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Happy Valley Nutrition (ASX:HVM) shares spike on low quarterly spending

Consumer Discretionary
ASX:HVM
16 January 2021 16:00 (AEST)

Happy Valley Nutrition (HVM) traded strong today on the back of a quarter of unexpectedly low spending.

The company released its quarterly financial report for the three months to the end of December 2020 today.

In the report, the New Zealand-based infant formula specialist highlighted some key milestone achieved over the quarter — including the purchase of a location for its main facility site.

Over the quarter, the company also received New Zealand Overseas Investment Office (OIO) approval to buy some important farmland.

Importantly, however, the company said spending over the quarter came in far lower than expected. Happy Valley achieved these milestones with just NZ$1.62 million (around A$1.5 million) in spending over the quarter, which is NZ$3.5 million (around A$3.25 million) less than expected quarterly costs.

Happy Valley attributed lower technical and engineering design costs, deferred settlement of land purchases, and general savings across consultancy and travel for the soft spending.

All up, Happy Valley has spent roughly NZ$3.16 million (around A$2.9 million) on operating and investing activities for the first six months of the 2021 financial year.

Nevertheless, the company still had NZ$6 million (around A$5.6 million) in the bank at the start of January, meaning at December levels of spending, Happy Valley can still survive for four financial quarters before needing to turn to investors for some extra cash.

Investors seemed pleased with the quarterly update, with Happy Valley shares closing 8.82 per cent higher at 18 cents each this afternoon. The company has a $39.32 million market cap.

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