HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

Cathay Pacific Airways / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>The recent discrimination incident will likely affect traffic recovery pace of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/cathay-pacific-airways-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:243:1" rel="noopener">Cathay Pacific Airways (293 HK)</a> negatively if it turns into a full-scale boycott by mainland passengers.</li>
<li>The scenario of CX becoming majority-owned by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/air-china-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8239:1" rel="noopener">Air China Ltd (H) (753 HK)</a> is getting increasingly possible. This may not be totally positive to CX given CA's weaker service ranking.</li>
<li>Consensus forecasts now look somewhat bullish following the incident, and the stock's 0.7x P/B does not stand out as attractive relative to history or ROE (7% in FY25F).</li>
</ul>


The recent discrimination incident will likely affect traffic recovery pace of Cathay Pacific Airways (293 HK) negatively if it turns into a full-scale boycott by mainland passengers.
The scenario of CX becoming majority-owned by Air China Ltd (H) (753 HK) is getting increasingly possible. This may not be totally positive to CX given CA's weaker service ranking.
Consensus forecasts now look somewhat bullish following the incident, and the stock's 0.7x P/B does not stand out as attractive relative to history or ROE (7% in FY25F).


Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport, Tracking Traffic

Daniel Hellberg

Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport

Tracking Traffic

Focusing on Asian logistics, transportation, and travel companies

<ul>
<li>Chinese outbound and domestic air traffic activity improved sharply Y/Y in the January-February LNY travel period, but activity remains far below pre-Covid levels</li>
<li>Given constrained outbound air capacity, we're surprised to see relatively low (65-66%) passenger load factors reported by the leading Chinese airlines during LNY</li>
<li>If planes don't begin to fill up with Chinese tourists soon, we believe some investors may become disappointed in the pace of China's travel recovery </li>
</ul>


Chinese outbound and domestic air traffic activity improved sharply Y/Y in the January-February LNY travel period, but activity remains far below pre-Covid levels
Given constrained outbound air capacity, we're surprised to see relatively low (65-66%) passenger load factors reported by the leading Chinese airlines during LNY
If planes don't begin to fill up with Chinese tourists soon, we believe some investors may become disappointed in the pace of China's travel recovery 


TRACKING TRAFFIC/Chinese Tourism: LNY Traffic Points to Slow Recovery in 2023

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>On Monday evening in the US, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/trip-com-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:180:1" rel="noopener">Trip.com (TCOM US)</a> reported Q422 results that beat low expectations, but shares in the US traded down about 3% in Tuesday's session</li>
<li>As for guidance, management offered few specifics but noted a sharp improvement in booking activity early in 2023, but also highlighted an outbound capacity bottleneck at the airlines</li>
<li>Just as Covid's negative impacts papered over the secular challenges facing Trip.com, the dramatic near-term recovery in travel activity also obscures longstanding threats</li>
</ul>


On Monday evening in the US, Trip.com (TCOM US) reported Q422 results that beat low expectations, but shares in the US traded down about 3% in Tuesday's session
As for guidance, management offered few specifics but noted a sharp improvement in booking activity early in 2023, but also highlighted an outbound capacity bottleneck at the airlines
Just as Covid's negative impacts papered over the secular challenges facing Trip.com, the dramatic near-term recovery in travel activity also obscures longstanding threats


Trip.com Q4/2022 Results: Back to Reality?

Shenzhen International / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shenzhen-international-holdings-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9:1" rel="noopener">Shenzhen International (152 HK)</a> posted 11% profit decline for FY21, with Shenzhen Airlines the main drag. Stripping this and one-off items out, its bottom line would have grown by 46.6%.</li>
<li>Logistics growth pipeline is highly visible, and this adds to potential gains from logistics park transformation and strategic offload of matured and suitable projects through REIT or private fund.</li>
<li>The stock remains a deeply undervalued asset play at just 0.48x P/B. Its willingness to share gains with investors has put its dividend yield at 10.4% on current share price.</li>
</ul>



Shenzhen International (152 HK) posted 11% profit decline for FY21, with Shenzhen Airlines the main drag. Stripping this and one-off items out, its bottom line would have grown by 46.6%.
Logistics growth pipeline is highly visible, and this adds to potential gains from logistics park transformation and strategic offload of matured and suitable projects through REIT or private fund.
The stock remains a deeply undervalued asset play at just 0.48x P/B. Its willingness to share gains with investors has put its dividend yield at 10.4% on current share price.


