ASEAN Insight Provider, CrossASEAN Research

Angus Mackintosh

ASEAN Insight Provider

CrossASEAN Research

At CrossASEAN Research we strive to produce unbiased and differentiated on the ground insights on companies across South East Asia. Our Research is produced for the most part after face to face meetings and conversations with company management to dig deep into the long term vision and strategy of the companies we cover. We seek to deliver investable and actionable themes on sectors and markets across SE Asia, often in collaboration with other Insight Providers across the region, pooling the vast experience of the analysts within the Smartkarma Ecosystem. We also offer bespoke work and tailor made trips for our clients. 

Insights across South East Asia

Cross Asset Strategy

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<p><em><strong>Corrigenda: There is an error in this Insight. Please note the correction.</strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong>Correction: The Insight <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/bjbr-positive-fundamental-momentum-at-a-decent-valuation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:44897" rel="noopener">BJBR: Positive Fundamental Momentum at a Decent Valuation</a> was improperly attributed to Thomas Monaco. It was published by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/paul-hollingworth" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:2554" rel="noopener">Paul Hollingworth</a>.</strong></em></p>
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<p>The week that was in <a href="mailto:ASEAN@Smartkarma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ASEAN@Smartkarma</a> is filled with another eclectic mix of differentiated, substantive, and actionable insights from across South East Asia and includes macro, top-down and thematic pieces, as well as actionable equity bottom-up and credit insights over the past week.</p>
<p>We add below a NEW section, which includes emerging themes in ASEAN and selects important news flow or developments for commentary, which may impact SE Asian companies and markets.  </p>
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<p><strong><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/smartkarma-corporate-webinar-indo-banks-the-worst-is-over" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:44882" rel="noopener">Smartkarma Corporate Webinar | Indo Banks: The Worst Is Over</a></strong>-<strong> 10th November at 4 pm.</strong></p>
<p>For our next Corporate Webinar, we welcome <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-mandiri-persero-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:441:1" rel="noopener">Bank Mandiri Persero (BMRI IJ)</a>'s Group Head of Investor Relations, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/yohan-setio" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yohan Setio</a>, who will share some company updates and sit down for a fireside chat with Smartkarma Insight Provider <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/angus-mackintosh" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Angus Mackintosh</a>.</p>
<h2>Indonesia's Recovery and the Next Digital Darling</h2>
<p>This week below the fold we look at Indonesia's recent economic numbers which saw the country slide into recession, its first since the Asian Crisis but find it encouraging that the economy is moving onto a recovery track. We see selective banks and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/astra-international-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:46:1" rel="noopener">Astra International (ASII IJ)</a> as core ways to play this recovery. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sea-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8509:1" rel="noopener">Sea Ltd (SE US)</a> is SoutEast Asia's largest Market Cap stock, and there are very few if any alternatives to get exposure to the region's e-commerce boom, certainly in the listed universe. One potential future candidate is <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/elang-mahkota-teknologi-tbk" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7752:1" rel="noopener">Emtek (EMTK IJ),</a> which is the major shareholder of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/surya-citra-media-pt-tbk" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14739:1" rel="noopener">PT Surya Citra Media Tbk (SCMA IJ)</a> but it also has stakes in Bukalapak and Dana, the number three digital payments player in Indonesia and a JV with Ant Financial.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/elang-mahkota-teknologi-tbk" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7752:1" rel="noopener">Emtek (EMTK IJ)</a> has announced that it will seek approval for a stock split in December but this may not be the end of the story. Any restructuring which brings all of its digital assets under one roof and improves liquidity would certainly help the company attract more institutional investors and secure a higher valuation. </p>
