GLOG-US: Initiation (BUY, TP 18)

We initiate coverage of GasLog with a BUY recommendation and target price of USD 18. The company has a fleet of 27 LNG Carriers (including five newbuldings) with a contract coverage of 76% in 2017 and an average minimum back-log per contracted vessel of ~5.5 years. Although the secured cash-flow enables the company to pay dividends even at the trough (current annualized dividend yield at 8%), it also equates to less operational leverage at what we believe to be the expansionary point in the cycle from mid-’17. In addition, GasLog is exploring possibilities within the booming FSRU segment, and has an attractive source of financing trough its MLP (at least in the current environment of low interest rates). We find low risk and great valuation in GasLog and initiate coverage with a BUY recommendation and TP of USD 18.