HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Quantitative Analysis

Our "Buy the Worst" strategy intended to beat the Hang Seng Index in 2020, as laid out in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/buy-the-worst-a-simple-strategy-to-beat-the-hang-seng-index-in-2020-and-the-years-to-come" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:35427" rel="noopener">"Buy the Worst" - A Simple Strategy to Beat the Hang Seng Index in 2020 and the Years to Come?</a>, did not work out well. The portfolio of the five worst performing Index constituents in 2019 registered an average of 26.1% plunge in share price YTD, sharply underperformed the 5.8% decline in HSI. In our view, this is primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic which hit the old economy stocks (which all five are) hardest. As for this year, as of 29 Dec, the five worst-performing HSI stocks YTD are <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/citic-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20590:1" rel="noopener">Citic Ltd (267 HK)</a> (again!), <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-overseas-land-invest" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:419:1" rel="noopener">China Overseas Land &amp; Investment Ltd (688 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/cnooc-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:175:1" rel="noopener">CNOOC Ltd (883 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/aac-technologies-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6544:1" rel="noopener">AAC Technologies Holdings (2018 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-unicom-hong-kong-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1016:1" rel="noopener">China Unicom Hong Kong (762 HK)</a>. While they do not look likely to outperform the Index in next year from their business exposure, we highlight that a rotation into old economy stocks as COVID-19 vaccines help to open up global economic recovery is a potential wild card.

Our "Buy the Worst" strategy intended to beat the Hang Seng Index in 2020, as laid out in "Buy the Worst" - A Simple Strategy to Beat the Hang Seng Index in 2020 and the Years to Come?, did not work out well. The portfolio of the five worst performing Index constituents in 2019 registered an average of 26.1% plunge in share price YTD, sharply underperformed the 5.8% decline in HSI. In our view, this is primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic which hit the old economy stocks (which all five are) hardest. As for this year, as of 29 Dec, the five worst-performing HSI stocks YTD are Citic Ltd (267 HK) (again!), China Overseas Land &amp; Investment Ltd (688 HK), CNOOC Ltd (883 HK), AAC Technologies Holdings (2018 HK) and China Unicom Hong Kong (762 HK). While they do not look likely to outperform the Index in next year from their business exposure, we highlight that a rotation into old economy stocks as COVID-19 vaccines help to open up global economic recovery is a potential wild card.  

A Review Of "Buy the Worst" Strategy in 2020 and Can It Beat the Hang Seng Index in 2021?

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Event-Driven

At long last, Hang Seng Indexes (HSIL) has released the consultation paper on the "Proposal to enhance the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hong-kong-hang-seng-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22899:1" rel="noopener">Hong Kong Hang Seng Index (HSI INDEX)</a> as regards continuing to serve as the most representative and important benchmark of the Hong Kong stock market". Market participants have until 24 January to submit their views to the HSIL.There are 5 main proposals in the consultation paper:<ol>
<li>Select constituents by industry group based on a target coverage for each industry group</li>
<li>Increase the number of constituents to between 65 to 80</li>
<li>Removal of the Minimum Listing History requirement for eligible candidates</li>
<li>Maintain a certain number of constituents classified as Hong Kong companies to sustain the level of representation of Hong Kong portion in the index</li>
<li>Lower the weighting cap of individual constituents from 10% to 8%, and increase the weighting cap of WVRs and Secondary Listings from 5% to 8%.</li>
</ol>The simulated one-way turnover of increasing the number of constituents to between 65-80 is estimated at 15-20% and HSIL proposes to implement the transition to the enhanced methodology within one year.In this Insight, we look at the impact on the index from the proposed changes.