<h3>Macro Insights</h3>
<p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/thai-strategy-2021-part-2-top-10-stock-picks" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:40851" rel="noopener">Thai Strategy 2021 (Part 2): Top 10 Stock Picks,</a> our Thai guru <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/athaporn-arayasantiparb-cfa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:766" rel="noopener">Athaporn Arayasantiparb, CFA</a> lays out his top stock picks in Thailand for next year.</p>
<p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/thai-strategy-2021-part-3-sector-outlooks" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:40864" rel="noopener">Thai Strategy 2021 (Part 3): Sector Outlooks,</a> our Thai guru <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/athaporn-arayasantiparb-cfa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:766" rel="noopener">Athaporn Arayasantiparb, CFA</a> provides us with his sector strategy in Thailand for the coming year. </p>
<h3>Equity Bottom Up</h3>
<p>In an Indonesian Insight,<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/astra-international-asii-ij-an-auto-recovery-story-with-a-golden-digital-twist" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Astra International (ASII IJ) - An Auto-Recovery Story with a Golden Digital Twist</a>, CrossASEAN Insight provider<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/angus-mackintosh" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Angus Mackintosh</a> returns to look at<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/astra-international-tbk-pt" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Astra International (ASII IJ)</a> after a conversation with management. </p>
<p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/pt-surya-citra-media-tbk-scma-ij-let-the-games-begin" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:44914" rel="noopener">PT Surya Citra Media Tbk (SCMA IJ) - Let the Games Begin,</a> CrossASEAN Insight Provider <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/angus-mackintosh" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:937" rel="noopener">Angus Mackintosh</a> revisits one of Indonesia's leading media companies, which has an increasingly digital twist.</p>
<p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/aem-holdings-optimistic-on-fy21-fair-value-remains-at-5-sgd-41-upside" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:44915" rel="noopener">AEM Holdings: Optimistic on FY21; Fair Value Remains at 5 SGD (41% Upside),</a> CrossASEAN Insight Provider <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/nicolas-van-broekhoven-24a66c2d-bca4-4f5b-adda-c4e2bcc509f4" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:1208" rel="noopener">Nicolas Van Broekhoven</a> revisits <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/aem-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11019:1" rel="noopener">AEM Holdings (AEM SP)</a> after an impressive set of results and remains positive.</p>
<p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/bjbr-positive-fundamental-momentum-at-a-decent-valuation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:44897" rel="noopener">BJBR: Positive Fundamental Momentum at a Decent Valuation,</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/thomas-j-monaco" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:1716" rel="noopener">Thomas J. Monaco</a> writes on this smaller Indonesian lender with a positive slant.</p>
<p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/oversea-chinese-banking-corp-still-not-a-great-eastern" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:44901" rel="noopener">Oversea Chinese Banking Corp – Still Not A Great Eastern,</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/thomas-j-monaco" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:1716" rel="noopener">Thomas J. Monaco</a> looked in detail at <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/great-eastern-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13993:1" rel="noopener">Great Eastern Holdings (GE SP)</a> numbers ahead of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/oversea-chinese-banking-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:114:1" rel="noopener">Oversea Chinese Banking Corp. (OCBC SP)</a> results. </p>
