3. Unlocking Value via PKRO Taiwan Listing

  • MPM’s 49%-owned subsidiary, PKRO, a top offshore wind support operator in Taiwan, plans to pursue a Taiwan stock exchange listing by 3Q26.
  • Proceeds will fund fleet expansion, including new Commissioning Service Operation Vessels (CSOVs) to serve booming offshore wind projects in Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan.
  • Global offshore wind capacity stands at 83GW, with 48GW under construction and another 100GW expected to come online within two years, driving strong demand for specialized vessels.
  • The Singapore Exchange (SGX-ST) has preliminarily concurred that the proposed listing does not constitute a chain listing, subject to regulatory compliance.

Financial Performance and Projections

Metric 2023 2024 2025F 2026F 2027F
Net Turnover (S\$m) 127 124 124 151 166
EBITDA (S\$m) 40 34 38 46 49
Operating Profit (S\$m) 28 21 24 31 35
Net Profit (S\$m, reported) 23 22 25 29 33
EPS (S\$ cents) 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.8 0.9
PE (x) 10.0 9.6 10.0 8.6 7.6
P/B (x) 1.5 1.4 1.2 1.1 1.0
EV/EBITDA (x) 5.2 6.1 5.4 4.5 4.2
Dividend Yield (%) 1.5 1.5 3.0 3.0 3.0
Net Margin (%) 17.8 17.6 20.2 19.4 20.0
Net Debt/(Cash) to Equity (%) (35.3) (18.5) (30.8) (44.1) (56.5)
ROE (%) 14.7 12.3 12.9 13.6 13.9

Balance Sheet & Cash Flow Highlights

  • Strong net cash position, with negative net debt-to-equity projected to reach (56.5)% by FY27.
  • Healthy dividend yield, expected to rise to 3.0% from FY25 onwards.
  • Capital expenditures are set to moderate after the significant Dry Dock 4 investment, supporting rising free cash flow.

Key Metrics and Profitability Trends

Metric 2024 2025F 2026F 2027F
EBITDA Margin (%) 27.3 30.8 30.2 29.8
Pre-tax Margin (%) 20.8 23.6 22.7 23.4
Net Margin (%) 17.6 20.2 19.4 20.0
ROA (%) 8.6 8.7 9.1 9.2
ROE (%) 12.3 12.9 13.6 13.9
Debt to Equity (%) 18.9 17.0 15.3 13.8

Investment Case: Dual Growth Engines Driving Value

  • Recurring Shipyard Revenues: Expansion at Batam is set to deliver consistent cash flows, backed by strong contract wins and growing demand for ship repair from an aging global fleet.
  • Renewable Energy Exposure: The Cyan Renewables master agreement and PKRO’s Taiwan strategy position MPM as a key logistics and support provider in Asia’s offshore wind boom.
  • Value-Unlocking Catalyst: The upcoming PKRO Taiwan listing provides both capital for expansion and increased strategic visibility in high-growth markets.
  • Further Growth Catalysts: The commissioning of the CSOV “MP Wind Archer” and three new crew transfer vessels (CTVs) will ramp up in 4QFY25, with full-year contributions in FY26.

Valuation and Recommendation

  • BUY rating maintained with a 16% higher target price of S\$0.088 (previously S\$0.076).
  • Valuation now based on 11.3x FY26F PE, or two standard deviations above the historical three-year PE range, reflecting strong sector tailwinds and clear growth catalysts.
  • Current NAV stands at S\$210 million (S\$0.056/share), and a robust balance sheet supports further fleet and yard expansion.

Potential Share Price Catalysts

  • Upside surprises in ship charter rates and vessel utilization.
  • New chartering contract wins for the fleet.
  • Higher-value ship repair projects booked during the year.

Conclusion

Marco Polo Marine is docked and loaded for sustained multi-year growth, underpinned by recurring shipyard revenues and strategic expansion into the offshore wind logistics sector. With its Batam yard now boasting four dry docks, lucrative new contracts, a game-changing partnership in renewables, and a value-unlocking Taiwan listing on the horizon, MPM stands out as a compelling BUY for investors seeking both stability and upside in the marine logistics and renewables space.
Broker: UOB Kay Hian Private Limited
Date: 27 August 2025

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