At long last, Hang Seng Indexes (HSIL) has released the consultation paper on the "Proposal to enhance the Hong Kong Hang Seng Index (HSI INDEX) as regards continuing to serve as the most representative and important benchmark of the Hong Kong stock market". Market participants have until 24 January to submit their views to the HSIL.There are 5 main proposals in the consultation paper:
Select constituents by industry group based on a target coverage for each industry group
Increase the number of constituents to between 65 to 80
Removal of the Minimum Listing History requirement for eligible candidates
Maintain a certain number of constituents classified as Hong Kong companies to sustain the level of representation of Hong Kong portion in the index
Lower the weighting cap of individual constituents from 10% to 8%, and increase the weighting cap of WVRs and Secondary Listings from 5% to 8%.
The simulated one-way turnover of increasing the number of constituents to between 65-80 is estimated at 15-20% and HSIL proposes to implement the transition to the enhanced methodology within one year.In this Insight, we look at the impact on the index from the proposed changes.

HSI Market Consultation - Wide Ranging Changes Proposed

The Hang Seng Indexes Company Limited (HSIL) announced the results of its review of the Hang Seng Family of Indexes post market close on 13 November. The constituent changes will be effective after the close of trading on 4 December.For the Hang Seng TECH Index, there are 2 inclusions and 2 exclusions.The inclusions are <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ming-yuan-cloud-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29268:1" rel="noopener">Ming Yuan Cloud Group (909 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/archosaur-games" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28948:1" rel="noopener">Archosaur Games (9990 HK)</a>, while the deletions are <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hengten-networks-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3296:1" rel="noopener">HengTen Ltd (136 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/netdragon-websoft-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3703:1" rel="noopener">Netdragon Websoft (777 HK)</a>. One way turnover is 7.97% due to the inclusions/ exclusions, capping, and free float changes.Both inclusions have 0.67 days of ADV to buy, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hengten-networks-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3296:1" rel="noopener">HengTen Ltd (136 HK)</a> has 0.6 days of ADV to sell, while <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/netdragon-websoft-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3703:1" rel="noopener">Netdragon Websoft (777 HK)</a> has 1 day of ADV to sell.

The Hang Seng Indexes Company Limited (HSIL) announced the results of its review of the Hang Seng Family of Indexes post market close on 13 November. The constituent changes will be effective after the close of trading on 4 December.For the Hang Seng TECH Index, there are 2 inclusions and 2 exclusions.The inclusions are Ming Yuan Cloud Group (909 HK) and Archosaur Games (9990 HK), while the deletions are HengTen Ltd (136 HK) and Netdragon Websoft (777 HK). One way turnover is 7.97% due to the inclusions/ exclusions, capping, and free float changes.Both inclusions have 0.67 days of ADV to buy, HengTen Ltd (136 HK) has 0.6 days of ADV to sell, while Netdragon Websoft (777 HK) has 1 day of ADV to sell.

Hang Seng TECH Index Rebalance: Two Changes as Assets Continue to Grow

IPOs and Catalysts/Events, Global Equity Research Ltd

Arun George

IPOs and Catalysts/Events

Uncompromised, Independent, Conflict-Free Research

Global Equity Research Ltd

Global Equity Research was started in 2017 by a group of experienced research professionals. It was founded on a passionate belief in the importance and the need for uncompromised, independent, conflict-free research. We aim to provide differentiated and actionable primary and bottom up fundamental research.

Equity Capital Markets

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nanofilm-technologies-international" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29700:1" rel="noopener">Nanofilm Technologies International (NTI SP)</a> designs, manufactures, and assembles its proprietary coating equipment (and auxiliary equipment and spare parts), and develops and provides its surface solutions and advanced materials in-house. Nanofilm is looking to raise S$470 million ($346 million) through an SGX IPO. It will be the first IPO on SGX’s main board since <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/united-hampshire-us-reit" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28874:1" rel="noopener">United Hampshire US REIT (UHUS SP)</a> IPO in March. <div class="content-highlight">The IPO proceeds will be used for capex for new equipment, R&amp;D, maintenance capex and working capital. Overall, Nanofilm is an attractive growth story underpinned by proprietary technology, growing addressable markets, high customer stickiness, attractive margin profile and strong cash conversion, in our view.  </div>

Nanofilm Technologies International (NTI SP) designs, manufactures, and assembles its proprietary coating equipment (and auxiliary equipment and spare parts), and develops and provides its surface solutions and advanced materials in-house. Nanofilm is looking to raise S$470 million ($346 million) through an SGX IPO. It will be the first IPO on SGX’s main board since United Hampshire US REIT (UHUS SP) IPO in March. The IPO proceeds will be used for capex for new equipment, R&amp;D, maintenance capex and working capital. Overall, Nanofilm is an attractive growth story underpinned by proprietary technology, growing addressable markets, high customer stickiness, attractive margin profile and strong cash conversion, in our view.  