<p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/oversea-chinese-banking-corp-solid" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:45061" rel="noopener">Oversea Chinese Banking Corp. – Solid,</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/thomas-j-monaco" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:1716" rel="noopener">Thomas J. Monaco</a> revisits this Singapore lender with a positive view post its recent 3Q2020 numbers. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/surya-citra-media-pt-tbk" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14739:1" rel="noopener"></a>In<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/dbs-group-holdings-not-trending-the-right-way-yet" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> DBS Group Holdings – Not Trending The Right Way Yet</a>,<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/thomas-j-monaco" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Thomas J. Monaco</a> reports back<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/dbs-group-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> DBS Group Holdings (DBS SP)</a>'s post its recent 3Q2020 results with a chequered view.</p>
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<p>In this Thai Insight,<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/hmpro-expect-government-stimulus-scheme-drive-4q20-recover-qoq" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> HMPRO: Expect Government Stimulus Scheme Drive 4Q20 Recover QoQ,</a> our friends at <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/companies/country-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="companies:965" rel="noopener">Country Group</a> circle back to Thailand's leading home improvements player <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/home-product-center-pcl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9906:1" rel="noopener">Home Product Center (HMPRO TB)</a>. </p>
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<p>In<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/synex-solid-earnings-growth-outlook-but-largely-priced-in" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> SYNEX: Solid Earnings Growth Outlook but Largely Priced In</a>,<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/companies/country-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Country Group</a> provides a view on<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/synnex-thailand-pcl" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Synnex Thailand (SYNEX TB),</a> following the recent run-up in the share price. </p>
<p>In this Thai Insight, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/scc-strong-3q20-thanks-to-petrochemical-spread" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SCC: Strong 3Q20 Thanks to Petrochemical Spread</a>, our friends at <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/companies/country-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="companies:965" rel="noopener">Country Group</a> return to look at<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/siam-cement-pcl-the" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Siam Cement (SCC TB)</a> post 3Q2020 results. </p>
<p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/mc-prominent-denim-brand-with-new-growth-momentum" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:45077" rel="noopener">MC: Prominent Denim Brand with New Growth Momentum,</a> our friends at <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/companies/country-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="companies:965" rel="noopener">Country Group</a>initiate on this leading Thai denim apparel player. They initiate coverage of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mc-group-pcl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:17093:1" rel="noopener">MC Group Pcl (MC TB)</a> with a BUY rating and a target price of Bt12.0, derived from 18.5x FY21E PER, which is +1SD above its 5-year trading average but slightly lower than its global apparel peers.</p>
<h3>Credit Insights</h3>
<p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/lippo-karawaci-earnings-flash-q3-fy-2020-results-lucror-analytics" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lippo Karawaci - Earnings Flash - Q3 FY 2020 Results</a>, credit specialist<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/trung-nguyen" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Trung Nguyen</a> looks at<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lippo-karawaci-tbk-pt" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Lippo Karawaci (LPKR IJ)'s</a> after its recent results, which continued to be robust in Q32020. </p>
<p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/chandra-asri-earnings-flash-9m-fy-2020-results-lucror-analytics" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:44814" rel="noopener">Chandra Asri - Earnings Flash - 9M FY 2020 Results</a> credit specialist <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/leonard-law-cfa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:7106" rel="noopener">Leonard Law, CFA</a> circles back to this leading chemicals player post 3Q2020 results.</p>


