At a 20-year low, could this FTSE 250 stock be a value investor’s dream?

The FTSE 250 might are usually extra risky than its bigger cousin, the FTSE 100, however it might probably present traders with larger alternatives for outsized returns.

Main client manufacturers

There are usually not many corporations that may boast a bunch of market-leading manufacturers of their portfolio. PZ Cussons (LSE: PZC) can, although. These embody Imperial Leather-based, Authentic Supply, Carex, and Sanctuary Spa.

Regardless of being house to a set of prime manufacturers, it is a firm that has struggled to make itself related towards a lot bigger opponents, together with Procter & Gamble and Unilever.

Since peaking at 400p in 2014, its share value has fallen ever since. Immediately, I can choose them up for 80p; a whopping 80% decline.

Nevertheless it isn’t the previous that issues however the future.

Hyperinflation in Nigeria

Compounding the corporate’s woes has been financial turmoil in Nigeria, one in every of its largest markets. Hyperinflation and a foreign money devaluation has left the Nigerian client struggling.

The devaluation of the native foreign money, the naira, was a serious contributor to a 20% hunch in revenues in FY24. The corporate discovered itself with far an excessive amount of local-denominated foreign money that it couldn’t repatriate, on account of problem acquiring US {dollars}.

Usually, an existential disaster forces a enterprise to re-evaluate its technique and try and reinvent itself. PZ Cussons is doing simply that. It has put in movement steps that might result in the partial or full sale of its African enterprise.

Regardless of having the ability to hint its roots to Nigeria, that sale of its African enterprise could be a optimistic transfer, for my part. No enterprise can anticipate to thrive when its revenue and loss (P&L) account displays wild volatility swings. That’s no method to create long-term shareholder worth, both.

Reinvigorating its UK enterprise

One of many criticisms I’ve lengthy had with PZ Cussons is the sheer complexity of its UK portfolio. A bloated organisational construction with far too many layers of administration has resulted in duplication throughout its provide chain.

Earlier this yr, administration took the choice to merge its Private Care and Magnificence divisions. Though too early to inform, the combining of those two companies ought to present important value financial savings.

However for me, value financial savings shouldn’t be sufficient. Out of the merger I need to see larger ranges of business acumen in addition to product innovation.

One benefit that it has over its rivals is its measurement. Being smaller ought to present it with agility in a fiercely aggressive market. As a cost-of-living disaster continues, model positioning might be a essential enabler of success.

Talking anecdotally, over the previous yr I’ve seen lots of its prime manufacturers corresponding to Carex and Authentic Supply taking outstanding positions at main retailers. However I’ve additionally seen a larger deployment of its merchandise in new locations corresponding to discounters and pharmacies.

There are undoubted dangers of taking a place in an organization whose share value has been declining for thus lengthy. Nevertheless it wouldn’t take a lot of an enchancment for sentiment to shortly change. Because it trades at ranges not seen for the reason that early 2000s, I added extra of its shares to my SIPP.