Nanofilm Technologies IPO Initiation: Layer by Layer

Asset Allocation & Fund Positioning, Copley Fund Research

Steven Holden

Asset Allocation & Fund Positioning

Copley Fund Research

Copley Fund Research provide research and data on asset allocation among Global and Emerging Market equity funds.  The analysis details absolute and relative positioning across countries, sectors and industries together with highly granular data on single stock and single fund allocations.  The data is updated monthly with time series going back to January 2011.

Global Research - Analysis of 165 prominent Global equity funds, combined AUM $335bn
GEM Research - Analysis of 127 prominent global EM equity funds, combined AUM $250bn

Asset Allocation - Global and GEM Equity

Cross Asset Strategy

Copley Fund Research analyse the holdings of long only Mutual Funds. In this analysis, we focus on Global Emerging Market Funds.  Our GEM fund universe covers 250 actively managed strategies with a combined AUM of $365bn.  In our Macro Overview, we cover the following:• Asian allocations hit record highs, EM investors remain underweight.  LATAM key overweight. • T.I.C.K nations dominate EM portfolios, inflows in to China and Taiwan.  Outflows from Brazil, UAE, Turkey. • COVID response - managers up weights in Tech, Health Care and Comm Services.  Financials, Energy suffer.

Copley Fund Research analyse the holdings of long only Mutual Funds. In this analysis, we focus on Global Emerging Market Funds.  Our GEM fund universe covers 250 actively managed strategies with a combined AUM of $365bn.  In our Macro Overview, we cover the following:• Asian allocations hit record highs, EM investors remain underweight.  LATAM key overweight. • T.I.C.K nations dominate EM portfolios, inflows in to China and Taiwan.  Outflows from Brazil, UAE, Turkey. • COVID response - managers up weights in Tech, Health Care and Comm Services.  Financials, Energy suffer.

Emerging Market Positioning: Macro Overview

China

AAC Technologies Holdings Inc designs, develops and manufactures a broad range of miniaturized components that include speakers, receivers and microphones in the acoustic segment and others such as haptics vibrators, RF and antennas, and optical lenses. AAC's products are found in mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, wearables, ultrabooks, notebooks and electronic book-readers.

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AAC Technologies Holdings (2018 HK)

A Review Of "Buy the Worst" Strategy in 2020 and Can It Beat the Hang Seng Index in 2021?

While our "Buy the Worst" strategy underperformed the HSI sharply YTD, we see extending the strategy into 2021 may catch up as the rotation back to...

Osbert Tang, CFA

HSI Market Consultation - Wide Ranging Changes Proposed

HSIL has announced the market consultation for the Hang Seng Index. The conclusions should be announced in February. If the market agrees to most...

Brian Freitas

Hang Seng TECH Index Rebalance: Two Changes as Assets Continue to Grow

The first review of the Hang Seng TECH index has 2 inclusions and 2 deletions. Assets benchmarked to the index are north of US$1.1bn and will...

Brian Freitas

Nanofilm Technologies IPO Initiation: Layer by Layer

Nanofilm is an attractive growth story underpinned by proprietary technology, growing addressable markets, high customer stickiness, attractive...

Arun George

Emerging Market Positioning: Macro Overview

Copley Fund Research analyse the holdings of long only Mutual Funds. In this analysis, we focus on Global Emerging Market Funds. Our GEM fund...

Steven Holden

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

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Dividend (Yield)