Corrigenda: There is an error in this Insight. Please note the correction.
Correction: The Insight BJBR: Positive Fundamental Momentum at a Decent Valuation was improperly attributed to Thomas Monaco. It was published by Paul Hollingworth.



The week that was in ASEAN@Smartkarma is filled with another eclectic mix of differentiated, substantive, and actionable insights from across South East Asia and includes macro, top-down and thematic pieces, as well as actionable equity bottom-up and credit insights over the past week.
We add below a NEW section, which includes emerging themes in ASEAN and selects important news flow or developments for commentary, which may impact SE Asian companies and markets.  

Smartkarma Corporate Webinar | Indo Banks: The Worst Is Over- 10th November at 4 pm.
For our next Corporate Webinar, we welcome Bank Mandiri Persero (BMRI IJ)'s Group Head of Investor Relations, Yohan Setio, who will share some company updates and sit down for a fireside chat with Smartkarma Insight Provider Angus Mackintosh.
Indonesia's Recovery and the Next Digital Darling
This week below the fold we look at Indonesia's recent economic numbers which saw the country slide into recession, its first since the Asian Crisis but find it encouraging that the economy is moving onto a recovery track. We see selective banks and Astra International (ASII IJ) as core ways to play this recovery. 
Sea Ltd (SE US) is SoutEast Asia's largest Market Cap stock, and there are very few if any alternatives to get exposure to the region's e-commerce boom, certainly in the listed universe. One potential future candidate is Emtek (EMTK IJ), which is the major shareholder of PT Surya Citra Media Tbk (SCMA IJ) but it also has stakes in Bukalapak and Dana, the number three digital payments player in Indonesia and a JV with Ant Financial.
Emtek (EMTK IJ) has announced that it will seek approval for a stock split in December but this may not be the end of the story. Any restructuring which brings all of its digital assets under one roof and improves liquidity would certainly help the company attract more institutional investors and secure a higher valuation. 
Macro Insights
In Thai Strategy 2021 (Part 2): Top 10 Stock Picks, our Thai guru Athaporn Arayasantiparb, CFA lays out his top stock picks in Thailand for next year.
In Thai Strategy 2021 (Part 3): Sector Outlooks, our Thai guru Athaporn Arayasantiparb, CFA provides us with his sector strategy in Thailand for the coming year. 
Equity Bottom Up
In an Indonesian Insight, Astra International (ASII IJ) - An Auto-Recovery Story with a Golden Digital Twist, CrossASEAN Insight provider Angus Mackintosh returns to look at Astra International (ASII IJ) after a conversation with management. 
In PT Surya Citra Media Tbk (SCMA IJ) - Let the Games Begin, CrossASEAN Insight Provider Angus Mackintosh revisits one of Indonesia's leading media companies, which has an increasingly digital twist.
In AEM Holdings: Optimistic on FY21; Fair Value Remains at 5 SGD (41% Upside), CrossASEAN Insight Provider Nicolas Van Broekhoven revisits AEM Holdings (AEM SP) after an impressive set of results and remains positive.
In BJBR: Positive Fundamental Momentum at a Decent Valuation,Thomas J. Monaco writes on this smaller Indonesian lender with a positive slant.
In Oversea Chinese Banking Corp – Still Not A Great Eastern,Thomas J. Monaco looked in detail at Great Eastern Holdings (GE SP) numbers ahead of Oversea Chinese Banking Corp. (OCBC SP) results. 
In Oversea Chinese Banking Corp. – Solid,Thomas J. Monaco revisits this Singapore lender with a positive view post its recent 3Q2020 numbers. 
In DBS Group Holdings – Not Trending The Right Way Yet, Thomas J. Monaco reports back DBS Group Holdings (DBS SP)'s post its recent 3Q2020 results with a chequered view.



In this Thai Insight, HMPRO: Expect Government Stimulus Scheme Drive 4Q20 Recover QoQ, our friends at Country Group circle back to Thailand's leading home improvements player Home Product Center (HMPRO TB). 



In SYNEX: Solid Earnings Growth Outlook but Largely Priced In, Country Group provides a view on Synnex Thailand (SYNEX TB), following the recent run-up in the share price. 
In this Thai Insight, SCC: Strong 3Q20 Thanks to Petrochemical Spread, our friends at Country Group return to look at Siam Cement (SCC TB) post 3Q2020 results. 
In MC: Prominent Denim Brand with New Growth Momentum, our friends at Country Groupinitiate on this leading Thai denim apparel player. They initiate coverage of MC Group Pcl (MC TB) with a BUY rating and a target price of Bt12.0, derived from 18.5x FY21E PER, which is +1SD above its 5-year trading average but slightly lower than its global apparel peers.
Credit Insights
In Lippo Karawaci - Earnings Flash - Q3 FY 2020 Results, credit specialist Trung Nguyen looks at Lippo Karawaci (LPKR IJ)'s after its recent results, which continued to be robust in Q32020. 
In Chandra Asri - Earnings Flash - 9M FY 2020 Results credit specialist Leonard Law, CFA circles back to this leading chemicals player post 3Q2020 results.

The Week that Was in ASEAN@Smartkarma - Indonesia's Recovery and the Next Digital Darling

