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Lineage, Inc.'s Stock Might Be Cold But Fundamentals Have Potential
Seeking Alphaยท 2025-03-31 12:09
Company Overview - Lineage Logistics (NASDAQ:LINE) is the global leader in cold storage with 3.1 billion cubic feet of dedicated real estate and has seen its stock price drop from $78 at IPO in June 2024 to $59.66 [1][3] - The current valuation at $59.66 represents a 17X multiple on consensus 2025 AFFO of $3.51, indicating that the stock has become more interesting at this lower price [3] Industry Overview - Demand for cold storage has been steadily increasing, driven by global food demand and a higher share of food distributed via temperature control [6][7] - The USDA projects continued growth in global food demand through 2050, influenced by population and income growth [7] - The cold storage industry is currently experiencing oversupply due to a significant increase in capacity (over 40% since 2019) and a slowdown in new building projects due to higher interest rates [18][24] Growth Potential - Lineage Logistics is positioned for growth through three main sources: occupancy recovery, margin expansion, and accretive consolidation [20][21] - Current physical pallet occupancy is at 78%, with potential for significant improvement as inventory levels normalize [19][25] - The company has a margin of 39%, with opportunities for improvement through operational efficiencies and automation [27][29] Operational Efficiency - Lineage is implementing a proprietary software called LinOS to optimize warehouse operations, which is expected to enhance efficiency and reduce labor costs [30][31] - The company currently has 82 out of 488 warehouses automated, with plans for further automation to improve margins [30] Market Position - As the market leader, Lineage has synergies in its customer network and can spread overhead costs over a larger revenue base, enhancing its competitive advantage [29] - The fragmented nature of the cold storage industry presents opportunities for Lineage to acquire smaller competitors and improve their operational efficiency [32] Long-term Outlook - The long-term fundamental outlook for cold storage remains strong, with Lineage's market leadership and operational efficiencies positioning it for potentially explosive growth [40] - The company anticipates a return to normal seasonality in inventory levels, which could significantly impact occupancy rates and overall performance [25][26]