Shenzhen Intl (152 HK): More Room to Realise Underlying Asset Value

Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) / Equity Bottom-Up

Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA)

<ul>
<li>Long <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/beijing-capital-international-airport-bcia" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10626:1" rel="noopener">Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) (694 HK)</a>, and short <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/air-china-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8239:1" rel="noopener">Air China Ltd (H) (753 HK)</a> strategy should bring in good sector-neutral returns over the next 12 months. </li>
<li>BCIA will return to profit next year, fuelling the rebound of its share price. Air China, however, may face uncertainties related to stronger USD and higher-than-expected US interest rates.</li>
<li>Higher duty-free sales for BCIA should propel earnings outlook. BCIA's P/B is well below the 5-year average, while Air China has already returned to the historical average level.</li>
</ul>


Long Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) (694 HK), and short Air China Ltd (H) (753 HK) strategy should bring in good sector-neutral returns over the next 12 months. 
BCIA will return to profit next year, fuelling the rebound of its share price. Air China, however, may face uncertainties related to stronger USD and higher-than-expected US interest rates.
Higher duty-free sales for BCIA should propel earnings outlook. BCIA's P/B is well below the 5-year average, while Air China has already returned to the historical average level.


China Pair Trade: Long BCIA (694 HK), Short Air China (753 HK)

China

Air China Limited provides passenger, cargo, and airline-related services in China.  The Company is primarily based in Beijing and a major hub for domestic and international air transportation.  Air China's airline-related services include aircraft maintenance, repair, overhaul service, ground services, and in-flight catering services.

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Air China Ltd (A) (601111 CH)

Cathay Pacific (293 HK): Hard Landing

The recent iscrimination incident is likely to weigh on near-term traffic recovery while the increasingly possible scenario of CX becoming majority...

Osbert Tang, CFA

TRACKING TRAFFIC/Chinese Tourism: LNY Traffic Points to Slow Recovery in 2023

Jan-Feb air traffic shows the beginnings of a recovery in Chinese travel activity, but we're surprised to see outbound flights with load factors of...

Tracking Traffic

Trip.com Q4/2022 Results: Back to Reality?

As China emerges from Covid, old challenges remain for Trip.com. After posting solid Q422 results and pointing to signs of a strong recovery, these...

Daniel Hellberg

Shenzhen Intl (152 HK): More Room to Realise Underlying Asset Value

SZIH is an attractive asset play - it does not only has lots of hidden assets, but also the capability to turn them into profit and cash flow, and...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Pair Trade: Long BCIA (694 HK), Short Air China (753 HK)

BCIA's profit rebound and duty-free sales recovery should drive returns, while Air China faces stronger USD and high US interest rates. These...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Cathay Pacific (293 HK): Hard Landing

The recent iscrimination incident is likely to weigh on near-term traffic recovery while the increasingly possible scenario of CX becoming majority...

Osbert Tang, CFA

TRACKING TRAFFIC/Chinese Tourism: LNY Traffic Points to Slow Recovery in 2023

Jan-Feb air traffic shows the beginnings of a recovery in Chinese travel activity, but we're surprised to see outbound flights with load factors of...

Tracking Traffic

Trip.com Q4/2022 Results: Back to Reality?

As China emerges from Covid, old challenges remain for Trip.com. After posting solid Q422 results and pointing to signs of a strong recovery, these...

Daniel Hellberg

Shenzhen Intl (152 HK): More Room to Realise Underlying Asset Value

SZIH is an attractive asset play - it does not only has lots of hidden assets, but also the capability to turn them into profit and cash flow, and...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Pair Trade: Long BCIA (694 HK), Short Air China (753 HK)

​BCIA's profit rebound and duty-free sales recovery should drive returns, while Air China faces stronger USD and high US interest rates. These...

Osbert Tang, CFA

BCIA's profit rebound and duty-free sales recovery should drive returns, while Air China faces stronger USD and high US interest rates. These...