Insight Provider, CrossASEAN Research

Nicolas Van Broekhoven

Insight Provider

Equity Bottom-Up

<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/aem-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11019:1" rel="noopener">AEM Holdings (AEM SP)</a> published great 9M20 results. Management will give FY21 guidance in January but sounded upbeat on its prospects going into FY21.</p><p>AEM has hired an entire new CEO/CFO/CTO suite over the past 18 months. We believe this highly qualified new C-suit would not have joined AEM if they did not see a clear path of making AEM into a 1 billion USD company going forward. </p><p>YTD the share price of AEM is up by 75% but has come off its earlier highs. Given FY21 guidance uncertainty and muted consensus expectations (2% revenue growth in FY21 and -1% growth in FY22) we like the risk/reward set-up. The downside is protected by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/aem-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11019:1" rel="noopener">AEM Holdings (AEM SP)</a> becoming a takeover target itself at some point but not before the maximum value has been extracted by the current management team.</p><p>Fair Value of 5 SGD remains (this is based on 10x 2020 EV/EBITDA or 14.7x 2020 P/E). Peers trade at an average of 26.1x 2020 P/E and 16.9x 2020 EV/EBITDA.</p>

AEM Holdings (AEM SP) published great 9M20 results. Management will give FY21 guidance in January but sounded upbeat on its prospects going into FY21.AEM has hired an entire new CEO/CFO/CTO suite over the past 18 months. We believe this highly qualified new C-suit would not have joined AEM if they did not see a clear path of making AEM into a 1 billion USD company going forward. YTD the share price of AEM is up by 75% but has come off its earlier highs. Given FY21 guidance uncertainty and muted consensus expectations (2% revenue growth in FY21 and -1% growth in FY22) we like the risk/reward set-up. The downside is protected by AEM Holdings (AEM SP) becoming a takeover target itself at some point but not before the maximum value has been extracted by the current management team.Fair Value of 5 SGD remains (this is based on 10x 2020 EV/EBITDA or 14.7x 2020 P/E). Peers trade at an average of 26.1x 2020 P/E and 16.9x 2020 EV/EBITDA.

AEM Holdings: Optimistic on FY21; Fair Value Remains at 5 SGD (41% Upside)

SGX Market Strategist, Equity & Fixed Income, Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX)

Geoff Howie

SGX Market Strategist, Equity & Fixed Income

Asia’s leading multi-asset exchange

Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX)

Singapore Exchange is Asia’s leading and trusted market infrastructure, facilitating the exchange of capital and ideas to create value for people, businesses and economies. As a multi-asset exchange operating equity, fixed income and derivatives markets to the highest regulatory standards, SGX is a vertically integrated business that provides listing, trading, clearing, settlement, depository and data services.

With about 40% of listed companies and over 80% of listed bonds originating outside of Singapore as well as established linkages across the region and in Europe, SGX is Asia’s most international and connected exchange. Offering a full suite of derivatives products across Asian equity indices, commodities and currencies, SGX is the world’s most liquid international market for the benchmark equity indices of China, India, Japan and ASEAN.

As Asia’s pioneering central counterparty, SGX is globally recognised for its risk management and clearing capabilities, and was one of the first globally to adopt the Principles for Financial Market Infrastructure.

Headquartered in AAA-rated Singapore, SGX has over 800 employees including offices in Beijing, Chicago, Hong Kong, London, New York, Mumbai, San Francisco, Shanghai and Tokyo.

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<p><em><strong>Non- SGX Report: These equity research reports are not written by the SGX.</strong>&nbsp;SGX supports the distribution of the research reports by external contributors. Please refer to the Disclaimer in the attached report.</em></p>
<h2>AEM Holdings Ltd</h2>
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<h3>Stellar as ever</h3>
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<p><strong>Investment Thesis:</strong></p>
<p><strong>Undemanding valuations for a fundamentally strong company. </strong>AEM is in a strategic position to benefit from its key customer and industry uptrend. It is trading at 9.2x FY21F PE, which is undemanding to its peer average of 19.9x.</p>
<p><strong>Semiconductor industry momentum remains strong. </strong>Industry associations are forecasting an accelerated growth for semiconductors in 2021. The US semiconductor equipment billings continued to increase 40.4% y-o-y in September.</p>
<p><strong>Mission-critical applications to drive longer test times and system-level tests.</strong> The complexity and shrinking nodes used in mission-critical applications such as 5G, EV, and AI, are driving longer test times and require system-level tests to ensure compatibility and interconnection between components.</p>
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<p><strong>Valuation</strong>:<br>Maintain BUY and TP of S$5.16. We have raised FY20F/21F earnings by 4/4% on a strong set of 3Q20 results and higher FY20F revenue guidance. We maintain our valuation peg at 13.7x FY21F earnings, which is at a discount to its international peer market cap-weighted average of c.19.9x.</p>
<p><strong>Where we differ:</strong><br>We are more optimistic on AEM’s earnings and the pick-up in momentum in the industry.</p>
<p><strong>Key Risks to Our View:</strong><br>Single-customer concentration risk, escalation of geopolitical events, protraction of the COVID-19 pandemic, and FX risk.</p>
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Non- SGX Report: These equity research reports are not written by the SGX.&nbsp;SGX supports the distribution of the research reports by external contributors. Please refer to the Disclaimer in the attached report.
AEM Holdings Ltd




Stellar as ever





Investment Thesis:
Undemanding valuations for a fundamentally strong company. AEM is in a strategic position to benefit from its key customer and industry uptrend. It is trading at 9.2x FY21F PE, which is undemanding to its peer average of 19.9x.
Semiconductor industry momentum remains strong. Industry associations are forecasting an accelerated growth for semiconductors in 2021. The US semiconductor equipment billings continued to increase 40.4% y-o-y in September.
Mission-critical applications to drive longer test times and system-level tests. The complexity and shrinking nodes used in mission-critical applications such as 5G, EV, and AI, are driving longer test times and require system-level tests to ensure compatibility and interconnection between components.




Valuation: Maintain BUY and TP of S$5.16. We have raised FY20F/21F earnings by 4/4% on a strong set of 3Q20 results and higher FY20F revenue guidance. We maintain our valuation peg at 13.7x FY21F earnings, which is at a discount to its international peer market cap-weighted average of c.19.9x.
Where we differ: We are more optimistic on AEM’s earnings and the pick-up in momentum in the industry.
Key Risks to Our View: Single-customer concentration risk, escalation of geopolitical events, protraction of the COVID-19 pandemic, and FX risk.

















(Non-SGX Report) AEM Holdings Ltd: Stellar as Ever

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<div><em><strong>Non- SGX Report: These equity research reports are not written by the SGX.</strong>&nbsp;SGX supports the distribution of the research reports by external contributors. Please refer to the Disclaimer in the attached report.</em></div>
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<p>RESULTS UPDATE</p>
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<h2>AEM Holdings Ltd</h2>
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<h3>Focus on core competencies</h3>
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<li>AEM reported 3Q20 results with S$161.8mn sales (+93% YoY), S$29.9mn PBT (+80% YoY) and S$24.3mn PATMI (+77.4% YoY).</li>
<li>Sales mix was largely skewed to tools &amp; machines in 3Q – almost 75% of sales were from lower margin machine production, leading to weaker PBT and profit margin.</li>
<li>AEM raised revenue guidance by another S$20mn. Despite the key customer’s Capex cut, we remain fairly confident that AEM can continue growing their wallet share with them.</li>
<li>Maintain OUTPERFORM with new TP of S$5.26. We roll forward our estimate to FY21F, pencilling in a 10% sales growth and 8% profit growth over our new FY20F estimate of S$525mn sales and S$94.6mn profit.</li>
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<p><strong>Highest ever quarterly revenue.</strong> 3Q20 sales of S$161.8mn is more than 1/3 of 9M20 sales of S$435.5mn, and 9M20 sales is now 88% of our current FY20F estimate, while 9M20 PATMI at S$79.6mn is ~85% of our estimate. EBT and profit margins are comparable to 2Q20’s results at 18.5% and 15% respectively. As a result, 9M20 EBT and PATMI margins are now below our FY20 margin estimates by 50bps and 60bps respectively.</p>
<p>Sales mix was largely skewed to tools and machines in 3Q20, at a 75/25 split. While ~15% profit margins in 2Q20 were attributable to increased R&amp;D spend and reduction of non- recurring fees from customers, 3Q20 margins were more of a result of the product mix. Going forward, given the S$2mn R&amp;D expenditure announced by AEM just for 4Q20, we expect margins to come in similar to 2Q and 3Q, rather than 1Q’s level.</p>
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<p><strong>Key customer’s shake-up</strong>. Three things stood out to us in Intel’s 3Q20 results: 1) Unexpected weaker YoY% Data Centre Group sales, whereas AMD continued taking market share in this space with doubled net revenue in 3Q20. However, most of the sales decline was attributed to the decrease in chip ASP (-15% YoY), while sale volumes were still up (+4% YoY), which is less problematic; 2) Sale of Intel’s memory business to SK Hynix, leaving only Optane memory. However, AEM mgmt. clarified that this does not affect their business as AEM’s test handlers deal with Intel’s other business lines rather than the commoditized memory segment; and 3) Capex estimate cut to US$ 14.2-14.5b for FY20F, which we think is likely due to the sale of the memory business, as AEM’s sales growth in FY20F is fairly counter-trend to Intel’s Capex expectations.</p>
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Non- SGX Report: These equity research reports are not written by the SGX.&nbsp;SGX supports the distribution of the research reports by external contributors. Please refer to the Disclaimer in the attached report.

RESULTS UPDATE




AEM Holdings Ltd




Focus on core competencies







AEM reported 3Q20 results with S$161.8mn sales (+93% YoY), S$29.9mn PBT (+80% YoY) and S$24.3mn PATMI (+77.4% YoY).
Sales mix was largely skewed to tools &amp; machines in 3Q – almost 75% of sales were from lower margin machine production, leading to weaker PBT and profit margin.
AEM raised revenue guidance by another S$20mn. Despite the key customer’s Capex cut, we remain fairly confident that AEM can continue growing their wallet share with them.
Maintain OUTPERFORM with new TP of S$5.26. We roll forward our estimate to FY21F, pencilling in a 10% sales growth and 8% profit growth over our new FY20F estimate of S$525mn sales and S$94.6mn profit.





Highest ever quarterly revenue. 3Q20 sales of S$161.8mn is more than 1/3 of 9M20 sales of S$435.5mn, and 9M20 sales is now 88% of our current FY20F estimate, while 9M20 PATMI at S$79.6mn is ~85% of our estimate. EBT and profit margins are comparable to 2Q20’s results at 18.5% and 15% respectively. As a result, 9M20 EBT and PATMI margins are now below our FY20 margin estimates by 50bps and 60bps respectively.
Sales mix was largely skewed to tools and machines in 3Q20, at a 75/25 split. While ~15% profit margins in 2Q20 were attributable to increased R&amp;D spend and reduction of non- recurring fees from customers, 3Q20 margins were more of a result of the product mix. Going forward, given the S$2mn R&amp;D expenditure announced by AEM just for 4Q20, we expect margins to come in similar to 2Q and 3Q, rather than 1Q’s level.




Key customer’s shake-up. Three things stood out to us in Intel’s 3Q20 results: 1) Unexpected weaker YoY% Data Centre Group sales, whereas AMD continued taking market share in this space with doubled net revenue in 3Q20. However, most of the sales decline was attributed to the decrease in chip ASP (-15% YoY), while sale volumes were still up (+4% YoY), which is less problematic; 2) Sale of Intel’s memory business to SK Hynix, leaving only Optane memory. However, AEM mgmt. clarified that this does not affect their business as AEM’s test handlers deal with Intel’s other business lines rather than the commoditized memory segment; and 3) Capex estimate cut to US$ 14.2-14.5b for FY20F, which we think is likely due to the sale of the memory business, as AEM’s sales growth in FY20F is fairly counter-trend to Intel’s Capex expectations.
























Non-SGX Report: AEM Holdings Ltd: Focus on Core Competencies

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AEM Holdings Limited designs and manufactures semiconductor manufacturing equipment and related tooling parts and precision machining of components for semiconductor industry.  The Company also manufactures and distributes electronics, engineering, chemical and related products. AEM provides engineering services.

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